I own a Savage 116 30-06 and I love this rifle. I am actually very pleased with how accurate it is at the ranges I've fired it. Unfortunately I have not had to much trigger time with it lately as I don't have anywhere local to shoot past 200 yards :-( But I digress. I had done alot of research on 30-16's before I finally purchased mine and from what I've seen, from hunters mostly, that the Savage over the Remington is not real difference other than ascetics and certain firing choices, but most were very happy with a Savage for the price over the price of the 700. Now don't get me wrong I want a 700 myself, I mean is hard to knock a rifle that has been proven as much as the 700. But if your going to just "start" to get into a bolt action I'd say go with a Savage and if you want to upgrade down the line go for, their re-sell value is still pretty high :-D