I have just ordered a BDL and id like to hear opinions from anyone who owns or are familiar with these rifles!
I dont know anything about em (yes i live remote )
so everything is better than nothing!

Thanks in advance.
Ben
Iceland

The BDL is R-P's standard (ie. not Custom Shop) "fancy version" of the tried/true 700. High gloss finish, hinged magazine floorplate (unless you got the "DM", detachable magazine, version), white grip cap and forend spacer, etc.. Here's a pic http://www.remington.com/firearms/centerfire/700bdl.htm
A fine shootin' iron. I have a few, and they're all keepers, or at least, they are after I paint them with some dull paint to knock the gloss down.

The CRF-only crowd will probably be in here screaming shortly about the 700's push-feed action, but, a few million dead critters couldn't tell the difference

R-WEST

Ben-

You made a fine choice. The M700 is a very good rifle.

What caliber did you get? What are you planning to hunt/shoot with it?

CRF doesn't mean squat to 99% of the hunters using bolt rifles. I wouldn't worry about that. Remington, unfortunatly, of late has had some serious quality issues. I know that every manufacturer is letting quality slip, but Remmy is really bad. They used to be the quality leader, so the decline is magnified. You may luck out and get a good one, and if so, you'll be well satisfied. A good Remington used to be my favorite rifle. I now use mostly Rugers and Winchesters, but I'd take a good Remmy in a minute. Some of the best groups I've ever shot in my life were with customized 700s, so they can't be all bad. I looked at a Remmy 700 Classic in 300 Savage today and it was well put together, so there's hope. May the force be with you on this one.

The high gloss is not an issue for me sice it will be used for mountain and open tundra Reindeer hunting!

A big reason for buying this rifle is that they offer it in left hand in cal 30-06 and i like the removable sights plus i like the classic look!

My sole Model 700 is in fact a left-hand .30-06, which I got in used condition from a friend in trade for a handloading outfit.

I used it in the Northwest Territores for over thirty years, where it took moose, bears and caribou to a total of probably a couple of hundred animals. These were shot under conditions ranging down to forty below zero on a few occasions, and MANY times in rain, snow, salt spray....you name it.

The rifle never failed me in any manner, and lately it's even distinguishing itself in the heat of Nevada with cast bullets.

In cold weather, clean it rigorously and leave it BONE DRY...no lube whatever. This includes the innards of the bolt. I used gasoline to rinse out the guts, but be careful if you do this! Keep it cased when not actually hunting, and once it gets cold, leave it in the case outside the living spaces until the hunt is over. This avoids condensation getting into the works of the warming-up rifle and then having it freezing-up when the rifle gets cold again.

My 700 BDL has fired many thousands of rounds, and it seems like it might just go on forever. I think you bought a good one.

Regards from BruceB (aka Bren Mk1)

Bruce i really liked reading your post becuse this is exacly the rifle im looking for!!
And a big plus for the m700 is tha almost every aftermarket items are made with them in mind!

I cannot wait to take it with me on a possible Reindeer hunt in Greenland this fall!

Best regards Ben
Iceland.

You have made a excellent choice in calibre and rifle. I don't know what these folks that make vague remarks to the effect of: "I have issues with them" mean exactly. My big issue with the 700's, and I have a closet full, is that after I tune the trigger and maybe bed the recoil lug, they can shoot better than I can hold.

I have to agree with Bobby about the current state of Remington. I have more of the model 700's than
anything else at 5. The ones made up until the mid 70's are terrific. After that it's a grab bag. I just
purchased a Remington VLS in 6mm Rem., and it wasn't cheap. To be sure it would shoot well I had it
glass bedded, barrel floated, and that damned 8lb trigger pulled taken care of. There's another $200.
added on. I would have been better off buying a Cooper or Kimber. Now the prices have taken yet another
steep increase. Lately I've been shopping the used gun racks more frequently, and if anything I seem to
be getting better rifles. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Here is another thoght of mine,that is turning into a headache!
Bullet selection for big game? Ok, a topic that has popped up hunderds of times here but, well im looking for a bullet
for deer hunting up to 250 yards for 30-06?
Dont care about expense and yes i reload!

Regards Ben
Iceland

I picked up a BDL the first year they chambered it in .338 Win - that would be sometime in the mid to late 1980's.

Pros:
* Beautiful wood
* Very good accuracy for an out-of-the-box rifle
* reasonable price
* came with iron sights - not many do - not sure if they still do.

Cons:
* I hate the safety. On this one, the bolt doesn't lock when the safety is on. (I understand that this varies on earlier production rifles though.) When shouldered and in brush (quite often where I hunt) the bolt snags on brush, opens and drops cartridges on the ground
* Wood is too nice to take in the field and ruin
* Mine had an especially poor (non-durable) blued finish. I live in a very harsh enviro - near saltwater, humidity and rain.
* Spotty feeding from the box. This is with two, or more, loaded in the mag. One it does flawlessly. Not sure if it's a feedrail issue or what, but they should check that at the factory before it leaves.
* rear iron sight is junky. Very hard to fine adjust. I do normally use a scope, but sometimes it wears the irons only. The Williams on my M70 is far superior.
* My M70 (fush feed also) is way more realiable with feeding.

Barnes Triple Shock