What to get 7mm mag or 300 win mag?

[Tedbear]

I have a collection of guns mostly for deer hunting from 6.5 to 06 to 308, 270, 7x57, 30-30, 35 and so on. I am looking to get something for going larger and longer out west type hunting. I am liking what I see about the 7mm mag but a lot of people use the 300w/m . looking for some direction. Thanks

 

[Dub]

300 WM would be hard to beat for those pursuits.

 

[Pinkes]

7RM if recoil sensitive. If not 300wm all the way! 215Berger in 300wm...enough said.

 

[46and2]

7RM if recoil sensitive. If not 300wm all the way! 215Berger in 300wm...enough said.

Yes.
I will not use a brake for any bullet weight in a 7 RM.

Life is much easier with a brake for anything over 168gr in a 300wm. I load 185gr and heavier.

 

[46and2]

I have a collection of guns mostly for deer hunting from 6.5 to 06 to 308, 270, 7x57, 30-30, 35 and so on. I am looking to get something for going larger and longer out west type hunting. I am liking what I see about the 7mm mag but a lot of people use the 300w/m . looking for some direction. Thanks

I've had three barrels of each, the 300wm is a fair bit easier to find a tack driving load. Let me know which one you pick and your bullet and I'll get you some load info.

 

[JFrank]

I’ll probably lean towards 300 WSM, lots of power, lots of load data available , I’m told easy to tune as well as a reputation for accuracy.

 

[6fatrat]

I used a 7 mag for years, switched to the 300 win mag 20+ years ago with no regrets.
If I was in your shoes I would get 300 ultra mag.
Steve Bair

 

[46and2]

Im on my 2nd 300rum barrel. My current 26" is launching 230gr Berger at 3150 at .5moa consistently. I wouldn't recommend a RUM yet.

My last barrel was pulled at just over 550 rounds of cold bore rounds! So as soon as my current load reached 5 shots at .5moa I stopped development.
A WinMag will have much better barrel life, more time to get proficient and develop a decent load to practice with.

 

[muleman69]

300 win ,no regrets

 

[Sniper338]

Of the two... 300 wm

 

[Tedbear]

Well it looks like the 300 WM is the winner. Thank you all for the help.

 

[284winner]

No love for the 7RM ?

 

[46and2]

No love for the 7RM ?

Don't get me wrong, there's a reason I've had three 7RM barrels. I like them but I love 300wm.
My last Crierion 7rm had way over 1300 rounds and the borescoped throat looks good ( h1000 and 168 amax at 3050fps cold bore shots).

They can be finicky, 300wm seems to be much less so...I personally believe it is a 30 cal thing.

 

[284winner]

Don't get me wrong, there's a reason I've had three 7RM barrels. I like them but I love 300wm.
My last Crierion 7rm had way over 1300 rounds and the borescoped throat looks good ( h1000 and 168 amax at 3050fps cold bore shots).

They can be finicky, 300wm seems to be much less so...I personally believe it is a 30 cal thing.

Just had to do it. Seems not so many years back, the 7RM was the go to magnum hunting rifle. The RUM took over after that then the 28 Nosler and now since all the great 30 caliber bullets have been introduced, the 30 magnums really shine today. I'll agree that the 300 has the edge today. Really any of the 30 caliber magnums or PRC is a fantastic 30 mag

 

[10XSHOOTER]

I have shot better scores at 1000 yds, killed more Elk, Deer and Antelope with a .300 WM Then with any other cartridge!

 

[SHall]

NOTICE: this is my opinion and I know it will draw critics! Back 20 years ago when I use to hunt a lot out West for Elk and for deer in Alberta Canada. I would tell you a 7mm Rem Mag or STW was perfect for any size deer even at distance. I Shot a few Northern Canada whitetails over 325 pounds. Now for Elk I would much rather have more power to anchor an Elk before it gets a chance to get into the thick fallen timber were we hunted in NW Colorado. I would much rather skip right past any 300 Mag and have my .338 Win Mag in my hands. What really convinced me was when I saw actually saw 2 rounds from a 300 Win Mag hit a 5x5 bull center chest at 400 yards. A blood mist blew out both sides of its chest as I looked through my scope as another hunter in our party shot. The bull looked as if it was about to fall when it suddenly perked up I figure from adrenline. The bull took off running in to the timber on the other side of the mountain. He fired as he could see it going in between the trees, hitting it 7 more times in neck and chest. I had walked over from my hunting spot when the fellow with the 300 WM ran out of ammo. The guide tried to put it down for good with a back up 30-06. The bull finally fell and laid its head down dead (we thought) all the sudden the bull raised its head, stood up and started walking off as if it was not injured. The guide hollared at me to finish him off. The bull was 400 yards away. I aimed at the top of his back, fired, we heard a big “whoop” we had not head with the 30’s. It reminded me of hitting a groundhog with a 22-250. As soon as the 225g Hornady him his legs folded under him and rolled on his side- dead. I have nothing against the 30’s, I know there have been many, many, deer, elk, moose fall to them. But for me, when it comes to big game hunting, if I think my 7mag is too small , I skip right over the 300’s and pick up my .338 Win Mag. Samuel Hall

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

I am almost embarrassed to admit that I killed two Elk with a T/C Super 14 in 35 Remington with one shot each. Any animal you cannot kill cleanly with one shot with a regular 30-06 is too far away for your hunting skills. Jack O'Connor killed more than 40 head of Elk and 20 or so Grizzly Bears with a 270.
Save your money for a decent range finder and enough ammunition to practice every couple of weeks year round.

 

[krummarine]

+1 what Idaho said. Phil Shoemaker, Alaskan Master Guide still endorses the 30-06 for Alaskan Brown Bear. The one hanging on a barn in his Avatar over on 24 Hour Campfire.com was taken in that caliber. His handle is 458Win.

 

[Tedbear]

I am almost embarrassed to admit that I killed two Elk with a T/C Super 14 in 35 Remington with one shot each. Any animal you cannot kill cleanly with one shot with a regular 30-06 is too far away for your hunting skills. Jack O'Connor killed more than 40 head of Elk and 20 or so Grizzly Bears with a 270.
Save your money for a decent range finder and enough ammunition to practice every couple of weeks year round.

Thanks and I agree. I already have several 30-06 and 270 guns and I love them. I have killed more animals with a 308 then any other round. I just want to ad to my collection so I thinks I am getting a 300wm.

 

[nmkid]

NOTICE: this is my opinion and I know it will draw critics! Back 20 years ago when I use to hunt a lot out West for Elk and for deer in Alberta Canada. I would tell you a 7mm Rem Mag or STW was perfect for any size deer even at distance. I Shot a few Northern Canada whitetails over 325 pounds. Now for Elk I would much rather have more power to anchor an Elk before it gets a chance to get into the thick fallen timber were we hunted in NW Colorado. I would much rather skip right past any 300 Mag and have my .338 Win Mag in my hands. What really convinced me was when I saw actually saw 2 rounds from a 300 Win Mag hit a 5x5 bull center chest at 400 yards. A blood mist blew out both sides of its chest as I looked through my scope as another hunter in our party shot. The bull looked as if it was about to fall when it suddenly perked up I figure from adrenline. The bull took off running in to the timber on the other side of the mountain. He fired as he could see it going in between the trees, hitting it 7 more times in neck and chest. I had walked over from my hunting spot when the fellow with the 300 WM ran out of ammo. The guide tried to put it down for good with a back up 30-06. The bull finally fell and laid its head down dead (we thought) all the sudden the bull raised its head, stood up and started walking off as if it was not injured. The guide hollared at me to finish him off. The bull was 400 yards away. I aimed at the top of his back, fired, we heard a big “whoop” we had not head with the 30’s. It reminded me of hitting a groundhog with a 22-250. As soon as the 225g Hornady him his legs folded under him and rolled on his side- dead. I have nothing against the 30’s, I know there have been many, many, deer, elk, moose fall to them. But for me, when it comes to big game hunting, if I think my 7mag is too small , I skip right over the 300’s and pick up my .338 Win Mag. Samuel Hall

So, that elk was hit in the vitals 10 times before it died?