December 18, 2020
By Steve Gash
A unique subset of lightweight guns with short barrels, synthetic stocks, and perhaps a threaded muzzle has carved out a unique niche of its own in the rifle world. These specialized guns are generally made to be carried a lot and shot only occasionally, but they have to provide game-getting accuracy. A prime example of this genre of rifles is a new version of the Remington Model Seven called Mossy Oak Bottomlands. I’ll call it the MOB for short.
The MOB is highly specialized to meet the criteria of hunters who engage in long treks across difficult terrain in pursuit of their game and want to be able to make a precisely placed shot when their game is in range. It is chambered for 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 Blackout, and .308 Winchester. I used one in .308 Win. for this report.
The MOB is compact, well balanced, and attractive. It feels light and handles well. The synthetic stock is lightweight yet stiff and sturdy, and it is finished, of course, in the Mossy Oak Bottomlands camo pattern. It has sling-swivel studs and a SuperCell recoil pad.
The barrel is completely free-floated, but there is very little clearance between the barrel and the stock throughout its length. This would be a cause for concern if the stock was not appropriately stiff. If a flimsy stock flexes under recoil and touches the barrel, it isn’t “free-floated” anymore, and accuracy could suffer. However, the MOB’s stock is so stiff that I was unable to squeeze it enough to make it touch the barrel at the fore-end tip.
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Key features of the Model Seven are the 16.5-inch, threaded barrel; the synthetic camo stock; and the Remington X-Mark Pro adjustable trigger. The MOB’s 16.5-inch barrel is threaded 5/8-24 for a suppressor or a muzzle brake, and it comes with a thread protector. The bolt weighs 11.5 ounces (for comparison, a Model 700 bolt weighs 13.7 ounces), and it has Remington’s “clip” extractor and plunger ejector. The safety is at the right rear of the action, and when “On,” it does not lock the bolt, so the chamber can be unloaded with the safety engaged.
The MOB does not come with open sights, but a Picatinny rail is attached for mounting a scope. When the rail is removed, its screw holes can be used to mount conventional scope bases.
For testing, I installed a Bushnell Prime 3-12X 40mm scope. I think it was an excellent application on the Model Seven, and you can read more about it in the Quick Shot on page 58.
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The MOB has a fixed magazine with a hinged floorplate, and it holds four .308 Win. cartridges (five cartridges for the other two chamberings). The rifle’s X-Mark Pro trigger is externally adjustable, but according to my Wheeler Digital Trigger Gauge, the pull averaged 3.1 pounds right out of the box, so I made no adjustments to it. It was nice and crisp as well.
The compact .308 Win. Model Seven shot well, averaging 1.05 inches at 100 yards for three, five-shot groups with eight factory loads. Overall, the MOB shot pretty darn well with selected loads. I fired three, five-shot groups at 100 yards from my indoor benchrest. And I let the barrel cool under an air conditioner between groups. Velocities were somewhat lower than for the same loads in a 24- or 26-inch barrel, but that was to be expected from the short barrel.
I’m glad I tested a wide variety of ammo, as the little rifle shot well with several loads, but not so much with some others. The overall average accuracy of the eight factory loads I fired was 1.05 inches. I consider that to be pretty good accuracy from a short, lightweight barrel.
Remington Model Seven Mossy Oak Bottomlands Rifle Specs Manufacturer: Remington Arms; remington.com Type: Bolt-action repeater Caliber: .308 Winchester Magazine Capacity: 4 rounds Barrel: 16.5 in. Overall Length: 34.25 in. Weight, Empty: 6 lbs. Stock: Synthetic Length of Pull: 13.38 in. Finish: Satin black barreled action, Mossy Oak Bottomlands camo stock Sights: None; receiver is drilled and tapped for scope mounts; Picatinny rail included Trigger: 3.1-lb. pull (as tested) Safety: Two position MSRP: $829 Remington Model Seven Mossy Oak Bottomlands Rifle Accuracy & Velocity NOTES: Accuracy is the average of three, five-shot groups fired from a benchrest. Velocity is the average of 10 rounds measured 10 feet from the gun’s muzzle. Range temperature was 69 to 93 degrees Fahrenheit.
