Any Remington Model Seven fans?

C

coal farmer

New member
I 'm thinking I want a Remington Model 7 in 223.
Was wanting some feedback on past or present owners.
Just wondering if I should look for a older one or is new production ok?
Just really wanting some opinions.
Thanks~
 
I think it is one of the nicer bolt guns out there, I've been looking at one, a Model 7 Predator Hunter in 22-250.
 
Trying to decide between a 22-250 and a 223 myself. Tough choice but I already have a .243 so I'm leaning towards 223. I think an older one has a better chance of being a great shooter but?
 
I bought my wife a model 7, youth model in 7mm-08, new in 1996. She's killed deer with it about every year since. Only rifle I can't trade off either. Never have had a problem with it.
 
I just picked up a pair of new 7 predators in 22-250 I traded some older 223's in on. I'm just getting past the barrel break-in process I use but I'm not impressed with the accuracy so far. I'm up to cleaning every 6 shots now, shooting a couple 3 shot groups between cleaning.

They are great feeling rifles, if I can get them to shoot I will really like them.

I've tried 6 different brands/ weights of factory stuff with 50 or 55gr bullets in each and my best groups are around 1.5". That's not terrible but not what I was hoping for. I don't think it's just me and a factory trigger making them so bad but I can't rule it out either. I shot my 243 and AR with good triggers while letting the barrels cool on the Remingtons and shot 5 shot groups with both under .75".

I'm going to see if the barrel likes being a little more fouled now since I have over 30 rounds down each.

After that I'm going to try some lighter bullets and handloads. I have 40 and 50gr Ballistic tips, 52 and 55gr Sierras to try. I have new Nosler brass and several powders that should be good with them. If they don't like any of those I don't know what I'll do next.

A buddy just got one that was shooting under 3/4" with the factory 55gr Ballistic Tip ammo he tried, so I know his shoots.

I'll update after I get more time behind them.
 
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I had a model 7 predator 22-250 for a short time, short being the key word after 7 different brands and weights of ammunition the best i got was 1.5" groups at 100. Down the road it went, and kind of soured me on remington
 
Originally Posted By: ToddNEI had a model 7 predator 22-250 for a short time, short being the key word after 7 different brands and weights of ammunition the best i got was 1.5" groups at 100. Down the road it went, and kind of soured me on remington


I'm hoping mine isn't the same way. Maybe a shorter bullet like the 52gr Matchking will be the answer. I really like the rifles feel if I can get the accuracy I want with a bullet I trust for yotes. If not they won't stay at my place.
 
I have a 1994 model 7 in 6 mm had to replace the original factory stock because the guy shipping didn't package it properly and the post office broke the stock. The guy made good on the stock and I replaced it with a S&K laminated walnut stock. Had my Smith bed it and it will shoot 1/2 groups with the 70 grain blitzking and 4064. I do like the idea of the of the newer models having a longer barrel and somewhat heaver. My nephew has a new model 7 in 6 mm stainless that has not been shot yet. I do not care for the synthetic stock though. Hopefully soon I can help him work up a load and see if we can get it to shoot.
 
I'd look for an older Model Seven, or build one.

I had a Seven Predator .22-250 that like the guys above mentioned, was not a shooter not matter what load I tried, so I sold it. My uncle got a Seven Predator about six months later and had the same issues and sold it. Maybe just avoid the Predator model, not sure why that particular model doesn't seem to shoot well.

My older Seven .223 and 7mm-08 shoot well. In a different thread I was thinking about doing a custom Model Seven build for fun.
 
I don't know why those Predators don't shoot well, but I notice that the twist rates suck. 1 in 12 for .223 and 1 in 14 for 22-250? Are you kidding me?
 
Two issues to deal with on any ultra light:

Barrel whip

Length of time the bullet is in the barrel

I have had the following model 7's:
222
223
243
7/08
308

All of them were typical in their groups. 1" was stellar and 1 1/2" more typical. I bedded, replaced stocks, free floated, became an expert of sorts on pressure points, and actually put adjustable pressure points on one forearm to try and help it.

What worked in spades was a putting a Gentry muzzle break on the barrel. This I think did two things, eliminated 50% or more of the recoil, and added weight to the end of the barrel. The gun is moving while the bullet is still in the barrel for about .200 of an inch, Reducing recoil helps tremendously in this regard.

I still have 4, the 243,(2) 7/08's, and the 308 all shoot with the bullets touching with Gentry Muzzle breaks, otherwise, they are shotguns with 2-3.5" groups.

What I have done since on a couple of other carry guns, is to install a #5 contour and cut it as short as I want, stiff barrels work in spades, but it does add about 1 lb to the weight MAX.
Bughole load development involves little work on the short stiff barrels.

I had a couple of ruger ultra lights, got rid of them at a gun show, this was before I learned about the muzzle break fix.

I had a gunsmith friend in San Diego that did nothing but build ultra lights. He came over to Az and hunted with me from time to time. He told me that ultra lights were never intended to shoot groups with, just to hunt with. He hunted coyotes with a 7 Dakota that weighed 4 1/2 lbs with the scope. I swear, it was the most brutal thing that I had ever pulled the trigger on.

If you do build a model 7 and want a tack driver, make the taper a straight taper from shank to muzzle dia that you want, and this small amount of additional steel will add great rigidity to the barrel. This "straight taper" is an old European trick to make barrels more accurate, nothing new at all.

Good luck
 
Originally Posted By: desertcjI don't know why those Predators don't shoot well, but I notice that the twist rates suck. 1 in 12 for .223 and 1 in 14 for 22-250? Are you kidding me?

laugh.gif
 
The biggest issue with Seven's and accuracy is the stocks they come in. The plastic stocks are tupperware trash, the wood stock models are salvageable though. I've made a few of those shoot by installing pillars and bedding them. The only model seven I've had that was a shooter out of the box was a 300 SAUM in the laminated stock, it was a 3/4 minute gun out of the box with the factory 165gr ammo and handholds shot about the same. Pillars, bedding, and floating the barrel made that gun shoot sub 1/2 minute. Not as drastic as the others, but it was also the best shooter of them all out of the box and still the best after the work.

I like them but I can't get past how badly they bind and that's why I no longer own any. That shorter rear section of the action really makes them bind if you're trying to run them. That's an issue on a 90 degree action when you've got a scope mounted down low and you're on the very end of the bolt knob sending it home. It would be a different story if you could wrap a finger around it (you can with no optic) to keep it straight.

Regardless, that 300SAUM in definitely amongst my top 10 list of "rifles I wish I hand't sold".
 
They're my favorite for some reason.

But, the internet is full of people complaining about the predator models.





I have non predators in:

17 Remington
.223
7saum

And built a 308 off one for a friend. It groups everything you run through it at .5 or less, and almost to the same p.o.i.


Anyway they all shoot so good they'll never get traded.

I wouldn't be afraid of any of the earlier Models.



Have you seen the new one they're coming out with?


Stainless in an HS Precision stock.

Sweet sweet looking rifle.






 
My .243 Predator is a bit fussy but find what it likes and it'll shoot. I have several handloads that shoot well under an inch. However, the odds of buying a box of off the shelf ammo that will do that isn't great.
 
I have a Predator in .17 FB that I bought here a few years back for a very fair price. It took a little work to get it to feed but it is one of my favorites. Thinking of getting the barrel shortened and threaded for a can. Dave
 
I've got a 17 Fireball and a 204 Ruger that are both Predators and they are both good shooters. Fireball is in a H&S stock, 204 is in a Bell & Carlson. I like the barrel profile. Sold a 22-250 that was in the tupperware stock and it shot under an inch with my handloads.
I have had good luck with Remingtons, I do usually have a Timmney or a Jewel trigger installed.
 


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