1. Is a Remington 700 .308 an adequate firearm? (I realize there are better ones, but is the Remington 700 series good enough)
Yes. For everything on the NA continent. With the right bullet.
1.1 what length barrel? A hunting rifle usually wears a 22 to 24 inch barrel. That is fine.
1.2 Any particular model? (SPS / SS/ other?) Plain ol M70 308 sporter, ADL/BDL (one has a blind magazine (no floor plate) the other has bottom metal and allows you to dump the round sin the magazine w/o running them through the bolt/chamber)
2. I have little interest in bragging rights with a Leupold scope - is a Nikon good enough? yes, but they are not made in the US if that means anything to you....
2.1 What range of magnification, sight, etc is recommended? 3x9 or 4x12 is good enough for most any applicatipon, from 50 yds to 800 ( about the max effective range of the 308/7.62) at deer sized target ( 9x14 vital zone
3. My intent if to have the .308 civilian and/or military 7.62 option. Is this really practical? Sure. Just realize the 308 win and the 7.62 NATO are not the same round (pressure wise, but in a bolt gun, I would not be concerned.
3.1 any special cautions/ warnings?
Wear eye and ear protection, be sure of your target and beyond, always assume every gun is loaded. Practice. Load your own if you want optimum, accuracy, performance and quality.
Best;
Thanks! AND LOL on the last line (general firearm performance and safety rules)
Looking through the scope, what is your preference for the reticle / sight?
I’d say that’s good advice.
I’ve do mainly bow hunting anymore—because in KY, bow season for turkey and deer start up in early Sept and runs thru to Jan (obviously a really long season). Modern gun season in KY is only about two weeks in November—and every rookie in the state, carrying a .30-06 gets excited when the wind blows branches around.
By the way, I like stalking and not in a deer stand—so I stay out of the woods during modern gun season. LOL