I am considering a 7mm rifle. I want to hunt everything from antelope to elk with it. I have looked at all the reloading manuals and am considering one of the big 7mm mags. I live in open country and take some shots around 400 yards. If anyone has personal experience shooting elk with a 7mm Rem Mag, 7mm STW, 7mm Weatherby, or 7mm Dakota I'd love to hear about it. I would prefer to shoot a 154 grain bullet at around 3200 fps. If you have a pet load for your rifle, please include it along with barrel length and chrono velocity.

7mm Rem Mag. Kinda like the 30-06 in that ammo is everywhere and it will do anything you need done.
While I prefer the 160gr bullet, the 154gr should work well if properly placed. Ha, "properly placed" that would apply to just about any cartridge. My 7mag is uncommonly accurate.

Not trying to knock your choice of a 7mm rifle, but IF you are set on this caliber and are pretty sure that almost any shot taken at an elk with it will be 400+ yards, I would develop my thinking around a 175 gr. slug. I have seen way too many lighter-weight 7mm bullets act like hand grenades when launched at elk at the kind of velocity that you are seeking. In a Remington Mag, you can push a 175 at damn near 3000 fps and will develop 3400 Ft-Lbs at the muzzle. Put this load in a good gun that you have confidence in and use a good scope, and you would have a rig that would put down any elk at reasonable to longer hunting ranges. I think this would be your best bet without moving up to a 30 caliber cartridge. Regards, Wyo

Fredj338, I got that load from Conley Precision, as I don't handload (sorry), the 3170 FPS figure is from their chrono of that load; could be faster, I guess, sorry I can't answer your question in more detail

Craig

7mm rem mag is the most practical choise, though its at the bottom of the chart when you are considering a fast 7mm. I have been using the 7mm rem mag for 25 years now. Its my favorite. Its worked fine on everything up to moose. 160 nosler partitions and imr 7828 at 3000 fps Groups start opening up after that in the 2 I have now. I think you'll find that 7mm rem mags work well with what ever you feed um if you make that choise. At least thats been my experiance.

I got a 7mm Rem Mag a couple years ago. It has been the rifle I take for big game. I also have a .338 WM that I wouldn't part with.

When it comes right down to it, pick what intrigues you. If you find your choice interesting you'll shoot it more, experiment more, and handle it better.
Hitting where you should is whats most important.