Remington Model 700 BDL DM 30-06 .. my favourite

Although the Remington 710 is improved, there are better options out there for a tad more or the same money.

Either of the Savages with detachable magazines will do and so will the 700 SPS in 30-06, which I purchased for my son last year. Rifle was $469.00 from Sportsman's Warehouse in Utah and included a 24" stainless / parkerized barrel and Limbsaver Recoil Pad.

In short, Savages in 30-06 will have the 22" barrel and the new 700 SPS is another bargain - especially with the free Limbsaver Pad and 24" barrel.

FYI:

The Remington 700 SPS we purchased in 2005 can be found in a blued version for $398.00, but we liked the stainless at $469. (Note: Remington's 2005 Stainless version retails for $613 and has replaced the 2004 BDL's Stainless. The 2005 SPS in blue ($520 retail) has replaced the 2004 ADL line which was dropped. 2006 retail pricing is about 5% higher.)

We piller bedded the action / free floated the barrel, and adjusted the stock trigger to a crisp 2 3/4 lbs. So far, results have been 7/8" MOA with Federal's 180-gr. (Nosler) Solid Base ammo.

While Winchester Supreme 180-gr. Ballistic Silvertips are my favorite load for deer (front half of the bullet explodes like a grenade & rear half keeps on penetrating for a complete pass-through like a Nosler Partition), the 700 SPS with 24" barrel only shoots 1 1/4" groups - plenty enough for deer.

I have to agree with 147 grain about the 710. It has improved but has been plagued with problems. I am a remy fan so my vote goes that way but any of the rifles listed will serve you well. If I had to pick just one I would go for the BDL but the SPS is a very close second.

I don't know about the savage models but I'd take the one of the 700's over the 710. The 710 has a plastic clip that is easy to put in backwards. My friend bought one and did that and broke a little plastic piece in the reciever and now the clip just falls out, basically now a single shot until he can get it back to Remmington. The 710 just has too much plastic on it.

I'd look hard at the Savage. Remingtons are going through the roof with winchesters plant closing (at least locally) all the m -70s are being grabbed up like hot cakes. savage package (not the best scope, but you can re3place that) is around 364 at wal mart. i have a 243 savage that shoots awesome. an m-70 synthetic that shoots real well, and am looking at a 270 win in savage 11, just for price reasons. they are rugged, take a beatin (synthetic), will shoot like a dickens, trigger can be worked by a smith ( unlike win m-70) folks dont like to touch those. or a stevens for 250 bucks where you gonna find a gun like that. if your going to hunt it hard, why should it be pretty. i purchased an m70 7mm mmag for elk, the trigger felt like the safety was on when it was off. i got rid of it. ill use my 06 or 270. this isnt faulting the caliber, it was the trigger, and i couldnt get any one to work it.

Savage and Remington are both great rifles. I'd go with the Rem 700 SPS. I just like Remingtons safety switch better than the tang safety of the Savages. However I prefer the three position safety switch of the Winchesters and Rugers. Remington is coming out with a Mauser Action soon, if not already. Its called the model 798

I've had my share of Remington's and mostly good luck. But I've used many other rifle's also, again with good luck. Presently I own several Remington's but only one with a hinged floor plate, I'm not crazy about them on anything. Probally why I only own two now.

I've only seem it happen one time that the floor plate fell open while hunting and it was to someone else. That's one time to much for me.

My next new rifle will be a Savage. Looking at a Model 12 FV in 223 Rem.

its completely up to you. look at them and decide which one you like best. if i was buying a new rifle and had the dollars for a remington, i would go with the 700 sps or bdl. i,ve had a few bdls, wish i still had them. hard times dictated they get sold. replacements never take the place of a really good rifle. they were really good. 700 cant be beat. strong action, accurate out of the box and with a good smith, ( trigger work, bedding, float fore end of barrel) you can get 3/8 inch groups at 200 yds with factory ammo off the bench. i had two that would do that. o well, if wishes were horses beggars would ride , if horse s&%t were donuts, we'd eat 'till we died. they were very good guns. look at the 700 bdl deluxe, engraved reciever. savage is great for the money, not as pretty, but if its going to get hunted hard, who cares. got a 270 with the accu trigger, i like it alot. cant wait to hunt with it and break it in proper ( with a kill) that always put a little more like in the weapon, for me. good luck. keep us posted , ster.

I am partial to Savage. I initially went with Savage because I am left handed and the price could not be beat. I have since found that they shoot pretty darn good right out of the box.

The other thing I found out is how easy they are to rebarrel. You do not need a gunsmith to rebarrel a Savage, There are instruction on the internet. I am changing my Savage 110 from a 30-06 to a 30-06 AI. I am looking to purchase another Savage 110 in 30-06 so I can rebarrel the rifle to a 338-06 AI.

I do agree with ster that they are not the prettiest rifles out there, but, they sure have worked well for me.