THE GREAT CALIBER DEBATE 7MM VS 300WIN

T

TiredSoldier

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I AM DEBATING 7MM OR 300WIN. THIS RIFLE WOULD BE USED MOSTLY FOR ELK AND SOME LONG DISTANCE TARGET PRACTICE. JUST CANT DECIDED BETWEEN THE TWO. SO ANY DISLIKES AND LIKES OR OTHER OPINIONS ON WHICH WOULD FIT THE BILL BETTER. I DO RELOAD AND THE RIFLE AND GLASS HAS NOT YET BEEN DECIDED. PLANNING AN ELK HUNT AS SOON AS I GET HOME FROM IRAQ. GOT TO LOVE COLORADO WITH THERE OVER THE COUNTER ELK TAGS. MIGHT EVEN GO BACK HOME TO UTAH FOR ELK. SO MANY CHOICES.
 
Wow, I didn't think there really was any debate between the 7mm Mag and 300 Win Mag.

In Colorado the 7mm is more popular, followed by the 30-06 for elk.

That said, I shoot a 300 Win Mag. I sold my 7mm Rem Mag about 10 years ago. Some other popular more recent choices in 30 caliber are Weatherby Mag, WSM, SAUM and RUM

Either will work plenty well.

I made my decision due to my on hand reloading components availability.
Since I shoot 3 different 30 caliber rifle cartridges and only had one 7mm rifle it was an easy choice.

The 300 shines with heavy bullets like the 180 and heavier.
compared to the same bullet from a 30-06 or 308

EDIT:
One last thought of wisdom:
If you choose any of the magnums 7mm or 30 cal, none are pleasant to shoot in light rifles. This makes these light rifle difficult to do load developement and target shoot for extended sessions to become proficient. I had a Ruger All Weather in 300 Win Mag that was just unbearable. Nobody could shoot more than 5 rounds without a shoulder bruise. It also made most people flinch on the second shot.
I now shoot a heavy barrel Remy Sendero and I can shoot it all day comfortably. The 7mm's aren't quite so bad.
 
NO debate at my house. I shoot both but I prefer to shoot the .300 Win mag. Mine is like COospreys, its a Sendero which is pretty cushy to shoot. Its an elk killer at any reasonable range. No doubt the 7mm would be too, I've just never used it.
 
We have open to the public site-in at our gun club in Colorado Springs before hunting season and we more 30cal rifles than any other caliber. We see alot shooting the 300WSM,300Wby,300mag and 30-06 seem to be the most popular on the days I've worked busy day we may get 75-100 shooters.

I've taken elk with 7mag/300mag both are good calibers my biggest bull used a 300mag longest shot used a 7mag. I hunt some open country and been hunting the same country for over 30yrs now and depending what I find around Sept may use a 300RUM in Oct. Last year I used a 30-06 year before used a 300Wby.

Well good luck
 
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The recoil is the big problem. Stick with the 7mm. Only go for the .300 if it is in a heavy rifle. The Limbsaver recoil pad, and protective shoulder pad help a lot. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif Don't even consider a muzzle break. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif It tames the recoil at the ex pence of your hearing. Every shot without hearing protection will give you measurable permanent hearing loss. Worse yet you could end up with 24/7 ringing in your ears for the rest of your life.
Frank
 
Up here the 300 wm is by far the go-to elk rifle. I hunt with a 7m stw but
would choose the 300 wm if I was buying now. As for recoil, stay away from
the straight stocked aforementioned rugers and it's not a problem. I hunt with
a 5.5 pound mountain rifle and have never noticed recoil. Got lightly scoped
once in an out of position shot laying down in grass. The 300 wmag's are a
very efficient round and the ballistics are hard to match for the powder burned.
In bullets of the same weight they kick less than a 7mm in my opinion, not
more. A recoil pad on your shoulder at the range is a good idea if you are
prone to develop a flinch with any of the magnums. m2c
 
I have used both on lots of game and for many years. Both work good for your purpose. If you are recoil sensitive you might stay with the 7mm, 300 has won hundreds of long range competitions.
My opinion is this, the 300 shoots the 180 gr. about like the 7mm does a 150. At long range BC and weight are critical for use on game.
Carl
By the way, come home safe!!!!!
 
300 Win Mag is my choice. Mine is in an older (mid 70s) model 700 Rem. It has some recoil, you need to watch your eye relief but I don't find it unbearable unless you are going to shoot 100 rounds off the bench, since I don't reload, that isn't likely.
 
Quote:
Up here the 300 wm is by far the go-to elk rifle. I hunt with a 7m stw but


would choose the 300 wm if I was buying now. As for recoil, stay away from
the straight stocked aforementioned rugers and it's not a problem. I hunt with
a 5.5 pound mountain rifle and have never noticed recoil. Got lightly scoped
once in an out of position shot laying down in grass. The 300 wmag's are a
very efficient round and the ballistics are hard to match for the powder burned.
In bullets of the same weight they kick less than a 7mm in my opinion, not
more. A recoil pad on your shoulder at the range is a good idea if you are
prone to develop a flinch with any of the magnums. m2c



The .300 Win Mag is everything except efficient.It is one the few calibers that it is recommended the the case be filled to 80% or better for all bullet weights.That's not efficient.
 
I have to agree, its not very fuel efficient, but its better then most of the newer 300 magnums (RUM, SAUM) with the expection of the WSM.
 
Only three choices 30-378, 300win mag, rem300 ultra mag
Go light weight and put a brake on them.Hunting at 8000ft with a nine pound rifle sucks.
 
Both will work.....but for some reason the U.S. has a great fascination with the .30 caliber bullet. You're going to find .30 caliber ammunition a lot easier anywhere in the country (.300 win mag, .30-06, .308, etc., etc.)

After owning one of each.....I ended up selling them and buying a 7wsm and .300wsm. I like the wsm cartridges better.

It's all personal preference - that's what it boils down to.

When you get back, check into the military incentives with the DOW...military folks get preference on tags.
 
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Quote:
Only three choices 30-378, 300win mag, rem300 ultra mag
Go light weight and put a brake on them.Hunting at 8000ft with a nine pound rifle sucks.



I know someone that only hunts elk with a .308. She has a Browning lever action .308 (two of them actually) that grandpa gave her and that's ALL she hunts with. She took a 600+ lb female two years ago that was DRT. She was by herself at the time....she shot it and cussed up a storm because she couldn't lift it in the back of the truck! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
I have a 7mm Rem Mag, had it for years. I have shot .300 mags and all are pretty abusive. I load from 120grSP to 160gr solids and everything in between. The only bullet that will fail are ballistic tips. They blow up on medum game, so I keep them for long range vermin bullets. My rifle is a Savage 110 Sierra lite series.
 
considering the two go with the 300 wm heavier boolits
I would take it a step further though and up the cal to a 358NM\\for a big game rifle..... sometimes bringing more mass to the dance settles things a little faster
a 375 rug would be nice as well
 
To Me, Thatis basically like saying, "do I want the Chevy or the Ford?" there realy is no significant difference, it would ONLY be what you want. If someonecan tell me that the .300 mag will do something that the 7mm won't, Feel free, or vice versa. Please do. Back to the original question, Pick the rifle first. let the cartridge be the difference between the one that is reasonably price and the one that is over-priced. If all else is equal, flip a coin.
 
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Up here the 300 wm is by far the go-to elk rifle. I hunt with a 7m stw but
would choose the 300 wm if I was buying now. As for recoil, stay away from
the straight stocked aforementioned rugers and it's not a problem. I hunt with
a 5.5 pound mountain rifle and have never noticed recoil.



A friend worked over the stock of a Rem.700 until the rifle only weighed about 5.5 lbs. Nobody but him ever tried to shoot it more than 1 round. This was a 30-06. You couldn't avoid noticing the recoil.
 
i am a 284 cal fan, so my vote would be the 7mm, i do have several 30s including 300 wm and 300 weatherby but i always end up with a 7wsm in my hands during deer season, however we dont have elk around here, if we did i i would still have the 7 in my hands Ron
 


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