With standard bullets I would definatley agree that a heavier bullet would be more suitable for elk. I plan on using a bonded core bullet. That should keep it from breaking up, and I can get flatter trajectory using a lighter bullet.

The idea of flatter trajectory sounds good, but doesn't compute. If you take two loads, a 175 partition at 2900 and a 140 grain at 3200 and set them up with a 4.5" point blank range, the difference at 400 yards is about 4". I think I'd take the 175 Nosler which is what I would shoot in my 7mm Rem Mag.

Stick with the 160's in the 7mm rem mag. If you build a rifle around that bore diameter and the 175 grain bullets you might as well shoot 180 grain bullets out of a 30 magnum. If the rifle is something that is an existing entity well then that is a different matter and the 175's might be a good choice.

I wouldn't necessarily bet the farm against the Hornady interbonds sucess as an Elk bullet eigther. Not saying it won't work but think you would be better off with an interlock and even better still a 160 partition.

To answer the question, I'd go with the 7mm rem mag.

Chuck

Get the 7 RM, Load some 160 Accubonds with RL22, sight in and go hunting. It's really that easy! Oh yeah, put the bullet where it belongs and you'll never no you aren't shooting a 338.

The 7m/m Remington Magnum will best fit your needs. Remember, it didn't become popular overnight for no reason at all, and it is one cartridge that IS a handloaders dream. Pick any 'ol brand of gun with at least a 24" barrel and you will be happy.

When the time comes to reload one need look no further than the 160 grain Nosler Partition. This case also has the capacity to launch 175's at a respectable clip.

In retrospect, the 7m/m Remington Magnum (and the 7m/m family in general) is second only to the .30's in usefulness.

To me the grain of the bullet doesn't matter much (140-175)What does matter is bullet construction and placement. I've used the 7's for a long time.

You couldn't go wrong with any of the listed possibles.

The 7 Remn is easier to find brass and rounds for, and the Dakota while a good round is a bit expensive to buy brass for. Although if you bought 60 rounds you'd be set for quite a while if you were kind ot it.

My choice of 7 is the Mashburn Super-years ago I got to know Hagle and he and Page have always kind of been my hero's so that will explain that. I do own a Reamer for it if you wanna go and explore this world. I'd more than happy to hook you up with my Smith.


Just my thoughts...

Oops last thought I'd advice you to pick one bullet and stick with it for all you pointed it at.

"GET TO THE HILL"

Dogz

The Rem 7mm Mag is the King of 7's, it's a wise choice.

Mark,
I believe ethics always have a place in such discussions, and I believe I have a perfect right to say what I believe is a qualified answer to his question, I beleive most of us would be just as well off with a 7x57 than ultra high velocity magnum and that does not mean you or he has to obide by my opine....and btw I don't recognize you as the sheriff of this forum..

While I agree with Ray I must admit to stretching the envelope on occasion.

My longest shot was a humiliating lesson on what can go wrong way out there.
Elk at long range are a very difficult target if they aren't perfectly broadside and level with the shooter (picking the correct bullet entry spot is much more difficult when shooting up or down at game).

I try not to stretch things to far any more.

Most of us have to lean the hard way!

So lets be honest Ray.
What is the longest shot you have ever taken??
The full story please!

FWIW if you must shoot elk at 400 yards a big 33 is a far better choice than any 7!

Your results may vary!
Jamie

Jamie I have taken many long shots up to perhaps a 1000 yards in my mispent youth and many of them resulted in kills but enough of them ended up in hard tracking jobs and a few lost animals before I wised up...

My longest shot? I have it on film, 800 to 900 yards on a black wildebeest hit him 3 out of 4 shots, then the tracking began and we got him shortly thereafter, but it could have gone either way....

I have made no claim to being pure as driven snow on this character flaw, but I have seen the light even though it took a lot of years....

Like I said a good shot will always hit the animal at about any distance, therefore he must use better judgment than the neophite who will miss about every time.....

Well in my old age and having done quite a bit of elk hunting my experience has been though there might be a number of times you see elk at 400 plus yards, those windless days of standing still elk are pretty rare. I say under hunting conditions that the 7 mags, the 30-06 and 270 have about the same effect and that 350 yards is a reasonable max distance to shoot at such awesome animals and then only under near perfect conditions.

Hey Ray!

To soon we are old.... To late we are smart!

I am happy to be dumber AND younger than you!

Best of the season to you and your family Ray!

I wish you another great season in Africa (without the use of a cane!)
And a wonderful year with your family.

Jamie

I use a Ruger No. 1B in 7mm Rem. Mag. with a Nosler 175-grain Partition bullet loaded to 3050 FPS MV for elk hunting. This shoots quite flat, and delivers 2000 ft/lb of energy at 450 yards. I would not hesitate to shoot an elk with it up to 300 yards, if I could get a decent rest. 20 years ago, I would have shot elk up to 400 yards with this load. However, my shooting skills aren't up to such challenges any more. But the gun is!



The only elk I ever shot with this load dropped as if someone had jerked the earth out from under his feet, but the range was under 100 yards!

I noticed no recommendations for the 7 RUM; I've got one, a mdl 700 AWR, used it to hammer a moose in Alaska this year, 160 grain A-Frame at 3170 fps. 1 shot, moose down within 10 seconds. Funny thing is, I will likely sell this rifle, as I have others, 270 Wby etc, that are close to same usage. Seems like the 7 RUM may go the way of the dodo bird???

Craig

Curious Craig, what was your load? I shoot a 26" bbl. 7mm Dakota & exceed that vel. by 100fps w/ 160grNP or CT (nonmoly) & 72.5gr RL22 or 73.5gr IMR7828. I think the 7RUM is way overbore & it just takes more powder to get sim. vel. to the 7mmWby, 7STW & Dakota. It will probablt fade from the shooting scene.

Go w/ the 7 Rem. Mag. It out performs the .280 by significant margin and w/ handloads knocks on the door of the STW w/ equal barrel lengths. It is available over the counter everywhere. It's accuracy equal to and usually better than any other magnum cartridge around. After taking many big mule deer, elk and moose, I sold mine for a SS .300 win. DUMB! The .300 is a better elk/moose/grizzly rifle, but for all around hunting, including muley, whitetail, blacktail, antelope the 7 mag is better, more accurate, less recoil. My .300 just went down the road and I will soon be building a new 7 mag.

I've shot the same 7mm Remington since about 1982, still have most of the box of 175 grain I bought at the gun show. I have been shooting 140 grain Noslers of both persuasions the last few years, although I'm gravitating towards Partition bullets.

Last elk hunt, my partner fell on his 30-06 and bent the scope. After the appropriate cussing and cogitating, he got out his 30-30. We left the canyon rims and hunted gully bottoms and he killed an elk with it. For what it's worth, I'd already passed up a longish cross-canyon shot at a band of elk; not that the rifle wouldn't reach that far, but there was a healthy crosswind, no cover in between, and no reason to spook them.

I'd have to agree with several of the others. The 7mm Remington mag will do just fine on any game up to and including elk. Ammo and bullet selection and availability are second to none. My rifle (Remington 700 SS BDL) has proven to be extremely accurate with all bullet weights. The other 7s may look better on paper, but will gain little real value in the field.

.....A 195 grain Barnes original load to 2700fps is a great Elk/Moose fodder to 275yards, with plenty of whallop for the 7mm Remington Mag.....I love that .570BC and .345SD. I have had better groups at 2650FPS though.....