Thread: 300 win mag or 7mm Rem mag

Hi guys I'm after a new stalking/medium range rifle . I really like the look and feel of the tikka t3 super lite but I can't decide on 300 wm or 7mm Rem . I will be shooting sambar deer and fallow deer . Which case would you get and why.
Cheers Tall Timber

For sambar you would probably want to go 300 win mag. Which ever one you get replace the recoil pad with a limbsaver.

I would go 300 win mag. 30 cal is better than 7mm in my opinion

I suspect that a 300 winmag will make a hell of a mess of a fallow deer.

Originally Posted by Rushy

I suspect that a 300 winmag will make a hell of a mess of a fallow deer.

Nah big 180grain bullets will just punch a hole straight through. Hollow point 130s are another thing
7mm Rem mag will also make a mess with light HP projectiles.

Originally Posted by jim160

I would go 300 win mag. 30 cal is better than 7mm in my opinion

said no one ever

Originally Posted by ARdave

said no one ever

I did read this one guy on the Internet this one time ⬆

Either or for the Sambar.. for the fallow i invest in rifle number two

Having had both - id recommend the 7 due to comfort of use

7mm Mag will do the business, less recoil than 300mag, factory ammo for both is around the same for both with 7mm being slightly cheaper. Reloading would be no difference in cost but 30 cal has larger range of projectiles however seating depths for heavier pills in 30 cal can be an issue. How much mess a bullet makes depends on the selected pill at a given distance.

The 7mm with a 150 grain bullet has a sectional density of .266, a .30 cal. with a 180 grain bullet has a sectional density of .271. The Ballistic coefficients are basically the same. In other words these bullets will penetrate about the same and have about the same trajectory if the same type of bullet is used and they start out with the same velocity. The .30 cal. is a bigger diameter and is heavier, which means it will have a little more punch. The 160 grain 7mm(sec. density .283) is even higher than the 180 .30 cal. which means that for a given bullet and velocity will out penetrate the 180 grain .30 cal. The .300 starts to pull away a little in terms of power when you step up to a 200 grain bullet. The 7mm Rem. Mag. with a good 160 grain bullet and the .300 Win. Mag. with a good 180 grain bullet can both be pushed to slightly more than 3000 fps and are so close in performance that I doubt anything you shoot with either will ever know the difference.

Thanks guys has anyone used the hornady super performance ammo in 7mm they say 200 fps faster. Dose that sound right

Originally Posted by Tall timber

Thanks guys has anyone used the hornady super performance ammo in 7mm they say 200 fps faster. Dose that sound right

Possibly, because most 7mm rem mag factory ammo is loaded down for some reason. What velocity are they quoting? I used to get 3070fps with handloaded berger 168gr out of my 26" barrel 7 rem mag.

Fast flat trajectory for the 7mm and 162 AMAX excellent at distance. I use Barnes 140 ttsx for the close stuff hits like a hammer the AMAX is a lot more frangible and accurate you use them accordingly to their characteristics. ( with a similar POI) makes things super easy and manageable. A suppressor helps accuracy also being more manageable also.
Second rifle is 223 for practice ( similar trajectory and cheap rounds like hornady sp 55's ) also good for the fallow.

My mate Grant has a 300 win mag and we went to the range and he cooked off thirty or rounds said from about 25 shots onwards said it was like getting his shoulder dropped on concrete each shot and accuracy was similarly affected. He's bought a 6.5 x55 swede now for his target stuff and is much happier the 300 is his fave tho so it's horses for courses but get something you will use and be comfortable with.

With the tikka t3 the barrels are a bit light and are like hot frying pans after 3 shots so if shooting rounds at the range you need to allow to cool or get a rifle with a heavier contour barrel. Supressors speed up the the heating process by the way. So yeah always a trade off...

I wouldn't want to use a 162 amax on a sambar though. I would go for the 160 accubond or the Barnes long range version.

Originally Posted by stug

Possibly, because most 7mm rem mag factory ammo is loaded down for some reason. What velocity are they quoting? I used to get 3070fps with handloaded berger 168gr out of my 26" barrel 7 rem mag.

Hornady are saying between 3070 and 3200 with the 162 g sst