Help me fill a gap, 7mm rem mag or 300 win mag, or…

[Adam0321/0306]

Hello everyone, as a retirement gift to myself, I am finally heading out west and going to go elk hunting. I know that the weight of the rifle will be a factor and that I will spend more time hiking it than shooting it. But here is my dilemma. I have always wanted a rem 700 Sendero SFII. Love that gun. I can commonly find them in 7mm rem mag and 300 winmag. I currently own a 25-05 Sendero, a 30-06 BDL 700, and a 700 chambered in 280 rem (not AI).

I was pretty set on getting the rifle in 300 WM. I also have several hundred pieces of once fire 300 WM brass.

But, I am reading a lot about the 7mm rem mag, which would also be better for white tail here in the east. But I am thinking that with already having a 6.5cm, 308, 280, 25-06, and 30-06, the 7mm rem mag is so close to the 30-06 and 280, I would be better off with the 300 WM.

Where I am going I am being told that I can expect shots out to 600-800 yards. I am comfortable out to about 600 on an elk as I have taken a few white tails with my 25-06 in the 450-500 range. I shoot almost every weekend and will put the time in. I am blessed to have access to a 1000 yard range with tons of steel.

I know some will say 7mm PRC or 300PRC, but I like the older calibers and really am looking at that particular rifle, the Sendero SFII.

Thanks for any and all input.

 

[J_idaho]

Hello everyone, as a retirement gift to myself, I am finally heading out west and going to go elk hunting. I know that the weight of the rifle will be a factor and that I will spend more time hiking it than shooting it. But here is my dilemma. I have always wanted a rem 700 Sendero SFII. Love that gun. I can commonly find them in 7mm rem mag and 300 winmag. I currently own a 25-05 Sendero, a 30-06 BDL 700, and a 700 chambered in 280 rem (not AI).

I was pretty set on getting the rifle in 300 WM. I also have several hundred pieces of once fire 300 WM brass.

But, I am reading a lot about the 7mm rem mag, which would also be better for white tail here in the east. But I am thinking that with already having a 6.5cm, 308, 280, 25-06, and 30-06, the 7mm rem mag is so close to the 30-06 and 280, I would be better off with the 300 WM.

Where I am going I am being told that I can expect shots out to 600-800 yards. I am comfortable out to about 600 on an elk as I have taken a few white tails with my 25-06 in the 450-500 range. I shoot almost every weekend and will put the time in. I am blessed to have access to a 1000 yard range with tons of steel.

I know some will say 7mm PRC or 300PRC, but I like the older calibers and really am looking at that particular rifle, the Sendero SFII.

Thanks for any and all input.

I owned that rifle it was a little heavy when back packing. I got invited to hunt a rifle hunt and shot a small bull with it but i normally only shot mule deer because i archery elk hunt. i'd say buy it and go pack it around if you hate it sell it. the only advantage is you can shoot much larger rounds. side note i was much younger and stronger then. and it sucks packing a 26" plus muzzlebreak in the woods.

 

[Doug Casner]

I never was a good enough shot to try anything but a target at 600 yds. You owe the elk a good hit. Doug

 

[JSH]

300WM, hole in barrel is bigger so it will be a bit lighter;-)

 

[10XSHOOTER]

.30 caliber bullet lets in more light
Have killed many an ELK with a .300 Win Mag
From 50 yds to over 600 yds

 

[Doug Casner]

I wasnt trying to rain on your parade Adam. Id take the 300. Ive killed whitetails with mine. It hits hard. The only elk I ever shot was with a 308 win. TC pistol. I had to take a pistol at that time.. Doug

 

[TrapperBR549]

When the wife and I headed west a couple years ago I was using M70 extreme weather 300wm and she has a M70 chambered to 280AI. Obviously the 300wm is going to perform better at distance but I have to say it was not much fun to shoot it enough to become comfortable at those distances. It is much more pleasant, and cheaper to shoot the Ackley.

 

[Bamban]

300WM and 215 Hybrids. Check out discussions on longrangeonly.com

I installed 5 port brakes on all my 300WMs.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I would want a premium custom barrel for a rifle I planned on shooting at game over 500 yards. First trip elk hunting the local guys I went with said be ready for 500 yards. Once in the area and looking, I realized I can just walk to within 300 yards in most places. And since you need to walk to a kill, all my elk have been shot under 200 yards. Even sage elk.

 

[Adam0321/0306]

300WM, hole in barrel is bigger so it will be a bit lighter;-)

Not sure that’s how it works.

 

[Adam0321/0306]

I wasnt trying to rain on your parade Adam. Id take the 300. Ive killed whitetails with mine. It hits hard. The only elk I ever shot was with a 308 win. TC pistol. I had to take a pistol at that time.. Doug

Thanks. I use to hike an M40. They get heavy quick.

 

[Doug Casner]

My guide in New Mexico said a 300 mag. of some kind when I asked him the best caliber was for elk. Doug

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Any of the calibers you mentioned will do the job. Weight is the big issue and elevation in those hills. A lighter caliber and rifle is what'd I'd lean toward...probably something around your 280 Rem. but that's part of the fun and you get a new gun out of it. I'd build a lightweight 280 AI, if it were me.

 

[Bamban]

For a lighter field gun, I chambered carbon wrapped barrel that finished at 18. The same load I am running through the 26 inch 300WM that clock at 3043, I am still getting 2750 with the 18 inch tube at 400 ft elevation. Run the ballistics for the 215 with those velocities at 8000 ft.

1st rifle season last year in the San Juans, we zeroed at 100, then ran drop tests up to 900 at place away from where we hunted.

The 18 inch is loud with a Fat bastard brake, but recoil is mitigated nicely.

 

[std7mag]

Elk are taken with a 243 Win & 257 Roberts every year.

Far be it from me to stop you from buying a new rifle if you want one.
But don't think you need a big magnum to take elk.

You might want to stroll over to Hunt Talk forum.
www.hunttalk.com
These people live & breathe elk & western hunting.

Two of their favorite elk cartridges out to 400 yards are 308 & 7mm-08.

 

[Adam in WI]

Them old Sako 7mm Rem Mags are pretty light, I hear.. lol

 

[wboggs]

Adam
You will find almost no practical difference between a 7 Rem and .300 win mags except the .300 kicks a little more. Good factory loads widely available, good handloads if you go that route. The game animal never knows the difference with equivalent loads. You have to go to .338 cal to see any difference in killing power.
Find a rifle you like and never look back. Good hunting.
Bill

 

[searcher]

I think the 7 Mag and 300 Mag are both great for longer range shooting - say out to 700 yards+/-, and that is using the heavy bullets for caliber. The 7 PRC has nothing over the 7 Mag power-wise, just the ability to use standard action and eliminate the belt and much tighter tolerances on the throat. But once a great load with the 7 Mag is found - the only meaningful difference is the weight savings on a standard length action rifle. While you already have .300 brass, if you can get a good deal on a 7 Mag, being readily available, I'd probably go that route. Just be sure the twist of either caliber is up to stabilizing the desired, heavier bullets. If I could find a deal on a factory 7PRC, that would be my top pick between the three because it is as good or better than a 7 Mag and lighter rifles can be found than in the 7 Mag or .300. There are some really great bullets out there now in 7mm. As for those suggesting smaller calibers - you already have that covered with your '06.

 

[Walt Krafft]

The easier the rifle is to carry, the harder it is to shoot well. Hitting a roughly six inch target at 6-700 yards is going to take a lot of practice. A light heavy kicking rifle is not going to be fun to practice with. Just food for thought.

 

[Bamban]

I think the 7 Mag and 300 Mag are both great for longer range shooting - say out to 700 yards+/-, and that is using the heavy bullets for caliber. The 7 PRC has nothing over the 7 Mag power-wise, just the ability to use standard action and eliminate the belt and much tighter tolerances on the throat. But once a great load with the 7 Mag is found - the only meaningful difference is the weight savings on a standard length action rifle. While you already have .300 brass, if you can get a good deal on a 7 Mag, being readily available, I'd probably go that route. Just be sure the twist of either caliber is up to stabilizing the desired, heavier bullets. If I could find a deal on a factory 7PRC, that would be my top pick between the three because it is as good or better than a 7 Mag and lighter rifles can be found than in the 7 Mag or .300. There are some really great bullets out there now in 7mm. As for those suggesting smaller calibers - you already have that covered with your '06.

Agree on the 06. Running the 215s through my 28 inch KBI barrel at very decent velocity with the right powder.