Ok, I'm gonna get a new rifle and I'm down to two choices, both in 7mm-08. One is a Remington Model 7, stainless/laminate and the other is a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight. Am leaning toward the Model 7 since I already have a Featherweight in 30-06. I guess I'm in the mood for something different. Use would be mainly for deer here in the Southeast. Which would you go with and why?

To me the only eason to go M7 is to save weight. If you are shooting from a stand/blind that's not an issue so I would go w/ the M70 ft.wt. I beleive the M7 has a 20" bbl. & the M70 a 22" so you'll get a bit more perf. out of the M70. Fords vs Chevy vs Dodge.

Really no wrong choice here. Both will obviously serve you well. Best point for staying with the Win is your mind won't have to always wonder which action am I using today. If all your rifles are Win, then your hands can do it all while you're sleeping.

Make yourself happy here. I don't think any of us can give you a persuasive argument one way or other.

I'm not much of a Remington fan anymore, but the Model 7's are nice guns.

Be sure to handle them both before you decide. The Model 7 is nice and light, but many people feel that it is too muzzle light and doesn't point well. Others say it's perfect as a quick-pointing gun. The synthetic stock, almost all will agree, leaves a lot to be desired. Consider a laminated stainless if they make it, or look at a laminated stainless Rem mountain rifle in 7-08, which is still nice and light, looks great, and balances a bit better for most people.

The Featherweight is a nicely balanced gun for almost anyone, and very attractive to most gun admirers. It will feel only very slightly different to you because the 7-08 is in the short action Model 70, which is lighter than your long-action 30-06 and will have a balance point very slightly further back. Otherwise, it's the same, which isn't a bad thing, as a previous poster pointed out. There'll be no fumbling for the safety or some other control when you're in a hurry or in the dark.

All things being equal (which they never are) I would put the Featherweight first in my consideration because of it's quality, action design, your familiarity with the Model 70 features, and appearance; the Rem LSS Mt. Rifle would come in second because of it's light weight and excellent stock design; and the Model 7 last.

I have the Rem LSS Mt. Rifle in 7mm-08 and like it,,,,I used to have a Win featherweight in 270 and liked it too,,,

whichever feels the best to you,

I do agree that sense you already have a win 70 then that would be an advantage of getting the Win.

What about the Win M70 Compact? Does it come in 7mm-08? If so, I'd lean in that direction myself.

I'm a big 7-08 fan. I'm also a Remington fan. Most agree that it takes at least a 22" (a 24 is better) barrel to get the most out of a 7-08. Might I suggest a Remington classic or CDL? capt david

Avoid the j-lock, get the Winchester (I had a CRF 70 FW in 7mm-08 - nice gun). Good luck.

I agree that a 20-22" barrel might be an advantage but I have a old 18" model 7 in 7-08 that I routinely used in mulie hunting in Wyoming. As far as the J lock, its too bad some folks just can't get past it. I have rifles with and without it and can't offhand tell you which ones are which. I understand you can get a new shroud for @$50. Lots cheaper than sending a winchester off to a smith and spending big bucks to get it on paper.

Forget them both and pick up a Kimber. Sweetest little rifle I ever handled. I just got a Montana in .243.

I was shooting a little Model 7 yesterday, in 243. I put a stainless gun in a walnut stock, so it's "almost" the one you're looking at. With 100 grain handloads, it easily went under 3/4" at 100 yards. Of course, it heats up fast, but when was the last time you needed to fire five shots rapid-fire at a deer?

I also have a 7mm-08 in a "regular" M700. I LOVE the caliber.

So to me, I'd get the Model 7.

Matter-of-fact, I've always got my eye half-peeled towards the racks, and if I ever do find a nice stainless/laminated Model 7 in 7mm-08, I'm gonna get it...

Well...., I couldn't pass up on the looks of the stainless/laminate so I picked up the Model 7 in 7mm-08 yesterday. It also fit me and just seemed to feel good in my hands. Already mounted a compact Leupold on it and will hit the range soon to see if it shoots as good as it looks. I'm gonna try some factory 140 Rem Core Lokts since I no longer reload. Thanks for all the replies.

About a month ago my wife gave me the green light to get a new rifle. I looked long and hard at some 30-06'es and 300 WSM's. I checked out the Model 70 and the 700. Dang near bought a Vanguard. Then I looked and contemplated some more. Suffice to say that the machine marks all over the Model 70 and the other "little things" (cheap parts and characteristics I just didnt like) I saw with all the others I looked at, made it hard to justify chosing one over the other. In the end I decided to re-barrel my Springfield.

Its too bad the QC at Winchester isnt better, if it were they would have sold me on a 300 WSM.

I would take the M70 for sure !!

If the remington choice was in a stainless mountain rifle, with laminated stock, I can see the Remington choice.

However since it isn't, I'd go with the Featherweight hands down. I never did like the model 7 at all. Never owned one for a reason. However it has it all over the Model 710!

Cheers and Good shooting
seafire

Anytime I have a choice between a control feed rifle and a push feed rifle, you can be sure that I will always take the control feed gun...I base that on my experience of some 60 years of hunting, and from observation and personal experience....I have not owned a push feed big game rifle in some twenty years and thats not going to change.

What other choose is their opinnion and I respect that....