Remington Model 700 ADL Synthetic
- Thread starter Dogger
- Start date
Legionnaire
New member
Can you clarify what you mean by "all around use?" I personally prefer the .308 for all around use, but I also have a .223 bolt gun for varminting. I bought my son a .243 Model 7 for "all around use" as the caliber is big enough for eastern whitetail but not overkill for groundhogs.
Really don't think you can go wrong either way, but be advised that there are more options in factory loaded ammo (and it's widely available as surplus) in .308.
Really don't think you can go wrong either way, but be advised that there are more options in factory loaded ammo (and it's widely available as surplus) in .308.
DAVID NANCARROW
New member
I'd probably pick the 308 as well, between the two calibers mentioned. I have shot maybe 80 factory rounds out of mine in the decade I've owned it-the other 3,000 are roll-my-owns, so surplus stuff just doesn't come through the door. Only thing as good as having a shooting hobby is having a reloading hobby to go with it!
A 270 or 30-06 would also be a good choice. Wal-mart and some others generally as $10 a box for decent hunting ammo, and either one would flatten anything you're ever going to run into in VA!
A 270 or 30-06 would also be a good choice. Wal-mart and some others generally as $10 a box for decent hunting ammo, and either one would flatten anything you're ever going to run into in VA!
Here's a pretty good article on the all around cartridge.
http://www.teleport.com/~chalu/riflecar.htm
Also, if you don't reload, the .308 offers a wide variety of surplus ammo out there.
http://www.teleport.com/~chalu/riflecar.htm
Also, if you don't reload, the .308 offers a wide variety of surplus ammo out there.
I'm really just looking for an excuse to buy another rifle. 
I only hunt in Va... I have a Glenfield Model 25 bolt action .22 and a Ruger Mark II bolt action 7x57Mauser... and a milsurp M38 6.5x55 Swede... and a lever action Marlin 336CS in 30-30... The 7x57 is scoped with a Leupold 3x9x40...
What I really want is an absolute tackdriver with which to hunt deer and coyotes and a black bear if I ever stumbled on one in season... I have visions of shooting tight little groups with an inexpensive Reminton teamed up to a Leupold 6x scope... During deer season I am too bored to sit in a stand, so I literally walk my legs off on the side of Massanutten mountain in search for deer...at the end of the day I am worn to a frazzle.
The 7x57 has a walnut stock so I want this next rifle to be synthetic. An absolute nasty weather rifle whose finish I won't worry over.
I am just getting into reloading and working up loads for the 6.5x55 and 7x57. Neither one is a tack driver at 100 yards. Best I have done is 1 inch groups.
I have a hankering for the 7mm08 in Remington's current M700 Classic but that is just another pretty stock to worry about.
A 25-06 would be a sweetie but Remington doesn't offer it in the Model 700 ADL synthetic and I absolutely don't want to pay more than $400 for the rifle.
Maybe I should just go for a Savage?
I only hunt in Va... I have a Glenfield Model 25 bolt action .22 and a Ruger Mark II bolt action 7x57Mauser... and a milsurp M38 6.5x55 Swede... and a lever action Marlin 336CS in 30-30... The 7x57 is scoped with a Leupold 3x9x40...
What I really want is an absolute tackdriver with which to hunt deer and coyotes and a black bear if I ever stumbled on one in season... I have visions of shooting tight little groups with an inexpensive Reminton teamed up to a Leupold 6x scope... During deer season I am too bored to sit in a stand, so I literally walk my legs off on the side of Massanutten mountain in search for deer...at the end of the day I am worn to a frazzle.
The 7x57 has a walnut stock so I want this next rifle to be synthetic. An absolute nasty weather rifle whose finish I won't worry over.
I am just getting into reloading and working up loads for the 6.5x55 and 7x57. Neither one is a tack driver at 100 yards. Best I have done is 1 inch groups.
I have a hankering for the 7mm08 in Remington's current M700 Classic but that is just another pretty stock to worry about.
A 25-06 would be a sweetie but Remington doesn't offer it in the Model 700 ADL synthetic and I absolutely don't want to pay more than $400 for the rifle.
Maybe I should just go for a Savage?
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If the mission is coyote-deer-black bear, I would want the extra size & power of the .308. The 700ADL should be a good platform for building a low-cost tack driver. Handloading alone should get you sub-MOA. I recall a past thread with some good specifics on load development for .308
DAVID NANCARROW
New member
You could do a lot worse than a Savage. I never cared for the stock trigger pull, but I'm pretty fussy about that part of my rifles.
The nice thing about reloading a 308 is all the available bullet weights/styles and powders available. The 7mm's are just about as varied as I'm sure you already know.
If push comes to shove, you might consider a good plastic stock for one of your existing rifles. My 308 is a Rem VS, and the H&S precision stock has so impressed me that I'm considering a sporter weight Rem barreled action and another H&S and using it for my walking rifle. I remove the action from the stock to clean after every trip to the field or range session, wipe it down really good, and 60 inch pounds on the torque wrench brings it right back on line with the bullseye.
The nice thing about reloading a 308 is all the available bullet weights/styles and powders available. The 7mm's are just about as varied as I'm sure you already know.
If push comes to shove, you might consider a good plastic stock for one of your existing rifles. My 308 is a Rem VS, and the H&S precision stock has so impressed me that I'm considering a sporter weight Rem barreled action and another H&S and using it for my walking rifle. I remove the action from the stock to clean after every trip to the field or range session, wipe it down really good, and 60 inch pounds on the torque wrench brings it right back on line with the bullseye.
Chris in AL
New member
I just bought one a year ago. After several more specialized guns, I was looking for no frills, something light, reliable, durable, and accurate that would be easy to carry around all day every day during deer season. After a bad experience with Wal-Mart, I will not buy from them, but last I checked they were selling them for $366. I got mine at a sporting goods store for 329 new. Couldn't pass that up. Either way, I'm sure you can get it for under 400.
I put a trust old Leupold M8 4x on it and took it to the range. After the first few shots (less than five) of milsurp 147 gr. off sandbags she was dead on at 100 yards for the rest of the box. Short cool downs after every three shots. Minor scope adjustments when I switched to my hunting ammo. Put an cartridge holder on the butt.
I chose it for the price and the size, a bit slimmer than the M70. I'm not a benchshooter but shoot from field positions--offhand/snap, sitting, kneeling, prone, etc. Not a tack driver but it gives me under 2" all day every day. I love the gun. The only changes I plan to make are as follows:
-put a 6x scope on it
-lighten the trigger just a tad
-replacement stock (some day) that will accomodate flush mounted swivels.
I put a trust old Leupold M8 4x on it and took it to the range. After the first few shots (less than five) of milsurp 147 gr. off sandbags she was dead on at 100 yards for the rest of the box. Short cool downs after every three shots. Minor scope adjustments when I switched to my hunting ammo. Put an cartridge holder on the butt.
I chose it for the price and the size, a bit slimmer than the M70. I'm not a benchshooter but shoot from field positions--offhand/snap, sitting, kneeling, prone, etc. Not a tack driver but it gives me under 2" all day every day. I love the gun. The only changes I plan to make are as follows:
-put a 6x scope on it
-lighten the trigger just a tad
-replacement stock (some day) that will accomodate flush mounted swivels.
Dogger,
If you're patient, I'll bet you run up on a good deal on an ADL (or a Savage for that matter). I got an 700 ADL for $302 tax included. Academy Sports ran a special at $329 and my local store was simultaneously running a 15% off all firearms promotional. Before tax, the rifle was just under $280. The hunting manager rang me up, and he just kept shaking his head over how cheaply I got that one.
I've hunted with it only once, but it shoots tight groups--particularly with surplus ammo. I want to get some reloading equipment this year and am curious to see what it will do with reloads.
My uncle has a Savage in 7mm and really seems to like it. I think they're both good guns. I'd just wait around for a good deal. Lot of times, that can help make up your mind better than anything.
If you're patient, I'll bet you run up on a good deal on an ADL (or a Savage for that matter). I got an 700 ADL for $302 tax included. Academy Sports ran a special at $329 and my local store was simultaneously running a 15% off all firearms promotional. Before tax, the rifle was just under $280. The hunting manager rang me up, and he just kept shaking his head over how cheaply I got that one.
I've hunted with it only once, but it shoots tight groups--particularly with surplus ammo. I want to get some reloading equipment this year and am curious to see what it will do with reloads.
My uncle has a Savage in 7mm and really seems to like it. I think they're both good guns. I'd just wait around for a good deal. Lot of times, that can help make up your mind better than anything.
Legionnaire
New member
Eastern hunting? I find 4x is more than adequate. I've a 2-7x on a Remington hunting rifle, but it basically stays fixed at 4x. I put a fixed 4x on my son's Model 7. But go with a good scope in any event (Leupold, Burris, or better). Fixed 4x is probably least expensive. In the Leupold line, the VX-IIs are good variables; I like the 2-7x compact, or the 3-9x for all around use. For shooting from a bench, however, when you want to make constant adjustments to elevation and windage, you'll need a scope with positive click adjustments. My target rifles wear Leupold VX-IIIs. But for an all around inexpensive gun, a Leupold M8 4x would be my choice.
Mounts and rings depend on the scope you choose. Take a look at http://www.leupold.com/pimounts.html and click on the "Mount Fit Search" link. That'll help you figure out the lowest base/ring combo you can use for a Leupold scope.
Mounts and rings depend on the scope you choose. Take a look at http://www.leupold.com/pimounts.html and click on the "Mount Fit Search" link. That'll help you figure out the lowest base/ring combo you can use for a Leupold scope.
Edward429451
Moderator
I think you should go Remington and chambered in .308
I got my son the ADL synthetic youth and put williams foolproof peep sights on it, and it shoots great! He took an elk with it last year, Iron sights, 75 yards, perfect, right through the shoulder, 180 gr handload. We did eventually scope the remington, and now it'll shoot 1 1/8"-1 1/4" at 100, all day long. If your worried about overkill on the smallish eastern game load up some 125 gr loads and you should be alright. We even shoot rabbits with it, with 110 gr round nose lead bullets intended for the .30 carbine, and if you dont handload (START!), remington makes those "accellarator" bullets for the .308 (I think), which is a 55 gr 22 cal bullet in a .308 sabot. They should be just the ticket for those groundhogs! Happy shooting
I got my son the ADL synthetic youth and put williams foolproof peep sights on it, and it shoots great! He took an elk with it last year, Iron sights, 75 yards, perfect, right through the shoulder, 180 gr handload. We did eventually scope the remington, and now it'll shoot 1 1/8"-1 1/4" at 100, all day long. If your worried about overkill on the smallish eastern game load up some 125 gr loads and you should be alright. We even shoot rabbits with it, with 110 gr round nose lead bullets intended for the .30 carbine, and if you dont handload (START!), remington makes those "accellarator" bullets for the .308 (I think), which is a 55 gr 22 cal bullet in a .308 sabot. They should be just the ticket for those groundhogs! Happy shooting
GeneralChang
New member
I recently purchased a 308 youth version of the Rem ADL. I replaced the stock with an HS precision stock. I also replaced the trigger guard with a steel one I got from Brownells. I got a Badger Ordnance mount for it and mounted a Burris 4x compact scope with Leupold QD rings. It routinely shoots MOA with Fed GM 168. I also purchased a Reflex with the ARMS QD mount to increase its versatility. I will say that all of that "versatility" went a little too far in the pocketbook department. Was it worth it? To me I have to say yes it was. To answer your question, I believe the ADL in 308 (youth) is a great all around rifle.