7mm mag

JackRabbit · #1 06-04-2006, 08:32 PM

I've been pondering the thought of purchasing a 7mm mag.I used to own one primarily for moose hunting.I also used it on deer out west for long open shots.Where I hunt now it is mostly bush with some oppertunities for open shots.I'm thinking of getting one as I started hunting moose again.What do you all think of the 7mm mag on deer in the woods since I'll have to sell my 270 to be able to afford it.Unless I go with the savage.I love the 7mm mag but I also love my 270.I feel more power is essetial for moose particularily past 300 yds.

Esox357 · #2 06-04-2006, 10:51 PM

My buddy uses a 7mm rem mag in the woods in Nebraska, I have yet to see him take a shot over 50 yards with it, it kills deer and is a bit over powered for the use of such close shots but I can't argue with dead! He uses the 140 grain Nosler ballistic tip loaded at 1-2 grains over recommended max. He shoots the deer and they die pretty quick. I can't tell much difference between his 7mm mag and my 30.06 they both bring home game. I think it is a excellent caliber and versatile to boot, I would buy it. Esox357.

M.T. Pockets · #3 06-05-2006, 08:31 AM

You'll likely get a lot of opinions, here's a free one so take it for what it's worth.

I think a .270 can do all of the 7 Mag's work just as well out to the 300 yard shot at a moose, there's just not that much difference where I think it would be worth trading rifles. If you're looking at upgrading to a rifle that is better at shooting moose at 300 and beyond, I think you'd be better off stepping up to a .300 Winchester or one of the other .300 magnums out there. A .338 would not be out of place either, doesn't shoot as flat though.

Too bad you couldn't keep your .270 for your deer rifle and get a .300 or .338 for moose. I use a .300 Win. for everything and it serves me well.

JackRabbit · #4 06-05-2006, 02:50 PM

Thanks guys,this is hard for me as I would realy like to keep my 270,and I am realy thinking of a tikka t3.I have a tikka 22-250 and love it.The 7mm mag had always done me good in the past.As it is a caliber I am very familiar with.

JackRabbit · #5 06-26-2006, 10:46 PM

Well thanks for the input guys.I picked up my new tikka t3 in
300 win mag,today and I was able to keep my 270, I love it.

fabsroman · #6 06-26-2006, 11:44 PM

I was going to suggest the .300 Win Mag instead of the 7mm. The first rifle I bought was a .300 Win Mag with the thought that I would be able to hunt almost anything in North America. Back then I even thought I could go grizzly hunting with it, but I now know better. Nothing less than a .375 for grizzlies for me.

Now, with that being said, the only thing I have shot at with the .300 Win Mag in the 14 years that I have owned it are whitetails, foxes, and groundhogs. The first whitetail I killed with it was a button buck at 20 yards. That deer was dead on impact.

The way I look at it, it is always better to be overgunned than undergunned. It would really suck to have a beautiful moose within your shooting capability buy outside of your gun's capability. So what if the gun is too much for the short range shot, it will still do the job. I have never heard anybody complain about having too much gun to do the job. If the bullet is placed correctly, there shouldn't be much meat damage from a super fast bullet.

So, how is the Tikka doing? I am debating between a Sako and a Ruger .25-06 for next summer. All my other rifles have been Rugers, but they say that a Sako is incredible. The only reason I would buy another Ruger is because they are an American company, the gun is made in the US, and they have done pretty well by me already. I'll have to handle a Sako to see if it is actually worth the extra money and the departure from Ruger. I am pretty brand loyal, so I doubt I'll be getting the Sako, but who knows.

M.T. Pockets · #7 06-27-2006, 08:34 AM

JackRabbit, great choice. Practice with it and you've got a great moose rifle at all practical ranges. You're next hard choice is what ammo to shoot. With all the choices out there it would be hard to go wrong, any quality bullet in the 180-200 grain range should do you fine.

Fabs, have you considered an A-Bolt for your .25-06 ?

fabsroman · #8 06-27-2006, 01:33 PM

Would the A-Blot be a Browning. If so, I don't buy Browning guns anymore after an incident I had with a Citori o/u that prompted me to buy a Beretta o/u. Grew up on Brownings, and my dad used to love them too. However, after the treatment we received on the Citori, we decided to spend out money elsewhere. At that time, between he and I we owned 3 Brownings. Since then, we have bought 7 Berettas, 1 Benelli, 4 Rugers, and 1 Remington. I don't really like the Remington 700, and that is why it will be a decision between the Ruger and the Sako.

JackRabbit · #9 06-27-2006, 02:14 PM

Well fab's sako-tikka is american owned now,but still made in Finland at the sako factory.A friend of mine owns a ruger 270 and his last purchase was a tikka t3 223.He was telling me if he had known before how smooth the tikka's were he would have got the 270 in a tikka.I already own a model 595 tikka 22-250 and it is very slick.As for the 300 mag.,I just picked it up last night and I still have to put a scope on it.But it sure feels fine and lite only 6 3/8 pounds.

M.T.Pockets I've been studying the bullistics on the 300 mag. and am impressed with the 180 gr. and like you said I think the 180-200 gr. would be great choices for moose.

Best of all guys I still have my 270 for deer.LOL

M.T. Pockets · #10 06-27-2006, 02:33 PM

Fabs, I had to throw you a bone on the A-Bolt - I remember your fondness for Brownings.

JackRabbit, I'm going to the range with my .300 Win and a box of 180 grain Core Lokt Ultra's this Saturday. I've also got a box of 200 grain Swift A-Frames. Whatever gives me the best groups from the 200 yard bench is going elk hunting with me this fall.

I've shot Nosler partitions (180 & 200 grain), Failsafes, Barnes X, Trophy Bonded Bear Claws and some other standard bullets and my rifle consistently prefers 180 Remington Core Lokts. If the new Core Lokt Ultras shoot the same, that's what I'm leaning towards using.

I don't get too excited about ballistic tables. I don't think there's a whole lot of difference between an inch or two of trajectory at 400 yards. A hundred ft. lb. of energy isn't going to make much difference either. Hitting them where you want with a bullet that will expand and hold together is all I ask.

Good luck with your new rifle, you've got a good combination there with a .270 and a .300 Win. Mag.

fabsroman · #11 06-27-2006, 02:33 PM

JackRabbit,

I thought Sako-Tikka were owned by Beretta, which is an Italian company that manufactures some handguns and shotguns in the US. Beretta also own Burris, which is a US company and those scopes are still manufactured in the US. Heck Beretta owns a lot of companies (e.g., Benelli, Franchi, A. Uberti, Stoeger, Tikka, Sako), but I guess that is what happens when a company has been in business longer than the US has been a country. I think Beretta has been in business close to 500 years.

I might just end up going with the Sako, and seeing if I should get rid fo the rest of my Rugers. Again, I will not make this decision without first holding the Sako in my hands, shouldering it, and seeing how well that action works.

JackRabbit · #12 06-27-2006, 09:26 PM

I'm sorry fab's,I was sure I came across an article where an american gun manufacturer had purchased beretta shortly after beretta purchased sako-tikka.But I tried to research it with no luck.I was sure the article said that was why they are sold all over North America now.
Still well worth checking out. Ruger is no slouch either.

fabsroman · #13 06-28-2006, 06:54 AM

JackRabbit,

I seriously doubt that any American gun manufacturer could afford to purchase Beretta with all the other companies it owns. Most American gun manufacturers are just trying to stay above water, they do not have the positive cash flow to go out and buy other companies, especially when the company they are thinking about buying has been buying other companies.

Cal Sibley · #14 06-28-2006, 08:44 PM

300 yard shots on moose? I've been hunting them for some years now and most shots I get are well within about 70 yards.
Where are you hunting them? Best wishes.

I also use a 7mm Rem. Mag., great caliber for moose.

Cal - Montreal

JackRabbit · #15 06-29-2006, 02:44 PM

Hi Cal,I hunt northern ontario,mostly logged out ares and large swamps.With most of our shots as you state close, within 100 yards.We hunt in november after the rut in an area well hunted in
the begining of the season.Most of the moose we see are on the move,often running shots.Lots of moose but spooked so easily.

fab's
once again I just want to apologize.It would'nt make sense
to sell a company I guess that is buying other companies,and is so profitable unless it is a hostile takeover.Both beretta and sako/
tikka have been top names in firearms quality.Not to take away from any american manufacturers.