7mm Mag vs 300 Win Mag Help Me Decide

[Animal]

I am new to the forum and appreciate any feedback you may have.

Background:
I have a Sendero in 300 RUM that I have shot out the barrel on. I use it for hunting Whitetail out to about 500 yards as well as recreational target shooting. I am about to have it re-barreled and want to re-chamber to either 7 Mag or 300 Win Mag. It looks like the ballistics are fairly close out to 500. I might occasionally try to shoot a hog out to 800 yds but wouldn't try a deer at that range. Leaning towards the 300 mainly because I have plenty of 30 Cal bullets but that seems a little short-sighted if there is a distinct advantage to the 7 Mag....

Also, currently have a 26 inch barrel + brake on the Sendero but may drop down to 24 inch if it won't hurt me much on performance as it is a bit un-wieldy as it sits now.

Short version: Which caliber and barrel length suggestions?

Thanks!

Also, I have a bunch of .300 RUM brass to unload that I will list on the Classifieds

hmmm...I guess I'm not allowed to post in marketplace

 

[Tom Smith]

7mm Rem Mag and .300 Win. Mag. are both great. However, and this is pure personal opinion, I don't like putting the 7mm mag and the .300 in the same category. It's almost, but not quite, comparing apples to oranges. If they 7 mag case was a .300 win mag necked down, then I would say they are the same, but the 7 mag case is shorter, and for some weird reason that bugs me. If you are comparing the .300 Win. Mag. and the 7mm STW, then that's a different story all together. And possibly something you may consider.

If I was choosing between the two, however, I would go with the .300 Win Mag. I think it has a lot more to offer as a magnum than the 7mm.

On the other hand, if all you are going to use it on is whitetail, then the 7mm mag is more than adequate and you don't have to deal with the extra recoil of the .300.

I would also go with a 26" barrel to take full advantage of the powder capacity of a "magnum".

 

[FURMAN]

I would go 7mm unless elk are on the table. Slightly less powder. Slightly less recoil. I prefer 7s for deer and smaller and 30s for elk. I hunt elk and if I could only have one it would be a 30 but for what you are describing I would go 7.

 

[dminn1]

If I was putting on a new barrel, and preparing to load for a new caliber, and I wanted a magnum I would strongly consider the WSM cases in either 7mm or 30. Excellent case design known for accuracy, great brass available, and these both work best in a long action in my opinion. The 180g 7mm bullets and the 215g to 230g 30 cal bullets both have hard to beat long range wind bucking abilities. I would stay with 26" minimum barrel length with 28" being even better if you can stand it. If your shooting a magnum than give it enough barrel to do its thing.

 

[243winxb]

300 Win Mag 26" for hunting.

 

[270WinDude]

Depending on how much target shooting you do, powder usage is always on my mind. Every time I empty a bottle of powder I'm reminded how much I want a 223. My FWIW answer would be the 300WM but the 300WSM has quite the appeal. Also given bullet choices, I don't think I'd see any clear advantage that I would like in 7mmrem mag over the 300.

 

[JBT47]

For up to and including 1,000 yards either one is a good choice. The .300 has a bit more recoil.

 

[Drop Port]

Close your eyes and pick one, either has plenty left at 500 for any deer. What weight bullets are you considering? the 7mm with a 180 is capable of waaaaay beyond your requirements and a 300 Win with 215 well......

My Ideal 500 yard plus deer / recreational target rifle is a S/A #12 25" 300 WSM launching a 175 SMK

 

[cjames]

I have a Model 70 CRF with a Krieger 9 twist 5R @ 25". That started out as a 300 WM. I load 65 GR IMR 4831 and a 150 Barnes TTSX. And it knocks the hell out of the hogs. I've thumped a few deer with it also, but I've killed more hogs with it than deer. The recoil is less than the 300 and the rifle shoots great. After about 9 or 10 shots from the 300, the fun wore off for me.

 

[sawcarver]

If you are a reloader do a 7mm-300 Win Mag. You just neck 300 win mag brass down and then load it, I use a Redding 300 Win Mag full length die and the appropriate 7mm bushing. Its a deer hammer and long range prairie dog killer

 

[Animal]

Thanks for all the feedback! Lots to think about...From a recoil standpoint, I have almost 10 years behind that .300 RUM so I think any of these will seem like a piece of cake relatively speaking.

 

[trailrider121]

Go with 300 win mag. 215's hybrids all day long. You can always reload on the light side if recoil is a problem.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Comparing apples to apples, the 300 wins with more energy/larger hole.

7mm fans will argue the higher BC...blah blah blah......

If you want to run within 500, then the 300 is about equal to the 7mm, if you compare similar BC’s in the 2, then the heavier 215gr-230gr bullets have more punch way out yonder past 500.

Quick question.... why you moving away from the RUM?

I have used 300WM for 30 years now, dabbled with a 300 Weatherby for a few years, the difference was barely noticeable on game or on the range so I quit using it. Re-barreled to 340 Weatherby, also not much difference to the 338WM’s I use, both Weatherby barrels sit in socks taking up room in my safe.
Have yet not owned a 300RUM, seems like too much of a good thing in a lightweight hunting rifle to me.

Cheers.

 

[284winner]

With the newest bullets offered for both Calibers, I think it's personally pretty darn close. As I've said many times, with today's bullets, magnum isn't as much a magnum as it once was. Then came the RUMs and redefined Magnums. Using both the heaviest and ballistically Superior bullets in both cartridges, it's very close in performance. (240 vs 195 using the heaviest available not necessarily best BC or design ) The 7mag offers about 80-90 fps over the 300 mag at 1000 yards while the 300 mag offers about 130-150 ft lbs energy more at the same range. The 300 mag from 100 - 500 yards offers much more energy than the 7 but slowly narrowed the gap from 500-1000 yards.
Too me this gives the 300 mag the edge for larger animals as bigger bullets and energy mean better performance on big critters. The 30 caliber bullet being 40-50 grains heavier also helps. All these things that benefit the 300 mag for bigger animals do not help for smaller deer size game. I believe the only advantage comes when used on the biggest of game animals. These are my thoughts and opinions. If I were to build a magnum in a 300 or 7mm, it would be in the RUM or the Noslers. Too me, the standard win or rem mag cartridges are just not what they once were when compared to some of the non magnum cartridges today due to the latest bullets that are offered. That said, I still love the 7 and 300 magnums. They always will be the real 7 mag and 300 mag. Growing up and using them was a fantastic experience.

 

[XTR]

[unsolicited opinion] For deer out to 500 yards I'd get a 7-08, which is what I do use[/smart-arse]

I have a 7mmRM, I don't have a 300WM (though I do want one); however, by all accounts from any number of hunters, both work, and work equally well on everything including elk with the right bullets. Yea, you might want something bigger than either for big bears, but that's about it in North America.

For what you use it I'd go with a 7mmRM and load it with quality 140s or 150s. They will kill deer in a 7-08 to the ranges you are shooting, they will do it just as dead in a 7mmRM with less of everything than a 300WM. If you ever did do an elk hunt you could load it with quality heavy for class bullets in 7 and be fine.

 

[Sniper338]

Id do the 300 win mag, but for your applications a slower twist to shoot lighter bullets and gain more velocity. Less recoil too.

Theres no advantage of a 7 mag over a 300 wm..

 

[JRS]

Take your pick. The one you are most comfortable with and shoot more accurately with is the winner. Either one is capable of killing any animal in North America. At the end of the day, it comes down to marksmanship. Too many have lost sight of this.

 

[Animal]

Quick question.... why you moving away from the RUM?


Cheers.

Several reasons I am leaving 300 RUM...I initially got a great deal on this rifle and that's how it was chambered so I went with it. I have really liked the caliber but in the end it came down to a few issues.

First, as evidenced by the fact that the barrel is toast after around 900 rounds I am looking for something that will last a bit longer.

Secondly, none of the hunting I do really requires that I have such a hot load.

Third, I am finding less and less time to do any reloading so consequently using more factory ammo which runs about $55 - $60 per box in .300 RUM with availability being a constant issue.

I will say that I have a good brake on the gun and the recoil is really not an issue at all for me. Also, where I hunt, if a deer runs 40 yards after I shoot it, I may never find it due to the brush and terrain. The .300 RUM definitely shines in that regard! I went back and forth on the decision because I really like the .300 RUM but in the end the Ammo issue and barrel life swayed me to change...

Paul

Anyone have any idea why I cant post my .300 RUM brass for sale in the Marketplace???

 

[JRS]

Several reasons I am leaving 300 RUM...I initially got a great deal on this rifle and that's how it was chambered so I went with it. I have really liked the caliber but in the end it came down to a few issues.

First, as evidenced by the fact that the barrel is toast after around 900 rounds I am looking for something that will last a bit longer.

Secondly, none of the hunting I do really requires that I have such a hot load.

Third, I am finding less and less time to do any reloading so consequently using more factory ammo which runs about $55 - $60 per box in .300 RUM with availability being a constant issue.

I will say that I have a good brake on the gun and the recoil is really not an issue at all for me. Also, where I hunt, if a deer runs 40 yards after I shoot it, I may never find it due to the brush and terrain. The .300 RUM definitely shines in that regard! I went back and forth on the decision because I really like the .300 RUM but in the end the Ammo issue and barrel life swayed me to change...

Paul

Anyone have any idea why I cant post my .300 RUM brass for sale in the Marketplace???

You haven't been a member on this site long enough to post in the Classifieds.

 

[Animal]

Any idea how long that takes?