Remington's Model Seven Part I

My personal New England deer hunting rifle is a Remington Model Seven CDL in 260 Remington. Unlike the Model Seven pictured, mine has a walnut stock, but it is also blued. The subject Model Seven is available in 243 Winchester, 260 Remington, 7mm-08 Remington, and 308 Winchester.

Which cartridge is best suited for deer, hog and black bear hunting inside 300 yards? Any and/or all of them; the ballistic differences are quickly lost outside of theoretical calculation and gun forum discourse. With proper bullet selection to achieve sufficient penetration and full expansion without fragmentation, the 0.065″ diameter difference from smallest to largest matters little.

As a practical matter these cartridges are all flat shooting and even the little 243 Winchester carries more kinetic energy at 300 yards than a 44 magnum revolver does at the muzzle.

My reason for selecting the 260 Remington just ahead of the 308 Winchester was two fold; less recoil in a 6 1/2 Lb rifle and greater momentum for enhanced penetration and greater retained velocity with midrange bullet weights.

No, I am not a 260 Remington evangelist, I am not a heavy bullet proponent and I am not suggesting the selection of one cartridge over the others. Again, there is not enough difference amongst these cartridges to make one more lethal than another inside 300 yards. My 260 Remington interest is in controlled experimentation to better understand the practical extension of these calculated values in concert with this short barrel rifle. There are at least several valid comments buried in this textual quagmire, but you may have to dig a bit to find them.

Remington Model Seven highlights

The Remington Model Seven is a full featured firearm, a slightly smaller version of the Model 700, which is a relatively elegant piece of hardware. Unlike the Model 783 with its pipe like receiver with closed off ejection port, clunky barrel nut, oddly shaped bolt shroud, blade safety trigger and box magazine, the Model Seven appears to be designed to please the consumer rather than Remington’s cost accounting department.

The controls are place well; the two position thrum safety, the floorplate release, the pull adjustment in the face of the trigger. The bottom metal is aluminum, finished in a not as nice crackle finish like the kind we sprayed on shop built, one of a kind pieces of test equipment. Smooth, matte black anodized would have been nice.

I have always had a fondness for the much maligned X Mark Pro trigger. It has virtually no creep, the pull is light, the let off is crisp with out overtravel and I have not been able to follow use instructions and cause an accidental discharge. If I did, the muzzle certainly wouldn’t be pointing in an unsafe direction with a round in the chamber.

The forearm is slender, however, it is hand filling at the hold position. Stippling located at contact and carry points enhance the rifle’s appearance and makes for a true no slip surface. The Seven’s barrel floats in the barrel channel, but makes contact at a pressure pad at the forend. The recoil pad is resilient and recoil absorbing. As noted on the barrel the twist rate is 1:8″ which helps to stabilize 130+ grain bullets.

Sure, we can always look at this objectively….

The Remington Model Seven is a product of Ilion, NY. Despite the politics of geography, with 200 years of production behind them, Remington builds firearms with a high degree of competency.

The Model Seven is a “Three rings of steel” action; cartridge casehead enclosed in the Seven’s bolt face, then inside the barrel shank and then inside the receiver ring. Carbon steel with a black oxide finish is as durable as stainless with typical cleaning.

The twist rate is the quicker 8″ as introduced in the Model 700 SPS to permit stabilizing even long, heavy 0.264″ bullets.

The X Mark Pro trigger is an excellent hunting trigger with pull adjustable from3 to 5 lbs.

The assembly has good balance. Length of pull is a bit shorter than some commercial rifles, but it is quick to the shoulder and comfortable. It is a nicely made forearm; clearly assembled as a quality produce and an overall attractive firearm.

 

 

 

We’ll be back with Part II and live fire results.

 

Remington’s Model Seven Part I
Remington’s Model Seven Part 11