and .300 Wby. by Chuck Catchpole (Cordes Lakes, AZ) I have Smith & Wesson 7mm Rem Mag that I would not trade for the most expensive gun on the market. In this update, we’re going to investigate real-world performance differences among some readily available factory loaded ammunition. I would much rather skip right past any 300 Mag and have my .338 Win Mag in … vs. 7mm Rem. This is because the MV was 200 fps faster. This year I have saved up enough money and wanted to get my own. In general .30 cal bullets have a lower BC than 7mm, 6.5, and 6mm bullets. In my opinion, there is no difference in recoil between the 7mm Rem Mag and the .300 Win Mag. Mag. You will get all different opinions. If you’re looking for longer range performance advantages, choose carefully because there are huge performance differences among these loads. Here’s a sampling of currently cataloged 7mm and 300 WM loads from a variety of brands: Clearly you’ll find more long range options (high MV and B.C.) There is really no difference in flatness. Calibers are personnel preference. My question though is what caliber would be the best for both Mule deer and Elk. That is the biggest question. For my first rifle I think I would stay away from the .338 and possibly the .300 just for recoil. Recoil differences between full-house 175-grain 7mm RM and 180-grain 300 WM loads are so minimal as to be ignored. If you’re recoil sensitive… None of this matters to the elk. Also there needs to be a good selection of ammo and be generally easy to find. For all practical purposes though, there isn’t a significant difference in the ballistics of the .300 Win Mag and 7mm Rem Mag at typical hunting ranges. 7MM Rem Mag. The case and overall length of the.300 Win Mag are slightly longer than the 7mm RM, and its overall case capacity has a larger volume. It measures 2.62 inches – The 7mm Rem Mag is 2.5 inches. cartridges of similar capacity, driving bullets of comparable sectional densities and ballistic coefficients, it requires about 30 percent more recoil to match the trajectory of a 7mm with a .30. Hi, my name is Brett. The 7mm RUM is really only a good option if you are shooting ultra long range. The 7mm mag and the 30-06 that I used where both my uncles. I would say if you've used the 7 mag and are familiar with it, then go with it. Killed his first big goose. 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. They are not necessary. If I were getting one gun to do it all, it would be 270 or 280, which is a 30-06 case shooting 7 mm bullets. I was sure I needed that magnum "edge." I also have a .300 Wthby in a Rem 700, but I don't think it provides much real advantage over the Win version. forms. So you need to ask yourself... Do I want to kill an elk dead? On elk-size game out to 400 yards, no difference that I can tell between the 7 & 270 for broadside shots. when firing optimum bullets in each. Sound familiar? Mag. Recently I've gone to 270, because modern 150 gr rounds in 270 equal or better the 175 gr rounds I always used in the 7 mag for elk. This is, I think, because most hunters are more than satisfied with the punch and performance of 180-grain slugs and aren’t eager to endure the additional recoil of heavier versions. JavaScript is disabled. The 7mm (.284-inch) bullet drops less at all ranges even though the .308-inch bullet has a more efficient, minimum drag B.C. A popular long range load for the 300 Win Mag near this range is the 190 grain Berger VLD. All of the factory loads above will suffice, as this video of a 6x6 bull elk kill suggests. The author killed this last-day Colorado elk at 250 yards with a Ruger rifle in .300 Win. Develop a flinch and it will be hell to pay to get rid of it. The logical bottom end for the .300 Winchester ranges between 130 and 150 grains, depending on bullet construction; the 7mm Rem. I would ignore the 338 unless you someday want to hunt grizzles in Alaska or something! I would use a 300 win. is a descendant of the mighty .375 H&H and has seen widespread use in every sphere from military applications to big-game hunting. Once you answer that question, you'll have the correct answer. Might as well got with the 30-378 wby and get it over with. He just soaked up two rounds to the shoulder and one to the neck before wobbling and falling. The 270 weighs a lot less and costs less to shoot, and recoil/noise is less than the 7. So like no exotic calibers. For shooting elk or similar sized critters a 160 to 180 grain bullet is just about ideal. There's plenty of ammo selection out there for anything in North America. Both shoot comparable to each other. It is easy to shoot verses the 300 Win mag shooting max 180 or 200 grain loads. Your first rifle is one you like to use for a long time. Just put your shot were it needs to go. Since all three provide much more than the minimum impact energy and velocity, the deciding factor comes down to trajectory, the one which shoots the flattest and has the least crosswind drift. If you never plan on shooting game beyond 300 yards, don’t worry about any of this. can use bullets of 120 grains, but things usually top out at 175 or 185 grains. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Mag. Like over 400 yards. Mag. Remember, the slower the MV and lower the bullet B.C., the poorer the ballistic performance across the board: more … Truly appreciate you watching the videos!Cinder blocks with these two power houses!! The .270 Win HAS less bullet, "Drop" (Flatter Trajectory) than the .308 and with, a 140 grain Nosler AccuBond or, partition, starting at 3,000 FPS, should be an efficient "Elk slayer" to about, 500 yards ! in 7mm RM factory loads than 300 WM loads. It's got a little less explosive expansion, and tends to guarantee an exit wound which I like. Mag. The Browning X-Bolt features a low luster finish on the receiver and barrel, and the walnut color both looks great and prevents glare or reflection from giving away your location during a hunting trip.. I used to use 175 partitions. It may not display this or other websites correctly. My 7mm mag elk load is the 175 A-Frame at 2950 ft/s. Just my opinion. Win. For my purposes I would like to start at the 3's and go up. Here’s a sampling of currently cataloged 7mm and 300 WM loads from a variety of brands: Clearly you’ll find more long range options (high MV and B.C.) I would pick a 7mm mag above the 7mm rum. I've also heard that it doesn't create as big of hole. THIS ^^^^ GOOD advice ! I have just never been thrilled by the 7mm Rem Mag. The 7mm counterpart is the 180 grain Berger VLD. Does the perfect muley cartridge really exist? mtmuley. Mag. The ballistics coefficient is what determines that. On the other hand, most.300 Win Mag loads use 150-230 grain bullets. This will go over the key differences and similarities between the 300 Win. I've taken much game with the 308, and my Weatherby 300 Alaskan too, but that 7MM-08 is a sweet package as well, plus light on recoil. Anyone planning on shooting factory ammunition in either of these magnums should study the market carefully before choosing between the 7mm RM and 300 WM. In these 3 calibres I'd use 140 grain bullets in the 7MM-08, 165's in the 308, and 180's in the 300 Win Mag, and ( especially..) all with partition bullets from the Nosler brand. My first rifle was a 7 RM, which I bought to replace my dad's 30-06 I was using. 1. Study ammo catalogs and you’ll see there are usually 160-grain to 175-grain bullets offered aboard 7mm RM, but the 300 WM usually tops out at 180-grains with a few offerings at 190- or 200-grains, but rarely high B.C. Some are designed for long range, some for close. Let’s run ballistic profiles on three. And the lighter bullet "shoots flatter." For the elk we've taken, shot placement determined how much effective damage was done. Mag. Mule Deer Cartridge Showdown: .270 Win. As the names imply, the.300 Win Mag takes a 30-cal (.308″) bullet, while the 7mm Rem Mag takes a smaller caliber (.284″) bullet. Be aware that rifles/barrels can slightly alter manufacturer B.C. Mag and 7MM. Bullet B.C. Yet, there is only one winner in any group, and only three cartridges in this test are reliable 1000-yard elk killers: the .300 Win Mag, .338 Win Mag, and .340 Weatherby. The performance difference between the two was marginal. This is why so many elk guides carry the 7mm mag in the first place. is easily one of the top choices for many hunters. I am 17, and I hunt mule deer in southern Oregon where it is pretty open and flat. If you like the 7 mag, it will suite you well. No rocking, no slamming to the ground. As mentioned earlier, it would be hard to discount the .270 or the 30-06 either. Hunting gifts received-let’s see/hear ‘em. Mag. And I know my rifle so well, I can still hit a gong at 500 yards with it. I've used a 30-06 the last few years before this last year switching to 7mm Remington mag. I gained nothing important in going from 06 to 7 RM. For instance, the vast majority of 7mm Rem Mag loads shoot bullets in the 139-175 grain range. My son saved up for his first shotgun and bought it last summer. Mag. makes a huge difference. We shot and compared three popular options to help you decide on the best elk cartridge for your style of hunting and 300 Win. They can hit their mark accurately at long range. There have been a handful of lever action and single shot rifles chambered in .308 Winchester and .30-06 Springfield over the years. It might change your mind. Accuracy overrules power, and almost everyone shoots more accurately when there is less recoil. Copyright Ron Spomer Outdoors © document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) One uses the 300 Win Mag handloaded 180gr, the other uses the .30-06 handloaded 180gr, and I use the 7mm Rem Mag 160gr factory Nosler Partition as loaded by Federal. ratings, but these should get you close. Although this is a fairly popular debate lets compare the 300 Win Mag to the 7mm Rem Mag and look at the actual numbers. Updated: May 10, 2019. The 300 win mag is great but if you are at all recoil sensitive then the 300 win is going to need a break. or a 7RM because I have them. I personally and many people I know top out with recoil in a light rifle at the 7mm rem mag with 160ish gr bullets. has an obvious weight advantage, topping out at 240 grains. The 300 Win. Preferred by long range hunters and military snipers over the … The two Barnes loads have almost an identical amount of wind drift, but the 7mm Rem Mag Nosler AccuBond load has a slight edge over the .300 Win Mag AccuBond load. Me, I"d go SPS stainless, especially for the money. Inside of 200 yards no advantage. I love my 7 mags, but the 06 will do everything the others will do. Grab a ballistic computer and run all the comparisons you want. A belted, bottlenecked magnum first introduced by Winchester in 1963, the Win. I've bagged a deer with both but I'm not that familiar with other calibers. The 7mm-08 is better than, the .308 but, I'd stay with the .270 Win… 7mm Rem Mag vs 300 Win Mag – Most Popular Rounds As we come to the end of our review, we will like to share some of the best rounds that are perfect for certain applications: We chose the HSM Berger 168gr magnum for the Remington cartridge because it is a heavyweight, ideal for hunting purposes, and makes the handling of recoil easy. Oops, no I forgot to say that I have been borrowing my Uncles rifles for the last few years. However, this small differential in size does not affect the fact that they can both be used in standard / long-action rifles. We have updated our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy as of May 5th, 2020, http://www.hornady.com/store/300-Win-Mag-200-gr-ELD-X-Precision-Hunter/, http://www.hornady.com/store/7mm-Rem-Mag-162-gr-ELD-X-Precision-Hunter/, WTS Remington 700 338 win mag barreled action and scope, "Brandy" 7mm Ruger Number One at 300 yards. Any of the calibers you mentioned will work just fine. I know that a ton of you probably use a 270 and can bag an elk no problem. I have shot most of my stuff with a .300 Win mag and it has never failed me. But jump up to 200-grain bullets in the 300 and additional punch starts to open eyes — or close them. The .300 Winchester appeared a year after Remington’s 7mm. I have to say that I'm pretty sold on the 7mm but I don't know too much about the 300 mags and the other calibers. However, the.300 Winchester Magnum generally uses heavier bullets than the 7mm Remington Magnum. Shot placement and bullet selection are more important than caliber.I have a Tikka T3 lite stainless and love it. I think that the 30-06 is your answer. The .300 Winchester Magnum, or .300 Win Mag, is used around the world for moose, elk, bear, and African plains game. vs. 338. Comparing the two, the .300 Win. In the last 20 years bullet technology has improved dramatically, so a lighter bullet performs on game like a heavier bullet used to. I was most always hunting Deer when the Elk showed up. I have killed elk with ,260 rem, 6.5 x 284, 270 win, 270 wsm, 7mm saum, 7mm rem mag, 300 wsm. vs. .300 Win. 300 win mag. By Joseph von Benedikt. Oddly enough, given expectations of the rabble, it was not the .338 Winchester necked down. Even that is too much for most people to practice with a lot. If you compare 7mm and .30 cal. Consider all these factors when contemplating your options. I Shot a few Northern Canada whitetails over 325 pounds. The differences in available loads could make one perform significantly better than the other. Or, do I want to kill an elk deader? Find a tough cartridge for one of the most prized and toughest hooved big game animals around. The 300 WM kicks slightly more. I myself love the 300 win mag and carried one for 20 plus years of hunting various big game in North America. Mag. In a previous blog we investigated the subtle differences between the 7mm Rem. As long as you know were and how much it's dropping either of those calibers will work. 308 vs 300 Win Mag vs 30-06 Springfield Rifles. Energy doesn’t kill; tissue destruction does. Mag. By Todd E. Hale, J.D. Mag. Elk Cartridge Field Report: .270 Winchester, 7mm Rem. Mag. Shooting game past 400 yards really isn't a good idea for anyone. Elk Cartridge Showdown: .308 Win vs. .300 Win. Weight of the bullets in grains does not mean it is better in the wind. Any of the calibers listed above would work fine but the 7mm would generally have a little less recoil. You must log in or register to reply here. For those who believe a magnum is necessary for big-bodied elk, the .300 Win. Also, the higher the MV and heavier the bullet, the greater the recoil. I have shot many deer with it, 4 elk and every one was dropped in it's tracks. Remember, the slower the MV and lower the bullet B.C., the poorer the ballistic performance across the board: more drop, more drift, less retained energy downrange. I'm a BIG Remington guy, but that Roughtech is a sweet rifle. Sounds like you may already own a rifle in the caliber you describe. There is one for sale on longrangehunting for just over a grand In 7mm Remington even. Get your hands on a lightweight 300 and shoot it before you make a decision. The 12 Best Cartridges for Elk Hunting. Sometimes its not as much fun dealing with recoil as you get older. I'm a recoil weenie and so would choose the 7 Mag. Just like with ammo, the major gun manufacturers produce sporting rifles chambered in all three cartridges. You can study the data and decide which option you like best. We’ll zero all rifles at 250 yards and shoot in a 10 mph right angle wind. If you think the 160-grain Nosler AccuBond 7mm RM in this video didn’t smack very hard on that 70-yard elk, know that the next season I shot another big bull with a 300 WM and 180-grain AccuBonds at 30 yards — and the animal’s reaction was about the same. Guns and Shooting Online readers likely are familiar with these three venerable cartridges and the varying opinions about their suitability for taking elk. Mag(Winchester Magnum) and 7MM (Remington Magnum) are very popular in hunting circles here in the United States because of their good ballistics at range on larger game such as elk. I always bring my 300 win mag as a back up incase my 06 scope gets bumped or for a really windy day, but my 06 is the go to rifle. Update, we ’ ll zero all rifles at 250 yards with a and... General.30 cal bullets have a little less explosive expansion, and i hunt mule in. Open eyes — or close them a lightweight 300 and shoot it before you make a.. Alter manufacturer B.C son saved up enough money and wanted to get my own son saved for. Elk or similar sized critters a 160 to 180 grain Berger VLD grain.. And falling get it over with these two power houses! options to help decide! Expectations of the bullets in grains does not mean it is pretty open and.! 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