7mm mag or .300 Win mag

E

elk_horn

Guest
I have shot a 7mm mag for 25 years does the .300 Mag have much of an advantage... Im talking mostly for Elk.
 
The 300 win mag would have a slight advantage but for a dedicated elk gun I would get a 338 win mag. If you want a elk caliber that shoots as flat as your seven mag get a 340 weatherby.
 
I feel like the 300 is a definate step up from a 7mm. It seems to be about 200-300 FPS faster for the same bullet weight. (or it shoots a 20-30 grain heaver bullet at the same speed. It has a larger case capacity. The 264 win mag, 7mm mag, and 338 win mag all share the same case, but the 300 is bigger. If heavier bullets are needed than the 338 may be better, but I don't think its better for elk. The 300 and 338 will both shoot 200 grain bullets at about the same speed. the 300 will will shoot lighter ones faster and the 338 will shoot heavier ones slower. I think a tough 180 is ideal for elk and see no advantage of going heavier so I would prefer the flatter trajectory of the 300.

Mostly I think the 7mm is comparable to a 30-06. If you shoot 175 grain bullets you are close to 30-06 with 180 grain velocities. likewise if you load a 30-06 with 150 grain bullets you are clost to 7mm velocities with the same weight bullets.
 
Dang302, what ballistic chart are you looking at??

7MM Rem Mag case capacity is 83.2g
30-06 Springfield case capacity is 68g

[
400px-Cartridge_30-06.png]


[
sr=1]


[http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/ballistics/2012CatalogCenterSpread.pdf]

Compare the velocity and energy at 500yds.
No comparison. 7 mag smokes a 30-06.

I shoot a 139g GMX in my 7mag at 3320 avg muzzle velocity with 70.5g of R22 with no signs of excessive pressure.

A 30-06 will never push a 139g bullet over 3300 fps.
 
Isn't the question about 7mm vs 300 win mag? Where did the 30-06 come into play?

I shoot a 200g Nosler Accubond out of my .300 WM at 3050fps. I'll take that over any 168g out of a 7mm any day.
 
>
>Dang302, what ballistic chart are you
>looking at??
>
>7MM Rem Mag case capacity is
>83.2g
>30-06 Springfield case capacity is 68g
>
>
>[
400px-Cartridge_30-06.png]

>
>[
sr=1]

>
>[http://www.hornady.com/assets/files/ballistics/2012CatalogCenterSpread.pdf]
>
>Compare the velocity and energy at
>500yds.
>No comparison. 7 mag smokes a
>30-06.
>
>I shoot a 139g GMX in
>my 7mag at 3320 avg
>muzzle velocity with 70.5g of
>R22 with no signs of
>excessive pressure.
>
>A 30-06 will never push a
>139g bullet over 3300 fps.
>

Agreed, but the velocity difference with same weight bullets is not anywhere close to the case capacity difference. The 7mm is 100 fps faster with some bullets...not significant in my mind. I know its a wierd comparison. The 7mm is definately a better long range round because of the higher BC, etc.

With todays tough bullets, I like lighter and faster, which definately gives the nod to the 7mm mag. I shoot 150g TSX in my 30-06 at 3000fps and it matches my reticle perfectly to 600 yards. A 7mm mag would do the same thing with a 160g. Again, not very significant. But when you step up to a 180g going 3000 fps there seems to be a significant gain in damage to animals large and small.

I just think the two (30-06 and 7mm)are very comparable in killing power, and a 300 win mag is a definate step up.
 
"I have shot a 7mm mag for 25 years does the .300 Mag have much of an advantage... Im talking mostly for Elk."

Ballistically it will shoot 180gr bullets about the same speed as a 7mm will 160grains, but with 115% of the kick. Not enough to change from what you have, as a 160gr bullet launched at 3000fps is all you need for any elk. If you are a bigger guy and looking for your first gun I might recommend the 300.

One disadvantge is tht the .300 bullets are not as efficient. The 7mm bullets in the 160-168 grain range are equal in Ballistic Coefficient to about 190-200 grain .300 bullets. A 300WM will not push 190-200 grain bullets near as fast as a 7mm will push the 160-168, all other things being equal(i/e barrel length). So ballistically I think the 7mm actually has a slight edge. For me I like by 7mm because the kick is right at my limit for what I can shoot a lot at the bench.

Both guns are really great, as are their short mag counter parts.
 
recoil can really depend on the gun. my old 7 mag was a kickin' pos. wasnt a light gun either. my 3hunsky has recoil, but it's more of a push. not snappy like the 7 mag was.

if you've shot the 7 for 25 years, it's obviously done right by you. if it ain't broke...
 
You are right about.... if it isn't broke you don't need to fix it...but I did get a .300 win mag In a Winchester model 70.......Ive been to the range 3 times and love the Gun...but its hard to switch from my 1885 Browning single shot 7mm mag.
 
"...but its hard to switch from my 1885 Browning single shot 7mm mag."


Quite possibly the most fun rifle that i ever hunted with!! My 1885 was in 6mm but it was deadly on Blacktails, a very fine shooter, felt great in my hands, and a pretty SOB to look at! :)

Always thought that one in 7mm Rem Mag would be near ideal Muley medicine.

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"
 
>I have shot a 7mm mag
>for 25 years does the
>.300 Mag have much of
>an advantage... Im talking mostly
>for Elk.


Yes. Especially if you use the lighter grained 7mm bullets. And if the ranch you are hunting will not allow you to use your 7mag.
 
So do you know of a ranch that does not allow the 7mm Remington Magnum for elk hunting? If so, that's frickin ridiculous. Must have a fence around it. mtmuley
 
+1 muley! I thought the same thing.

Joey


"It's all about knowing what your firearms practical limitations are and combining that with your own personal limitations!"
 
LAST EDITED ON May-29-12 AT 11:40AM (MST)[p]They are both awesome. I read a poll a while back asking opinions on the best all around cartridge if you could only have one rifle. There were quite a few respondents and the top four in order were:

1. 300 Win mag
2. 338 Win mag
3. 30-06 Springfield
4. 7 mm Rem Mag

Edit: The poll results above seem to prove out the old saying, "It wasn't broke...why the heck did I try to fix it?"
 

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