I see Rem. is making their 700CDL in .35Whelen, any takers (wish they would have made it in .338-06)?

I looked at a CDL in the local gunshop the other day and wasn't overly impressed.

In particular, the recoil pad was fitted to the stock with some kind of a plastic "spacer." Looked tacky and poorly done--not just on one rifle but the whole lot!

I do, however, like the look of the stock and the fact that they're putting a 26" Bbl on a regular 7 mag.

friar

Yeah, & a 24" on the std. calibers. Just saw an article, looks good in the photo but I haven't been down to look @ one (gunshops around here are pretty much crap).

I have the 7mag in cdl. It is far and away the least recoil I have ever felt on a 7mag. It seems to shoot real well, although I haven't gotten it fully tuned in yet to give a full report there. And it is a very nice looking rifle, the ooh and ah effect can be quite good.

quote:

the recoil pad was fitted to the stock with some kind of a plastic "spacer." Looked tacky and poorly done-

Generally this is a better looking stock than the BDL but this recoil pad is a real joke as far as appearance. Maybe they do this to distract your eyes from the bolt body where the handle is missing.

I have one of the special run 700 CDL Whelens that Grice Gun Shop did as a special run last year. It is a nicely fit and finished factory gun that is very accurate, despite the fact that the throat is so long that even 250 grain Grand Slams can't be seated near the rifling. I hope that they have corrected this on the regualar production guns.

I got one in 30-06 and I like it a lot. Although I understand that some people hate it, I actually like that recoil pad -- it's softer than any other I've ever seen. I like the fact that the stock and metalwork are dull finished rather than shiny, and I like the stock shape -- I think it may be the best shaped wood stock Remington has ever made. I also like the fact that the rifle has a 24 inch barrel.

My rifle is also more than accurate enough for a hunting rifle. It shoots 3-shot groups of 180 grain Hornady Interlock spire points, in front of 58 grains of H4350, into 1.42 inches at 200 yards (Remington brass, Winchester WLR primer, 3.30" overall cartridge length).

I also got a 3-shot 100 yard group of 0.27 inches with the same load, except that it used 56 grains of H 414 powder.

I'll have to go take a look. I wouldn't mind another .280, maybe rechmamber it to .280AI?

Get a REM 700 SPS its cheaper and all standard calibers I believe have the 24" tube. I just a 7mm08 and its got the 24" tube on it and its showing promise to be very accurate.

I got a CDL in 35whelen. I've never been much of a Remington fan but wanted a whelen without the cost of building one so I bought the CDL. I've had it about 3 months now, I've shot about 150 rounds through it and LOVE it!! I like the way it feels, the R-3 recoil pad and love the groups I'm getting with 225gr TSXs. In Oct. I plan to take it on a bison hunt in South Dakota and a musk ox/caribou hunt. I would buy another one.

Ah Mark, you've got me thinking, that's always bad. Good luck on your trip.

I have seen a few of the CDLs. I don't think they are bad looking rifles at all !I Am glad they make it in the whelan, that is right up there as one of my favprite rounds.
i only wish winchester would come out with one in the model 70 classic.
i just like the claw extractor...tj3006

quote:

Generally this is a better looking stock than the BDL but this recoil pad is a real joke as far as appearance. Maybe they do this to distract your eyes from the bolt body where the handle is missing.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
I'll have to go take a look. I wouldn't mind another .280, maybe rechmamber it to .280AI?

I bought one in 280 as soon as they hit the market.

It does have a long throat, but after pilar bedding it, it will put 3 140gr Nosler Accubonds hand loaded to 3,135fps into 1/2" @ 100 yds.

I want to use 139gr Hornady Interbonds for the increased weight retention and less meat destuction. I will have to load them to 3.375 OAL to get .010" off the lands. Accuracy with the Hornadys has not been as good as the Noslers. The Noslers have a shorter ogive.

The crappy looking recoil pad fit is due to it being a "pre fit" pad. (not ground to fit)

All of the Limbsaver "pre fit" pads look that way. A friend has some on his Berreta shotguns.

It is however, the most effective recoil pad I have ever used.