I had no idea what I was doing when I bought my first deer hunting rifle at 18 years old, Savage Model 110 7mm RemMag. Still using it today 35 years later. Thanks, Ron for 2 great videos on this cartridge.
Just bought my first deer rifle 2 weeks ago, an old but immaculate Remington 700 in 7mm Rem Mag. Put my first buck down in its tracks at 120 yards last weekend. I have no plan to buy anything else!
Bought my first gun at 18, savage model 116 7mm mag, shoot everything from coyotes, hog, and deer. Been the only rifle I've used for 22yrs, and I don't see myself using anything else.
That's encouraging. I also have no idea what I'm doing, and bought my first rifle a few months ago. Savage 7mm Rem Mag. Nice wood stock, heavy. I had a choice between that and some super lightweight 30-06, and the 7mm Rem Mag just felt so much more comfortable. Got my white tail tags for this November, proud to carry this gun.
Excellent history and data for a youngster. My choice for 35 years was a .30-06 Ruger 77 with a custom 26 inch barrel. At one point I went 7 shots for 7 elk in 7 years straight at ranges from 75 yards to 450 yards using Hornady 180 gr Light Mag ammo. But if I had to choose a different caliber for those years a 7mm Rem Mag would have been it. Back in the early 70s I had a Winchester Model 70 in 7 Rem Mag and the stock just didn't fit me. The recoil was horrendous. I bought a Voere in.300 Win Mag and it kicked less. Then I got the custom barrel on the Ruger and that was it, my magic rifle. The one thing I think you left out is the sectional density of the bullet. It doesn't matter so much with deer, but when you step up to elk you need the high sectional density that you'll get with the heavy-for-caliber bullets to give you the penetration you need. The 175 grain 7mm bullet gives you that in spades. I got old and a couple years ago I built a .270 for a lighter, handier rifle that kicks less using 150 grain Nosler Partitions. But the elk haven't gotten any lighter. I tell my kids and grandkids that why we have children, to help us haul the elk out when we get old.
I love the .270 Weatherby Magnum as an “ All Around Caliber “, but not in disagreement with your choice as I regularly shoot 7MM with complete satisfaction ❣️Great presentation....👍
Most brands come in 24” inches but the Winchester snd Browning come only in 26” inch like all their magnums except the short magnums are 23 1/2”! If your only going to hunt open country then the 26” inch is better but for mixed terrain the 24” inch is better. I have both and prefer the 24” inch but I like a threaded barrel so I can put a break on it which makes it a 26” inch when done! To each his own.
A great video Ron! I certainly can't argue about the selection and high BC of 7 millimeter bullets. And that's true for all 7mm cartriges whether it be the 7mm Mauser, 280 Remington, 284 Winchester, or 7mm/08. The 7mm magnum is without a doubt a step above the rest in power but truth be told, out to about 300 yards there's probably no real difference in the field.
Love my Weatherby Vanguard chambered in 7mm Rem Mag. I used it almost exclusively, when I first bought it over twenty years ago. Then I met the new love of my gun and shooting life, the 28 Nosler. Never looked back.
I love to geek out on ballistics charts like this and look at this vs that. But as far as real life results go, I have used a 270 Win, 280 Rem, 7mm Rem mag all on mule deer, and had great results each time. Mule deer at distances of 80-600 yards. The 7mm I have used the most, but all are great calibers, and 30-06 would fit in that assessment also. Never needed more than my 7mm and thats the only reason I haven't ever used a 300 WM. My brother has only used his same 270 Win for over 20 years now, and has no complaints either. All great cartridges. The only one I have had a chance to shoot at elk was a 270 Win and it did the job.
My first rifle at 16 was a "Bean Field Rifle" on a Rem 700 action 7mm Rem Mag for all the reasons you just outlined in your video! 38 years later...its still picking up the check and bringing home the bacon! I have shot just about everything in North America except a Musk Ox and several of the larger plains game in Africa like Greater Kudu. Not once has it let me down or wavered for even a second when I did my part!
I believe if recoil is a factor for you, go with a 270 its a great cartridge, although the 7mm mag isnt that bad, shooting a 160 grain 7mag is similar to 180 grain 30-06 in my opinion, as i own both, the 7mm is just so versatile its hard to beat
Thanks for doing what you do Ron. This video was a part of my research in choosing my rifle. The 7MM is about as good as it gets all things considered. Yes many calibers will do more times then not but I would rather have the 7MM in almost every big game hunting situation.
Very informative with some excellent points I hadn’t considered before. However, my favorite part by far is the very end where he reminds us how lucky we are to be Americans, where we still have some basic freedoms such as our 2nd amendment rights. Well said. Thank you.
I just can’t get my head around EXPERIENCED writers and publicly acknowledged hunters making silly negative claims about the belt. Call me nostalgic but the older I get the more I like seeing the belts on those classic rounds. Don’t get me wrong. Rounds like the 300 PRC are just the cat’s meow. But those belts are an historical reminder of our rich, wonderful world cartridge development
@@robertfree1908 huge thumbs up there, Robert! It all started with the .375 H&H Mag. Debuted same time the Titanic sunk and wore a belt. Love it, and the .300 H&H. Thanks! 👍🙋♂️
I have owned 2 .300wb top ammo. 3550 fps with 150 gr..,sako. Remington classic. want the sako back but the guy had heart attack and died.we shot .125 out ri close to 3900. fps.
@Buckshot Roberts I agree with you 100% I’ve taken pronghorn as well as African plaines game such as roan and kudu with my 270 Winchester with 140 gr accubonds. I believe bullet selection is key
I have a 7mm mag, still on its box. My 19 80's Rem. 700 bdl in .270 and the Federal Premium cartridge and a Nosler Partitioned bullet is the only cartridge I use. I'm eastern U.S., if I was out west and after larger game, elk and such, I'd use the Nosler Bonded in Fed. Prem. I agree with the poster who mentioned the bullet as key. I just say no to anything in a green and yellow box!
You forgot to mention the most important aspect! Bullet placement! Yes, placing the projectile in an efficient location "trumps" all of the above. Just sayin...
@Infectious Legume, , I really hope you don’t think you were making solid points with this lmao they already covered proper bullet selection then bullet placement was brought up as being equally important if not more so and they’re correct. You can use shitty core-lokt if you like but know the limitations and adjust weight and bullet construction accordingly like the intelligent individual I hope you are. Leave out the meme shit at the end and talk like a person with good points lmao articulate conversations go further than back handed comments
I absolutely love my 7rm. I bought it almost 30 yrs ago. I really didn't know anything about it,just that it's a tack driver. You have given me some more justification to love it more. Thank you
Great video.. I recently sold my 30-06 hunting rifle and replaced it with two rifles - a 270 and a 7mmRM for elk. Dont regret it at all. Ballistically, l think the 280AI is the best do-all cartridge though. A 160 from 280AI has more speed, less drop, less drift and less recoil than a 180 from a 30-06. Limited factory ammo is its issue.
My long time go to has been my 7mm rem mag, first rifle, I've leaned on 300wm more lately for elk and 308 as well. My 7mm browning A bolt is my favorite rifle to shoot. After a couple decades of anecdotal evidence, I've seen more lost game with 7mm than with anything in the 30 caliber realm. Bullet selection and availability has been a driving force behind much of this too
Lee Thomas : I also shoot a browning a bolt from the 90's chambered in 7mm rem mag. I struggle to get 1" groups at 100 but am not sure if I am the problem or what. How well does your a bolt shoot? Will it shoot MOA?
I like the appreciate the logic used to reach your conclusion and evidence to support your claims. It wasn't "I like this round because it is only one I have shot" or "feels good to me". Informative video.
Great video and agree with your explanation with good all round rifle cartridge. Where I live, in Australia from my experience this cartridge does it all for me. I bought my Ruger M77 MKII 7mm rem mag in 1993 and covers everything very efficiently to this date. Cheers from AU.
I agree. 30 years ago I designed my own rifle. We used a P-14 for the action. Long throw, room in the fixed mag, and a positive extraction with that monster of a bolt face and extractor on the P-14. I chose the 7mm rem mag(over the .300WM) to take any game in North America. Never let me down. I am only upset that you gave away my secret to being a better shot than most: the ballistics ;)
A number of years ago I inherited a Remington Model 700 BDL in 7mm Magnum from my late brother-in-law. I've hunted deer with it many times and it always works. I did put a Grayboe Outlander stock on it. My brother-in-law had the wood stock shortened and it was way too short for me. I mainly use it for hunting some beanfields near my farm. If I'm in the woods I use a 308. Recoil from the 7 Mag. has never been a problem for me. Great video.
I've shot a number of magnum calibers over the years and the 7mm Remmie has a certain sweet spot, like you said, the 7RM has easier recoil than the some of the other "magnum calibers". I never shoot anything past the 250-300yd mark so I use the good Ol' 7x57... Milder and just as lethal! I do like the 7mm Remington though and if I ever needed a 500yd gun, it'd be a 7Remmie. Great video!
Jack O'Connor would give you a big, wet, kiss. Until he became a born-again 270 acolyte, the 7x57 was his choice, as he said......with its twist, it just drilled its way in.
The perfect caliber. The 7mm Remington Mag. Mine is a Savage with a 26" bbl. Most accurate rifle I've ever shot, and the most accurate cartridge too. Very little recoil. My thanks for your enjoyable and informative videos. Good job.
Brother in law used 7mm Rem Mag for 20 yrs for Wisconsin Whitetail. We thought a little odd. But a few yrs ago I bought one because of what you’re saying . Versatility. And I’ve always used 7x57mm. I like 7mm
Thanks...my first all around rifle in Alaska was a Ruger M77 .300 win mag. Wanting to step down a tad but still be able to hunt many species. This helped a lot.
@@dylankorpi137- In the last year I got intrigued with the 6.8 Western, but waiting to see if some others besides Winchester and Remington will build them.
Ron, I can not argue with your defense of the 7mmRem Mag. I feel it is at the threshold of most shooters to shoot accurately and handle the recoil of most factory made stocks. The 7mm Magnum is a very good choice for the average or even advanced shooters. It is by today's standards an " old" cartridge but it works extremely well. Keep up the good work Ron, Thanks!
Hey Ron. Great video I love the tried and true calibers. I would have liked to see the 280. Remington included in your video. Although not very popular today it is still an outstanding cartridge. I inherited a Remington 760 Game Master in the 280/7mm rem express. This pump action rifle shoots as accurately as any of my bolt guns and very quick on follow up shots. Ballistics for the 280. falls somewhere between the 270 and the 7mm rem mag.
The 7mm Rem Mags most efficient bullet weight is 150 grain. It puts the most energy down range. It's really the best of all worlds. It's over 3100 FPS and over 3200 flbs of energy. You can use this from deer to some of the largest game out there. It shoots further and flatter than all your other popular medium to large game rifles like .308 30-06. It really should be a lot more popular than it is. It's probably the military nature of the 30-06 and .308 that keep them more popular. Surplus ammo is cheap. But if you want the best "do-it-all" rifle you can get, you can't beat the 7mm Rem mag. It also seems to be about the sweet spot for barrel life span vs power.
Seems to be a Goldilocks cartridge with good velocity,energy and down range performance manageable recoil and decent barrel life good bullet selection 🙂👍🏻👍🏻
Completely agree, also something to mention if your going into the woods and don't plan on shooting more than a couple hundred yards, using reduced recoil loads are still very effective. And if you can find them or reload them yourself, a reduced recoil with round nose bullet is even better.
I think you are pretty spot on with most your assessments. I do have a 7mm STW on the beefier side. It was a custom barrel done by a gunsmith at Williams Gun Sight just one year before they made the cartridge available off the shelf. But as we can see it didn't make that much of an impact because they certainly did not sell enough of them to make them readily available like the 7mm Rem Mag. In fact, there are little offerings in it today. I had a 7mm Rem Mag that I let my son have because of the availability of ammo. He does not reload like I do. If he did, I would have given him my 7mm STW that he prefers to hunt with when he hunts when visiting. Great choice for one gun. I just like lots of different guns for different purposes. Right tool for the right job.
I feel compelled to share my experience with the 7mm Remington Magnum. I have shot and owned most rifle calibers, 338 Winchester magnum, 300 ultra mag, 300 Winchester, 270 Weatherby, 264 Winchester magnum, 30-06 and 270 Winchester as well as 243 Winchester and 6mm Remington, this information to indicate I am no novice at shooting large rifle calibers. My son-in law gave me a new Remington 700 Sendero in 7mm magnum for Christmas last year. I am now 70 years old and find the recoil of the 7mm magnum to be more than I want. The rifle weighs 10.5 pounds and it kicks the hell out of me! Time to return to the 243 Winchester, I guess!
I had a Savage model 110 chambered in 7mm Remington Mag and in all honesty a very pleasant rifle to shoot with 150 grain Winchester rounds, it had the nice wood stock which I think had a lot to do with how the felt recoil was so tolerable
Ben shooting my 7mm magnum for 35 years. Farthest shot was 362 yrds. So am thinking I don't really need to have a 7mm magnum. Going to step down to a 7mm-08 and see how it does. The 7mm mag drops all big game animals wear they stand with proper shot behind shoulder and with a 175gr bullet or 168gr bullet. 😁👍👍👍👍👍
.308 cheap, figured out, low recoil, short and fast action, available everywhere and it will do most of what you will need it to do. I do have a 7mm a .22, .222 and 12gauge. love em al :)
Ron, Thanks for the tutorial, Honorable mention to the 300 H&H, dates back to the 1930's . It is a hand loaders dream 110gn to 220 gn... First 30 cal. to win competitions, suitable for all North American game and larger African plains game...Out performs the 30-06 and the difference in velocity of the 300 win. mag. is nominal, if handloaded.
I have the .270, 300wsm, and the 300 Win Mag. All three are great, but prefer the tried and true .270 because it’s fast, flat, And hits hard! Plus, less recoil and the ammunition is cheaper than the magnums!
The 7mmRemMag and the 300WinMag are both very good cartridges without a doubt. However, I personally think that the extra power is simply completely unnecessary and only ends in more recoil. The 270Win, the old 30-06 or 8mm Mauser, for example, have more than enough energy for pretty much everything under the sun, apart from the big five! Yes, of course, the belted Magnums have the power and speed, but how often do you shoot an animal at 500+ yards? Don't get me wrong, everyone has to find the right one for themselves, but that's just nonsense for me! Greetings from Germany and always good hunting!
@@deletethis5489 Yes, a humane kill is by far the most important thing in hunting, more important than even just making a kill. And most hunters are not capable of accurately placing a shot at longer ranges under field conditions.
I have taken several deer growing up in Oklahoma with a 22-250. Never had one take more than a step or two after being shot. More than a few jumped up about 6' in the air before coming crashing down like a sack of potatoes though. All of the deer were taken between 50-200 yards
About 10 years ago spend along time on internet trying to decided what the best one rifle cartridge would be...glad to see i came up with the same conclusion as a pro :).
Just watched your video on the 6.5 Creedmore vs 270 and didn't really like it, but you redeemed yourself with this video on the 7 Rem Mag. So much more than compared numbers tho. How you reload, how you shoot, how you react to shooting, what quality of rifle and scope and your relationship to that is what will determine bullet placement and subsequent kill.
The history on this is as follows: Les Bowman invented the cartridge then known as a 280-338 magnum. Les Bowman used a necked down 338 Win Mag to create this configuration. Les Bowman guided Mike Walker an engineer for Remington. Mike Walker took the info back to Remington where they decided to produce it and renamed it the 7mm Remington Magnum.
it's alway cheaper to produce and experiment from a parent cartridge . there are many out there that didn't make it . Bowman was a hack and got lucky .
I have a Remington model 700BDL built in 1986 chambered in 7mm Remington magnum. I've taken elk, mule deer, whitetail, moose, bears and sheep with it. There are dozens of good calibers and the 7mag will compare favorably with any of them.
Ive never cared for 7mm Magnums, but Id rather have one of those over the newer 7mm PRC! I might change my mind in 10 years when 7mm PRC ammo AND rifles are more common than the 7mm Magnums. A 7mm Magnum with a longer and tighter throat, practically speaking should be everything the 7mm PRC is. If I were only a long range Target shooter, using a big heavy Target rifle, THEN I might opt for the 7mm PRC. But as a hunter the 7mm Magnum is more practical. Right now, 7mm Magnum ammo is every where and cheaper. An advantage to the average hunter.
I use a leather, slip on buttpad. I have a long LOP, 14.90", so I usually have to either put in spacers or replace buttpads on rifles, which is a real pain. The leather slip on pads solve the LOP issue for me, and make even 300 Win mag sort of pleasant to shoot.
Enjoyable and informative! Well done! It’s refreshing to hear from a seasoned pro. Good video and lightning. I’m more of a 270 Win fan but really, I would probably own all of them if I could! Ha Thanks for speaking about the SD and BC.
My favorite cartridge that I currently own. Medium to large game, and very capable at long ranges. Although I have a love for almost all 7mm calibers. I like my 7-08 and my .284 win.
I am a 308 fan personally. Richard Mann got to me first Ha ha. You mentioned the 30-06 as a contender. The 308 is just a little slower velocity wise so my trajectory will be a little different. But I like getting to within 350 yards anyway. I also love my FN made model 70 featherweight (US production not Portugal) chambered in it. All that said my dad loves his Remington 700 in 7mm Mag. And the next rifle on my list is a Model 70 in 270 so I really cant complain with any of these classic cartridges. They all will get the job done as long as you can pit a good bullet where it needs to go. Thank you Ron for the history lesson. I really like your videos I learn a ton from your content!
I still have my Remington 700 7mmRM left handed bolt gun that I bought back in the mid 80's. I use the 175gr bullets out of mine and it's taken A LOT of deer and elk. I'm going on an Alaskan moose hunt next year and I'm gonna take that very same rifle. It's getting a new Teludyne Technologies straight jacket system and barrel put on it and I can't wait for it to come back.
Fully agree with you sir. Outside the Weatherby calibers of which I am a fan (shoot mostly the 300 and 257 Wby Mags) the 7mm RM was my first and I would say favourite all around hunting cartridge. I personally use the 160 grain bullets but have used the 175 grain as well. No bad choices in this caliber however.
Very informative, my main hunting rifle is a 70's vintage Ruger M-77 in 7mm mag. I've used a 300 win that belongs to my dad as well, and I have to say the 7mm tends to anchor whitetails with 140 nosler bt faster (like zero steps) than or just as fast as the 300 with 165 nosler bt. For deer my favorite is the 7mm, for anything bigger, I'd probably opt for the 300 with 180 Barnes ttsx since I have access to it. Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot anything in North America outside of brown bears with the 7mm, even though I know its adequate with proper bullets. I'd just rather have that little extra bit of energy for something that could eat me.
My personal favorite all around cartridge is the 30-06. I think it's probably because it was my Dad's favorite. He had a Winchester Model 670 that he loved. I would spend a lot of time looking at that gun before I finally was old enough to shoot it. I even bought a Model 70 in 30-06 when I was able to. With that being said, I have shot several 7 mm Remington Mags & .300 Win Mags over the years. I love them too. It would be hard for me to pick between the two. My heart leans toward the Winchester round for the sentimental reasons of being developed by Winchester. However, you can't go wrong with the 7 mm Mag. Both would be an excellent choice. I think it would come down to some people the recoil factor. Great video!!
Ron I have been using a Browning BBR 7 mm Remington magnum since 1979 love this rifle but it does have a hell of a lot of recoil but in all of my years I have had only one deer not drop where he was standing granted that was by far the largest deer I have ever shot approx. 255lb using a 154 grain Hornaday spire point at about 250 yards. I had a good friend in Canada that would take a Moose ever year with 7mm magnum he never had a problem making a clean kill ,this is wonderful round for North America Hunting.
Great video. Ron, you nailed it by saying the 7MM Rem Mag is a well balanced cartridge. Using a high quality 160 grain bullet it’ll certainly cover everything from buck antelope to bull elk at extended distances.
@@dimmacommunication Federal and Nosler both have factory loads that use these bullets. Barnes TTSX bullets are great bullets, but I started using partitions along time ago and was given Accubonds by a friend to try as well. They both work very well and I couldn’t find a good reason to change.
Your math has convinced me, in spite of the type-0, have a moose tag in hand, will share the results come late September, now I need to buy another rifle, thanks for giving me a darn good excuse Ron!
Now in the age of range finders (either lazars or ranging reticles) the importance of the length of point blank range has greatly diminished, but not eliminated due to the greater simplicity of it. Recoil is less of an issue these days with the use of muzzle brakes and suppressors. In modern times the 7mm REM actually has less drawbacks than just a few decades ago with today's availability of carbon fiber barrels and stocks and brakes. But after all said and done, I'm still learning towards the 270 WIN for cost, weight, size, muzzle blast, and recoil. A range finder can make up for the shorter point blank range.
I'm a big fan of the .270. There don't seem to be many occasions when the 7mag's advantages make a difference. I think most comparable loads have about a 20 yd MPBR advantage in the 7mag which is not much when you are reaching out 350 yards. I think 7mag's only real advantage over the .270 is the fat belted case looks badass.
My father bought a 7mm Rem mag in 1970. He had a gunsmith set it up for him, bore sight, hot loads, zero 350 yds, big Leopold scope. He went to Wyoming for a Pronghorn, 500 plus yards, one shot kill. Big black eye from scope contact. Never hit anything else with it for the rest of his life. In 1973 he let me take it out for some range work. I fired three rounds through it and put it up. Recoil from Hell. I thought I was tough. I Had just survived three tours in Nam. 22 years old. Invincible. Trusty old 30-30 ain't bad. I was working for the BN railroad in Wyoming several years later, and every day during hunting season a Game and Fish Biologist would answer questions on the radio. One listener wanted to know if it was necessary to cut the deer's throat. The answer was simple: If you can run fast enough it won't hurt anything, but most people just shoot 'em.
I had no idea what I was doing when I bought my first deer hunting rifle at 18 years old, Savage Model 110 7mm RemMag. Still using it today 35 years later. Thanks, Ron for 2 great videos on this cartridge.
Just bought my first deer rifle 2 weeks ago, an old but immaculate Remington 700 in 7mm Rem Mag. Put my first buck down in its tracks at 120 yards last weekend. I have no plan to buy anything else!
Bought my first gun at 18, savage model 116 7mm mag, shoot everything from coyotes, hog, and deer. Been the only rifle I've used for 22yrs, and I don't see myself using anything else.
That's encouraging. I also have no idea what I'm doing, and bought my first rifle a few months ago. Savage 7mm Rem Mag. Nice wood stock, heavy. I had a choice between that and some super lightweight 30-06, and the 7mm Rem Mag just felt so much more comfortable. Got my white tail tags for this November, proud to carry this gun.
Same. 110 7mm rem mag.
There's just nobody on the planet that explains this stuff as well as Ron. Every video he does is like taking a ballistics college course.
Excellent history and data for a youngster. My choice for 35 years was a .30-06 Ruger 77 with a custom 26 inch barrel. At one point I went 7 shots for 7 elk in 7 years straight at ranges from 75 yards to 450 yards using Hornady 180 gr Light Mag ammo. But if I had to choose a different caliber for those years a 7mm Rem Mag would have been it. Back in the early 70s I had a Winchester Model 70 in 7 Rem Mag and the stock just didn't fit me. The recoil was horrendous. I bought a Voere in.300 Win Mag and it kicked less. Then I got the custom barrel on the Ruger and that was it, my magic rifle. The one thing I think you left out is the sectional density of the bullet. It doesn't matter so much with deer, but when you step up to elk you need the high sectional density that you'll get with the heavy-for-caliber bullets to give you the penetration you need. The 175 grain 7mm bullet gives you that in spades. I got old and a couple years ago I built a .270 for a lighter, handier rifle that kicks less using 150 grain Nosler Partitions. But the elk haven't gotten any lighter. I tell my kids and grandkids that why we have children, to help us haul the elk out when we get old.
@Ez G seems the 22 is favored by poachers and assassin's lol
I'm sold. Your arguments for the 7mm are very logical and fact based. I appreciate that.
i love the 7mm rem mag you just can't go wrong with it
I just picked up my first one yesterday and I love the thing.
Just picked up one can’t wait to shoot
Firm believer in the 7mm rem mag. One of the greatest belted magnum cartridges ever devised. Agreed!
Just got my first 7mm rem mag today this is why I’m watching lol
you are so well spoken, Ron, I don't even hunt nor own a firearm and I watch all your videos.
I love the .270 Weatherby Magnum as an “ All Around Caliber “, but not in disagreement with your choice as I regularly shoot 7MM with complete
satisfaction ❣️Great presentation....👍
Great video Ron. I love the "Big 7" simply because it is downright lethal on game.
I never did catch a word about optimal barrel length for the 7mm rem mag. Thanks for a great channel!
The more the merrier...26 inches
Most brands come in 24” inches but the Winchester snd Browning come only in 26” inch like all their magnums except the short magnums are 23 1/2”! If your only going to hunt open country then the 26” inch is better but for mixed terrain the 24” inch is better. I have both and prefer the 24” inch but I like a threaded barrel so I can put a break on it which makes it a 26” inch when done! To each his own.
This is why I watch. Hands on old school experience . Can't beat it.
I could listen to you talk about guns all day. Reminds me of my childhood with my great uncle Paul. He to was a great man.
A great video Ron! I certainly can't argue about the selection and high BC of 7 millimeter bullets. And that's true for all 7mm cartriges whether it be the 7mm Mauser, 280 Remington, 284 Winchester, or 7mm/08. The 7mm magnum is without a doubt a step above the rest in power but truth be told, out to about 300 yards there's probably no real difference in the field.
Love my Weatherby Vanguard chambered in 7mm Rem Mag. I used it almost exclusively, when I first bought it over twenty years ago. Then I met the new love of my gun and shooting life, the 28 Nosler. Never looked back.
Great video. I have been between a 300 and 7mm for bear hunting this spring in Montana then something to use for mule deer and elk. 7 mm it is for me.
I love to geek out on ballistics charts like this and look at this vs that. But as far as real life results go, I have used a 270 Win, 280 Rem, 7mm Rem mag all on mule deer, and had great results each time. Mule deer at distances of 80-600 yards. The 7mm I have used the most, but all are great calibers, and 30-06 would fit in that assessment also. Never needed more than my 7mm and thats the only reason I haven't ever used a 300 WM. My brother has only used his same 270 Win for over 20 years now, and has no complaints either. All great cartridges. The only one I have had a chance to shoot at elk was a 270 Win and it did the job.
My first rifle at 16 was a "Bean Field Rifle" on a Rem 700 action 7mm Rem Mag for all the reasons you just outlined in your video! 38 years later...its still picking up the check and bringing home the bacon! I have shot just about everything in North America except a Musk Ox and several of the larger plains game in Africa like Greater Kudu. Not once has it let me down or wavered for even a second when I did my part!
I believe if recoil is a factor for you, go with a 270 its a great cartridge, although the 7mm mag isnt that bad, shooting a 160 grain 7mag is similar to 180 grain 30-06 in my opinion, as i own both, the 7mm is just so versatile its hard to beat
Love my ruger no1 in 7mm Remington magnum and my browning blr in 7mm08
7mm-08 is a fantastic round! The 7mm Rem Mag is even better! I love them all big and small!
That’s what she said
Love the performance of the 7mm Rem Mag, recoil is easy to manage, accuracy can be a little finicky with different loads
Love the 7mm mag it's a beast
Totally agree. This is your best, most comprehensive video.
Awesome Info! Im a 300 Win Mag guy! but hunted for 25 years with my trusty 7 mag and still love it!
I Have a Model 70 win 7 mag 26 inch barrel it loves 150 gr. Nosler Bt Bullets .it is my Favorite Rifle and I Have many. Thank you Ron.
Thanks for doing what you do Ron. This video was a part of my research in choosing my rifle. The 7MM is about as good as it gets all things considered. Yes many calibers will do more times then not but I would rather have the 7MM in almost every big game hunting situation.
Very informative with some excellent points I hadn’t considered before. However, my favorite part by far is the very end where he reminds us how lucky we are to be Americans, where we still have some basic freedoms such as our 2nd amendment rights. Well said. Thank you.
@David Lutz tells you who their governments are run by. Just chaps my hide
His last statement about being in America, Is what many need to hear, remember !
My uncle told me in 1988 that the 7mm Remington Magnum is the best all around rifle cartridge out there. You definitely agree with him.
Me too
Yet no one does cool tests on TH-cam
Great information relayed there, Ron. Thanks for explaining the reason for the belt and how it is a non-issue for today's TALENTED handloaders.
I just can’t get my head around EXPERIENCED writers and publicly acknowledged hunters making silly negative claims about the belt. Call me nostalgic but the older I get the more I like seeing the belts on those classic rounds. Don’t get me wrong. Rounds like the 300 PRC are just the cat’s meow. But those belts are an historical reminder of our rich, wonderful world cartridge development
@@robertfree1908 huge thumbs up there, Robert! It all started with the .375 H&H Mag. Debuted same time the Titanic sunk and wore a belt. Love it, and the .300 H&H. Thanks! 👍🙋♂️
long live the 7mm Rem Mag!! I love mine.....great video!
No sir. 👎
I have owned 2 .300wb
top ammo. 3550 fps with 150 gr..,sako. Remington classic. want the sako back but the guy had heart attack and died.we shot .125 out ri close to 3900. fps.
Been a fan of the 7mm Rem mag for a long time. Opted for a 7mm-08 though, for deer.
My choice is one you used in this video, the .270 Winchester for all the reasons you listed. I just prefer slightly less recoil.
That's why I will stick with my old .270
@Buckshot Roberts I agree with you 100% I’ve taken pronghorn as well as African plaines game such as roan and kudu with my 270 Winchester with 140 gr accubonds. I believe bullet selection is key
I have a 7mm mag, still on its box. My 19 80's Rem. 700 bdl in .270 and the Federal Premium cartridge and a Nosler Partitioned bullet is the only cartridge I use.
I'm eastern U.S., if I was out west and after larger game, elk and such, I'd use the Nosler Bonded in Fed. Prem.
I agree with the poster who mentioned the bullet as key.
I just say no to anything in a green and yellow box!
You forgot to mention the most important aspect! Bullet placement!
Yes, placing the projectile in an efficient location "trumps" all of the above.
Just sayin...
@Infectious Legume, , I really hope you don’t think you were making solid points with this lmao they already covered proper bullet selection then bullet placement was brought up as being equally important if not more so and they’re correct. You can use shitty core-lokt if you like but know the limitations and adjust weight and bullet construction accordingly like the intelligent individual I hope you are. Leave out the meme shit at the end and talk like a person with good points lmao articulate conversations go further than back handed comments
I absolutely love my 7rm. I bought it almost 30 yrs ago. I really didn't know anything about it,just that it's a tack driver. You have given me some more justification to love it more. Thank you
I really enjoyed this video and learned a lot from it. 7Mag is a really good cartridge.
Good job on this video Mr Spomer.👍
Great video.. I recently sold my 30-06 hunting rifle and replaced it with two rifles - a 270 and a 7mmRM for elk. Dont regret it at all. Ballistically, l think the 280AI is the best do-all cartridge though. A 160 from 280AI has more speed, less drop, less drift and less recoil than a 180 from a 30-06. Limited factory ammo is its issue.
Have a 7stw love it! Sako
Load my buddy 280...
Great 7's
Thanks for sharing!
My long time go to has been my 7mm rem mag, first rifle, I've leaned on 300wm more lately for elk and 308 as well. My 7mm browning A bolt is my favorite rifle to shoot. After a couple decades of anecdotal evidence, I've seen more lost game with 7mm than with anything in the 30 caliber realm. Bullet selection and availability has been a driving force behind much of this too
Lee Thomas : I also shoot a browning a bolt from the 90's chambered in 7mm rem mag. I struggle to get 1" groups at 100 but am not sure if I am the problem or what. How well does your a bolt shoot? Will it shoot MOA?
@@elkhuntr2816 it's my most accurate rifle and when I do my part I am capable of moa or smaller groups
I like the appreciate the logic used to reach your conclusion and evidence to support your claims. It wasn't "I like this round because it is only one I have shot" or "feels good to me". Informative video.
Thanks Andrew.
Great video and agree with your explanation with good all round rifle cartridge.
Where I live, in Australia from my experience this cartridge does it all for me.
I bought my Ruger M77 MKII 7mm rem mag in 1993 and covers everything very efficiently to this date.
Cheers from AU.
I agree. 30 years ago I designed my own rifle. We used a P-14 for the action. Long throw, room in the fixed mag, and a positive extraction with that monster of a bolt face and extractor on the P-14. I chose the 7mm rem mag(over the .300WM) to take any game in North America. Never let me down. I am only upset that you gave away my secret to being a better shot than most: the ballistics ;)
A number of years ago I inherited a Remington Model 700 BDL in 7mm Magnum from my late brother-in-law. I've hunted deer with it many times and it always works. I did put a Grayboe Outlander stock on it. My brother-in-law had the wood stock shortened and it was way too short for me. I mainly use it for hunting some beanfields near my farm. If I'm in the woods I use a 308. Recoil from the 7 Mag. has never been a problem for me. Great video.
I've shot a number of magnum calibers over the years and the 7mm Remmie has a certain sweet spot, like you said, the 7RM has easier recoil than the some of the other "magnum calibers".
I never shoot anything past the 250-300yd mark so I use the good Ol' 7x57... Milder and just as lethal!
I do like the 7mm Remington though and if I ever needed a 500yd gun, it'd be a 7Remmie. Great video!
Jack O'Connor would give you a big, wet, kiss. Until he became a born-again 270 acolyte, the 7x57 was his choice, as he said......with its twist, it just drilled its way in.
The perfect caliber. The 7mm Remington Mag.
Mine is a Savage with a 26" bbl.
Most accurate rifle I've ever shot, and the most accurate cartridge too.
Very little recoil.
My thanks for your enjoyable and informative videos.
Good job.
Swwwweeet..
Brother in law used 7mm Rem Mag for 20 yrs for Wisconsin Whitetail. We thought a little odd. But a few yrs ago I bought one because of what you’re saying . Versatility. And I’ve always used 7x57mm. I like 7mm
Great job! I have customized 700, heavy! Love my Kimber Montana 280 AI
Thanks...my first all around rifle in Alaska was a Ruger M77 .300 win mag. Wanting to step down a tad but still be able to hunt many species. This helped a lot.
do you use a 7mm rem mag now?
@@dylankorpi137- In the last year I got intrigued with the 6.8 Western, but waiting to see if some others besides Winchester and Remington will build them.
Great content Ron...would love to know just what you've forgotten. Thanks for sharing your love of this sport!
Ron, I can not argue with your defense of the 7mmRem Mag.
I feel it is at the threshold of most shooters to shoot accurately and handle the recoil of most factory made stocks.
The 7mm Magnum is a very good choice for the average or even advanced shooters.
It is by today's standards an " old" cartridge but it works extremely well.
Keep up the good work Ron, Thanks!
7mm Remington magnum...top 3 choice of mil snipers and swat teams ...50BMG, 338 lapua
Hey Ron. Great video I love the tried and true calibers. I would have liked to see the 280. Remington included in your video. Although not very popular today it is still an outstanding cartridge. I inherited a Remington 760 Game Master in the 280/7mm rem express. This pump action rifle shoots as accurately as any of my bolt guns and very quick on follow up shots. Ballistics for the 280. falls somewhere between the 270 and the 7mm rem mag.
The 7mm Rem Mags most efficient bullet weight is 150 grain. It puts the most energy down range. It's really the best of all worlds. It's over 3100 FPS and over 3200 flbs of energy. You can use this from deer to some of the largest game out there. It shoots further and flatter than all your other popular medium to large game rifles like .308 30-06. It really should be a lot more popular than it is. It's probably the military nature of the 30-06 and .308 that keep them more popular. Surplus ammo is cheap. But if you want the best "do-it-all" rifle you can get, you can't beat the 7mm Rem mag. It also seems to be about the sweet spot for barrel life span vs power.
7mm Rem Mag, if it ain't broke don't fix it.
Seems to be a Goldilocks cartridge with good velocity,energy and down range performance manageable recoil and decent barrel life good bullet selection 🙂👍🏻👍🏻
Completely agree, also something to mention if your going into the woods and don't plan on shooting more than a couple hundred yards, using reduced recoil loads are still very effective. And if you can find them or reload them yourself, a reduced recoil with round nose bullet is even better.
I think you are pretty spot on with most your assessments. I do have a 7mm STW on the beefier side. It was a custom barrel done by a gunsmith at Williams Gun Sight just one year before they made the cartridge available off the shelf. But as we can see it didn't make that much of an impact because they certainly did not sell enough of them to make them readily available like the 7mm Rem Mag. In fact, there are little offerings in it today. I had a 7mm Rem Mag that I let my son have because of the availability of ammo. He does not reload like I do. If he did, I would have given him my 7mm STW that he prefers to hunt with when he hunts when visiting. Great choice for one gun. I just like lots of different guns for different purposes. Right tool for the right job.
Thank you for the parting thoughts at 25:45 - important to remember how good we have it in the US.
I feel compelled to share my experience with the 7mm Remington Magnum. I have shot and owned most rifle calibers, 338 Winchester magnum, 300 ultra mag, 300 Winchester, 270 Weatherby, 264 Winchester magnum, 30-06 and 270 Winchester as well as 243 Winchester and 6mm Remington, this information to indicate I am no novice at shooting large rifle calibers. My son-in law gave me a new Remington 700 Sendero in 7mm magnum for Christmas last year. I am now 70 years old and find the recoil of the 7mm magnum to be more than I want. The rifle weighs 10.5 pounds and it kicks the hell out of me! Time to return to the 243 Winchester, I guess!
I had a Savage model 110 chambered in 7mm Remington Mag and in all honesty a very pleasant rifle to shoot with 150 grain Winchester rounds, it had the nice wood stock which I think had a lot to do with how the felt recoil was so tolerable
Ben shooting my 7mm magnum for 35 years. Farthest shot was 362 yrds.
So am thinking I don't really need to have a 7mm magnum. Going to step down to a 7mm-08 and see how it does.
The 7mm mag drops all big game animals wear they stand with proper shot behind shoulder and with a 175gr bullet or 168gr bullet. 😁👍👍👍👍👍
7mm RM great for all applications. Love it!
Great cartridge and bullet. There are so many good choices out there and I love'em all. That's why I'll never have only one favorite but several.
I never broke it down why I always liked that 7mmmag. Just always have. Thanks.
.308 cheap, figured out, low recoil, short and fast action, available everywhere and it will do most of what you will need it to do. I do have a 7mm a .22, .222 and 12gauge. love em al :)
You nailed it. BLR in 308.
Jack of all trades, master of none.
The hell you mean cheap? You can barely find .308 anywhere
@@skeltonslay8er781 here in Sweden, 308 and 30-06 is evrywhere. If your gunchop does not have it, its not a gunchop.
@@skeltonslay8er781 There’s just no ammo period.
Ron, Thanks for the tutorial, Honorable mention to the 300 H&H, dates back to the 1930's . It is a hand loaders dream 110gn to 220 gn... First 30 cal. to win competitions, suitable for all North American game and larger African plains game...Out performs the 30-06 and the difference in velocity of the 300 win. mag. is nominal, if handloaded.
Thumbs up, Dave
The best kept secret and likely always will be. Id love a 300 H&H one day
Love my 7mag with Core-Lokt 150gr.
Thank you kindly sir for sharing your knowledge with us.
I have the .270, 300wsm, and the 300 Win Mag. All three are great, but prefer the tried and true .270 because it’s fast, flat,
And hits hard! Plus, less recoil and the ammunition is cheaper than the magnums!
The 7mmRemMag and the 300WinMag are both very good cartridges without a doubt.
However, I personally think that the extra power is simply completely unnecessary and only ends in more recoil.
The 270Win, the old 30-06 or 8mm Mauser, for example, have more than enough energy for pretty much everything under the sun, apart from the big five!
Yes, of course, the belted Magnums have the power and speed, but how often do you shoot an animal at 500+ yards?
Don't get me wrong, everyone has to find the right one for themselves, but that's just nonsense for me!
Greetings from Germany and always good hunting!
I agree with you. Unless a person is hunting at long ranges the high velocity magnums are a liability.
Amen . landing a 200 + yard shot does not make you a man . attempting an unethical shot makes you a coward and is not hunting , it's fkn lazy
@@deletethis5489 Yes, a humane kill is by far the most important thing in hunting, more important than even just making a kill. And most hunters are not capable of accurately placing a shot at longer ranges under field conditions.
@@ATINKERER THAT IS WHY THE HEART / LUNG SHOT WAS MANDATED BUT HAS BEEN ABUSED TO 300 + YARDS DEFEATING IT'S WHOLE PURPOSE OF A HUMANE KILL
The 8mm Mauser was okay, but the 7.62x54R destroyed Germany. 🇷🇺
Love this video. Huge fan of the 7mm RM, although I find it kinda overkill for most deer here in the South where I’m at.
I have taken several deer growing up in Oklahoma with a 22-250. Never had one take more than a step or two after being shot. More than a few jumped up about 6' in the air before coming crashing down like a sack of potatoes though. All of the deer were taken between 50-200 yards
About 10 years ago spend along time on internet trying to decided what the best one rifle cartridge would be...glad to see i came up with the same conclusion as a pro :).
A personal favorite.
Just watched your video on the 6.5 Creedmore vs 270 and didn't really like it, but you redeemed yourself with this video on the 7 Rem Mag. So much more than compared numbers tho. How you reload, how you shoot, how you react to shooting, what quality of rifle and scope and your relationship to that is what will determine bullet placement and subsequent kill.
The history on this is as follows:
Les Bowman invented the cartridge then known as a 280-338 magnum. Les Bowman used a necked down 338 Win Mag to create this configuration. Les Bowman guided Mike Walker an engineer for Remington. Mike Walker took the info back to Remington where they decided to produce it and renamed it the 7mm Remington Magnum.
Yessir
it's alway cheaper to produce and experiment from a parent cartridge . there are many out there that didn't make it . Bowman was a hack and got lucky .
I have a Remington model 700BDL built in 1986 chambered in 7mm Remington magnum. I've taken elk, mule deer, whitetail, moose, bears and sheep with it. There are dozens of good calibers and the 7mag will compare favorably with any of them.
Ive never cared for 7mm Magnums, but Id rather have one of those over the newer 7mm PRC!
I might change my mind in 10 years when 7mm PRC ammo AND rifles are more common than the 7mm Magnums.
A 7mm Magnum with a longer and tighter throat, practically speaking should be everything the 7mm PRC is.
If I were only a long range Target shooter, using a big heavy Target rifle, THEN I might opt for the 7mm PRC.
But as a hunter the 7mm Magnum is more practical.
Right now, 7mm Magnum ammo is every where and cheaper. An advantage to the average hunter.
Hello Ron, I would love to see a presentation showing stock designs that are better for recoil.
I use a leather, slip on buttpad. I have a long LOP, 14.90", so I usually have to either put in spacers or replace buttpads on rifles, which is a real pain. The leather slip on pads solve the LOP issue for me, and make even 300 Win mag sort of pleasant to shoot.
Oh boy, Ron has his glasses on for this one. This looks serious.
You did a good job on this one .
Outstanding!!! One of the most comprehensive videos I've seen about hunting and rifle rounds.
Enjoyable and informative! Well done! It’s refreshing to hear from a seasoned pro.
Good video and lightning. I’m more of a 270 Win fan but really, I would probably own all of them if I could! Ha
Thanks for speaking about the SD and BC.
7mm mag runs in my blood. Grandpa had an FN High Power and I have an A-Bolt stainless. No complaints in three generations.
My favorite cartridge that I currently own. Medium to large game, and very capable at long ranges. Although I have a love for almost all 7mm calibers. I like my 7-08 and my .284 win.
I am genuinely impressed with the cartridge, may actually buy one of those
I am a 308 fan personally. Richard Mann got to me first Ha ha. You mentioned the 30-06 as a contender. The 308 is just a little slower velocity wise so my trajectory will be a little different. But I like getting to within 350 yards anyway. I also love my FN made model 70 featherweight (US production not Portugal) chambered in it. All that said my dad loves his Remington 700 in 7mm Mag. And the next rifle on my list is a Model 70 in 270 so I really cant complain with any of these classic cartridges. They all will get the job done as long as you can pit a good bullet where it needs to go. Thank you Ron for the history lesson. I really like your videos I learn a ton from your content!
I still have my Remington 700 7mmRM left handed bolt gun that I bought back in the mid 80's. I use the 175gr bullets out of mine and it's taken A LOT of deer and elk. I'm going on an Alaskan moose hunt next year and I'm gonna take that very same rifle. It's getting a new Teludyne Technologies straight jacket system and barrel put on it and I can't wait for it to come back.
Thanks buddy...
Fully agree with you sir. Outside the Weatherby calibers of which I am a fan (shoot mostly the 300 and 257 Wby Mags) the 7mm RM was my first and I would say favourite all around hunting cartridge. I personally use the 160 grain bullets but have used the 175 grain as well. No bad choices in this caliber however.
Very informative, my main hunting rifle is a 70's vintage Ruger M-77 in 7mm mag. I've used a 300 win that belongs to my dad as well, and I have to say the 7mm tends to anchor whitetails with 140 nosler bt faster (like zero steps) than or just as fast as the 300 with 165 nosler bt. For deer my favorite is the 7mm, for anything bigger, I'd probably opt for the 300 with 180 Barnes ttsx since I have access to it. Having said that, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot anything in North America outside of brown bears with the 7mm, even though I know its adequate with proper bullets. I'd just rather have that little extra bit of energy for something that could eat me.
Use
My personal favorite all around cartridge is the 30-06. I think it's probably because it was my Dad's favorite. He had a Winchester Model 670 that he loved. I would spend a lot of time looking at that gun before I finally was old enough to shoot it. I even bought a Model 70 in 30-06 when I was able to. With that being said, I have shot several 7 mm Remington Mags & .300 Win Mags over the years. I love them too. It would be hard for me to pick between the two. My heart leans toward the Winchester round for the sentimental reasons of being developed by Winchester. However, you can't go wrong with the 7 mm Mag. Both would be an excellent choice. I think it would come down to some people the recoil factor. Great video!!
You are a great teacher.
Thanks Tyler.
Ron I have been using a Browning BBR 7 mm Remington magnum since 1979 love this rifle but it does have a hell of a lot of recoil but in all of my years I have had only one deer not drop where he was standing granted that was by far the largest deer I have ever shot approx. 255lb using a 154 grain Hornaday spire point at about 250 yards. I had a good friend in Canada that would take a Moose ever year with 7mm magnum he never had a problem making a clean kill ,this is wonderful round for North America Hunting.
Love my Remington 700 with the 7mm Mag. Great for elk.
My favorite-- nail driver.
Great video. Ron, you nailed it by saying the 7MM Rem Mag is a well balanced cartridge. Using a high quality 160 grain bullet it’ll certainly cover everything from buck antelope to bull elk at extended distances.
Wich ammo do you like ?
@@dimmacommunication I hand load so I typically use 160 Partitions and 160 Accubonds.
@@nmelkhunter1 A famous hunter in Italy said the same , but wich are the factory loads that use those bullets ?
Don't you like ttsx ?
@@dimmacommunication Federal and Nosler both have factory loads that use these bullets. Barnes TTSX bullets are great bullets, but I started using partitions along time ago and was given Accubonds by a friend to try as well. They both work very well and I couldn’t find a good reason to change.
Your math has convinced me, in spite of the type-0, have a moose tag in hand, will share the results come late September, now I need to buy another rifle, thanks for giving me a darn good excuse Ron!
Now in the age of range finders (either lazars or ranging reticles) the importance of the length of point blank range has greatly diminished, but not eliminated due to the greater simplicity of it. Recoil is less of an issue these days with the use of muzzle brakes and suppressors. In modern times the 7mm REM actually has less drawbacks than just a few decades ago with today's availability of carbon fiber barrels and stocks and brakes. But after all said and done, I'm still learning towards the 270 WIN for cost, weight, size, muzzle blast, and recoil. A range finder can make up for the shorter point blank range.
I'm a big fan of the .270. There don't seem to be many occasions when the 7mag's advantages make a difference. I think most comparable loads have about a 20 yd MPBR advantage in the 7mag which is not much when you are reaching out 350 yards. I think 7mag's only real advantage over the .270 is the fat belted case looks badass.
@@5000rgb I'd have to agree!
Just bought my first 7mm today. Sako 85 finnlight topped with a leupold 3-15x44 VX5-HD can’t wait to test it out
My father bought a 7mm Rem mag in 1970. He had a gunsmith set it up for him, bore sight, hot loads, zero 350 yds, big Leopold scope. He went to Wyoming for a Pronghorn, 500 plus yards, one shot kill. Big black eye from scope contact. Never hit anything else with it for the rest of his life. In 1973 he let me take it out for some range work. I fired three rounds through it and put it up. Recoil from Hell. I thought I was tough. I Had just survived three tours in Nam. 22 years old. Invincible. Trusty old 30-30 ain't bad.
I was working for the BN railroad in Wyoming several years later, and every day during hunting season a Game and Fish Biologist would answer questions on the radio. One listener wanted to know if it was necessary to cut the deer's throat. The answer was simple: If you can run fast enough it won't hurt anything, but most people just shoot 'em.
shot 7mm mag today with 175GR bullet, was much softer shooting then I expected!
Totally agree with that.
If you do some wildcatting and such, 7-300 win mag is pretty great.
This rifle has served the Military and Public better than any other. Love mine