7mm Mag or 300 Mag

rick343 · 01-29-2008, 05:07 PM

I have a friend that has a 7mm Mag and wanted to get a 300 Mag. Which do you recommend. Looking at the ballistics charts there isn't too much difference

SwedeSteve · 01-29-2008, 05:17 PM

There is alot of difference. Look at sectional density, and downrange energy.

Midas · 01-29-2008, 05:27 PM

I would take the .300 Win Mag, I don't consider the 7mm Rem Mag much of a magnum, it isn't much more powerful than a 30-06. The .300 Winny will also allow you to use heavier bullet weights, which translates to better bone breaking ability at long distances on game such as elk, and moose. Both are ridiculous for the average "100 yards and under" deer hunter.

two-70 · 01-29-2008, 05:46 PM

your so right Midas, never ceases to amaze me how many people buy both every year for whitetail and most of the time its under a hundred their taken elk and moose, whole different ball game

rasterman77 · 01-29-2008, 06:27 PM

The .300 win mag, if you're going to get a magnum may as well get the bigger one. If recoil is an issue use a good recoil pad and don't purchase the lightest rifle.

To be honest, I see advantages on either side but I personally like the .300 better because all my friends have the 7mm mag.

nathangdad · 01-29-2008, 06:41 PM

It would not, in my opinion, be worth it to argue over a 7mm mag or a 300 mag. I agree with your assessment of the situation.

As a preference, I would prefer the 7mm mag due to lesser recoil which would translate (for most people) into more target practice time which would have greater value in the field than a heavier projectile in a .300 mag.

mwlu711 · 01-29-2008, 06:56 PM

either is a good choice as long as you can shoot it well.but when you look at the balistics against the 30 06 and the 280 rem niether are enough ahead of thier non magnum counter parts to make any difference.back on topick i am partial to 7mm mag symply because im more fond of the 7mm bore and find the 308 bore a bit boring (no pun itnended)but with the right bullets and proper shot placement either will drop any anamal with satisfying results.

Magnumsrule · 01-29-2008, 08:20 PM

Lol i dont know what model of 7mm mag you guys where shootin but the synthetic weatherby that im truckin punches only marginally less than the 300. All depends on bullet wights. Take a look at the case's. They are almost identical. All it comes down to is whether you want to shoot a 30. cal or a 7mm. Personally as said above i would go to the 300 as it provides a little more foot pounds and a slightly bigger wound channle. As also said above most game is taken under 150 yards anyways so none of this really matters. Do you want to shoot 180s or 160/175 grains? Pretty much just little diferences. And with the recoil issue if your looking at mags anyways then the recoil shouldnt be an issue anyways.

PS. This is kinda funny as about 8 months ago this was exactly the same post i made when i first joined. Learned alot from my dad and others about these two cartridges in that short time. The whole key is reading ballisics, and lookin at availability and range of ammo. Hope this helps.

MOD 70 · 01-29-2008, 08:39 PM

I have used my .300 Wea. for over 20yrs ,muleys,whitetail,moose and elk.No real reason for the original purchase except I felt my old .303 British,while it killed well,was a little short on range.There will always room in the cabinet for one because I have had nothing but good results with it.

Ron AKA · 01-29-2008, 09:07 PM

The 7mm RM is easily a better cartridge than the 300 WM for all North American big game. The 300 is simply overkill and potentially the 7mm RM is as well. Why don't you promote the 300 WM to him and see if you can get a good deal from him on the 7mm!

Ron

Rem 742 30-06 · 01-29-2008, 09:12 PM

I have seen a small doe shot with a 300 at 50 yards and there was no wasted meat on that thing and it was shot almost head on in the base of the neck area. The 300 is a great cartridge period.

SilverRun · 01-29-2008, 10:56 PM

I have both and would recommend either for anything Elk size and smaller - after that the .300 is the clear winner.

Lng Rng · 01-30-2008, 12:33 AM

It depends what you want to do. If you are going to hunt mainly deer, sheep and antelope, I would go with the 7mm. With a 150 Gr bullet, they have pretty similar ballistics, and as you increase in bullet weight, the 300 has the edge.

For Elk and Moose, I would prefer a 300. Not saying a 7mm is not capable of taking either one, but I would chose the 300 over the 7mm.

If you plan on shooting inside of 300 yards and want to save money and recoil, buy a 30-06. Not trying to give you a cop-out answer, but it might make sense in your case.

samuel · 01-30-2008, 10:10 AM

Personally,when I see an average 500ft lbs more in the 300win. over the 7mm rem.,I see a lot of difference.I like the 7mm rem. but like the edge the .300win offers. sam.

Ron AKA · 01-30-2008, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samuel

Personally,when I see an average 500ft lbs more in the 300win. over the 7mm rem.,I see a lot of difference.I like the 7mm rem. but like the edge the .300win offers. sam.

I agree there is no doubt that the 300 can deliver more down range energy and as a result more recoil to the shoulder. The question is why would one want that? I would spend more time deciding whether I wanted/needed a 7mmRM over a 270 Win, than I would debating about the 300 WM.

rasterman77 · 01-30-2008, 02:24 PM

With the advent of very effective recoil pads and the option to get a fairly heavy gun, one can take recoil out of the equation.. though I hunt with the 7mm-08 for your (Ron AKA) reasons.
I, and many, feel better in G-bear areas with as big of a caliber as you can feel comfortable with.
See.. Mod 70, I defend the big calibers too.. in thier place.

MOD 70 · 01-30-2008, 03:27 PM

Thanks rasterman77,I know that was hard for you! Almost broke out in tears hearing such fine words of wisdom coming from the other side of the fence! I really like my .308 featherweight with 150-165grn bullets for all-around hunting.Pretty flat shooting,accurate,more than enough power in most cases and way more fun to shoot from prone or an awkward positions! In the medium bore range (I mean 6.5 - .308 dia. ,not .300 - .375 dia.) picking a cartridge is much like scouting draft picks for the NHL. Lots players,all good - just have to pick one that`s right for you.What gives you warm-fuzzies? I`d by that one!

rdale501 · 01-30-2008, 03:39 PM

I have a 300 mag. My hunting buddy has a 7mm. We have hunted deer and elk together for over 20 years, and have taken several each. There has only been one time when I was able to get on an elk and the 7mm fell just short. I would never pass up a good deal on a 7mm mag. But the 300 outshines it just a bit.

rasterman77 · 01-30-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOD 70

Thanks rasterman77,I know that was hard for you! Almost broke out in tears hearing such fine words of wisdom coming from the other side of the fence! I really like my .308 featherweight with 150-165grn bullets for all-around hunting.Pretty flat shooting,accurate,more than enough power in most cases and way more fun to shoot from prone or an awkward positions! In the medium bore range (I mean 6.5 - .308 dia. ,not .300 - .375 dia.) picking a cartridge is much like scouting draft picks for the NHL. Lots players,all good - just have to pick one that`s right for you.What gives you warm-fuzzies? I`d by that one!

LOL, That was funny!
I think after doing some recent research on belted magnums that I would probably go with the .300 W.S.M.
The research is briefly covered in the thread "Is the .300 wsm a good bet?"

Rattle'em up · 02-01-2008, 07:17 PM

Well I would have to say that the 30 caliber is a big step up from the 7mm. The 300WM with a 200grn bullet will knock the snot out of an elk. The 7mm could not come close to the 300WM in ballistics......with the 200grn bullet which is where the 300WM really shines as an elk rifle. Even the 3006 will have more punch then the 7mm with the 180 grn bullet.

01-29-2008, 05:07 PM	#1
rick343 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 83	7mm Mag or 300 Mag I have a friend that has a 7mm Mag and wanted to get a 300 Mag. Which do you recommend. Looking at the ballistics charts there isn't too much difference

01-29-2008, 05:17 PM	#2
SwedeSteve Bullet Maintenance !! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The anchor point, Alaska Posts: 10,272 Images: 1	There is alot of difference. Look at sectional density, and downrange energy. __________________ Thank God we don't get as much Government as we pay for! -Will Rogers

01-29-2008, 05:27 PM	#3
Midas Troll B' Gone Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Springdale, Arkansas Posts: 3,788 Images: 2 Blog Entries: 6	I would take the .300 Win Mag, I don't consider the 7mm Rem Mag much of a magnum, it isn't much more powerful than a 30-06. The .300 Winny will also allow you to use heavier bullet weights, which translates to better bone breaking ability at long distances on game such as elk, and moose. Both are ridiculous for the average "100 yards and under" deer hunter. __________________ "Recoil lasts for a second, gravity lasts forever"

01-29-2008, 05:46 PM	#4
two-70 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: ponca city, oklahoma Posts: 1,778	your so right Midas, never ceases to amaze me how many people buy both every year for whitetail and most of the time its under a hundred their taken elk and moose, whole different ball game __________________ What Would Jesus Do ????? Just Ask Him.

01-29-2008, 06:27 PM	#5
rasterman77 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 298	The .300 win mag, if you're going to get a magnum may as well get the bigger one. If recoil is an issue use a good recoil pad and don't purchase the lightest rifle. To be honest, I see advantages on either side but I personally like the .300 better because all my friends have the 7mm mag. __________________ 2 things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, I'm not sure about the former. Einstein Last edited by rasterman77; 01-29-2008 at 06:50 PM.

01-29-2008, 06:41 PM	#6
nathangdad Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 2,437	You're right It would not, in my opinion, be worth it to argue over a 7mm mag or a 300 mag. I agree with your assessment of the situation. As a preference, I would prefer the 7mm mag due to lesser recoil which would translate (for most people) into more target practice time which would have greater value in the field than a heavier projectile in a .300 mag. Last edited by nathangdad; 01-29-2008 at 06:43 PM. Reason: addition

01-29-2008, 06:56 PM	#7
mwlu711 Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: north centeral idaho Posts: 40	either is a good choice as long as you can shoot it well.but when you look at the balistics against the 30 06 and the 280 rem niether are enough ahead of thier non magnum counter parts to make any difference.back on topick i am partial to 7mm mag symply because im more fond of the 7mm bore and find the 308 bore a bit boring (no pun itnended)but with the right bullets and proper shot placement either will drop any anamal with satisfying results.

01-29-2008, 08:20 PM	#8
Magnumsrule Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northern Alberta, Canada Posts: 591 Blog Entries: 2	Lol i dont know what model of 7mm mag you guys where shootin but the synthetic weatherby that im truckin punches only marginally less than the 300. All depends on bullet wights. Take a look at the case's. They are almost identical. All it comes down to is whether you want to shoot a 30. cal or a 7mm. Personally as said above i would go to the 300 as it provides a little more foot pounds and a slightly bigger wound channle. As also said above most game is taken under 150 yards anyways so none of this really matters. Do you want to shoot 180s or 160/175 grains? Pretty much just little diferences. And with the recoil issue if your looking at mags anyways then the recoil shouldnt be an issue anyways. PS. This is kinda funny as about 8 months ago this was exactly the same post i made when i first joined. Learned alot from my dad and others about these two cartridges in that short time. The whole key is reading ballisics, and lookin at availability and range of ammo. Hope this helps. __________________ Cartridge Group Like to discuss cartridges? Join HERE!

01-29-2008, 08:39 PM	#9
MOD 70 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 162	I have used my .300 Wea. for over 20yrs ,muleys,whitetail,moose and elk.No real reason for the original purchase except I felt my old .303 British,while it killed well,was a little short on range.There will always room in the cabinet for one because I have had nothing but good results with it. __________________ If God didn`t intend for man to eat animals he wouldn`t have made them out of meat

01-29-2008, 09:07 PM	#10
Ron AKA Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 704	The 7mm RM is easily a better cartridge than the 300 WM for all North American big game. The 300 is simply overkill and potentially the 7mm RM is as well. Why don't you promote the 300 WM to him and see if you can get a good deal from him on the 7mm! Ron

01-29-2008, 09:12 PM	#11
Rem 742 30-06 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Wisconsin Posts: 390	I have seen a small doe shot with a 300 at 50 yards and there was no wasted meat on that thing and it was shot almost head on in the base of the neck area. The 300 is a great cartridge period.

01-29-2008, 10:56 PM	#12
SilverRun Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: AL Posts: 1,661	I have both and would recommend either for anything Elk size and smaller - after that the .300 is the clear winner. __________________ "Those who stand for nothing fall for anything." - Alexander Hamilton

01-30-2008, 12:33 AM	#13
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 944	It depends what you want to do. If you are going to hunt mainly deer, sheep and antelope, I would go with the 7mm. With a 150 Gr bullet, they have pretty similar ballistics, and as you increase in bullet weight, the 300 has the edge. For Elk and Moose, I would prefer a 300. Not saying a 7mm is not capable of taking either one, but I would chose the 300 over the 7mm. If you plan on shooting inside of 300 yards and want to save money and recoil, buy a 30-06. Not trying to give you a cop-out answer, but it might make sense in your case.

01-30-2008, 10:10 AM	#14
samuel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 5,087	Personally,when I see an average 500ft lbs more in the 300win. over the 7mm rem.,I see a lot of difference.I like the 7mm rem. but like the edge the .300win offers. sam.

01-30-2008, 02:24 PM	#16
rasterman77 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: B.C. Canada Posts: 298	With the advent of very effective recoil pads and the option to get a fairly heavy gun, one can take recoil out of the equation.. though I hunt with the 7mm-08 for your (Ron AKA) reasons. I, and many, feel better in G-bear areas with as big of a caliber as you can feel comfortable with. See.. Mod 70, I defend the big calibers too.. in thier place. __________________ 2 things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, I'm not sure about the former. Einstein Last edited by rasterman77; 01-30-2008 at 03:44 PM. Reason: clarification

01-30-2008, 03:27 PM	#17
MOD 70 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Southern B.C. Posts: 162	Thanks rasterman77,I know that was hard for you! Almost broke out in tears hearing such fine words of wisdom coming from the other side of the fence! I really like my .308 featherweight with 150-165grn bullets for all-around hunting.Pretty flat shooting,accurate,more than enough power in most cases and way more fun to shoot from prone or an awkward positions! In the medium bore range (I mean 6.5 - .308 dia. ,not .300 - .375 dia.) picking a cartridge is much like scouting draft picks for the NHL. Lots players,all good - just have to pick one that`s right for you.What gives you warm-fuzzies? I`d by that one! __________________ If God didn`t intend for man to eat animals he wouldn`t have made them out of meat

01-30-2008, 03:39 PM	#18
rdale501 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: oregon Posts: 398	I have a 300 mag. My hunting buddy has a 7mm. We have hunted deer and elk together for over 20 years, and have taken several each. There has only been one time when I was able to get on an elk and the 7mm fell just short. I would never pass up a good deal on a 7mm mag. But the 300 outshines it just a bit.

02-01-2008, 07:17 PM	#20
Rattle'em up Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Austin,Texas Posts: 103	Well I would have to say that the 30 caliber is a big step up from the 7mm. The 300WM with a 200grn bullet will knock the snot out of an elk. The 7mm could not come close to the 300WM in ballistics......with the 200grn bullet which is where the 300WM really shines as an elk rifle. Even the 3006 will have more punch then the 7mm with the 180 grn bullet.