What gun would you use with 7mm rem mag

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I think I have decided to go with 7mm rem mag for my first hunting rifle, It should be a very versatile shot I think capable of killing small to large game.

Im not sure what rifle I should get though, im fairly new to all of this. I dont want to spend a ton, but I dont want a piece of #### gun either.

If you can tell me a reason why I shouldnt get 7mm rem mag, please leave that in a comment as well.

Thanks
 
The Ruger m77 is close to bulletproof, a tad on the heavy side and plenty accurate for hunting. The Rem700 can't be ignored either. Tikka seems to have a decent rep on here but I've never shot one.
These 3 are med priced and 150-160 grain bullets and kill everything!

The only reason not to get one is being able to handle the recoil, for that reason look at something like a 7-08 or 6.5x55.
 
This has been my hunting rifle/caliber for 25+ years and has served me well from deer through moose.
Does the job on coyotes and smaller critters as well of course.
I would not hesitate in going this route if starting over. Great all around setup.
I shoot a Ruger, was my first decent rifle and the one I always grab on the way out the door hunting, although I do have others to choose from.
 
A 7mm rem mag will work for all north American big game with the right bullet. There is a reason to get one. A tikka t3 or a browning x bolt or Remington 700 are all a good bang for the buck, all are around the $1000 mark plus or minus a couple hundred. the best thing to do is go handle a few different rifles and see what fits you best.
 
The Browning BAR Longtrac is a beautiful semi-auto rifle, available in that calibre.
Mine is chambered in 30-06, and the gas operated action dampens a significant amount of recoil.
 
I would go with a Winchester Sporter or if you have some extra coins a Super Grade. Tikka T3 with a wood stock would also be nice. 7mm Rem Mag is a great caliber. Good Luck
 
The 7mm Remington Magnum is a rifleman's cartridge. Sam Fadala argued that it was actually more versatile than the .30/06, Rocky Chandler wanted the US military to adopt it as their primary sniper cartridge over the .308, and Warren Page wandered the earth with a custom 7mm Mashburn, a close cousin to what would later become Remington's premier cartridge. To my way of thinking, the 7 mag is a general purpose big game cartridge, at its best as a moderate to long range number on game up to the half ton range. Not everyone agrees with this analysis though; Manitoba DNR keeps a stainless Browning in 7 mag here as their dedicated polar bear gun, for those instances when a shotgun doesn't cut it. Previously they had a M-70 in .338. I'd have kept the M-70 myself, but the attitude across the street right now favors high velocity small bores.

When selecting a rifle, a guy could do a lot worse than the North American standards, The Winchester M-70, Remington M-700, or the Ruger 77. The imports from CZ and more recently Zastava, have established a following due to their better than average quality and competitive price. The last 7 mag I shot was a S&W 1500 built on a Japanese Howa action. For a time Howa also made the Weatherby Vanguard action, although I'm not sure they still do, the new Vanguard's action seems to be a little more streamlined, where the Howa has a massive striker. SAKO makes a fine rifle if you have a thick enough wallet, but once you're spending that much there are many off the shelf and semi custom rifles to choose from. Because I'm a Winchester M-70 enthusiast, I might check out the offerings from The Montana Rifle Company.
 
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the savage yet. The stocks aren't that great but they are usually very accurate hunting guns for a good price. May not be a runner in the looks department but if you're as hard on your hunting gear as I am its a viable option. I don't care if they get scratched or marred up while hunting in bad weather

Shoulder as many rifles as you can and choose one that feels right and allow for good optics
 
I just picked up a Tikka M65 in 7mm mag. If you can find one they seem to be priced reasonably, are very well made (no plastic) and are supposed to be amazing shooters.
 
Okay, I'll be the bad guy and at least throw out a couple of things to watch out for with the 7mm mag. Hopefully no major arguments occur...

You'll need to reload to get good performance out of the 7 mag last time I checked. Even then, lots of guys 7 mag handloads don't have much at all over a handloaded .270 win. My .270 does an honest 3000 fps with 150's; less than you can get with the 7 mag, but pretty much on par with what lots of guys are actually getting. The "little" .270 is cheaper to shoot and has less recoil, and with the same weight bullets, a better BC. Still, if you reload 162's (or heavier) like you are serious about it, you can step ahead of a .270 for sure.

The other thing that always kept me from getting into the 7 mag was I've personally heard more horror stories of wounded game, and personally know more experienced hunters who swore off the 7 mag (after being fans) than any other cartridge around. I'm thinking their experiences were likely some combination of unrealistic expectations in terms of bullet drop (thinking the 7 mag was some kind of laser), or using bullets that were not tough enough for that surprise shot at 50 yards, but for whatever reason, the 7 mag just seems to leave an unusual number of hunters saying "never again".
 
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Theirs something about the rem 700 chambered in 7mm rem mag that has always appealed to me, classic combination . Plus the ability to seating those long 7mm bullets out to the lands and never run out mag length. My tikkas magazine is to short to get anywhere near the lands but the rifle is lighter and handier also...
 
Thanks everyone for the help, ill have to do some research. I was looking at a tikka t3 I think it was, but I heard a lot of bad things about the plastic mag and I think it was the stock felt really cheap? Ill have to do some more research I guess, but you guys have given me a few rifles to start with :)

Thanks again

PS I wont stop anyone from giving me more ideas either... hehe
 
The 7mm Rem Mag is an excellent cartridge and the Remington 700 is an excellent rifle to get it in. Probably still the most popular magnum out there...
 
Northman999 said:
The other thing that always kept me from getting into the 7 mag was I've personally heard more horror stories of wounded game, and personally know more experienced hunters who swore off the 7 mag (after being fans) than any other cartridge around. I'm thinking their experiences were likely some combination of unrealistic expectations in terms of bullet drop (thinking the 7 mag was some kind of laser), or using bullets that were not tough enough for that surprise shot at 50 yards, but for whatever reason, the 7 mag just seems to leave an unusual number of hunters saying "never again".
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I think a lot of those people have chosen the improper bullet and weight. It's a pretty common thing with the 270 as well, I see it often, 120 or 130 gr. Ballistic Tips, SST's, etc.. They look at ways to obtain the flattest possible trajectory without paying attention to which bullet would perform best.
I don't think there's anything wrong with the 7RM as a caliber, though it'll never be as good as a 264WM no matter what the gun rags say. :D.
 
Ever shoot one? Lot of felt recoil and muzzle blast. Wouldn't suggest a magnum of any kind for any kind of hunting myself. Especially for a new hunter. There's no game in North America that requires one and too much temptation to substitute a big cartridge for accuracy. Not that a 7mm Mag isn't accurate. Just that there are a lot of new hunters who think a big cartridge doesn't require practice.
 
Two guys I know have been shooting the 7mm RM for over 20 years and swear by it as well. I recently picked one up and must say I am pretty impressed with it overall, however, I did spend a little more than many people are willing to spend on a rifle (Blaser R8) so I think that reflects in it's performance as well.

I don't think you will be disappointed in the cartridge as it does allow for a fair bit of variety if you get into handloading (which I have yet to do).
 
sunray said:
Ever shoot one? Lot of felt recoil and muzzle blast. Wouldn't suggest a magnum of any kind for any kind of hunting myself. Especially for a new hunter. There's no game in North America that requires one and too much temptation to substitute a big cartridge for accuracy. Not that a 7mm Mag isn't accurate. Just that there are a lot of new hunters who think a big cartridge doesn't require practice.
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Actually the 7 mag is pretty gentle if your frame of reference is a .300 Winchester. The 7mm is shorter thus has less capacity and works with roughly 10 grs less powder with similar bullet weights. Additionally, you would typically use a lighter bullet in a 7mm than you would in a .30 caliber rifle, a 7mm/160 has a higher SD than a .308/180. If you can shoot a .30/06 you can shoot a 7 mag. But new shooters should proceed cautiously in the power department whichever cartridge they choose. A light weight .30/06 with a hard butt plate will get your attention if you're not used to rude rifles.
 
7mm rem is an awesome cartridge. Lots of great guns sell on EE for 500-750 range such as Ruger 77, Remington 700 CDL+BDL, CZ 550, Tikka T3, Savage 114 in 7mm and often with good glass for under 1000 to your door. Now my next train of thought is that for a first rifle the 7 might be a little much, not advising against it just better options are out there for a starter rifle. Many new hunters get "magnumitus" and pay to much attention to what the books say. Most hunters 200 yards is a long shot and 300 is a pipe dream. My recommendation would be a 7mm-08 or 25-06. They are a joy to shoot and you will find that deer die real quick. BTW I have had and reloaded for 7mm rem in 5 different rifles with a chrony and 145 speers had no trouble reaching advertised speeds and beyond without exceeding book max with great case life. (3250-3350fps 24"-26"barrels)
 
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