7mm Mag vs 300 Win Mag.....

[Andy L]

BTW, the guy I was talking with has a 7mag. As with anything, you will be biased most of the time to whatever you have and try to find reasons why its better than the comparison, imagined or real.

He feels the same about the 7mag as I do the 300 Winny.

[Rapier]

Andy,
I like my 7mm and my 300. However, there is a big difference between like and love, I love my 6.5s and have since 1960.
Ed

[Andy L]

I love my 6.5s

I hear ya on that one. I was introduced to the virtues of the 6.5 last year. Im still learning, but already in love. I cant for the life of me figure out why the simple 6.5x55 Swede isnt the most popular caliber in the US.

I guess there are too many hardheads like me that just didnt pay attention? I had to have a friend beat it in my brain and get me to open my eyes. Recoil of a 243. Trajectory of a 270. Penetration and energy of a 300win. What the hells not to like?

[Rapier]

Yep, most 6.5 shooters tell a guy once, won't listen, they just go about their business. Once in a while you get a shooter who will try one, the result is pretty much always the same.... open mouth amazement.

The new shooter goes about the same thing. It is sorta like finding there are diamonds in the gravel on the roadside.
Ed

[Craig 522]

Both are good rounds and you will find fans for both.

I have hunting experiences with them both although your results may vary.

My 7 Mag was a Ruger M77. My 300 WM was a Rem M700BDL.

I have tried an assortment of factory ammo of different bullet weights in both, along with handloads.

Best group with the 7 Mag was 1.5" at 100 yards. Most loads were closer to 2". This was after installing a Timmney trigger at 2.5 lb and Cryo treatment to the barrel and receiver. Before that nothing grouped better than 2".

Best with the 300 WM was 5/8" at 200 yards. This was with my handload of a 180 gr Barnes X and IMR4350. This is also my elk hunting load. For deer and antelope, I favor the 150 gr Nosler BT and IMR 4350 loaded to 3200 fps. It has accounted for several 400-550 yard kills, including an antelope at 612 yds.

On deer, the 7 Mag with 150 gr Sierras and 160gr Trophy Bonded blew huge holes, both going in and out. The meat was bloodshot for several inches around the entry and exits. The only thing I have seen tear up a deer worse was a 50 cal muzzleloader. Well, that and my friends Chevy pickup...

On deer with the 300WM, I have used 150 Nosler BT, 150 Sierra GM, 180 Barnes X, 180 Fail Safes, and 200 gr Sierras. Bullet velocity ranged from 2870 for the 200 Sierra to 3420 for the 150 Sierra. None did anywhere near the damage the 7 Mag did to surrounding meat although the Sierras did come apart in both weights. Obviously they cannot handle that velocity so Sierras are no longer used in my 300WM.

The 7 Mag had a sharper recoil than the 300 WM but I think some of that is the wood stock on the 7 Mag. When my 300 had the original wood stock, it seemed to recoil harder too. It now has an HS Precision synthetic stock.

The 300 has a larger range of bullet weights available. The 7 Mag pretty much stops at 175 gr.

Common myth is that the 7 Mag shoots flatter. Compare equal bullet weights and they are actually within fractions of each other. As you increase bullet weight, the 300 pulls ahead.

So, after my experiences, the 7 mag got sold and replaced with a Winchester M70 in 30.06. It does as well as my 300WM does out to 300 yards, has a better range of bullets available than the 7s, and shoots Sub MOA. I use it for deer in the timber with 150 Noslers and as a back up elk rifle with 180 Fail Safes.

I love the 30 cal.

Craig

[hnter]

How does one compare apples and oranges?

7mm Mags vs 300 mags. Simply put, it can't be done.

I live in WY and usually hunt antelope, deer and elk with the same rifle/bullet combo. The same that is untill I go to the NW part of beautiful WY. You know, the part with GRIZ!!!. Then guys, I grab my .338 WIN MAG!!!! Y'all havn't lived untill yer huntin with a .243/6mm/7mm/.308 and jump up a GRIZ!! Yeseree bob, plum excitin, eh?

Dat's when ya think yer undergunned with a .458 Win mag and the phrase "carry enough gun" has real meaning!!!


Hnter

[skeet]

When I traipsed around in the bush up in Alaska the 338 was the gun you carried. Especially when hunting..moose. Ol griz an' Mr Moosie likes to live in the same country. Dem dere b'ars is real excitin. Course so is dem big ol' moosies. The Alaska/Yukon moosies is really big. I swear some of 'em are 7 ft tall...and then ya get to see an 8 ft tall griz..if yer lucky...or unlucky Whichever way ya feel. I'll still carry the 300 Win mag if'n I go up towards the park for elk, though. BTW I met yer friend from up here today. Looking for trappin territory

[skoonz]

7mm vs 300
I would say they are much of a muchness. Bullet placement would be more important than speed, S.D., weight, x.s. diameter etc
I would go for the 7mm personally because long range Tahr would be my most common target