Which One??

LUCKYDOG

LUCKYDOG

Active member
I purchased a Browning A-Bolt 7mm mag. I was all set for this to be my new all around big game rifle.

Then I got a shotgun my buddy just had to have. He traded me a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 300 Win Mag.

Both rifles are in excellent shape. I've checked the ballistics on both rifles and they are very close. I really just want to keep one rifle and use it for several years to come. Which ever one I keep, I will be putting my Burris Black Diamond 3 1/2x12x50 on it. I do not reload. I want to be able to reach out and take an elk at longer distances if I need to but I'm also going to use it for antelope and deer. Any thoughts or am I just splitting hairs? Thanks.
 
Both are great rifles and good Elk calibers. I would give the edge to the Winchester because I love the Model 70. The 300 Win Mag is also a very good cartridge. Both the 7mm and 300 are more than you need for Elk but will work.

I say shoot both and see which either shoots better or you like more.
 
Another vote for the 300 Win Mag and model 70 Winchester
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Of those I would easily choose the .300 WM.
One thing I didn't care for with the Winchester is each time I fired it the recoil would dent the bullets in the mag. Now some will say this does not effect the performance of the bullet but it bothers me anyway.
 
The gun isn't near as important as the bullet. If you're a hand loader, I would personally keep the 7mm and load up some 180gr Berger VLDs. You'll be tossing those out their a LONG ways, much flatter than a similar sized .30 bullet. As stated before...both calibers are plenty for Elk, but the grain of bullet is what is more important.

Ballistic Coefficient isn't everything, but if you reload and want to stretch the legs of a hunting cartridge, a BC of .659 in a hunting bullet will be very tough to beat.
 
lol, no problem, I just started myself.

I'd flip a coin, keep the winner, sell the loser and use the $$$ for reloading gear
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Set up targets at the long distances you plan on shooting and figure out which gun you shoot best.

I would definitely be basing my decision here on accuracy, both rounds will kill an Elk, sure, you could always buy a new stock, have it bedded, custom fit, new trigger, this, that, to make the rifle accurate enough.

But, if you were to shoot both of these and one shot 6" groups at 600 yards and the other 15", I'd never consider the gun that shot 15" groups just because it had a different name on it, or threw a 30 cal bullet.

So, why not shoot them and see which you shoot best, then hopefully you don't find out in a month that the gun you chose needs hundreds in gunsmithing to be accurate enough for your purposes.
 
Definately worth shooting both to see which shoots better, or you shoot better, especially at longer range where you plan to shoot or hunt.

Either round will kill elk further then you can probly hit them, so thats not really a concern.

Personally, since I reload, I'll take a 7mm anyday over a 30 cal. 30 cal may slightly hit harder, and have a slightly bigger bullet diameter obviously, but thats about it. 7 mags have better ballistics then 300 mags without all the recoil, save the energy factor, which isn't everything... Shoot a good 160g or bigger in the 7mm, or a 180g or 200g in the 300 and you'll have no problems anchoring your elk out there quite aways.
 
I got them both out of the safe last night. I sat there in my recliner drinking a beer checking them both out. My wife said I have issues.
 
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