Looking for advice and or opinions on 7mm's, specifically rem mag. I am in the market for a new rifle, and I am giving hard consideration to this caliber. From my understanding, they are capable of taking various game and are relatively pleasant to shoot compared to their .30 caliber brothers. From my reading / research, it also appears that their ballistics are quite comparable as well. Any truth to that?

So, anyone out there who owns or has fired a 7mm willing to chime in with their opinion? I am considering using it for east side whitetail, possibly elk and wyoming antelopes when my hunting partner asks me to go. I've been eyeballing browning A Bolts and the like, I can't afford to drop $1400 on a Kimber, but I do want something that is quality.

Thanks for the help.

Drew,
I have a ruger mk II in 7 mm rem mag and I love it. I did a trigger job and can shoot 3 round groups the size of a quarter at 100'yds. I ve taken plenty of deer and elk with it and it has always performed well for me. That being said, some of the more "modern" calibers like the .30O wsm are worth a look. My 7 probably weighs in at more than 9# with scope, sling and full magazine. It's stainless with a laminated stock, 24" barrel. With the short mags you can lose a few inches in bbl length and action. Don't forget that you need to spend $$ on good glass! People look at the price of the rifle and then realize they need to fork over another $300+ for a good scope. Remington, ruger, Winchester, savage all make fine rifles in addition to browning. I do think that Remington 710'(I believe?- comes in a combo) is junk.

Good luck
Willy

Willy,

Thanks for your thoughts. Its funny that you mention good glass, I was fortunate enough to have santa bring me a new leupold 3x9x40 and it needs a new home.

Hi Drew...For a guy who needs but one hunting rifle, a 7mm Remington Magnum chambered in whatever factory rifle you may choose, be it a Remington 700, Kimber M 82, Savage 110, Winchester Model 70, Ruger M 77, or what have you, is a really good choice. So many options are available for factory loaded ammunition, from light weight bullets for long range varmint shooting to the long 160 to 175 grain offerings for serious big game hunting.

The 139 / 140 grain bullets will knock the chit out of any deer or antelope you will encounter at extremely long ranges. The 160 and 175 grain bullets, placed in the right spot will anchor most of the very large game animals you might encounter here in the Continental US.

The many reloading manuals I have say that the 7mm Remington Magnum cartridge has basically the same power as tried and trued .30 - 06.

The usual comparisons between the two rounds tends to go back and forth as to which cartridge has the most knock down power or which one has the best bullet flight characteristics.

For me, and just my personal opinion, I'd buy a Remington 7mm Magnum rifle and it will do all you want it to do. As a plus, if your wife ever decides to shoot it, sheese, it will not knock out the dental fillings in her teeth if she has any.

Hard not to love a good 7. Don't overlook the 280, or 7-08....

Drew, I have a browning A-Bolt in 7mm rem Mag, I have killed plenty of game with it, deer and elk. The only prob I have had is in getting good blood trails. One case in point was a 5 X5 blacktail shot at long range, approx 250 yds, put two rounds in the motor, had a foot of fresh snow and could not find blood or hair, found the deer about 100yds away. First blood showed about twenty ft from the deer where it first hit the ground. Both bullets were just under the hide on the far side. Federal Nosler Partion 160 grain factory ammo. Maybe handloads a little hotter would perform better. I've been told that the 30 caliber bullets make a better blood trail. The browning A-Bolt is very accurate and I would buy another if needed. I have a leopold 3 X 9 scope on the gun. If I was buying new today, it would be either 300 mag or 338.

That's surprising NWP. Have laced elk with 7RM and 140 gr. X-meldings over the years. Complete pass through of lungs. They didn't go more'n a few steps with raspberry jello in their chests.

As a contrast, my pappy cleanly ventilated the craniums of numerous BT bucks with a .22LR when that was pretty much the only thing available after the Depression and WWII.....

Hard to beat Barnes X bullets, tipped or the old HP variety.

You can't beat the 7mm mag. Very good knockdown power, flat shooting. My dad has been hunting elk with his Ruger since 1970 shooting 19 elk, and 4 deer. We use handloads, Sierra 170gr Round Nose, with 63 1/2 gr. of 4831. Where we hunt there are few place for really long shots, this combo puts meat on the pole. Dad did take one elk at 500 yds with his 7. I also shoot a Ruger M77 stainless synthetic stock, but this year I bought a laminated thumbhole wood stock. I really like the new stock, very comfortable.

Only reasons why I didn't list same. They're damn hard to find, and didn't want to tempt Drew with a unicorn.

Double damn....

Yeah..a kimber would be nice, but I am not sure that its in the cards at the moment, we'll have to wait and see if'n uncle sam gives me lots of money back this year..

Be it guns, rods or tits, I've been known to chase unicorns on occasion!

Well, I can vouch for ya on this! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Thanks??

All I can say is it is a very good round. I have been using the 7mm rem mag exclusivly for about 15 years now. I have shot a bunch of animals and they don't go far. Usually only a couple of steps and that is it. I started handloading, and once I started to use Nosler partitions in 175gr. I have not revoverd a bullet yet.

Pick a make and model of a rifle you like and can afford. And pratice with it. You wont be dissapointed. I also believe that the 7 mag is more powerful than the ol 06. But I am not going to get into any argument in that catagory. Buy one and enjoy it, it will serve you well and harvest any animal you may want to hunt, minus the big bears!

Good luck Buck

For those so inclined, looks like Barnes is making good things in 0.284 even better....

LRX

I hear good things about 7mm's.

175's are a good choise. I shoot the 160 NP in my 7 mag. Thats what it likes. I step up to a 338 for elk, and above. The 7 works, but I like a bigger hole.

I gotta go shoot my geese. but I will elaborate more on this later. Stay away from the new a bolts and kimbers. Crap...even the rems, and wins are not what the use to be. We scream we want something cheaper, ands thats what we get. Kimber doesn't necessarily mean quality. Some of their parts aren't even mil spec. I own some. I like the look of their rifles, and want one, but they better make some changes first.

Tikka, or Savage if you want a new gun. It you want a Rem, of Win. My opinion would be buy used.....

Got nothing bad to say about a Remmy 700. Been shooting 160's out of it.

Took Stick's advice and gave the Remmy 700 my grandfather used to hunt with a modern make over.

I swapped out the million-pound wooden factory stock with a McMillan composite. I wasn't brave enough to hit the stock with some paint to add that "personal touch". The stock alone probably shaved off 5 pounds....

I dumped the whatever 1-piece scope mounts for some Talley LW's, and replaced the POS 4x Tasco scope with a new Loopy FX III 6x42 with the addition of an M1 turret for elevation and some Butler Creek covers.

Slap on your dial-a-turret chart with some 3M 'lectric blue tape to the stock, a piece over the barrel and it's set to kill!

I might not have *any* of my own ideas/thoughts/concepts when it comes to hunting, but at least I'm smart enough to listen to those who do.

Only drawback to the gun is that if it kicked like stubborn mule before losing the pounds, it really packs a nice punch now. A little difficult to stay on target after the first shot. Not a rifle I'm gonna learn my kids on.

As always, my posts has gottsa have a peekture!

Here's the made over Remmy 700. Sorry, no before photo.

Nice transformation. You can turn the front mount around if you need more wiggle room for eye relief. The TLW mounts in "The Talley Story" video shows such a long action switcharoo 'round 5:10 in.

Try a 250 yard zero for your JBM/M1 chart....

Didn't your McClassic come with a 1-inch Decelerator mule tamer? When the time comes that you drop the hammer with bad intent, you won't feel a thing....

Pictures of rifles are always interesting, pics of the work bench
more so.

lol, drinking the kool aid.


c/22

That's a great accurate round-

From what I've seen though it is a wee bit big for the game you're talking about. I've seen the results on three deer and he lost some prime meat due to the HUGE amount of internal damage. The only one that he got all the meat off of was the one he almost missed low, catching the heart. Talk about a blood trail .

I'd suggest a trusty 30-06 but you'd be happy with the 7mm if'n that's what you're set on.

Love my Rem mag 7mm left hand with 175 grain,drops'em were ya shoot'em or with in 30'.Good luck,
SZ

Yessir. I just have to find the gunsmith.

Anyone have any recommendations on a local gunsmith who can mill and mount a good muzzle break on a Remmy 700?



True...unless you're doing some bench time. Then I tend to feel every single 160 grain 7mm Mag shot.



You can lead the horse to water, but you can't force 'em to drink it.

Some get it, some don't.

Oh I get it.


You going to go sit up on top of a mountain & shoot little tiny backtail deer @ 500-1000 yards like stick do ? That's why he sets his rifles up w/ the spin o matic turret. So go get all comfortable, laser range your prey, dial in said elevation & shoot em their beds.


wow.


c/22

You fish like you hunt?

I'd like to think so, fair chase.


That hunting style is just not my cup of tea, too much like ripping a treble thru a school of spawners to me.

I do like to practice my version of long range shooting & be ready for it if the need arises, but the maximum distance I will let one go is about 400 yards.

.270 Winchester w/ 130 Nosler BT @ 3100-3200 fps/Burris Signature Select 3-10X/Harris bipod.



c/22

Extreme oversimplification to say the least.





Three words.
Wind, Wind, Wind.


Watching the current crop of long range hunting shows where they are dumping animals at a thousand yards makes a lot Newbs think that all they have to do is range the critter, spin the elevation turret and touch off the shot then call the taxidermist.

The effects of wind or even a slight breeze on your bullet at ranges over 500 yards is unbelievable.

Find a windy day to practice those long shots on and you'll quickly see what I mean.

The problem lies in accurately detecting wind characteristics "over there" as thermals or sudden gusts drift your bullet resulting in misses or much worse, wounded and lost game.
Under calm, steady conditions I've taken bucks out to 668 yards and a several at about 500, but even those ranges are too far in unpredictable settings.

I love my .257 wby mag, it shoots like a laser, but I will either pass, or stalk closer on anything over 500 yards anymore.
I work too hard to lose trophy animals to "stunt shooting".

Plenty of more highly skilled riflemen than myself out there and I ain't criticising them, just stating my own personal limitations.

There are very few people that can consistently shoot sub-MOA at 1k from a bench rest due to the cited variables of wind, mirage and a host of others. That number drops precipitously when actual field conditions are introduced, and the shooter lacks either the requisite tools or number of popped-primers to tilt the odds in his/her favor.

Over the past 4 decades, all of my deer/elk have been tipped over with one shot. Usually at close quarters. Like Sal, I've let a goodly number of 'em walk rather than risk a bad poke. An elk is a regal beast. They and their kin have taught me much over the course of my time afield in various pursuits. Accordingly, I don't use them for target practice at any distance. It does pain me when I have discovered wounded elk that require me to take responsibility for someone else's ineptitude. Perhaps Coley G's sig-line quote from Lani Waller regarding steelhead is appropriate for hunting as well, "I don't care how you catch them, as long as you treat them well and with respect." That, melded with a modicum of self-respect, may be helpful in discerning when it is appropriate to either release an arrow or trip a trigger with bad intent....

The beauty of this public forum is that there is immediate access to a host of information, opinions, with some entertaining tussles tossed in, regarding our collective interest in outdoor pursuits. Similar to my silent instructors of the forest, I have learned much from many of you, including one paradoxical internet forum recidivist. It is incumbent upon me to discern the wheat from the chaff as to a chosen path forward. All else is moot.

That said, enjoy your father's rifle Parker, and twisting target turrets. As one hunter to another, I look forward to your continued growth and success afield....

Fair enough statement.

Lol, guess I got "target fixated" on my own perspective




+1, go get em Parker.

c/22

I'm trying.

Was always a bird hunter and never a big game hunter. Oh sure, I've done my share of "Armed Nature Hikes", but that sums it up right there.

I'm listening to many and using my own best judgement calls on who's Cool-aid to digest and so forth. Stick's presented a good case as to what tool to use and why.

No, I don't hunt Sitka Black tails. Never hunted any black tail, for that matter. Only hunted white tails, muley's and elk. I've never taken a shot past 200 yards and probably never will. But, that doesn't mean I shouldn't have the necessary tools to do so, if the perfect opportunity arises in the field. I've got a range finder and good glass that almost never leaves my eyes. I like to know ranges when looking about, even if I never do shoot past 200. My goal is to be able to sight out 0-500 yards on an object without a range finder. Tougher than you think.

I'm probably one of the "over safest" hunters in the field and have passed up good shots due to concern of where the bullet might go, etc. If I'm not 100% certain on a bullet path (past the animal), or 100% confident in the range and shot, I won't take it.

I've shot enough long-guns to know that Sal speaks the truth about windage and long shots. For that reason, why I might have the capability to shoot out to 500 yards, I honestly don't ever see that happening....unless all the stars align and it's an ideal shot.

More of than not, I kinda prefer to shoot open sights to 200 yards. I'm WAY better with open sights then with an optic.

I've got nothing to prove to anyone, got nothing to show to anyone, and don't give a rats [Bleeeeep!] (unlike fishing. ). I don't use a guide to hunt, don't plan on using a guide to hunt, and like I did with fishing BEFORE I got this wonderful reputation here on the board, I'm going to learn to hunt the old fashioned and *hard* way.....experience, time in the field, and learning from my mistakes.

The really crappy thing is that I should have started this when I was a kid. Starting to hunt at 40+ makes things a bit challenging.

PS. It's my grandfather's rifle - I used to go on his hunts with him. My Dad couldn't find his own boot to piss in, let alone "hunt" anything. The love of the outdoors and fishing came from good old grandpa.

I just hope that I can acquire enough large game hunting skills and knowledge to pass down to my kids in the not-so-distant future. That's the real gem of hunting for me.....

Only real bummer now is that hunting season interfere's with the Canadia steelhead season. D'oh!!!!!

More than taking the shot and harvesting game for me are all the other things that go along with it.

Late summer scouting.
Making a good camp and "inventing" new and more efficient things each season.
Spending time with friends.
Good camp food.
Being prepared in general.
Backcountry navigation.
Just being out there, observing and looking for Mr. Big.

I haven't big game hunted in some time. I need to get back into it, sounds like good, clean fun.

To consistantly kill game animals past the 400 yard marker you need to put a lot of rounds down range in many different conditions. And then you need to practice actual field type situations on top of that. Some people can stretch that limit, and some can't. I am with driftin' on this. The game animal is not just there for target practice.

I shoot a stainless ruger, with a 3-10X44 scope. I have it sighted in for 3" high at 100yards. And that takes a lot of the guess work out of things for me. I have shot 2 elk at just under 400 yards (395, 390). I keep 400 at my personal hunting limit. Everything else has been between 80-300 yards. With the sight in I have it takes a lot of the guess work out. And i don't have to aim above the animal to hit the vitals. Which in my opinion is a good thing.

I would like to get a scope like Parker has and work on setting up to take longer shots and dial in the ranges and all that. But from my experience in hunting in Western washington like I do. I have never had the time to do all of that stuff.

Parker has the right attitude toward this, jsut because he has a gun that can shoot however far he wants, doesn't mean he will take that type of shot. Get to practicing and enjoy that rifle. Oh I am not a big fan of muzzle brakes but to each his own there. I found that my 7 kicked like crazy also. But the more I shot it the more it didn't bother me. I have heard about puting some sort of a mercury thing in the butt end of the stock that helps reduce recoil, but doesn't increase the muzzel blast. That needs to be installed by a gunsmith also.

Good luck
Buck

Thats interesting. A 7mm Rem mag shooting 160s recoils about like an '06 with 180s.

I don't think most people would consider either rifle a big kicker.

I'd be willing to bet its more stock fit and geometry than flat out recoil.

Actually, I was comparing the 7mm to a .300 WinMag A-Bort with a Boss...hence my asking about muzzle breaks.

A friends A-Bort .06 thumps 10X harder then my A-Bort .300 shooting 180's.

It is a tad loud on the range though.

Can you please explain further why some of the above listed are in your opinion junk? I am running across quite a few in those flavors, the feel & finish appear nice, but if there are honest flaws I would like to know.

Thanks,

Drew

Yeah, I'd also be curious to know. I have an original A-Bort that was purchased in the late 80's, or very early 90's.

At what point did they (or were they always) become junk?

Sorry about the delay. Been on here but didn't look back at this. My Crap in my post was ment as OH CRAP...Not as in they are crap..But in my opinion they kinda are. Parker yours should be a good one.

In the new a bolts. The trigger mec, and bolt parts rust up fast. For the really anal in gun care..like me. One should probably be ok. I have seen a bunch of guys that are really good hands at all kinds of fixing stuff that are afraid to take their guns apart.
I have a smith buddy that sais the new rems and wins have really gone down hill. I had to send my last rem back due to a rought chamber. They put a new barrel on it, and had it back to me in two weeks. If I buy one it will be used. I really want a new kimber rifle bad. My gumsmith buddy just squirms when I bring it up..lol. I suppose its like everything else. Price goes up. Quality goes down.

I dont know about you guys, but now that bird hunting is closed, and the rivers are up. I'm going to Omak to try my hand at bobcats. Going to mix it up with some yote hunting. Going to throw the snow shoes in.

Stam your Montana is 1 in 10 twist correct? Have you been able to stabilize 162 AMAX?

Standard SAAMI 10-twist tubes shouldn't be a problem. Lotsa folks flingin' 'em with good results....

I happen to have a Stainless Model 70 Classic in 7MM WSM that I've been thinking of selling. Never been fired.

Tom

Really? Would you mind throwing up a few pictures and pm'ing me a price on that? Im still in the market and actually heading to the WAC show this weekend to kick a few tires on a 7mm and an AR15.

Thanks,

Drew

Watch out for the junk AR's especially at the gun shows.

Can you elaborate please? Anything in particular that I should pay attention to? I am new to the AR gun scene.

Thanks!

Drew

There are different ways of manufacturing the parts that go into the AR15. Some companies try to follow the pattern that Colt uses.
This is generally referred to as milspec.
Some companies follow patterns that might be easier to manufacture and may use lower quality materials.
This is generally referred to as commercial.

Here is a comparison of some of the currently available complete rifles :
http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=82739

The other element are the bolt-on adornments, etc.
At a fun show you will typically see a good amount of Chinese made crap and/or airsoft crap. Some of the top US companies have had their stuff counterfeited, so that's always possible.

Unless I was fully versed in Black Rifle and values I wouldn't buy one at a fun show.