Which 7mm rem mag for hunting?

well, after miss after miss or winging them and trailing minimal blood to no luck while on week long spring bear hunt with a different buddy then asking him to shoot at a baseball size rock at the back of a lease in a mud bank at 100 yards to see if his gun is out and he hits a foot to foot and a half high right and then I take a shot and hit the rock....that was with a lighter savage axis .270 (he had a good flinch developed and didn't know it) and then same thing with another buddy with a 7rm same lightweight savage etc. and this was prone on a proper target and he's many inches high right and I confirmed the dang thing was bang on.....he too developed the ole close the eyes, brace for impact, and jerk the trigger...flinch

so that was the long way of explaining how less cartridge often equals more killy

so the first one is retraining himself to eat the recoil and follow through etc. and is shooting much better, and the other is just gonna take his 25-06 tikka more as he was shooting it much better lol, guess he doesn't like that 7rm too much now

we good? isn't this the perfect thread for just this kind of discussion and recommendation?

"With little experience, a bit of reading and also the endorsement from a veteran hunter, I've decided the caliber I'd like to get is the 7mm RM."
 
Ok, as a novice I'm getting the vibe from several inputs here that maybe I should consider a lighter caliber till I have established good habits and confidence with shooting.

What suggestions might someone suggest for a caliber that might be best for deer? I've been leaning towards .243 now with some research and advice from some hunters I've spoke with.

I have reloading equipment that I was preparing to use for my BAR 30-06 and can adapt to whichever caliber going forward.

Don't recall if I mentioned in this thread or another that last year I was fortunate, if not just lucky, to harvest my first whitetail with a clean shot from my BAR at 125 meters. The only reason I'm after a new rifle is do to the existing bulge and poor condition of crown on that gun, and that I've found no gunsmiths that can or will repair it.

That said, I don't believe that I am terribly recoil shy or an awful shot as I have fired a few different calibers with a friend #matt762, and found I am quite consistent.
 
RBguns said:
Ok, as a novice I'm getting the vibe from several inputs here that maybe I should consider a lighter caliber till I have established good habits and confidence with shooting.

What suggestions might someone suggest for a caliber that might be best for deer? I've been leaning towards .243 now with some research and advice from some hunters I've spoke with.

I have reloading equipment that I was preparing to use for my BAR 30-06 and can adapt to whichever caliber going forward.

Don't recall if I mentioned in this thread or another that last year I was fortunate, if not just lucky, to harvest my first whitetail with a clean shot from my BAR at 125 meters. The only reason I'm after a new rifle is do to the existing bulge and poor condition of crown on that gun, and that I've found no gunsmiths that can or will repair it.

That said, I don't believe that I am terribly recoil shy or an awful shot as I have fired a few different calibers with a friend #matt762, and found I am quite consistent.
Click to expand...
excellent follow up, sounds like you're sponging all the right things to be aware of as you go, the guys I mentioned examples of are guys been at this a long time but maybe sort of typical in work mostly, check some zero before season and giver....there's so much overlap in cartridge performance and with a lot of the modern bullets etc. you can do most 0-400 yard work with burning very little powder, especially deer size game! do you want something that is fun to shoot, easy on barrels, almost watch it happen in scope etc. or something you only wanna pull the trigger on a dozen shots max in a range check? not much you can't do here with a standard short action cartridge burning 40+ gr of powder and have lots of fun with it anytime you like, I think you'll find the 6mm considered niche and 6.5mm up as better 'hunting' calibers getting 120gr bullets or higher, so 6.5cm, 7-08, 308....the longest I kept any long action cartridges was the .270 win, with modern 140's a solid 600 yard rig but you can hit 2000 fps at same distances now with a 6.5cm....yup the .270 has a bit more going on in the first couple hundred yards but you'd never see it on game in the field...shooty factor trumps everything imo, so long as you have enough, and sounds like you will reload so that opens all kinds of doors as you can make a given cartridge way more versatile than if you were tied to factory ammo....I speak to most on the factory ammo level, what's most future proof for on the shelf? resale value etc. cartridges that people will snap up when you decide to sell for another toy to play with? lots of factors, just learn it, practice with it and you'll be fine, maybe the 7rm won't affect you but I think once you start pushing over 15 ft/lbs of recoil energy the amount of people it affects goes way up, get in the 12-15 ft/lbs range and should be able to shoot that all day and get no flinch issues
 
pathfinder76 said:
Im not sure how less cartridge translates into more killing? How does that work exactly?
Click to expand...
Simple Chuck Most guys will shoot a lesser recoiling rifle more accurately and therefore have more good Vital shots and therefore killing more game and wounding less game too ! 👍 Just a thought 🤪 JMO RJ
 
  • Like
Reactions: DGY
Weatherby Model 307's are nice
X Bolt 2 will probably be my next purchase in 6.5PRC, Browning's have fast twists which open up your bullet selection. 6.5PRC seems to have all the benefit of my beloved 7RMs with about 20% less recoil.

I've never been recoil shy though, so YMMV
 
I've been hunting with a 7RM for many years now and have taken several moose and deer successfully. Love the caliber. I just upgraded from a Browning x-bolt to a t3x stainless in the varmint model. The Tikka varmint is heavier (10lbs with scope) and really makes recoil more comfortable. Sub MOA was rare for me to be able to do with the browning but easy 3/4 MOA with the Tikka. Also have a rem model 700 from 1962 in 7RM that shoots about 1 MOA when it comes out. Many moose taken by other family members over the years with the 7RM too. We used to hand load 175 grain speer mag tips with IMR 4350 mostly.
 
Dubz337 said:
Weatherby Model 307's are nice
X Bolt 2 will probably be my next purchase in 6.5PRC, Browning's have fast twists which open up your bullet selection. 6.5PRC seems to have all the benefit of my beloved 7RMs with about 20% less recoil.

I've never been recoil shy though, so YMMV
Click to expand...
6.5 PRC is a Great cartridge - I have a custom built Rem M700 in it and I like it .Not the power of the 7 PRC thou but your right a lot less recoil . When the 7 PRC is cranking out 180 s with a Hot 🥵 load near 3000. FPS it’s getting it DONE 😀👍
I also have a 6.5-284 Norma and a 6.5x55 Super Swede too and a 6.5 Grendel so I do like the 6.5 calibers ! 👍😀RJ
 
I knew a fellow who liked the 7mm Rem Mag so much he had over 20 of them... mostly Remington 700's. Nothing in North America that cartridge can't handle.
 
I have a smith & wesson 1500 that shoots really well, as in 3in1. that's with loads developed for that rifle. The rifle is at least 30 years old so don't think a gun has to be new. A lot of the old ones shoot really well given some experimentation
 
If picking your hunting rifle is a democratic process i would vote 6.5 Creedmoor in a T3

If you want to check out a few different hunting caliber rifles you are welcome to come down to Camrose and try out a few of mine
 
Sleeper said:
If picking your hunting rifle is a democratic process i would vote 6.5 Creedmoor in a T3

If you want to check out a few different hunting caliber rifles you are welcome to come down to Camrose and try out a few of mine
Click to expand...
Thanks sleeper. I'll keep you in mind if I can work that out and get in touch with you when I know I can!
 
Jimbobob08 said:
Did you happen to try various different brands and weights of ammo in your 30-06? You might get that 3-4” group down to an acceptable size.
Click to expand...
I've, since the start of this thread, further inspected my BAR and found that the barrel is rather burnt out. The rifling is too worn out from abuse and lack of proper care in its life aside from the bulge I initially discovered.
That aside, I did pick up an old sporterized 1917 enfield chambered in 30-06 that works fairly well to utilize my collection of -06 ammo and equipment already owned. But am still considering an alternative caliber in a new rifle.
 
RBguns said:
Ok, as a novice I'm getting the vibe from several inputs here that maybe I should consider a lighter caliber till I have established good habits and confidence with shooting.

What suggestions might someone suggest for a caliber that might be best for deer? I've been leaning towards .243 now with some research and advice from some hunters I've spoke with.

I have reloading equipment that I was preparing to use for my BAR 30-06 and can adapt to whichever caliber going forward.

Don't recall if I mentioned in this thread or another that last year I was fortunate, if not just lucky, to harvest my first whitetail with a clean shot from my BAR at 125 meters. The only reason I'm after a new rifle is do to the existing bulge and poor condition of crown on that gun, and that I've found no gunsmiths that can or will repair it.

That said, I don't believe that I am terribly recoil shy or an awful shot as I have fired a few different calibers with a friend #matt762, and found I am quite consistent.
Click to expand...
6.5x55 or .270
 
Lot's of good advice here. One thing you can try is buying a Caldwell recoil shield. It's a simple solution to recoil problems, for your shoulder at least. The other two factors are stock fit and scope mounting. Make sure that the stock fits you properly (length of pull) and is comfortable. Shouldering the rifle in a store doesn't really tell you much about the way it will fit when you're in a shooting position. The same goes for the differences between shooting supported from a bench and shooting from field positions, they will change how your body absorbs the recoil. The height and shape of the comb will also affect this. the best thing to do is try lots of different rifles and see what suits you best. Scope mounting will also affect where your head is on the stock. If you can, get a professional to help you set up the scope mounting on your new rifle. With heavy kickers you may want longer eye relief to keep the scope from hitting your eyebrow. I'd go into Edmonton and talk to the guys at P&D they will be able to steer you in the right direction.

From my own experience I prefer a straight comb with little to no drop at the heel, like the Ruger Hawkeye and the Tikka T3. I have a Tikka in .25-06 and it's very accurate and easy to shoot off the bench and in the field. The recoil on my Ruger 77 RL Ultralight gets my attention, but it's 7.5 pounds scoped. Same with my Remington 700 Mountain rifle in 7x57. If you really want a 7mm Rem Mag I'd recommend the Howa 1500 or Weatherby Vanguard. Depending on your stock preference the Vanguard has a high, sloped comb with a cheekpiece, and the Howa has a straight, lower comb. They’re a little heavier than the Tikka or Browning, but it will help to reduce felt recoil. Winchester model 70 is a great rifle too. I'm not a fan of the Rem 700 BDL stock, it just seems to transmit recoil worse than any other stock design I've tried.

As for chambering, I'd go with .270 Winchester or .30-06 over 7mm Rem, just because ammo is cheaper, they all perform about the same.
 
Last edited:
what is it about the 6.5 that is making so many people worship it like it is the best hunting cartridge out there? For what exactly?
I'm not knocking.... I'm genuinely curious?
Personally that caliber would be a rifle i would buy to fit a certain niche , not as a do all rifle for a first timer.
I started hunting and killing animals with a surplus enfield .303 with it's brass buttplate stock.... It killed everything I squeezed the trigger on.... with one bullet 90% of the time. In all my years of hunting I have only had to track 2 animals further than 25 yards and I have killed probably 1/2 the animals I have taken, with a .303 british. When I got the 7mm rem mag bug it was all about sheep hunting and high country mule deer. Then I buggered up my body and sheep hunting was off the table. Took that rifle out for moose...... did the job..... took it for a cow elk draw.... did that job too. Drops mulies in thier tracks just as well as it drops moose, elk and black bears.
Not sure I would hunt moose and elk ... or black bears with a 6.5 when there are so many proven "do all" calibers to start a new hunter out with.
7mm rem mag is a great choice, 30-06 is also a great choice and maybe it's younger cousin the .308 but I prefer more gun and for me calibers like .308, 7mm-08 , 6.5 fall into "niche rifle" categories for smaller game than moose and elk ..... not that guys aren't killing these animals with those calibers but I would question giving a new hunter a 6.5 or 7-08 and suggesting it is a do all rifle.
Guess that's just my probably unpopular opinion and I see absolutely nothing wrong with a well set up 7mm rem mag as a first rifle. I suppose that might depend on what province you are in and what size the big game animals get to but here in BC..... I'll take my 7mm RM pretty much anywhere for any hunt.
 
The 7mm rem is an excellent cartridge, it shoots flat with plenty of downrange energy, however if you feel you might be recoil sensitive then a 270win would be a good choice imo. It shoots flat with enough energy out to 400+ yards.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom