What exactly, is the difference between a Remington Model Seven from the Custom Shop and one off the line? I am considering one in .243 for whitetail. Sure is pretty. What is your assessment of the Rem Seven in general? Best feature? Worst feature? The rifle is built for hunting. The asking is $800. Your thoughts and advice please. Am looking for a lightweight, accurate, durable rifle.

Like cars everybody has their favourites
It should be fine
You can also checkout the Winchester compact , Browning micro, and Ruger compacts

JJ.JJ
I have quite a bit of experience with the Rem Mod 7's and with one Mod 7 from the Custom Shop [350 Mag].
My custom M7 had a 20" bbl a polished blue and a Kevlar stock. The reg. Mod 7's have a wood or "plastic" stock and 18"bbls with iron sights or the stainless steel ones have no iron sights and a black "plastic" stock. I have all the above varieties.
I have owned M7's in 223, 243,308 and 350. Several friends have M7's in 6mm and 308. All told I have shot 12 mod 7's.
All have shot much better than a rifle this short and light should.
I have shot my 308's all the way to 600 yards and they are very accurate. The 243 my wife hunted with was only shot to 300 yards on paper. If I stated how small the groups were no one would believe it. the load was 42gr of IMR4350 with a Sierra Spz and a 95gr Nosler Partition.
The only reason I traded this rifle was to move my wife up to a 308 M7 because our new deer lease has wild pigs. I cannot say enough nice things about the Rem Mod7's. They are very good hunting rifles, accurate, and very handy. I prefer the older ones with the green "plastic" stock and iron sights, but the satinless and black stock 308 shoots just as good.
I especially liked the Kevlar stock on the Custom stock rifle. A mod 7 in the proper caliber would be an excellent sheep/goat rifle. I prefer the 308 as it is suitable for all game from deer to black bear, and even for elk a M7 in 308 will get the job done.
For deer sized game my wife and I found the 243 excellent but for anything bigger I like the 308 or even the 7mm-08.

I think the model 7 is the greatest thing since bottled beer.
That said, Its my understanding that all of the m7's now have 20 inch barrels. Not that I feel handicapped when I'm carrying my M7 with the 18" barrel. I'm not a fan of synthetic stocks of any sort or material. (yes, I know and agree with all of the advantages but......) Other than the better stock, what other advantages does the custom shop M7 give your over the "standard"? If the extra $300 only gives you a better synthetic stock, I think I'd go with the standard model with the laminated wooden stock and spend the extra having a smith adjust the trigger and bed the action.
While you're thinking about this stuff, you might want to think about getting the M7 in either a 7-08 or a .260. Both rounds are greatly superior to a .243.
Once you have the trigger adjusted (you're gonna have to do that regardless of where the rifle comes from),as posted above, the rifle will shoot better than any light weight, thin barrelled rifle has a right to. Your only problem will be finding an excuse for another gun after you get this one.

My M7 stainless .308 is my go-to rifle. I got the plastic stock rifle, bought a lightweight base and rings, and after bedding and floating I spray-painted the whole thing.

I put a 1/2 lb scope on it (3x9 Leupold compact) and it will shoot MOA with 150 or 165gr Partitions.

Personally I think everything between .243 and .308 is superfluous in a short-barrelled rifle, but when I hunted deer with the .243 it was with nothing but partitions. I'd suggest .308 unless you are very recoil-sensitive. Then I'd suggest the 7/08.

[ 07-23-2003, 18:31: Message edited by: steve y ]