I started out with a 15-22, then a 15(.223), and now I want something for accuracy that hits a little harder.

I've been doing some research and think I'm going to go with a Remington 700 ADL Scope Rifle Combo from Cabelas for $500. I'm not sure what caliber yet..... .308 Win, or .300 Win mag. I'd like to take this hunting and not for deer. I like to go wolf/coyote hunting.

Anyone have a 700 with any comments on it? Good or bad.

I have had several Remington 700s over the years, have always liked them, and have had zero problems. Still have one or two. I would look for an older one with A-B-C serial number, but that is just my opinion. I don't have experience with the newer ones. The calibers you mention are excessive for predators. Any .22 centerfire or 6mm/.243 might be a better choice.

Got a 700 myself and have had a few more, they are good rifles. I'm with M29 on the caliber choice. Obviously you aren't interested in keeping the fur, but why 30 cal? for yotes?
I love the .243 for a varmit/predator and whitetail/antelope rifle. I can shoot 55-107gr bullets, the 55's get around 4000fps and the 107's have a BC of .530! All this and very little recoil. Just my $0.02.

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James

My nephew bought a 300 Win Mag for ground hog shooting.

He was already deaf due to operating farm machinery, so it did not matter.

I only shoot my 300 Win Mag from a bench with double hearing protection, everybody in the neighborhood knows when I target practice!!

I have the 700 BDL Varmint Special in 243 and 7mm-08. There is significantly more "kick" with the 7mm-08, I would expect the 308 to even be more!!

"Kick" is usually not a concern with these calibers, but, the 243 is so pleasant to shoot, more time gets spent with it than other calibers.

And, last but not least, all of the calibers will do the same damage to varmints, so why not pick the 243!!??

Well this is my first bolt-action so I don't know a WHOLE LOT about them yet. I figured might as well go with a big caliber instead of regretting it later. I will re-load myself so price isn't really a concern... and I wanted to test myself at my local 1,000 yd. range station which I seem to live at anymore.

Excuse my newbiness, but I know bullets travel very far, but is a .243 capable of going 1,000 accurately? And do you really think that's enough for a wolf?

Where I'll be hunting at there's a good possibility of bears too, I personally haven't seen one but several of my friends who go to the same spot have seen multiple ones on different occasions and I want something to stop them too if one happens to come at me.

My 700 for varmits is a 22-250. What range are you going to be shooting? I use a .223 Contender carbine as a tractor varmit gun, my 22-250 over 200 yds on varmits, 6mm and 7-08 for Bambi and a 7mm mag for long range 2 leged varmits.
I am with M29 on the older 700s. They are like old Smiths, there is actually some pride and workmanship in them. I have seen some of the newer ones with a sloppy chamber and not wonderful crown on the barrel. Can be fixed by why bother get an older one that is right. JMHO
Larry

.243 with the right bullet will be as accurate at 1k yds as you are.
Gun stores and pawn shops around here are full of .300 and 7mm mags cause somebody wanted a big, bad caliber then found out they ain't that much fun to shoot! You reload, so I imagine that you do a good deal of bench work, like me. I want to shoot something I want to shoot. Probably why my 30-06 sits in the cabinet and collects dust, while the .223, .243 and .260 rarely make it back to the gun room!
Someone else mentiioned the 7mm-08 and I hear great things about 'em. I do have a .260Rem (6.5-08) that I love dearly.

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James

Bear? BEAR?? WHOA!!
Lots of different kinds of bears. If you mean black bear in Texas, .270, even a .243 well placed will work. 1700lb Kodiak... Biggest thing you can shoot accurately. Just IMHO.

Nobody's mentioned the 25-06; probably a slightly better very long range rifle than the 243, although sorta on the short side for bear, even black bear.

I like the 25-06 enough so that I recently ordered one, just not as impressed with the 25cal bullet selection as I am with the 6mm.

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James