well, I thought I'd narrowed it down to getting myself a 7mm mag. Lots of cartridge options, powerfull enough for the big game in the western states that I've taking a liken' to and since I already own a .243 and a 30-06 auto - I thought the 7mm mag might just be the next best gun to add to my toy box...

However, my Dad said "that's a pretty big gun" which I knew and said YES! :-)

But, the more I read I'm not sure if that is the best load or not? I would use it for Mule deer or anything else I could hunt out west (Michigan man here). I definately dont want to mess up any meat... I like my 30-06, but I would like to have a nice bolt action nail driver for my western states hunting. I have my eye on a Tikka T3, but now I'm not sure what I should get... I like the .270 or the .270 WSM, but there arent' many cartridge options. Also, I've read the .280 is a **** of a gun, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of loads for the .280.

A friend of mine who is very knowlegeable about rifles and does some gunsmithing highly recommends the 7mm, but I'm just afraid that it might over power some animals at some ranges. Ya' never know I might have a trophy muley or antelope within 50 or 100 yds and I dont want to mess it up too bad!

okay, I am open to your point of view here... It will be fun reading

redwing,
You can get the 7mm RM you want, but then use the heavy-for-caliber loadings - at least 160 grains, 175 grainers even better - and a well constructed bullet, and that will minimize the potential meat damage. Use some light and lightly constructed bullets, and you will blow meat up, however.

Shawn has a good point. I like 175's in my 7mm RM. JP

Got a friend whom has hunted with me for the last 20 or so years. He's used nothing but the 7mm Rem mag. Lots of elk and deer taken with it, some at ranges out to 500 yards. all with 160 to 175 grain bullets.

Last year he decided to try for less recoil and loaded some fairly hot 140 grain loads. I've got to say those are really destructive.

Want a really flat shooter get a 300 Win mag and shoot 180's in it at around 3100 fps. I've killed a lot of deer and elk with a load like that and the 180's are not as harmful to meat as a 270.

My favorite (boy I know your waiting for this one) is Remingtons 8mm mag, 220 grain Sierra spitzer boattail at 3080 fps. Shoots as flat as the 300 Win mag, kills like lightening and even with a front shoulder shot on an elk leaves something to eat.

Got another friend whom uses either a 7mm STW or a 300 Rem Ultra-mag and with his Burris balistic plex I saw him kill a deer at just over six hundred yards. That sure impresses the dickens out of me.

You wouldn't go wrong with a 7mm Rem mag for the kind of hunting your talking about and recoil is on the level of the 30-06.

I'm sure you'll have fun with it.... if you don't want to mess up meat, shoot them through the ribs behind the shoulder ;)

Messing up a shoulder is better than losing an animal, though.... try not to shoot them through the back end if you can avoid it :eek:

No issue with your caliber choice.... but.... you might want to review the loading tables and trajectory charts. Your 7mm Mag isn't a whisker different than a .30-06 when you get right down to it. But if it makes you happy then sure go right ahead and get one. You wouldn't be the first person here with two rifles that serve the same purpose :D

I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a muley with my .257 Roberts... *ahem*, just a little personal bias creeping in there :rolleyes: Killed my first two deer which were mulies with a borrowed .280 Rem, have done in a bunch of whitetails and hogs and whatnot with a .30-06, Winchester Model 70, since then.

.270 is the classic open-country round.... but whatever floats your boat, go for it!

If you're thinking of shooting deer and antelope at 50 yds and then going for elk at 350 yds, I'm not sure you'll find the absolute perfect cartridge in any load.

From my personal experiences, antelope and elk are generally shot at some distance beyond 200 yds. Sometimes you can nail a mule deer at closer range, but in my part of the West they again generally, get shot at 200 yds and beyond.

One of the most popular chamberings for all around work is as faucettb says - a .300 WM or .338 WM.

Due to maturing years, I don't shoot anything heavier than my customized Ruger 7mm Dakota - and, it's been several years since I've popped a cap with it, other than at paper. A Ruger 7mm RM resides in my vault. Has been there since around 1972 and has accounted for all kinds of antelope, mule deer and elk. Normally use a 160 gr Nosler Partition loaded to 2990 fps avg.

The 7MM ought to get the job done. Besides, bright shiney objects are tough to resist.

Hi redwing_al, do not be afraid of the 7mm mag my hunting partner of 35 years and now my nephew shoot it. They use one load almost exclusively that is the hornady 162 gr BT and and like most high powers if you hit the animal in the wrong place you are going to have damage, but in the boiler room they are a great long distance calibre.

Keep the Son in your eyes.

I think a 7mm mag is a good choice, but I really like the 280 Rem and it will do most of what they will at normal shooting ranges out to 300 or so yards. Though it's potential isn't reached unless you load your own, there is a fair amount of factory ammo out there to fit your needs and that new Remington laminated mountain rifle is sharp.

If you are loading then the 7mm Remington Magnum and the Barnes X or Tripple Shock bullets will take all the large game you want without messing up too much meat.

The 140 gn Tripple Shock is being loaded in the 7mm Remington Mag. by Federal in 2007.

The 7mm Remington Magnum is about the most useful of the belted magnum cartridges, with the .300 Winchester right beside it. Just don't be shooting little blacktail deer and not expect to lose some meat, use your old .30-30 or hit 'em with a rock! But then that's my opinion.