I went up to my gun room this evening, and I had a thunderstruck moment.

I am a 7mm man. I felt like Saul on the road to Damascus or Macbeth before he kills Duncan. You choose.


I have three 45 caliber rifles: 458 Lott, Ruger RSM; 450 3 3/14 inch Rigby, Ruger Number 1; 45/70, JM Marlins 1895; two 30/06 Mode
70ADL and Woodmaster; two lower forty calibers 416 Remington Kimberly Caprivi and 405 Winchester Model 95.

Here is the ball kicker. I have 5 7mm rifles. One 7mm STW; one 7mm/08; pristine Mauser 7x57 built in 1936; and two 270s. Two 270 Wins, those are not 7mm one may ask? Yes, they are. The 270 bullies and groove diamaters of the .270 Win is 7.036.

I take solace in the fact I have three 375 Rugers. The 500 Heym cancels out 2 7mms.

I own three 7mm's (not counting .270's which are .277 and not .284). They are 7x33 Sako, 7x64 Brenneke, and .280 Rem. But the primary reason I have them is that that they are all Sakos, of which I am something of a collector.

Otherwise, I don't find a lot of use for the 7mm diameter as it seems a bit large for lighter game and small for larger game -- neither fish nor fowl. A 6.5 makes more sense if you're hunting deer at longer range, while a .30 has a distinct advantage if you're after elk or moose.

Sure, a 7mm will take game just like smaller or larger calibers, but it seems that calibers on either side can do better. I guess it is one of those "do it all" calibers which works pretty well for either, but not optimally for any. I will admit that the deer and pigs I've shot with the .280 all seemed to die sufficiently dead and sufficiently soon after the application of a 7mm slug, so my complaints about the bore size are true nit-pics.

I am prejudice against the 7mm Rem Mag in particular, however. That is because I've owned several and never gotten one to shoot the way it should. This is probably simply luck of the draw, but it is a caliber I'm not keen on due to my (admittedly singular) experiences.

You just have bad luck; every 7mm mag I have built easily shoots .5 moa.
As for the 7mm, I like the caliber, and feel that there is no need for any and all 30 calibers; just jump directly to 338.

I never saw the benefit or cared for the 7mm Remington finding it no more and no less than the 30/06. Which we all know was used by the All Mighty to slay the oppressors of his people. Owning a 30/06 to the exclusion of all smaller calibers/cartidges was a mark you were of the Chosen or Elect. At least, that was how I was thought.

Then I go up staris and find I am a heretic. I truly love the 7mms over the 30 caliber versions/counter parts. That is how it has lined up for me unintentionally. I certainly was not raised to be so.

7mm/08 Rem over 308 Win
270 Win over 30/06 Springfield (I know. I ask for no mercy)
7mm STW over 300 WBY
7mm Masuer over I guess the 300 Savage

I do not think one is necessarily better than the other. Just that within the cartidge class the 7mm and 30 calibers are indistinguishable on game.

I also do not use the real high BC, hybrid bullets plus 200 grains that has become popular for long range 30 caliber cartidges. That is a lot more weight than the 160,175,180s you find in 7mm. On that I do bow to the bigger case 300s.

Im only impressed with the 7 Rem Mag with a 175 gr. bullet at 3000 FPS or there abouts dependin on barrel length ( I like 26") and its a damn fine caliber with the heavy bullets..

Otherwise I have been able to duplicate the 7 mag with the lighter bullets with a .270 WCF according to my chronograph..with less recoil, a shorter barrel, a lighter gun, has been my experience, and others I know..

I have one 7 Rem Mag.I just went to the range today and we sighted in a Buddies new 7mm Rem Mag. He only shoots 175 grain for everything. I hardly ever use mine and prefer a 6.5mm. He has a few and it is his favorite for Deer and Elk.