I have limited experience with the 7mm, but when I went black bear hunting in the late 70's, I took an '06 because that's what the guides recommended. They did not like the 7mm. Bullets are radically better now, so that's probably the game changer. I've never cared for the recoil.

quote:

Originally posted by wymple:
I have limited experience with the 7mm, but when I went black bear hunting in the late 70's, I took an '06 because that's what the guides recommended. They did not like the 7mm. Bullets are radically better now, so that's probably the game changer. I've never cared for the recoil.

Interesting post. To me, asking a guide about rifle cartridges is like asking a soldier about "best" rifles or a cop about best pistols. For the most part none of the three (guides, soldiers, cops)are likely to be gun hobbyists, and know virtually nothing about what is required to do the job...especially as there is no one "best" rifle for anything unless one takes into account the ammo available, the circumstances of each shot, and the skill and experience of the shooter.

The 7 m/m Rem Mag has been an excellent hunting round since its very inception. And its greater recoil is mostly in folks' heads...it is a so-called "magnum", so it scares inexperienced users of the cartridge. Again, the recoil has a lot more to do with the loads used, and the rifle they are used in (not the "caliber").

Is it the very best out there? Who knows? For that matter, who cares? The point is, it is a good cartridge for North American hunting, just like literally dozens of others.

The excuses they gave me were that the faster, lighter loads of the 7mm gave more passed thru shots that they ended up having to track. They preferred a slower, heavier bullet, to a point. Most of them did not like a 30-30 either. The favorite at the time was 220 gr in '06.

I've never used a boyhowdylookwhaticando bullet in the 7RM. Only 160gr bullets stumbling along at @2900-3000fps. While you definitely get pass thrus, what they leave behind is one dead animal. (knock on wood) I've never had to track anything I've shot with a big 7.

People that know how to shoot tend to like whatever it is they are using while people that can't always seem to be looking for some new wonder.

What about you Trax?
Do YOU know anything about the 7mm Mag?

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Originally posted by Trax:
Jerry Fisher has held onto his well-worn 7mmRMag since 1964, busting a whole range of game animals including elk...

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quote:

Originally posted by wasbeeman:
I've never used a boyhowdylookwhaticando bullet in the 7RM. Only 160gr bullets stumbling along at @2900-3000fps. While you definitely get pass thrus, what they leave behind is one dead animal. (knock on wood) I've never had to track anything I've shot with a big 7.

Agreed. The 160 Partition and the 7 mag leave nothing to be desired. I have two rifles that shoot it into less than 1/2-inch group if I do my part. I load it right at 3000 fps, but Re 33 easily gets 100 fps more speed from a 26-inch tube. The 140-grainers are great for deer and antelope and can be loaded pretty fast with ease. I prefer 3100 fps for the 140s, and they are also extremely accurate in my guns.

My rifles don't kick any worse than any 270 or 06 that I ever shot. If recoil makes you whine, then get a .243.

Is it better than a host of other cartridges? Probably not, but understating its effectiveness is nonsense.

Buy the gun and don't look back. That should be a 26-inch barrel, so I would say try RE33 powder. You may be surprised by how fast it will push big bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by SR4759:
What about you Trax?
Do YOU know anything about the 7mm Mag?

my workhorse go-to rifle for over 10yrs was a .270WeatherbyMag...
kills just like a 7mmRmag in the real world.
270WM & 7mmWM set the performance example early on in the piece,
don't know what took Remington so long to catch on....

BTW; Jerry Fisher is a real nice guy and a most kind host when he invites you to his home.