Model 7 or M77 Compact 308s

keith mokry said:
Well if she can handle the Kimber maybe it’s time to look for another as they are a nice option also
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ha ha, too expensive down here these days , long story short.. we looked at the howa superlight, but it would be great for me back packing but not ideal for new shooter--

essentially, she loves the Franchi, an it may be a matter of finding gunsmith nearby to lop the barrel but its about $300 to get 2 inches cut off, well about $300 for the job no matter the inches---- we would cut 4 off it... bring it to 18
 
I found the Model Seven felt too small, IDK why exactly because it's not much smaller than a 700 Mtn Rifle or similar. Couldn't sell it off fast enough, for some reason it was uglier than my 700's too... figure that out?

All of my 308 Rugers felt good. The actions ofc are completely different feeling, as is every other operation.
 
I bought my wife for Xmas a Ruger Hawkeye stainless compact black laminate 308 with 16.1 in barrel...she loves it.
Super handy little rifle :)
 
WhelanLad said:
ha ha, too expensive down here these days , long story short.. we looked at the howa superlight, but it would be great for me back packing but not ideal for new shooter--

essentially, she loves the Franchi, an it may be a matter of finding gunsmith nearby to lop the barrel but its about $300 to get 2 inches cut off, well about $300 for the job no matter the inches---- we would cut 4 off it... bring it to 18
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Lop it off yourself. I've done 6 or so now and all either increased accuracy or stayed the same.. simple job only takes 1hr ir so with simple hand tools. Great little project
 
I have both. The Ruger Gunsite Scout currently in my locker is an amazingly accurate and fast handling carbine but I simply have never warmed up to Rugers. I can't truly identify any one thing but I just do not like them despite how well mine shoots.

Model Sevens are nicer and have a better feel straight off the rack but are heavier than what they should be. The older, light weight models had crappy barrels, heavy stocks, and junk triggers, with a reputation for poor accuracy and the more recent models are every bit as heavy if not heavier than standard model 700 short actions. In my mind, the Seven is best suited to custom builds for a flyweight, mountain rig to include trimming bits from the receiver, hollowing out the bolt handle, fluting the bolt body, short, trim barrels, definitely a new trigger, and finishing with a McMillan Edge or a Wildcat Composite. Unless you plan to go full custom, a 700 short action is relatively easy to modify at home with a new trigger and stock.

For the OP, I believe you are a lefty and I do not believe the Seven was ever turned out in a lefthand model but both the Ruger77 and the Rem700SA both come in left handed actions.
 
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Im a LH Duncan, but my partner is RH a normal one... lol.

So throw the Rem 783 "HB" 16.5 in the mix-- .308 ... The Tan stock appeals to her, an i mentioned the triggers good with the blade- an itl just feel better to point an shoot in field conditions instead of a 22inch ?!?! she is not super small, about similiar build to me minus the beer gut..but we are smallish.
this gun has similiar front foreend as the franchi, i believe its normal size gun minus the barrel length- so that could be suited well- as she doesnt complain about LOP in the franchi.


We definatly want to feel them ourselves, but nice to get some opinions on the guns themselfs... i like what i see with the model 7, can get a black one in 20 inch synthetic with burris droptine already on it- we were goin to purchase one-
but unsure of pricing right now- just been offered it.

Cutting the barrel myself... hmmm, possibly-- im not super confident without looking it upa bit better- but it would be possibility because the franchi is pretty sweet---
 
You can't go wrong with either, but I would suggest 7mm-08 for her. I am a bit of a Ruger fanboy as of late, especially the tang safety Mk1's, but I have handled some very nice model 7's too. See what fits her better.
 
My brother has the 783 HB 308... it's a very heavy rifle for it's size. I know my wife would balk at packing it around.
We run a rem 7 in 7-08 and a browning micro midas (243) for my wife and boys. My wife loves her browning...it's also available in 7-08..nice short rifles. I'm a carbine fan myself so I have a bunch of 20" and sub 20 guns
 
I have a Ruger 77 Compact in 243, not .308 - very accurate - 100 grain SST bullet holes touching at 100 yards. But REALLY loud - another shooter said it was louder than his 24" 300 Win Mag. Not likely a function of brand - more likely function of barrel length? I hunted many decades with a Winchester Model 70 in .308 Win with 22" barrel - our son has that one now. However, when my wife decided to try deer hunting, after we were married - I sawed off a Remington 788 in 243 Win to 19" - mostly for balance for her to aim - and whittled away at pistol grip so she could get her hand around it for good hold. And Length of Pull, and grip carvings on forearm, etc.

I have hunted deer the past decade or so with 7x57 - I read that 7mm-08 has similar performance - is likely what I would try - a 7mm-08 in shorter barrel - load up 145 to 160 grain bullets and go kill something.

For hunting purposes - perhaps "accuracy" of the rifle is a bit over-rated - is more or less a guideline for you how close to get for a certain kill shot - that might be 50 meters or that might be 500 metres - up to you, the rifle, the load, the scope, the bedding, etc.
 
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Potashminer said:
But REALLY loud - another shooter said it was louder than his 24" 300 Win Mag. Not likely a function of brand - more likely function of barrel length?
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Yes, it's definitely the barrel length.
Same with shotguns. I have an 8.5" barreled 12 gauge and the last time we were shooting with it my nearest neighbour - from 5 kilometers away - came by to see wtf was going on.

It's something to consider, but the difference between 16.5" and 18" is probably negligible.
 
yeah i had my 30-06 barrel taken down 2 inch and it got loud but not silly loud.... but in sayin that a 16.5? Ruger .223 i borrowed made a hell of a noise--even with a "sound diverter" thing on the end lol.

thats a good point made regarding the super short barrels and excessive noise---


Thanks regarding the Heavy for size RE the 783.......... i think this is similiar to what we found with a short Ruger ranch we held once... wasnt reaaalllly that nice short light gun we were chasing--

regarding calibre.... if any single one of yas can explain how there is legitamately a difference between a 308 and a 7mm08 particuarly under 300meters then I am a monkeys uncle. absolute no question here- we are using a .308 for sake of arguement-
there isnt a skerrick of difference between a 7mm08 and a .308 when loaded with either 140-160 grain using 40gr of Varget----ever.


this kind of points toward sticking around that 18-20 inch barrel Deal- As mentiuoned above its for the ease an balance and pointability, carrying etc

i been handling that Franchi-- its really only half an inch longer than my Montana--- not aa "heavy" gun
just not sure the gunsmithing Fee is worth it for -2 inches at this stage

will grab a few of these rifles when we can an see which feels beetterers!
 
Haven't had the pleasure of having a model 7 yet, though I've wanted one and tried buying one a few years back.

I'm guessing that vintage of Remington probably won't have a great trigger out of the box, but I'm pretty sure you could still adjust them quite well. Probably have a smoother action than the Ruger.

I have a Compact 77, and it's truly a kid size rifle in every dimension. Laminate stock, with nice cut checkering. Action is a bit rough compared to my old 77, and it's not really (always) a CRF despite being designed to be. I'm sure the action will smooth up a bit yet. The trigger is good and it shoots well. It shipping with integrally mounting rings is nice, and the 3 position safety is superior to Remington's.

It's only listed at 6 pounds, and I believe it to be true. I enjoy shooting it, and the 16" pencil barrel is no detriment other than being a bit loud.
 
WhelanLad said:
non event- esp for a reloader?
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Probably not. But it'd be a bit easier to get brass, too.

One of the nice things about the really common old standbys, is I trip all over 30-30, 30-06, .308, .223 and .243 brass at the range. Makes reloading cheaper and easier..

Not quite as much 7-08, but it's not uncommon. But I can gather 100s of .308 from the range, and it could be necked down, it's nice that it doesn't need to be.
 
WhelanLad said:
ha ha, too expensive down here these days , long story short.. we looked at the howa superlight, but it would be great for me back packing but not ideal for new shooter--

essentially, she loves the Franchi, an it may be a matter of finding gunsmith nearby to lop the barrel but its about $300 to get 2 inches cut off, well about $300 for the job no matter the inches---- we would cut 4 off it... bring it to 18
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Pipe cutter or a hacksaw, set of files, and a brass screw with some valve grinding compound on it. Done in about an hour, give or take. - dan
 
^ cutting off a barrel is probably an easy thing to do - the idea to end up with is that the rifling / grooves all let go of the bullet at the same time - all the way around - that will happen if the muzzle surface at the edge of the rifling in exactly 90 degrees to centre of bore line. I did so to the above 243 Win barrel before I read about the brass thing with valve grind compound - cut off as square to bore as I could - that might not be square to the barrel exterior - one would assume that exterior of barrel is straight (that one was tapered) and one would assume that the bore hole was perfectly in the centre of the barrel steel (that one was not, where I cut it off). When you fire it - you will often see like a "star" on the muzzle from the powder smoke - file with flat file as needed to get the legs on that star about the same to each other. After, you can use some cold blue or jiffy marker to make it dark blue or black, if you want. I only did the "file off" thing once, like 45 years ago - now-a-days I have a Brownell's hand turned muzzle crown cutter - if your pilot fits well, it seems to cut a square muzzle. An acquaintance will then touch the tips of the rifling with a 45 degree cutter - to take off the sharp edges, he says. A bench rest shooting acquaintance says the the notion of a "target crown" - or like 7 degree slope or similar - was thoroughly debunked in various bench rest competitions circa 20 or 30 years ago - he believes a square flat muzzle is about "best" for precise accuracy - hunting guys tend not to like those since the exact bullet release location is subject to dings or damage, with a perfectly flat crown.
 
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