As the self-appointed chairman of the welcoming committee, it is my privilege to extend a laurel, and hearty handshake (virtual, of course) to our new WI member.
Hello and welcome. I miss WI. I grew up there, but moved to NJ for a job just over 15 years ago. Still go back about 3-4 times a year. My Browning 7mm-08 was the first rifle I ever bought for myself and still use it for deer hunting. Just wish it had better aftermarket support, but otherwise has worked great. It's a good choice. Consider 223/243 for lighter recoil.
I'm hoping to build a 700 that I can fit with a youth stock for my grandsons first rifle. I have been shooting the 7mm-08 for decades and handload. My go to is a 700 in 7mm Express/.280 that I ordered back in 1980. Running the 7's makes handloading easier for me. I have run some light 08's with ballistic tip 120's for my wife to shoot and she handled them well so they should work for my grandson. I would run a model 7, but I'd like to set the rifle up as a DM and I would like the flush mount mag so the 700 would make that much easier. Then when he get a little bigger I can switch back to the full stock. I love to carry the model 7 youth with the 18" barrel that I added a full size synthetic stock to when I'm still hunting, but I despise loading it due to the low mount scope and the short rounds. I believe that there is a person on here selling a 700, but I will have to wait until I get enough posts to see if he still has it.
Thanks for all of the welcomes guys. I believe the member who is selling the 700 in 7mm-08 goes by the name of Solm. Maybe someone who has more time in can drop him a note. It's going to take me some time to gather parts and work up a load so I'm hoping to get started sooner than later. Here is my close quarters/ long range 08