There is absolutely nothing wrong with a 7mm mag. I shot one for years until I traded it recently for a 221 fireball in a cz. I love the caliber. However, for purposes such as wild dogs I would go with something like a 22-250 or so. The 7mag is just way to much power for deer and if you don't hit massive bone it really just punches a clean hole through them letting them run a good way before expiring. It is in my opinion the perfect elk caliber for moderate to long range. As was mentioned above 30-06 will do just about anything a 7mag will do but with more ease on the shoulder and cheaper ammo.
7mm Magnum?
- Thread starter DFW1911
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MTMilitiaman
Member
This statement is disconnected from reality to the point of absurdity. In fact, it not only doesn't apply to the 7mm Rem Mag, but it doesn't apply to this physical world.
Maybe in the Twilight Zone or some alternate universe, but not here.
The harder a bullet strikes a target, the harder the target strikes the bullet. Equal and opposite is one of Newton's Three Laws, and everyone with a middle school level science education knows that as it applies to us, the faster we push a bullet the greater the chances of bullet deformation--whether it be from expansion, fragmentation, or whatever. Regardless of caliber, bullet weight, style, or construction, you will always have a greater chance of getting expansion or deformation pushing it at higher velocities. There are no exceptions to this, none. And it is physical fact. It is impossible to push a bullet too fast to have time to expand or any of that nonsense.
If you're not experiencing expansion with a 7mm Rem Mag in deer without hitting bone, you are using a bullet designed for game heavier than deer. Change to a lighter constructed bullet. But the fact remains that the velocity achieved by the round is not the culprit, and in fact, slowing the bullet down will show even less expansion.
Furthermore, I already showed that the 7mm Rem Mag produces only marginally more recoil than the .30-06, so I don't know what ya'll are complaining about.
BusMaster007
Member
These are old pix of my two 7mm Rem.Mag. rifles:
Of course, like many other shooters, by the time we acquire a few items and some time elapses, we may have some 20/20 hindsight and think we'd like to have made other choices along the way.
Regardless, I'm still satisfied with my two choices in the 7mm Rem.Mag. cartridge/launcher combinations.
My Remington 700 was my first 'big game' gun, and the smile it brings to my face every time from the first shot is a welcome moment. It just feels good to shoot that gun!
My Browning BAR MkII Safari/BOSS has the wood tucked away because it was too nice to keep on the gun up until I bought an A5/Miroku Magnum 12...
I'll be putting the wood back on the BAR and have a couple of really nice long guns in the safe.
The 7mm Rem.Mag. is the world's best selling magnum because it's a good cartridge, period.
I like it.
That's my story.
Of course, like many other shooters, by the time we acquire a few items and some time elapses, we may have some 20/20 hindsight and think we'd like to have made other choices along the way.
Regardless, I'm still satisfied with my two choices in the 7mm Rem.Mag. cartridge/launcher combinations.
My Remington 700 was my first 'big game' gun, and the smile it brings to my face every time from the first shot is a welcome moment. It just feels good to shoot that gun!
My Browning BAR MkII Safari/BOSS has the wood tucked away because it was too nice to keep on the gun up until I bought an A5/Miroku Magnum 12...
I'll be putting the wood back on the BAR and have a couple of really nice long guns in the safe.The 7mm Rem.Mag. is the world's best selling magnum because it's a good cartridge, period.
I like it.
That's my story.
Der Verge
Member
Amen Brother!
10mm Mike
Member
I shot my first 2 whitetail (both does) with a .338 Ultra Magnum
Does this make me a bad person? lol
Jimmy Newman
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I agree with part of the initial statement... I think 7mm Rem Mag is a little heavy for deer. The deer that I have seen that have been shot with it have looked like someone threw a brick through the chest cavity.
MTMilitiaman
Member
I thought that was the whole point...
TimboKhan
Member
I wouldn't trade my old 7mmMag for anything, but I can't truthfully say that it's my favorite either. Mine has an elk to it's name, but I haven't hunted anything that wouldn't be equally as dead if shot with a .30-06, and my dad has killed every elk he has ever shot with a .270. Technically, you can look and see distinct differences between the cartridges. Practically, in the hands of a good rifleman, I am not convinced it makes a whole lot of difference. I would expand that argument out to virtually all of the "major" big game cartridges in North America. As the old saying goes, it's shot placement that's king.
In any event, my 7mmMag does shoot good, and while I would actually prefer a .30-06, it would be foolish for me to trade off or sell a very good rifle chambered for a cartridge that has worked very well for me. Thus, I now have both!
In any event, my 7mmMag does shoot good, and while I would actually prefer a .30-06, it would be foolish for me to trade off or sell a very good rifle chambered for a cartridge that has worked very well for me. Thus, I now have both!
Der Verge
Member
If there was a deer standing there, and you threw a brick through it's chest cavity........I would be willing to bet the deer would not run far. 
Is there something wrong with dropping deer where they stand?
Is there something wrong with dropping deer where they stand?Jimmy Newman
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It just seems a little excessive to me.
I have had exactly one deer move more than 10 feet when shot with my 7mm-08. I'll take the lighter cartridge that will cause a little less meat damage if I slip up and shoot into the shoulder rather than just behind.
With that said, I have one my dad's rifles in 7mm Rem Mag. It is a sweet rifle and if I were going on a long-range antelope hunt, it's probably what I would take. But then, I've never been on a long-range antelope hunt.
I have had exactly one deer move more than 10 feet when shot with my 7mm-08. I'll take the lighter cartridge that will cause a little less meat damage if I slip up and shoot into the shoulder rather than just behind.
With that said, I have one my dad's rifles in 7mm Rem Mag. It is a sweet rifle and if I were going on a long-range antelope hunt, it's probably what I would take. But then, I've never been on a long-range antelope hunt.
TimboKhan
Member
I have, and it's very fun. It's not necessarily "long-range" in the sense that your taking 1000 yard shots, but we shot successfully to a pretty fair distance.
icebones
Member
i dunno about the post saying the 7mm is too big for deer.
i hand load for my 7mm mag.
120 grain hornady ballistic tips over once-fired brass and 65 grains of IMR.
its been a while since i reloaded or fired mine, but i remember my load pushes the light 120 grain bullet at about 4100FPS. the last 2 deer i took droped on the spot.
a quick look while field dressing showed neither rounds over penetrated the deer. the first round came in at an angle, through the shouder blade, it fragmented into about 3 pieces, ripped one lung apart, one piece grazed the heart, the rest went into the next lung before stopping.
the second was a clean broadside shot, the bullet destroyed the left lung, missed the heart and punched a 2'' hole throgh the right lung, and stopped as it hit the ribs and skin on the other side.
the 7mm is like a lightening bolt on any game, if you use THE RIGHT KIND OF BULLETS in it. high velocity and medium sized bullets are what the 7 mag has going for it. if you dont mind the recoil that is...
anything over 150 grain is too much for deer, for elk or smaller bear speices go with 168 grain or heavier.
if the only thing you hit is vitals, you dont have to worry about destroying meat, ive never messed with venison ribs, simply because the backstraps, hams and roast are so much better.
i hand load for my 7mm mag.
120 grain hornady ballistic tips over once-fired brass and 65 grains of IMR.
its been a while since i reloaded or fired mine, but i remember my load pushes the light 120 grain bullet at about 4100FPS. the last 2 deer i took droped on the spot.
a quick look while field dressing showed neither rounds over penetrated the deer. the first round came in at an angle, through the shouder blade, it fragmented into about 3 pieces, ripped one lung apart, one piece grazed the heart, the rest went into the next lung before stopping.
the second was a clean broadside shot, the bullet destroyed the left lung, missed the heart and punched a 2'' hole throgh the right lung, and stopped as it hit the ribs and skin on the other side.
the 7mm is like a lightening bolt on any game, if you use THE RIGHT KIND OF BULLETS in it. high velocity and medium sized bullets are what the 7 mag has going for it. if you dont mind the recoil that is...
anything over 150 grain is too much for deer, for elk or smaller bear speices go with 168 grain or heavier.
if the only thing you hit is vitals, you dont have to worry about destroying meat, ive never messed with venison ribs, simply because the backstraps, hams and roast are so much better.
TimboKhan
Member
The recoil issue sort of makes me laugh, and I will tell you why:
When I was getting ready to go on my first elk hunt, my dad took me out with three rifles. My 7mm, a .300 WinMag and a .300 H&H. He told me to shoot them and see what I liked best. Obviously my choice was the 7mm, but the thing that makes me laugh is that I picked it because it kicked the least of the three.
Thinking about it, I have no idea why there wasn't a .30-06 or a .270 in the mix, as Dad is a big fan of both of those rounds. Actually, I am surprised that he didn't just hand me a .270 and leave it at that, as that is his favorite round. You would have to know my Dad to understand, but I am sure he had a working example of both in his collection...
When I was getting ready to go on my first elk hunt, my dad took me out with three rifles. My 7mm, a .300 WinMag and a .300 H&H. He told me to shoot them and see what I liked best. Obviously my choice was the 7mm, but the thing that makes me laugh is that I picked it because it kicked the least of the three.
Thinking about it, I have no idea why there wasn't a .30-06 or a .270 in the mix, as Dad is a big fan of both of those rounds. Actually, I am surprised that he didn't just hand me a .270 and leave it at that, as that is his favorite round. You would have to know my Dad to understand, but I am sure he had a working example of both in his collection...
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