Remington's Model 700 CDL DM Part II

Psychological transference occurs when some common element bridges a current event with a past event, causing emotions associated with the past event to be carried over to the current event. Usually this applies to people; you see someone and visual cues cause you to instantly like them or dislike them without interaction or personal experience. Something similar happens with settings, circumstances and objects.

The first time I saw this Remington, I immediately thought of a Stoeger’s Shooter’s Bible of the early 1960’s with its pictures of conservatively styled, fine European and Scandinavian firearms. Satin finish bluing, oil rubbed finish walnut, carefully checkered stocks, and box magazines that were barely perceptible within the lines of each respective rifle. On first impression, the Remington CDL DM appeared a well made and nicely styled firearm. After live fire and handloading experience, my opinion remains the same.

Old scopes never die…

For the purpose of this project I mounted a now discontinued Burris 4-16x44mm Signature model scope with a light controlling aperture, parallax adjustment, Posi-Lock and Electro-Dot Reticle. Why? Because the magnification range is right for the 7mm Remington Magnum, because weight was not of consequence under the project circumstances and because the scope’s optics and field features are exceptional. When the scope was mounted I felt like booking an antelope hunt, but had to settle for the shooting bench.

Handloading…

We generally handload six 7mm cartridges in the shop: 7mm-30 RG, 7mm-08 Remington, 7x57mm Mauser, 7mm WSM. 7mm Remington Magnum, and the 7mm Ultra Mag. Subsequently, there are lots of 0.284″ bullet on hand. Some work for the lower velocity rounds, 7×57 Mauser and down and other work for the magnums. In this case we loaded to a short list of bullets that have worked well over the long haul with the 7mm Remington Magnum. They are inexpensive bullets, accurate shooting and routine in handloading. Others that work well that we have worked with in the past can be found on the RealGuns’ load page for the 7mm Remington Magnum.

I never really thought much about this cartridge as a cartridge for lightweight, high velocity bullet applications. Shows you how little I know. The first box of factory ammo I purchased for the 7mm Remington Magnum was loaded with 175 grain bullets and I pretty much have settled on 150 grain – 160 grain bullet over the years for big game hunting, varying the bullet construction to match up with game type. The 120 grain Sierra bullet included here has been used successfully on coyote and similar game. The 140 grain Remington protected point is tougher than its weight suggests and is useful for deer and antelope. The 139 SST is very similar in performance and application. The rest of what is there is suitable for elk and moose, particularly the 175 grain which is tough, deep penetrating and has good retained velocity for flat trajectory.

Recorded Handload Performance

The Remington Model 700 CDL DM shot considerably softer than the Model 700 BDL I had on hand for the sake of comparisons. The CDL was a bit heavier, about eight ounces, mostly because of the two inch longer barrel and larger and heavier scope, but it was the lack of muzzle rise that was the most noticeable. The CDL with longer barrel demonstrated a decisive advantage over the shorter barrel BDL to the tune of one hundred fifty to one hundred seventy five feet per second, something to be expected where cases full of slow burning powder are the norm.

In the case of one of my more modest one hundred sixty grain handloads intended for deer hunting point blank range, based on this velocity difference, increased by over thirty yards and six hundred yard trajectory was reduced by over ten inches. The extra two inches of barrel length does not increase firearm weight or detract from handling in any meaningful way and the gain in performance is something a magnum owner would want. Weatherby built a velocity reputation on 26″ barrel rifles; big cases need longer barrels for their performance potential to be extracted. The Remington Model 700 CDL DM is an excellent firearm in performance and appearance.

Remington’s Model 700 CDL DM Part I
Remington’s Model 700 CDL DM Part II