I like the Rem 700 action, as that's what my 270 Winchester is.
Is there much difference in a short action 700 vs model 7 in 243? What about a venerable Model 600 or Model 788 in 243? Other one I would be interested is the Browning A-Bolt II.
I should add I prefer walnut and steel and I like vintage rifles. Mauser 98s, Husqvarnas, SAKOs, Winchesters etc.
I like the M7s and own 3 in .223, .260Rem and a .350Rem mag, they're a little shorter and a little lighter than the M700SA. They make great blind guns as they're shorter then other offerings. I like the fact that the loading port is larger on the M7, but the magazine length is the same. I have .223s in an M7 and 700SA and the M7 is easier to load with the same exact mag box. The Rem 700 has way more aftermarket support as far as stock options although the major makers B&C, H-S Precision, MicMillon and several others will inlet for an M7 action.
My "grail gun" for whitetails would be an M7 in .260AI with a 22" tube and McMillan Hunters Edge stock, Timney Calvin Elite trigger, wearing a Leupold VX3i 2.5-8X CDS with B&C reticle.
Accuracy difference, I don't know, but in theory the M700 is stiffer, but there are smiths building precision rifles using the M7 action as the base, so the potential should be there. For a hunting rifle, what little difference there is would most likely be moot.
Biggest difference you'll find with an factory M7 VS a factory M700SA is the barrel length and diameter. The majority of M7s come with 18.5 or 20" lightweight barrels similar to (exact?) a mountain rifle profile. Which means they heat up pretty quickly and groups often open up on longer shot strings, not what I'd call a target gun. My M7 in .223 however, shoots pretty well for longer strings, probably due to the .223 hole in the same barrel contour as the larger calibers.
There were some runs of M7s in short magnum calibers with 22" barrels and they appear on Gunbroker pretty frequently. There are also M7 Predators available in .243, (also .223 and .22-250) with 22": fluted Magnum profiled barrels that are very reasonable. I haven't bought one yet cause I can't get my head around the &**^% Camo finish. These are often under $500 on line. Also the .223 is a 1-12 twist, great for varmints with lighter bullets, but I like my current 55-69 grain range.
Good article on the differences:
https://rifleshooter.com/2015/05/remington-model-seven-and-700-comparison/
M7 Left, 700SA on right:
Sorry I missed
Legionnaire's post, should have figured he'd be all over the M7 question!