7mm Rem Mag, .300 win mag, .270 win

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JohnnyKCCO

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What's up everyone???? Looking for a little help and hoping y'all can give me a hand.

I have been looking for a new rifle for North American hunting and target shooting. Here is my dilemma: I would like to set the rifle up for long range target shooting (500m-700m to start, eventually to over 1000m) and would also like to use it for deer and bear with in the short range (50m-300m-ish). I've been looking at the 7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag and the .270 Win, but I'm having a real tough time narrowing it down. Lots of posts I've been reading are fairly biased and I wanted to know if anyone could give me an objective opinion based on experience.

I really like the 7mm Rem Mag but have heard about issues with bullet expansion inside 100m-500m. Does anyone have experience with the 7mm Rem Mag at short range? Any input? Insight? Even tell me I'm asking too much and am being ridiculous. Is there a better caliber for what I'm looking to do here? I'm a novice shooter and could really use some help here.


Thanks in advance,


JohnnyKCCO

P.S. This is my first real post. I'm open to criticism and direction, so please don't be shy!
 
All those cartridges will be overkill for deer at 50-100m. Some bullets will come apart at those ranges. A monolithic bullet (Hornady GMX, Barnes TSX, etc.) may be a better choice for hunting inside 200m since they like higher velocities to start with and also hold together better. Still going to get through-and-throughs with a lot of wasted energy on deer.

.270 Win would be out for target shooting imo. It's not that the cartridge is bad (it's quite good) but just that there isn't a great selection of match/target bullets in .277". 7mm and .30 cal are much more common for target cartridges so there is a much wider range of bullets available for that purpose. Of course good hunting bullets are available for all of them.

7mm will usually get you better ballistic coefficients and flatter trajectory but you can get heavier bullets in 30 cal that are more stable at longer ranges. Both are used commonly (as well as 6.5mm and 338) for long range target shooting. I'd go with a 300WM personally since .30 cal is so common in match shooting and there is seemingly the largest selection of match/target bullets. It also lets you really bring up your bullet weight if you want to (and have the twist rate to match). Sierra makes 240gr match kings in .308" which are just monsters (but too heavy for good results in your average 300WM).

A 7mm RM wouldn't be a mistake in my opinion either. It's still a great long-range cartridge for hunting and non-competitive target shooting.

Remember that long-range shooting is an art form that takes a lot of practice. YMMV, I'm no expert, just a "skilled amateur".
 
:agree:

No offence, but I think you might be a tad optimistic in trying to find a one-size-fits-all round capable of short-range deer hunting and 1,000m target shooting. A moving van is a moving van and a Corvette is a fine sports car. Not much point trying to race a van or move furniture with a Vette, if you get my drift.

I know I wouldn't take my .270 Win to such a target match. Deer hunting from 1m to 400m on the other hand, no problem.
 
Out of those three i would pick the 270.. here is why, it will do everything you want out of it, match bullets are harder to find but are out there. Plus you live around Toronto, .. lots of areas around you are .275 or less for coyote and small game.. you would still be able to take the 270.
For what you want though i would seriously consider a 260 rem or a 6.5x55... maybe 257 weatherby
 
300 meter shots on deer/bear in most of Ontario are highly unlikely. Most shots on either are under 100 depending on where you hunt.
Only CF ranges, that you must be a DCRA/ORA member to shot on as a civilian, are 1,000 yards. You will not be shooting over 1,000 anywhere. Isn't safe on any Crown Land anywhere close to TO. Doubt you'd find a clear 1,000 yards anyway.
There are no .277" match bullets suitable for that distance anyway. (Heaviest is a 135 grain Match King. Too light for 1,000.) No match bullet loaded ammo at all. Nor is there match grade 7mm Mag ammo. 100 meter expansion isn't something to worry about. Any 7mm Mag bullet will likely go right through Bambi or Yogi at 100. Hornady's 7mm Mag 'American Whitetail' ammo(139 grain SP), for example, is running close to 3,000 fps at 100.
There is match grade .300 Mag though. Not cheap though. Runs about $50 per 20, Stateside. Mind you, no magnum hunting rifle is fun to shoot for an entire day. Too light for the felt recoil. .300 Mag target rifles weigh around 15 pounds or so. Not something you'd want to take hunting.
Having said that, no game in North America needs a magnum of any kind to kill.
 
sunray said:
300 meter shots on deer/bear in most of Ontario are highly unlikely. Most shots on either are under 100 depending on where you hunt.
Only CF ranges, that you must be a DCRA/ORA member to shot on as a civilian, are 1,000 yards. You will not be shooting over 1,000 anywhere. Isn't safe on any Crown Land anywhere close to TO. Doubt you'd find a clear 1,000 yards anyway.
There are no .277" match bullets suitable for that distance anyway. (Heaviest is a 135 grain Match King. Too light for 1,000.) No match bullet loaded ammo at all. Nor is there match grade 7mm Mag ammo. 100 meter expansion isn't something to worry about. Any 7mm Mag bullet will likely go right through Bambi or Yogi at 100. Hornady's 7mm Mag 'American Whitetail' ammo(139 grain SP), for example, is running close to 3,000 fps at 100.
There is match grade .300 Mag though. Not cheap though. Runs about $50 per 20, Stateside. Mind you, no magnum hunting rifle is fun to shoot for an entire day. Too light for the felt recoil. .300 Mag target rifles weigh around 15 pounds or so. Not something you'd want to take hunting.
Having said that, no game in North America needs a magnum of any kind to kill.
Click to expand...


Sorry but i will have to disagree with you on a few points, first i have a 1000 yrd range on my farm. And know of a few spots where more could be made,.. second when you are in the mountains hunting elk a magnum caliber is exactly what you need for shooting mountain to mountain.
 
To be honest there are others that would fit your requirements and be less expensive and more pleasurable to shoot.Also slightly lighter to carry.

.260Rem, 7mm-08 rem, 7 x 57, .308. etc.... - All of these will take game at the ranges you describe.

One bullet I have used that would be an all round projectile is the Swift Scirocco II , high B.C. , bonded core and extremely accurate.

More powder and more speed means you can shoot farther , not better.

Many bullets perform at subsonic level today as well.Bullet choice is just as important(maybe more in some cases) than cartridge choice.

For target it is not boom it is quality that counts.

Keep your options and mind open.

Short fat cases are also an option like in the WSM cartridges.
 
I have a 7mm Rem Mag and I bought it for moose hunting, it's a very good choice for me. That said, I think it's a bit too large for deer, maybe a .270 would fit the bill better for you. However, it's your choice and you won't be chasing blood drops if you wack it with a 7mm Rem Mag.
 
Thanks for the feedback everyone!

I think I need to go back to the drawing board and re-evaluate my expectations. I knew I was asking a lot from one rifle to perform two very different jobs. Looks like two rifles is the answer. Not the conclusion I was hoping for but I'm not exactly heartbroken over it. The thought of two new rifles makes me all tingly inside. :)

If you have any additional feedback, I would still love to hear it! Thanks again everyone!!!

-JohnnyKCCO
 
I have both the 300 win mag in a sako and a 7mm in a Christensen Arms. Both shoot extremely well.

Are they overkill for deer and bear? I doubt bambi will get up and ask you what caliber you used after the first round of these two...

I would stick with my 7mm. It kicks a bit less. Ammo is a little cheaper. Yes, it's a more common caliber. But it also sells out quite fast. So stock up.
 
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