REM 700 build feedback

[Ligma907]

In the infant stage of making prudent investments for a long term, long range hunting setup. Specifically to target deer, black bear, sheep, caribou, and elk.

Currently have: REM 700 7mm rem mag stainless barreled action, MDT field stock, CVLife bipod, and vortex viper 4-16x44 hst

Shopping: Scope, rings/rail, bipod

I haven’t done my homework on bipods yet but my stock has mlok rails along the sides and bottom in addition to two sling lugs so I have options there.

As far as scopes, I’m hung up between the SWFA gen 2 3-15x44 and the Maven rs1.2 2.5-15x44. Any reasonable recommendations to stick with a SFP scope? All I currently see is benefit from switching to FFP but I haven’t personally tested the light transmission side by side-open to opinions.

Rings/rail: I’m weary of seekins and Talley rings, I’m leaning toward Hawkins or NF rings. I don’t intend to shoot outside 500yds, my local range only reaches out to 450 and I would have to go out in the boonies to practice at any further distance.

Any constructive input is appreciated. Also any suggestions about powder/bullet combinations for 7mm are welcome since it pertains to extending my efficacy at longer range. I’m a FNG handloader as well. Thanks for your time.

 

[Mag_7s]

I can't speak on your optic choices, but either the NF or Hawkins rings will serve you well. I do prefer Hawkins over NF.
As for starting out as an "FNG" in reloading I would suggest keeping just to the basics. Purchase a reloading manual and follow their procedures. If you don't have equipment, RCBS Rock Chucker kit is a good starting point. I would recommend starting with quality brass. ADG, Norma, Peterson all make a quality product. I have one 7RM that likes Hodgdon H1000, and another that likes Retumbo. As for a primer, a magnum primer CCI 250, or Fed 215s will be your best bet for good ignition. It sounds like you would like more of a long range bullet, so something with a secant ogive like Hornaday ELDMs or ELDxs in the 168 -175gn or Berger 175 EOL hunting hybrid.

 

[Ligma907]

I can't speak on your optic choices, but either the NF or Hawkins rings will serve you well. I do prefer Hawkins over NF.
As for starting out as an "FNG" in reloading I would suggest keeping just to the basics. Purchase a reloading manual and follow their procedures. If you don't have equipment, RCBS Rock Chucker kit is a good starting point. I would recommend starting with quality brass. ADG, Norma, Peterson all make a quality product. I have one 7RM that likes Hodgdon H1000, and another that likes Retumbo. As for a primer, a magnum primer CCI 250, or Fed 215s will be your best bet for good ignition. It sounds like you would like more of a long range bullet, so something with a secant ogive like Hornaday ELDMs or ELDxs in the 168 -175gn or Berger 175 EOL hunting hybrid.

Much appreciated! I have a tendency to get into the weeds on rifle building and reloading…learning a lot along the way.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

prudent investments

REM 700 7mm rem mag stainless barreled action, MDT field stock, CVLife bipod, and vortex viper 4-16x44 hst

If you are going down the prudent investments route & seeking advice from Rokslide, I’d strongly suggest you do some research with the search tab on each of those listed components.

 

[TaperPin]

Great combination! The 7 mag and 160 gr bonded or Partition bullets has been my go to for decades out to 500 yards. It’s easy to shoot accurately and has reliable, almost boring results. Hit something in the right place and game over. I started out with Partitions and there was no reason to change, but moved to the Accubond for a short time, and now back to the Partition.

 

[cal30_sniper]

If you are going down the prudent investments route & seeking advice from Rokslide, I’d strongly suggest you do some research with the search tab on each of those listed components.

Apparently he did, and made a conscious choice to the opposite. How else do you end up with that action, caliber, chassis, and optics choice?

 

[TaperPin]

Don’t listen to them, the 7 mag has a huge following, as does the Remington 700. They want to fight anyone without an imported rifle.

 

[LaHunter]

I like your rifle setup assuming it shoots well and functions properly and you can shoot it well. I have been shooting the M700 7rem mag for little over 3 decades. I have gone to all NF rings and NF SHV scopes on nearly all my rifles, so I would recomm NF rings and scopes. I am still a sfp scope user. I have Harris bipods on nearly all my rifles, they simply do the job well.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Don’t listen to them, the 7 mag has a huge following, as does the Remington 700. They want to fight anyone without an imported rifle.

No one is fighting anyone. 7 Rem Mag is great, but he said he wanted a long range rifle, and truth be told, 7 Rem Mag has been left in the dust in that regard. Depending on how he’s twisted and throated, it may be stuck there.

If you’ve got a fast twist barrel, extra mag space, and a throat that can accommodate seating out, the 7 Rem Mag can grow a lot more legs than it has in factory trim.

I’ve got a Defiance action with a Proof Research 7 Rem Mag barrel in 8.4 twist. It likes 180ELDMs loaded out to about 3.6” COAL. I believe the 175 ABLRs hit the lands at about the same length, but I haven’t shot them yet.

Get good brass and a means of measuring shoulder bump. Full length dies move the shoulder way too far back if you screw them in to the shell holder. 180ELDMs (if you’re twisted for them) over a load of Retumbo would be a great place to start.

If you have a 9.5 twist barrel, you’ll be limited on what slippery bullets you can use. If that’s the case, it’s probably worth looking into a Remage rebarrel, with 7PRC being a more logical candidate for factory long range ammo availability.

 

[Ligma907]

If you are going down the prudent investments route & seeking advice from Rokslide, I’d strongly suggest you do some research with the search tab on each of those listed components.

What is your setup for dall sheep?

 

[Ligma907]

Apparently he did, and made a conscious choice to the opposite. How else do you end up with that action, caliber, chassis, and optics choice?

Inherited the rifle. First scope I ever bought a decade ago. Snapped the wood stock slipping on ice a couple years back. Just discovered the depth of Internet forums and boy is it informative. I’m saving for new barreled action, optic and optic mounts. I keep hearing great things about defiance actions but also a lot of hype around seekins. Mostly gathering information at this point, my gun currently serves all my purposes hunting in SE Alaska, just looking to extend my range.

 

[B_Reynolds_AK]

What is your setup for dall sheep?

A Barrett Fieldcraft 6.5 with a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10 took the majority of my sheep.

Built a Defiance AnTi X 6 CM in a HNT 26 w/ an NXS scope and killed my Bighorn with it.

Came to my senses and realized that a Tikka action is superior in multiple ways to the Defiance.

My future sheep hunts will be with a Tikka action with UM mods and Nitride and chambered in 22 CM.

The Tikka is better sealed to the environment, magnitudes of order smoother and faster to fun than the defiance and has a much more reliable trigger design.

Buy a Tikka. Upgrade as desired to a Rokstok or HNT 26, put a RS 1.2 or a NXS scope on it and have a gun better than pretty much anything else you could buy. Change out the barrel with prefits at home if you like.

 

[Ligma907]

A Barrett Fieldcraft 6.5 with a Nightforce NXS 2.5-10 took the majority of my sheep.

Built a Defiance AnTi X 6 CM in a HNT 26 w/ an NXS scope and killed my Bighorn with it.

Came to my senses and realized that a Tikka action is superior in multiple ways to the Defiance.

My future sheep hunts will be with a Tikka action with UM mods and Nitride and chambered in 22 CM.

The Tikka is better sealed to the environment, magnitudes of order smoother and faster to fun than the defiance and has a much more reliable trigger design.

Buy a Tikka. Upgrade as desired to a Rokstok or HNT 26, put a RS 1.2 or a NXS scope on it and have a gun better than pretty much anything else you could buy. Change out the barrel with prefits at home if you like.

Answered a number of my questions all in one shot. Thanks for sharing.

 

[Ligma907]

No one is fighting anyone. 7 Rem Mag is great, but he said he wanted a long range rifle, and truth be told, 7 Rem Mag has been left in the dust in that regard. Depending on how he’s twisted and throated, it may be stuck there.

If you’ve got a fast twist barrel, extra mag space, and a throat that can accommodate seating out, the 7 Rem Mag can grow a lot more legs than it has in factory trim.

I’ve got a Defiance action with a Proof Research 7 Rem Mag barrel in 8.4 twist. It likes 180ELDMs loaded out to about 3.6” COAL. I believe the 175 ABLRs hit the lands at about the same length, but I haven’t shot them yet.

Get good brass and a means of measuring shoulder bump. Full length dies move the shoulder way too far back if you screw them in to the shell holder. 180ELDMs (if you’re twisted for them) over a load of Retumbo would be a great place to start.

If you have a 9.5 twist barrel, you’ll be limited on what slippery bullets you can use. If that’s the case, it’s probably worth looking into a Remage rebarrel, with 7PRC being a more logical candidate for factory long range ammo availability.

Much appreciated, that all makes sense and contributes to my decision moving forward. I don’t have the twist, it’s an ancient set up with a 1:9.5 24” barrel. I’m likely going to retire this setup and move on with an updated barreled action on a more ergonomic chassis. The more I research the more I want to split off with one 6.5 rifle and one .30 caliber rifle. Ideally some day I’ll have all the bases covered including an updated 7mm setup.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Much appreciated, that all makes sense and contributes to my decision moving forward. I don’t have the twist, it’s an ancient set up with a 1:9.5 24” barrel. I’m likely going to retire this setup and move on with an updated barreled action on a more ergonomic chassis. The more I research the more I want to split off with one 6.5 rifle and one .30 caliber rifle. Ideally some day I’ll have all the bases covered including an updated 7mm setup.

I echo what was said on the Tikka actions above. The only advantage I see to the Defiance is weight. For the cost minded, Tikka is a much better value proposition.

 

[TaperPin]

No one is fighting anyone. 7 Rem Mag is great, but he said he wanted a long range rifle, and truth be told, 7 Rem Mag has been left in the dust in that regard. Depending on how he’s twisted and throated, it may be stuck there.

If you’ve got a fast twist barrel, extra mag space, and a throat that can accommodate seating out, the 7 Rem Mag can grow a lot more legs than it has in factory trim.

I’ve got a Defiance action with a Proof Research 7 Rem Mag barrel in 8.4 twist. It likes 180ELDMs loaded out to about 3.6” COAL. I believe the 175 ABLRs hit the lands at about the same length, but I haven’t shot them yet.

Get good brass and a means of measuring shoulder bump. Full length dies move the shoulder way too far back if you screw them in to the shell holder. 180ELDMs (if you’re twisted for them) over a load of Retumbo would be a great place to start.

If you have a 9.5 twist barrel, you’ll be limited on what slippery bullets you can use. If that’s the case, it’s probably worth looking into a Remage rebarrel, with 7PRC being a more logical candidate for factory long range ammo availability.

Even a 160 gr bullet has plenty of gas’s left beyond the op stated max range of 500 yards. Beyond 600 yards I’d agree with you heavier bullets come into their own, but before that it’s silly to suggest heavies are necessary.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Even a 160 gr bullet has plenty of gas’s left beyond the op stated max range of 500 yards. Beyond 600 yards I’d agree with you heavier bullets come into their own, but before that it’s silly to suggest heavies are necessary.

View attachment 855185

Good, now run the table to 800+ yards, with wind, and compare it to a 175ABLR or 180ELDM.

Maybe there's some confusion afoot here since OP claims he wants a "long term, long range hunting setup" while in the same post stating "I don’t intend to shoot outside 500yds". By modern standards, these are mutually exclusive definitions, so maybe OP can clarify.

 

[TaperPin]

Good, now run the table to 800+ yards, with wind, and compare it to a 175ABLR or 180ELDM.

Maybe there's some confusion afoot here since OP claims he wants a "long term, long range hunting setup" while in the same post stating "I don’t intend to shoot outside 500yds". By modern standards, these are mutually exclusive definitions, so maybe OP can clarify.

For long range I agree with you. Even replacing an existing barrel to shoot 160s I’d use a fast twist barrel, because who doesn’t like flexibility to shoot different bullets.