Is 7mm the sweet spot for a long range big game Hunter?

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Northern Shooter

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As someone who doesn't currently own a 7mm/0.284 cal cartridge I'm starting to see the attraction to them after reading up on their ballistics.

High ballistic coefficients, high sectional density, close range energy comparable to 30 cal's and lower felt recoil vs 30 cal's....what's the catch?

I've been on the hunt for a long range hunting cartridge that will be more efficient down range than my .308s and 30.06s. I've been comparing magnums in the 338, 30 cal and 7mm categories as well as the new PRCs.

I think I've come to the conclusion that 7mm Rem Mag is about as good as it's going to get when you consider ballistics, recoil, costs etc.

What are the downsides to 7mm Rem Mag?

I'm looking to build a 8-9 lbs hunting rifle including rings and scope for reaching out 400m and beyond.

Considering rifles from Bergara, Tikka, Sako, Winchester etc.
 
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Northern Shooter said:
What are the downsides to 7mm Rem Mag?
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The fact that it has a belt on the brass is about it... and that is easily overcome.

I believe the 7mm Rem Mag is the most popular magnum ever in North America... relatively moderate recoil, flat shooting, all the energy you need for the majority of North American game. If you are dedicating a rifle for Bison or Grizzly you could consider something bigger but a lot of Grizz has been taken with the 7.
 
guntech said:
The fact that it has a belt on the brass is about it... and that is easily overcome.

I believe the 7mm Rem Mag is the most popular magnum ever in North America... relatively moderate recoil, flat shooting, all the energy you need for the majority of North American game. If you are dedicating a rifle for Bison or Grizzly you could consider something bigger but a lot of Grizz has been taken with the 7.
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Interesting, I always assumed 300 WM was the most popular Magnum here, based entirely on what I see those around me shooting. I don't actually know anyone who hunts with a 7mm. I've got the 375 for the real big stuff.
 
guntech said:
The fact that it has a belt on the brass is about it... and that is easily overcome.

I believe the 7mm Rem Mag is the most popular magnum ever in North America... relatively moderate recoil, flat shooting, all the energy you need for the majority of North American game. If you are dedicating a rifle for Bison or Grizzly you could consider something bigger but a lot of Grizz has been taken with the 7.
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Interesting... statistically speaking the 300WM seems to be ranked higher in rifle sales, custom builds and ammunition sales.

https://backfire.tv/popular-cartridges/
 
I've almost never not had a 7mm Rem Mag in the safe since I got my first about 25 years ago. It's been my go-to for many deer, many black bear, two moose and an elk. If I had a chance to go caribou hunting it would be the first rifle I grab (currently it's a Tikka). There's just nothing I hunt that it can't handle easily even at extended ranges. It doesn't kick hard, can be made from tons of donor cases if you can't find 7-mag, and there's decades of load development to refer to. Jack O'Connor used it on grizzly bears. Elmer Keith thought it a fine elk cartridge.

What I've done in my own load development is throw the established rules out the window. 3.290" COAL isn't doing it any favors. I load 7-mag to 3.355" in my Tikka, using all the magazine length I can. New powders (Magnum, MagPro, Retumbo) and fancy new bullets really transform the cartridge. It's always been a good long range cartridge, but it really shines with the new stuff. Bear in mind, I've been reloading for 30 years and rely on experience and observation to tread off the beaten path, do so at your own risk.

I'm really partial to the heavier bullets, if I had to use one it would be a 160 bonded or 150 mono. Have used everything from 120 to 175 grains on game with good effect.

There is a lot on the table with the 7mm magnum cartridges, the 7mm Remington Magnum is my go-to but they are all pretty sweet (PRC, Rem Mag, Wby Mag, STW, RUM, 28 Nos, etc). Really love the 7.
 
Nothing wrong with a 8lb 7 RM. Make sure the rifle you purchase has the magazine length for the bullets you plan on shooting as well as the appropriate twist rate. People seem to be having some success with shorter barreled PRC's so I would research that especially if your considering a brake. good luck.
 
mikeyb said:
I've almost never not had a 7mm Rem Mag in the safe since I got my first about 25 years ago. It's been my go-to for many deer, many black bear, two moose and an elk. If I had a chance to go caribou hunting it would be the first rifle I grab (currently it's a Tikka). There's just nothing I hunt that it can't handle easily even at extended ranges. It doesn't kick hard, can be made from tons of donor cases if you can't find 7-mag, and there's decades of load development to refer to. Jack O'Connor used it on grizzly bears. Elmer Keith thought it a fine elk cartridge.

What I've done in my own load development is throw the established rules out the window. 3.290" COAL isn't doing it any favors. I load 7-mag to 3.355" in my Tikka, using all the magazine length I can. New powders (Magnum, MagPro, Retumbo) and fancy new bullets really transform the cartridge. It's always been a good long range cartridge, but it really shines with the new stuff. Bear in mind, I've been reloading for 30 years and rely on experience and observation to tread off the beaten path, do so at your own risk.

I'm really partial to the heavier bullets, if I had to use one it would be a 160 bonded or 150 mono. Have used everything from 120 to 175 grains on game with good effect.

There is a lot on the table with the 7mm magnum cartridges, the 7mm Remington Magnum is my go-to but they are all pretty sweet (PRC, Rem Mag, Wby Mag, STW, RUM, 28 Nos, etc). Really love the 7.
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What kind of extended distances have you used it to take those game with?
 
I have been hunting with the 7mm Rem. mag. for 30 years, IMO it can be considered a sweet spot. No complaints, I prefer the heavier 160-165 gr. bullet weights and seat the bullets out further as well. Recoil is comparable, not much worse than a 30-06 in a 7-8 lb rifle but far less, at least to me than a .300 Win Mag.
 
Most of my deer hunting is from tree stands so <250 yards but I like to take an afternoon stroll along the hydro line clear cuts to see what I can see. Lots of flushed/bumped deer run out into the clear cuts, so several of my deer have been taken past 400 with the 7mm. My elk was shot with a 350yd hold with a 160gr TSX, not recovered (complete pass through, dead in 20 yards).
 
If you reload maybe look at the 280 Ackley Improved. You get very close to 7mm RM performance with a little less recoil and more rounds in the magazine. If you listen to podcast’s, Backcountry Hunting with Joseph Von Benedict covers it quite a bit as a favourite do all cartridge.
 
Had 3 only shot the one, older rem700 with 24” and 175 winchester or federal chrono said was below 2600 fps so sold it off. Not sure if it was a slow brl or shells or both
 
The only thing the 7rem mag lacks is panache. The ballistics are hard to argue with and components are plentiful. For 98% of hunters it'll do everthing they would ever need from a rifle. But it's the most common 7mm on the market in North America, lots of people have em and they've been around forever, so it's not very ###y.

I've already got a 7mm08 that's pushing 140gr bullets at nearly 3000fps, so if I was going to get another 7mm I'd either want a PRC for extra heavy bullets or one of the big cases like a 28 Nosler or an STW... but if I got rid of the 7mm08 for whatever reason I would be perfectly fine replacing it with a Rem Mag.

Considering you specifically mention longer range use I'd be looking for something with a fast twist. 7prc saami spec is 8, some 28 Noslers from browning and Savage are in the 8-8.5 range too.
 
It's close between 300 and 7mag. The 7 might have the superior long range ballistics, but the 300 is damn close at practical hunting ranges. For me, the 300 is superior because if it's energy and larger bullets. My only 7 presently is a 7x57. I've choices depending on which game and terrain. Have said it many times here, one rifle hunter.....pick one....270, 3006, 7mag, 300...
 
Very very few hunters are capable enough shots to be shooting at big game animals at those distances. It is hunting after all, not just shooting!
 
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