7 rem mag query

tuffteddyb

tuffteddyb

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Been toying with the idea of trying long range shooting(1000yards)
also want a rifle that if I feel competent with and can consistentlly hit my gong
at 600 yards with to beable too knock down deer(mule and whiteys)
and MAYBE a elk.
So was going to go with a 338 lapua but after pricing out brass and bullets
it kinda scard me off,and not knowing how much recoil they have is another.
Also realizing that it is a WHOLE LOTTA GUN!lol.
So was thinking about a 7 rem mag instead.Plus thinking if I dont like it will be esier too get rid of.
BUT was told that I was totally wrong about the 7 rem mag,that it is not a good long range gun
and should stick with the lapua idea.
so needless too say i kinda confused.
Or is there another caliber I should consider??
thanks for the advice
tuffteddyb
 
The 7mm Rem Mag will work just fine for shooting out past 600 yards.

I shot one in 1000 yards for several years and did very well with it.

I would limit game shots to somewhat less than 1000, though.

Another solid choice is the 300 Win mag.
Very popular as well.

Regards, Eagleye.
 
What i have gathered as a popular concensus is that the 7mm would be a great platform. Many guys are shooting a 7mm STW if they wan't a little bit more power. And I am sure that more than one person will also suggest the 300 WinMag, any magnum weatherby cartridge or even the RUMS before a 338 Lapua. That rifle is severely overkill for most everything.
 
I'm also looking at buying/building a 7mm mag rifle but was wondering about the balance between something light enough to carry in the mountains and heavy enough not to kick like a mule when shooting. I've got a big sissy pad for benchrest time but don't want to be sweating shots when I'm out in the bush.
From others I've seen the capability of that cartridge at a distance. Impressive.
 
jaydog said:
I'm also looking at buying/building a 7mm mag rifle but was wondering about the balance between something light enough to carry in the mountains and heavy enough not to kick like a mule when shooting. I've got a big sissy pad for benchrest time but don't want to be sweating shots when I'm out in the bush.
From others I've seen the capability of that cartridge at a distance. Impressive.
Click to expand...

And I think it is pretty much perfect for that. Excellent BC on relatively light bullets (but still good SD) means you can have good downrange performance with fairly light recoil. I've owned a 6.5 lb .300 WM before and can tell you the recoil is there with heavy loads - very shootable still, but it's there. A 7mm RM on the other hand will recoil quite a bit less.

I am playing with the new 168gr Long Range Accubonds right now and they sure are slick. I suspect the actual BC will be in the .600 to .620 range. With a +2900 fps muzzle velocity you have a great long range load.

I may still change my mind on this, but if you need more than a 7mm RM, then you probably need more than a .300 WM too.
 
If the 7mm Rem isn't a 1000 yard cartridge, then there's some F-class guys who should pack up their .284s and go home.

That you're asking about 600 yard shooting tells me you should forget about the big .338s for a little while. Not necessarily forever but for awhile. A heavy, braked .338 is bordering on a waste for 5-600 yard gong shooting.

You can get great 600 yard performance with a 7mm Rem. 'Course it helps if you do a lot of things right on the bench, a few more on the trigger and a couple more on your wind doping. You also need a plan.

I've spent more trigger time on the STW then the Rem Mag, but here's a few pics of my current one. Few people would describe it as a long range rig, and they might even be right depending on what they consider long range. Target is at 650 yards.



 
FD358AC9-E1D5-4F16-B3F7-7BF0E5DCC36F-1743-000001BE0275BC1C_zps749ae76f.jpg

This a 7mm with a 168gr bullet .620 g1 BC @ 2950fps.
It's got enough for elk/moose to at least 750 in my books.
The drops and energy are easy; its learning how to shoot the wind that's hard......
 
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rem338win said:
This a 7mm with a 168gr bullet .620 g1 BC @ 2950fps.
It's got enough for elk/moose to at least 750 in my books.
The drops and energy are easy; its learning how to shoot the wind that's hard......
Click to expand...

It does have enough jam out to those distances - if that's your thing. My biggest moose ever was taken at about 200 yards with a 7x57 using factory RWS ammo. I doubt it had as much velocity or energy at 200 and it worked perfectly well.

Not to mention that the scope I use, the VX6 2-12x42, has 19 MOA per turn, which would take you out pretty far using the data ^^^^.
 
I don't find it difficult to carry a 9lb rifle all day. And I appreciate the way a heavier rifle settles when it come to hitting the bang switch. Also nothing wrong with having a an extra pound or pound and a half to soak up a bit of recoil. Not that I really feel the gun go off when on game.
 
"...be able too knock down deer..." Nobody has any business shooting at any game at that distance. Regardless of the cartridge used. Deer, elk included, are not as big as you'dthink. The kill zone on any of 'em is about 9". If you can't hit a 9" pie plate every time, you shouldn't even think about taking the shot.
If you're thinking of competing with a magnum, you'll need to look at the rules for whatever competition you're thinking about. Most, but not all do not allow magnums. In any case, 600 yards is mid range for DRCA shooting. No magnums required.
 
sunray said:
"...be able too knock down deer..." Nobody has any business shooting at any game at that distance. Regardless of the cartridge used. Deer, elk included, are not as big as you'dthink. The kill zone on any of 'em is about 9". If you can't hit a 9" pie plate every time, you shouldn't even think about taking the shot.
If you're thinking of competing with a magnum, you'll need to look at the rules for whatever competition you're thinking about. Most, but not all do not allow magnums. In any case, 600 yards is mid range for DRCA shooting. No magnums required.
Click to expand...

SUNRAY, you have never even seen a big Bull Elk have you??
Why don't you just bow out of here instead of reinforcing your lack of knowledge on a daily basis?
EE
 
Thanks Eagleye,Your a lot more polite than I was gonna be.
Just because I said"be able to"doesnt mean I am going to do it.
Have no intention of competing.This is a possible gun,not a definite one.
Also I think it is quite possible to hit a 9 inch pie plate at 600 yards consistentlly.
 
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jaydog said:
I'm also looking at buying/building a 7mm mag rifle but was wondering about the balance between something light enough to carry in the mountains and heavy enough not to kick like a mule when shooting. I've got a big sissy pad for benchrest time but don't want to be sweating shots when I'm out in the bush.
From others I've seen the capability of that cartridge at a distance. Impressive.
Click to expand...

Recoil will be about the same as a like weight 30-06 with 180 gr bullets. Easy to use and shoot, it is a very good all around choice. - dan
 
Tried a couple of 300 mags and really didnt like them.
My 338 win mag @8lbs recoiled a lot less.
Is why I was thinking of the 7 rem mag.
Thanxs for the opinions people appreciate it!keep em coming!!
That savage long range hunter is starting to look better and better!
 
You will have fun with the 7mm mag for sure!
MORE THAN ADEQUATE!

And listen to the guys with experience! Some try blow "SUN"-SHINE"" up peolpes behind!

Thier Experience shows even when they dont know it.
 
With a 7mm mag you can easily shoot steal out to 1200 yards I do it all the time. Using 168 bergers pushed at around 3000fps. Will recoil less then the 300wm with a comparable ballistic coefficient.
 
rem338win said:
FD358AC9-E1D5-4F16-B3F7-7BF0E5DCC36F-1743-000001BE0275BC1C_zps749ae76f.jpg

This a 7mm with a 168gr bullet .620 g1 BC @ 2950fps.
It's got enough for elk/moose to at least 750 in my books.
The drops and energy are easy; its learning how to shoot the wind that's hard......
Click to expand...

Looks like the 7 mag has the same velocity at 700 that a .30/30 has near the muzzle, I doubt that the 2 grs difference in bullet weight matters much. So what is the ideal target for a .30/30? To many people ".30/30" is synonymous with deer rifle. A .30/30 wouldn't be my first choice for elk, but its been done. The first step though is to get good at: shooting at long range, shooting in the wind, shooting in mirage, shooting in conditions of changing light, shooting from supported field positions, and learning how up hill and down hill shooting affects your bullet drop if you hunt in the hills. I enjoy long range shooting at paper and steel, and from time to time my target rifle has made me look better than I really am, but long range game shooting isn't for me. Not only is there too much that can go wrong, but to me stalking is critical to the enjoyment I get from hunting. This isn't me telling you not to pursue long range game shooting, but I urge you to become competent before you attempt it.
 
remington jim said:
7 mm Rem Mag is a Great cartridge - BUT you need a bit more steam for the 1000 yard stuff - Hard to beat the 300 Win Mag as a all around target and game cartridge ! JMO :D RJ
Click to expand...

Have you ever compared ballistics at that kind of range. The 7mm is usually well ahead of the 300 at long range, not the other way around.
 
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