I searched for info but I am interested in hear "fresh" opinions.

What you think about this caliber ?

I don't own one but I am tempted...

L

Well, I'll chime in before the detractors do. I have used one for several years and is my go to rifle for medium big game. I have pretty much settled on the 160 grain Nosler Partition at 3100fps for just about everything. If I need a heavier bullet, I will go up in caliber also; lighter, I will use a 270. It works well for deer sized game up to caribou or so. I prefer heavier bullets and larger calibers for anything bigger. It is a flat shooting and hard hitting small bore (I know we are in the medium bore forum, but someone else set the parameters for that!). Of course, a 30-06 with a 165 grain bullet will do the same thing. It is my most used rifle for sure. Very versatile, useful and does't kick much.

I think it is a good round. Can hit the target plenty hard and recoil is low enough that most don't have and issue with it. Works up though our ELK & Moose. For big bears I would prefer bigger. I normally use a 160 when I use one and use it in my wildcat that matches 7mag velocity. If you need bigger think 30cal and up.

i bought one to see for myself. A model 700 BDL. With the Tubb Speedlock kit. I'm shooting Berger 168 VLD's, accuracy is fantastic!
I haven't shot a critter yet.

It's one of those "do everything well" for the Americas calibers much like the 264 and 300 Winchester Magnums. You can shoot light pills really fast for small game and very heavy pills fast enough for game as heavy as can be found on our two continents. Accuracy is usually very good too.

quote:

Originally posted by Magnum Hunter1:
Well, I'll chime in before the detractors do. I have used one for several years and is my go to rifle for medium big game. I have pretty much settled on the 160 grain Nosler Partition at 3100fps for just about everything. If I need a heavier bullet, I will go up in caliber also; lighter, I will use a 270. It works well for deer sized game up to caribou or so. I prefer heavier bullets and larger calibers for anything bigger. It is a flat shooting and hard hitting small bore (I know we are in the medium bore forum, but someone else set the parameters for that!). Of course, a 30-06 with a 165 grain bullet will do the same thing. It is my most used rifle for sure. Very versatile, useful and does't kick much.

I would agree with the above. I had a 7mm Mag for a while.

You can use 140/150gr bullets for smaller stuff, and go to 175gr for the BIGGER stuff, but as Magnum Hunter 1 says a 160gr Partition will do it all.

It is a time tested classic, and as such has a fairly polar following. You either love them or hate them. I love my 7mm mag. It is my most accurate rifle over .22 cal. and I have shot everything from bobcats on up with it. I will say that it can be hard on meat with smaller animals so I try and place my shots very well. I think the Dangerous Game hunts will be the only time you might feel under gunned, and it has sure taken its fair share of bear anyway. I like the balance of power and long range capability. The 7mm caliber has high BCs and all are well balanced in terms of killing power and range. I must also add that the recoil isn't bad at all (though it did knock me around when I was fifteen). Mine is a Rem 700 BDL and I can comfortably shoot quite a few rounds in a day with no problem.

Perfect balance of bullet design, i.e. scetional density and ballistic coeficient, accuracy, and recoil. Magnificant cartridge!

Well, the old 7mm RM has done it all at one time or another. Having shot a fairly decent number of big game with it (more than any other cartridge) I can attest to its abilities. The only bore diameter more versatile on the planet (in my opinion) is .308. There are faster 7mm's, and those that have less recoil. But the 7 mag is a damn fine round. For lighter game, the Ballistic Tip works wonders (I prefer the 140 gr. version for whitetails). The Sierra Gamekings, Remington Core-Lokt, etc. also will excell in most situations. I have used the 160 gr. Partition with varied results (don't use "premium bullets" unless penetration is critical), hence the short-lived use on lighter big game. It's got plenty of punch a lot farther than most of us have any business shooting. I absolutely love my 7mm RM - my favorite rifle, and will remain so for the rest of my life. Given the right bullet, it will handle anything this planet has to offer. JMHO

gd

One of the world's "go anywhere and do anything" cartridges.....a very fine and useful round!

+1 on what everyone above said about the 7mm Mag.
I have one in an Interarms Mk X with a MacMillan stock that is just a pleasure to shoot, accurate and is an instant killer, on Deer. Never used it for anything else.
Mine shoots the 150 grain Nosler Partitions best, after testing 140's and 160's. It, on a good shooting day, will do 3 shots in a 1/2" group at 100. No flies on the 7mm Mag.
As a side note, after I graduated from college in 1957, the very first rifle I had built that same year was a 7mm Ackley Magnum. That was before Remington came out with the 7mm Mag. The Ackley is about the same as the Rem version.

I had one built up a few years ago on a Wby Mk V action with a Hart bbl, McMillan stock and a sweet Jard trigger. Bar none, it was the most accurate rifle above .22 cal I've ever owned.

Devastating against animals up to about 500lbs. Ok against game up to 1,000lbs. Many great components and factory loads available.

quote:

Originally posted by Lorenzo:
I searched for info but I am interested in hear "fresh" opinions.

What you think about this caliber ?

I don't own one but I am tempted...

L

The 7 Mag is a superb round that is underloaded by the factories. Factory ammo puts it in about the same category as Light Magnum .30/'06 ammo. It will beat this with good handloads in 26" barrels. Mine is a Ruger No.1B....... Use mine on elk as well as deer. Try it-you'll like it!

There are some really good 7mm cartridges. It's by far the most popular "metric" rifle caliber in the U.S.

For good reason. 7mm seems to be an excellent diameter for ballistics.

With a 10 grain lighter bullet of the same design the 280 Rem will match the trajectory of the 7mm Rem Mag almost exactly. But if you want to shoot the 175s the 7mm Rem Mag is the choice.

Some other great 7mm Cartridges are the 7mm-08 and 7mm Mauser.

I think you'll like the 7mm Rem Mag. It's a good one and very flexible.

I've had two of them, both Remington 700's. I started with an ADL then traded it for a BDL in stainless. I've taken each of them on hunts in South Africa, and one to the Arctic. I've settled on the 160 gr Accubond for my bullet for my 7mm RM. It's my "foul weather" rifle.

I consider the 7mm RM a good choice for African plains game, and for any North American animal except for maybe Alaskan brown bears.

I own a 7mm Mag by Remington. I shot my bore with. I really enjoy shooting mine. It doesn't kick hard. It is very accurate. I shot to 600yds
and the bullet went right to point of aim.

I took my 7mm Rem. Mag. to South Africa in 2004 and took 15 animals with it. I used 160 gr. Barnes TSX and it performed perfectly. It is flat shooting and hard hitting and easily took animals like Kudu and Gemsbok and many others. Also a great whitetail round.

It’s a round that I’ve used for 33 years now. As I go through life, 270s, 30-06s, and big 300s come and go but the 7mm Remington Magnum always stays.

I'm another 7mm bore fan. I have owned two 7remmag. Good round, good rifles, but my 280 works for 90% of what the 7remmag would do. The last one I had got rechambered to 7mmDakota. I also like 160grNPs for everything in the 7remmag. Shot my first elk w/ one, a good one rifle for NA hunting. The &mm Dakota drives the 160gr bullet another 150fps+, so it's my choice when I think I have to shoot beyond 300yds. In reality though, there isn't much diff. between them in the field.

Nothing wrong with the 7mm Mag. If I wasn't madly in love with the .30-06, I'd buy one.

Essentially it is a do all kind of a cartridge, much like .30-06 and .270. I have only shot a couple of rifles chambered in 7mm mag and the recoil is very similar to a .30-06.

[QUOTE]Please enlight me about the 7mm Rem Mag[QUOTE]

Ok,

7mmRemag 160NP 3100mv ........500yds:2157/1653, tof .58, drift 17.04"
7mmRemag 160AB 3100mv........500yds:2247/1794, tof .57, drift 15.00"
7mmRemag 175gnNP 2950mv ....500yds:2108/1727, tof.61, drift 16.45"
30/06 - 177gnHV 2800mv ..........500yds:2128/1780, tof.62, drift 13.98"
.30/338win 177gnHV 2950mv....500yds:2254/1997, tof .59, drift 13.04"
.30/338win 177HV 3050mv.......500yds:2338/2148, tof .57, drift 12.48"

Tell me where the .30/06 takes a back seat?
Better still, find me a real BGhunting bullet that you can pump through 7MMag that will trump .30/06-177HV...
If one was serious about achieving LR magnum thump combined with strong close range high vel.performance, The 30cal is a clear winner for same bullet weight, recoil and powder burn.

Trax, I see you are cooking the books again!

if you subtract 20 grains of bullet weight, its interchangable with a 30-06 .. an excellent round, a little ahead of the 7x64 brenneke, 280, and 7x61 SH ..

think of it as a high speed 30-06 .. an excellent choice, with associated meat damage of higher speed

quote:

Tell me where the .30/06 takes a back seat?

Since you like skewed comparisons;here is one for you.


7mmremmag-168gr berger vld muzzle velocity 3000fps

500 yards 2296fps,1966ft/lbs,12.7"drift at 10mph


30-06 -180gr round nose 2800fps

500 yards 1265fps,640ft/lbs,48" drift at 10mph

Good, stick to your 7mMag 168gnBerger match bullets.. And ill use .30cal 177HV hunting bullets[.30/06 or .30mag] on Elk,Eland (& Grizzly if required)....happy hunting

quote:

Good, you stick to your 7mMag 168gnBerger match bullets.

http://www.bergerbullets.com/P...nting%20Bullets.html

What part of hunting bullets don't you understand?

quote:

Originally posted by stubblejumper:

quote:

Good, you stick to your 7mMag 168gnBerger match bullets.

http://www.bergerbullets.com/P...nting%20Bullets.html

What part of hunting bullets don't you understand?

:40 ".. the vld has higher bc than other hunting bullets because of its shape..."

Really?..looking at Berger 30cal 185,190,210gn none reach the Bc of the 177HV.
so Berger either dont know or dont want to know the competition , and go to efforts to keep their unsuspecting customers just as ignorant.

1:58 .. "this combination makes the berger vld the only bullets to use for ethical performance in extreme distance shooting ..."

... if Berger said it, then it must be true!...

Having to possibly drill an angry grizz at 50yd(& possibly 500yd elk) I will take the solid shank 177Hv at 2800 or 2950 repectively, over the Berger mince 7mm168gn 3000mv.
...dont forget theres still good room to move that 177hv up in speed{ ie; equal max. pressure & recoil to 175gn7mmMag)
.30/338win 177hv 3100mv...500yd: 2379/2224,tof .49, drift 12.22"

Im Not here to inhibit anyones choice.....happy hunting

I have 7mm Rem Mag in the Weatherby Vangaurd. I think that it is a fine round that has a recoil that is very easy to deal with and can be loaded up and down heavy or light. I just got mine last year and havn't killed anything but paper with it but my older brother has killed close to 100 deer with his he purchased in the earlt 70's.

This is my 7 rem mag

The 7 mag is a great cartridge.
I have herd people make rediculas claims about it. One guy was ready to go fist city with me beacuse I said no its not, after he said the 7mm mag was the most powerfull cartridge on earth. No kidding this really happend.
I had a 375 H&H round in my shooters box to compare to his 7 mag round, witch was good cause I was not finding anything to hit him with !
Anyway, if you do a fair comparison, with the 30,06 the 7 mag has a small advantage if you think you can shoot out past about 350 yards.
I load 160 grain 7 mags to about 3050 for my buddie, and 165 grain 30,06s to 2900 FPS, for myself.
He has 2 more inches of barrel.
I sugjest you consider the terrain you will do most of your hunting in.
I hunt broken terrain where i might get a point blank shot, or a fairly long one.
I would be happy with either round...tj3006

The real point is that the slightest actual or perceived advantage one cartridge may have over another relieves the guilty of any remaining qualm about buying a new rifle. So if you have a 30-06, the 7 Mag is clearly superior and visa versa. If you can't find a difference, make one up!

Fortunately I'm a rifleopath, unable to feel remorse or guilt for my acquisitions.

quote:

The real point is that the slightest actual or perceived advantage one cartridge may have over another relieves the guilty of any remaining qualm about buying a new rifle. So if you have a 30-06, the 7 Mag is clearly superior and visa versa. If you can't find a difference, make one up!

Fortunately I'm a rifleopath, unable to feel remorse or guilt for my acquisitions

+1

quote:

Originally posted by tiggertate:
The real point is that the slightest actual or perceived advantage one cartridge may have over another relieves the guilty of any remaining qualm about buying a new rifle. So if you have a 30-06, the 7 Mag is clearly superior and visa versa. If you can't find a difference, make one up!

Fortunately I'm a rifleopath, unable to feel remorse or guilt for my acquisitions.

Thanks everyone for your comments !!
I will think it seriously, it seems a good caliber for long range shooting !!

L

quote:

The real point is that the slightest actual or perceived advantage one cartridge may have over another relieves the guilty of any remaining qualm about buying a new rifle. So if you have a 30-06, the 7 Mag is clearly superior and visa versa. If you can't find a difference, make one up!

Fortunately I'm a rifleopath, unable to feel remorse or guilt for my acquisitions.

Good point, as it sums it up!

My Dad and I went all through this years ago.

Campfire talk, most could agree that the -06 will buck a little more brush and pack an edge with +180Gr bullets for closer game.

While the 7MM seems slightly flatter shooting.

My Dad's best claim about the -06 for years has been that given an upset on a hunting trip and find you lost your ammo needing a trip to the local hardware store. You might find a box of 30-30 or 30-06 ammo, but there is a chance that you will get the reply '7 what?' in the smallest of stores.

Any more, we seen 7MM ammo hit the shelves faster then 30-06 ammo, for that I have no answer, but the local wallyworld here, the Bass Pro store and Sportsman's Warehouse will have a box of 7MM but are out of 30-06 ammo still(?)

30-06 won the availability of brass nomination years ago, but my choice is the 7mm hands down.

Dose anyone make Half-Jackets (old old school) for the 7MM ?

quote:

Campfire talk, most could agree that the -06 will buck a little more brush and pack an edge with +180Gr bullets for closer game.

Total B.S.When branches or obstacles are struck by a bullet,the bullet is just as likely to be deflected if it is a heavier bullet.That has been proven many times over by tests documented in various shooting magazines.One thing is fact,that being that a larger diameter bullet will strike obstacles,that a smaller diameter bullet will just clear.The bullet that doesn't strike the obstacle has a better chance of hitting the intended target.

quote:

Total B.S.When branches or obstacles are struck by a bullet,the bullet is just as likely to be deflected if it is a heavier bullet.That has been proven many times over by tests documented in various shooting magazines.One thing is fact,that being that a larger diameter bullet will strike obstacles,that a smaller diameter bullet will just clear.The bullet that doesn't strike the obstacle has a better chance of hitting the intended target.

Thank you!

I just knew that someone would pipe in about that, as I have been reading those same articles since 1965.

There is .012 on each side of a 30 cal that the 7MM can slide by, not much if you seen the girls i go out with.

But for the deflection part, I am glad you qualified your comment by calling my idea BS .

As a rule,,,,
Most 7MM are loaded with a little thinner bullet to optimize for the longer shots there capable of, and 06's sticking to more of a standard hull. You can sometimes tell the types of hunters by the calibers they shoot and how they load for them. Rifles are not the same, but look at the 'metric' bikes and compare there riders to those that ride a Harley?

What I am talking about is bullets that just come apart if they hit anything.

We all seen fragments of bullets hit the paper with make-do ranges only to look back and see a broken twig inline with the rifle bench, there is no test or study for it, it just is, but a bullet traveling 3000fps has a better chance of coming apart them one going 2700fps, period.

jmo

I love my 7mm Rem. Mag. I dont shot a .30-06 so no comparision on that. My gun is a Tikka
T-3 that shots 160 grain partitions under an 1". I have used it for African plainsgame and mule deer, blacktail deer and black bear. I would not hesitate to use it on elk. Its also the most used caliber among the guys that I hunt with.

Greg

Great round. I use 140s, 160s and 175s in mine.

It is so good that I'm not sure there's any difference!

quote:

As a rule,,,,
Most 7MM are loaded with a little thinner bullet to optimize for the longer shots there capable of, and 06's sticking to more of a standard hull.

Once again B.S.,I have sectioned enough bullets to see that this is not true.

I concur on 7mm bullets. Just about every bullet available in .30 is available in 7mm and works about the same. Anybody that thinks there is any real difference in performance between a 30-06 and a 7mm hasn't used them both much. They both work great with the right bullets on most anything you are likely to hunt.