7mm mag practically

I use 7RM as my hunting rifle. As you said, shot placement and bullet selection, and it will do almost everything. I use 150gr TSX over IMR7828 for deer, bear, and moose. Haven't got a moose yet, but dropped 3 deer and a bear beautifully with this round.
I have a 175gr nosler partition load as well for grizzly if it opens again and might try it if I get a moose draw this fall also.
7RM sweet spot seems to be 140 grain bullets, and a controlled expansion bullet type like TSX or accubonds. I found SSTs and cup and core bullets grenaded at closer ranges. If you're long range hunting (400m+) I'd go with cup and cores but not any closer or the velocity seems to blow them to bits in the animal and you lose lots of meat.
 
FLHTCUI said:
This information is/was for BC Buffalo Regs andposted for general informational purposes only.:
Bison are large animals with extensive non-vital areas. There is no substitute for a well-placedshot, however your animal will be more humanely taken and the margin for error will be reduced by the use of suitable firearms. Rifles must fire a minimum 175 grain bullet which retains 2800 joules (2000 foot pounds) or more energy at 100 meters. That energy will be of best use if you get close to your selected bison before shooting. If you are unsure of the ballistic characteristics of your particular rifle and ammunition, the ammunition manufacturers publish them and most retailers will have the Tables for your reference.

Dont let the practicality sway you from not buying this firearm, you did say "that if I let this one slip through I will kick my self." & but the deal is too good to let go.
Buy it, shoot it and if the Weatherby S2 doesnt tickle the itch you scratched you can flip it for what you paid or maybe make a dollar or two (if it is a really good deal).
You will be able to reach out and touch them deer in the flat lands...
You know that old joke about watching your neighbors dog run away for three days cause the land is so flat, well you'll still be able to reach out there at day 2 and tag that dog with the 7mm if you wanted to.
Good Luck with your dilemma.
Rob
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Thanks. I couldnt remember the exact specs and didnt want to guess
 
The quickest way to get on board with a cartridge that doesn't excite you very much is to buy one in a rifle you like and shoot it; there will be an epiphany. I even warmed up to the .270 after owning a particularly sweet shooting Mauser in a Herters stock. Recoil from a 7 mag is best described as moderate, and handloading provides the much sought after mice to moose versatility. The 7 mag has a reputation for accuracy, which makes it interesting to shoot in the off season, when you'll be tempted you to load it with slippery bullets and stretch its legs. It wouldn't be my first choice for big bears or bison, but in the right hands it'll work just fine (where legal). The local DNR office here keeps a stainless Browning 7 mag on hand for misbehaving polar bears; clearly my disdain for sub .30 caliber cartridges for bear work isn't shared over there. For most hunting purposes I'd load a 7 mag with 160 gr Partitions or Accubonds to about 2850-2900 fps.
 
In Sask we have the ability to hunt elk every year (cows or bulls) during the rut with a rifle. So any of us that want an "all around" rifle want one capable of every game animal we have. Many of my hunting buddies shoot canons and mainly focus on elk and white tail hunting every year. 338 win mags, 300 Pegasus (basically a 30-378 weatherby), 375 HH, etc are common for them. For all those guys, they'll say a 7mm rem mag might be a little "light." But in the same breath, one of the best elk hunters I know (he's managed to shoot an elk a year for about well over 30 years in a row now) shot his first 25 using a pre 81 BLR carbine in 308, using Remington core lock bullets and only ever had 1 elk get away. So long and short, ya, the 7mm will DRT any animal you have a chance at, just proper bullet selection and proper shot placement is key.
 
Well gentlemen I thank you very much for the wisdom. I did it I pulled the trigger and made the trade. It is in mint shape very low round count I can’t wait to get out in the wild and get some rounds down range.
 
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It is fine for all game, not overkill at all. Load with a 140-150 gr bullet and you can take bear, deer to moose to sheep. Ammo is also easily accessible anywhere.
 
I have just one 7mm Mag, amongst a collection of other capable and fun to shoot chamberings. Got it in my early 20s, still have it in my early 70s. It doesn't come on all my field trips ... only on the ones where accuracy and smack power over a long distance might really really count. The 7mm Mag does not disappoint. Add in a premium bullet of your choice if you need further assurance of high level performance.
 
My Remington 700 in 7mm mag is my go to moose/bear gun, the kick is heavy but manageable. Unfortunately in the Yukon need to have cartridge .30 cal or larger to hunt bison, so I may be looking for a 300 win mag soon!
 
Boomer said:
The quickest way to get on board with a cartridge that doesn't excite you very much is to buy one in a rifle you like and shoot it; there will be an epiphany. I even warmed up to the .270 after owning a particularly sweet shooting Mauser in a Herters stock. Recoil from a 7 mag is best described as moderate, and handloading provides the much sought after mice to moose versatility. The 7 mag has a reputation for accuracy, which makes it interesting to shoot in the off season, when you'll be tempted you to load it with slippery bullets and stretch its legs. It wouldn't be my first choice for big bears or bison, but in the right hands it'll work just fine (where legal). The local DNR office here keeps a stainless Browning 7 mag on hand for misbehaving polar bears; clearly my disdain for sub .30 caliber cartridges for bear work isn't shared over there. For most hunting purposes I'd load a 7 mag with 160 gr Partitions or Accubonds to about 2850-2900 fps.
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Here are words of wisdom, to be sure. Dave.
 
I hunt with lots of different cartridges/calibers. But the 7mm rem mag has has taken more game that all the others combined. In all reality, it’s all you really need.
 
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I used a .308 for many years, and theres nothing at all wrong with it, but changed to a 7mm RM, just because I wanted to switch to a bolt action. Its a very accurate caliber thats capable of doing a great jb on anything in north america. I can reload a wide variety of different bullet weights depending on what I need, and it always performs. You can't go wrong with that caliber.
 
Redneck107 said:
I have a really good deal on a weatherby vanguard s2 in 7mm rem mag that if I let this one slip through I will kick my self. I really didn’t want to go with 7mm because it’s so “popular” but the deal is too good to let go. What is the real world practicality of the 7mm hunting game animals in Canada? Is it excessive on deer? Is it ok for thick hide lose moose and elk? I know it will drop anything on the continent. And I realize the two keys to ethical kills are shot placement and bullet selection, but what are the real work field results? And your thoughts? Specially for hunting western Canada. Is it a flexible enough of a cartirage that you can load it down light for deer and load it up heavy for elk, swamp donkey and bear? Or is it a picky eater and kind of had a sweet tooth for what it likes?
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You can hunt anything in North America with a 7 mag, handily. - dan
 
Congrats on your new to you rifle! Hope it shoots well for you. Have never heard of a Vanguard or Howa (which your rifles barreled action is made by) that would not shoot at least acceptably well. Lots of people were having great results in them with the Federal Fusion ammunition. Personally, I would choose that option over any of the newer box store rifles from any maker today (i.e. Axis, 783, or American)
If I was told I could only use the 7mm Rem Mag for the rest of my life, I would not find myself wanting.
I found the Federal Premium ammunition with the 165gr SGK worked very well in my 7mm Rem Mag when I had it, and performed equally well on mountain goat, deer, moose and elk.
The first 9 shots out of my Rem 700 LSS with it got it sighted in at 100 yards and produced groups of .4" and .6".

The 160gr AccuBond would be my go to bullet choice for it today, as it is in my LH 7MM STW.
I sold the rh 7 Mag to buy the same rifle in lh when it came out, but stumbled across the above mentioned custom Sako in the interim. Had not intended to step up tp the STW, as the 7Mag gave me all of the performance I wanted; just turned out that way.
 
Lukem4 said:
My Remington 700 in 7mm mag is my go to moose/bear gun, the kick is heavy but manageable. Unfortunately in the Yukon need to have cartridge .30 cal or larger to hunt bison, so I may be looking for a 300 win mag soon!
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I have used the 300 Win Mag with 180 gr Partitions on big bull plains bison, and it worked ok. I found that I got better performance (one shot kills and better penetration) on them with the 338 Win Mag with the 210 gr Partitions. (and my 376 Steyr) Have seen them taken with the 7mm Rem Mag too.
Your bison in the Yukon are of the woods bison species and are bigger, heavier animals.
Also, their spines drop quickly in the front quarter (lots of shoulder hump), so stay below halfway up the body behind the front legs, or you will miss the vitals.
Just a few thoughts.
Best of luck on your bison hunt!
 
There’s no question that the 7RM is a very capable calibre. But there is such a thing as “too much gun” (I know ... dead is dead). Remember, the 7RM was developed ( by necking down the 338 WM) as a long range elk calibre. So if you want to hunt elk at long ranges, buy that gun. If you want to hunt moose at long range, get something like a 338WM. Otherwise, most other popular big game cartridges are adequate . And more fun to shoot . And cheaper.
 
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