7mm Mag vs 300 Win Mag for Plains Game

[firstsafari]

I amd in the process of planning my first safari to Zimbabwe and am curious about the preferred caliber for plains game. I intend to hunt Kudu, Gemsbuck and possibly Sable.

I am new to big bore hunting and am trying to weigh the pro's and con's of the 300 win mag. It seems from www.chuckhawks.com that the 7mm Rem Mag would do just fine.

Any suggestions are appreciated.

Thanks,

First Safari

[mark65x55]

I'm sure either will work fine. As always its more about shot placement than whats on the headstamp, that and good bullets!

Last year I took a Gemsbok, Kudu, Blue Wildebeest and Springbuck, all with a 30-06 using Federal 180gr TBBC bullets.
My wife took a bigger Gemsbok than mine with her 270, using 130gr Barnes X bullets.

This year she'll use the same 270, this time with 150gr Xs, for Kudu and Warthog. I got a real good deal on a .338 and plan to use it on Zebra and Wildebeest, 225gr X, but I'm taking my 30-06 for Impala and Blesbok. If something happens to the 338, then I'll use the 06 on everything and be happy.

[Hi Ball]

Firstsafari.........If you use the 7mm mag, stoke the magazine full of 175 grain TBBC or Swift A Frame bullets. The bullet trajector difference at 200 yards is perhaps 1.5 inches! No big deal but that bullet really drives through tissue and exists most of the time on big animals.

If you decide you can handle the extra recoil from the 300 win mag, then use the 200 grain TBBC or Swift A Frame bullets. They simply penetrate deeper into the animals vitals and it's nice to get an exist wound as well.

I used a .338 win mag with 225 grn. TBBC bullets! Only one zebra had to be shot twice because of a sudden turn the animal made while I pulled the trigger and the bullet creased the shoulder. All other big game shots were 1 shot kills. I love the TBBC bullets, they mushroom to almost twice their diameter and they retain 85% to 90% or more of their original weight.

7mm mag reading in foot pounds of recoil to the body with a 175 grain bullet loaded towards the top of the pressure scale would be 27 pounds. The 300 win mag would be close to 32 pounds. A hunter will for sure notice the difference in 5 pounds or recoil to the body.

Most of your shots in the bush will be under 100 yards. However, in many places it is easy to get a 250 yard shot or further.

[Steve Franks]

First off what do you currently own?

The difference between the two, to an animal, is quite insignificant. My nephew use a 7mm Remington Magnum in RSA this last year for plains game. I loaded 160 Speer Grand Slams. The darn kid can really shoot. It was all one shot kills.

Like prior posts, accuracy and bullet placement is everything. Go with the one you shoot the best. Me? I can't take the ass whoopin' of the 300's, don't ask me why, but they seem to kick the crap out of me, even more the "big bores." I regularly hunt elk with a 7mm and out of 9 elk, all were dropped dead in their tracks.

[PhilLozano]

Dear Sir,

Agreeable with another post. What do you now shoot ? What is the largerst calibers you have ?

Anything in the 'Elk Class' of a rifle cartridge will work fine.

When cartridge selection comes up in the discussion with my client and myself, I recommend the heavier bullets for what ever cartridge they bring.

Personally, I recommend to my clients a 338 Win. Mag. with 250 grain bullets and a 416 of any make, both with good tough bullets.

I do agree that shot placement and good tough bullets are the most important thing.

After 18 yrs. as a P.H., I think bigger is better. The 7mm is a very good cartridge, as is the 300 Win. mag. . I have used both and my clients have brought them as well, with very good results.

Last season I took a 35 Whelen for some clients to use, as it preformed very, very well out to 200 yards (the longest shot taken. Hit a Zebra in the front shoulder, 1/4ing towards us and the client dumped him) with 250grn. bullets.

I have had clients bring 270 Win. with 150 grn. bullets and they worked OK. The 270 is not one of my favorites, but they worked.

Generally, your shots will be at 200 yds. and under (some species require longer shots).

IMO, all the cartridges loaded with heavy bullets from 270 up to 338, or 35 Whelen are about the same at 125 yards. Beyond that range, I think bigger diameter at a reasonable velocity is better.

So, you may have something in your gun safe already that will serve you well. Or, it is a good reason to get a new rifle. Again, my choice for a working rifle would be the 338, loaded with good 250's. Yes, it is over powered for some game, but dead is dead. On the small animals, use your heavy rifle with solids.

One of my clients shot a Dik-Dik with his 416 and 400 grn. solid. He life size mounted it. If he had used his 338, he would have had 2 - 1/2's to mount.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Best,
Phil

[ghost stalker]

i too believe that bigger is better... shoot the biggest gun you can comfortably shoot....that is if your hunting goes anything like mine.
you may say that i am not a good hunter or something stupid like that,but it's about enjoying your self and getting out there.....N-E-ways(betcha its been a while since you seen that one). with my hunting style being covering alot of ground (due to the fact that i move around alot) i do alot of clear-cut hunting and spot and stalk..i don't tend to get alot of time to wait for the perfect shot unless it's an animal i'm gonna pass on. they more often than not are on the move or are not offering the perfect 1/4ing away shot or are further than i fell comfortable with my calibur.. i end up passing more than i like because i don't think that my cal. can do the dirty work... you might say thats hunting but i don't like it! so i bought a bigger gun(280rem=old gun,300win mag=new gun). i feel comfortable with the 300 and will still use the 280 for deer, but the elk and moose get the 300. yes a 280 will work fine but i want to not have to pass up some of the shots i have in the past..i know that i will still have to pass up most of those less than favorable shots but the 300 will up my kill % and thats will up my confidence which goes alot further than any bullet.

[PhilLozano]

Mr. Ghost Stalker,

I fully agree. IMO you should hunt with a cartridge/bullet that is able to reach the vitals on a less than perfect angle shot.

True, you can take animals with less powerful cartridges, if you wait AND the shot you NEED is presented. Sometimes, you are not that lucky.

I have taken animals that are very tough (Zebra) with a well placed shot from a 243. I would not suggest my clients bring a 243 as a working rifle however. I have the advantage of time, that the clients don't have. If I did not take that Zebra that day, no big deal. I would have the next day, or the next week.

Many cartridges will kill animals, and kill them dead, dead, dead. That does not mean the cartridge is adequate for that animal.

I think everyone will agree, Bell used (basically) a 7mm Mauser on many Elephants. But that does not make it an Elephant cartridge.

In my time in Africa, I have seen with my own eyes, small and fast is OK to a point. Big and fast is MUCH better. Even Big at a moderate speeds seem to work quite well, thank you.

I will take the velocity, no problem. Just match it with diameter, a heavy tough bullet and all will turn out well if you put the bullet in the correct place.

Thanks for listening.

Best,
Phil

[bosveldjag]

Big bores are to men like four x four's!
The bigger the bore or the engine capacity, the better for the ego!

With that I'm not saying that you shouldn't use a big bore to shoot elephant, buffalo or any other big or dangerous game.

I am rather saying that most antelope species up to Eland size can easily and with great success be hunted with medium bore rifles - .264 up to well below .375 - more like .300 rather.

Obviously there are certain conditions that apply to achieve this, namely:

1. Shot placement - know where your target animal's vitals are situated:

2. Use a premium qaulity bullet to make sure the penetration is sufficient to reach these vitals; and

3. Always remember 'practice makes perfect'!

Trust the use of these basics will result in much more success with your hunting.

[PhilLozano]

Mr. Bosveldjag,

True, you can take animals like Eland with smaller cartridges than a 375.

The first Eland I shot was with a 7mm Rem. Mag, loaded with 175 grn. Noslers. The first shot was in the in the animals left lung, and it ran off. The second shot was in the right lung, and it ran off.

2 more in the heart/lung area and he was my trophy. The whole ordeal took about 4 1/2 hours. That was 4 1/2 hours I did not get to hunt other animals. Basically, it was a half a day, just to collect one animal.

Yes, smaller cartridges will kill large game, however, large calibers kill game quicker.

You don't need a 375 for large plains game, a 338 will do just fine.

I have a 35 Whelen that has little recoil, is very accurate and with 250 grain bullets is quite effective out to 200 yards.

Bring and shoot whatever cartridge you like, or is your favorite, and load it with heavy for caliber bullets and you will have the best your cartrige/rifle can be on game.

It is your safari, you can spend your time tracking wounded game, or you can go hunt other game, the choice is yours.

Best,
Phil