7mm Need Suggestions Please

[USMC_Hunter]

I'm going to add another rifle to the battery. (Mostly .30 cals + two 35's) Most of my hunting will be eastern whitetail deer/ black bear hopefully elk in the near future. I narrowed it down to a few rifles. Can't seem to decide.

1. Rem 7600 BDL - 280rem USED
2. Ruger 77 MKII SS- 7mm SAUM or WSM (excellent price on the SAUM) NEW
3. Browning A-Bolt - 7mm Rem Mag USED
4. Stevens 200 - 7mm-08 Rem NEW

Thanks in advance for any recommendations.

[azmike]

I would go with the 7600 or the A-bolt, not necessarily because of the rifles, which I like, but the cartridges. I would be hard pressed to choose, but I have a 7mm Rem mag only because the left handed rifle I wanted was not offered in .280.  Have used the 7mm Rem mag on both whitetail and Black Bear myself, and it was plenty of cartridge, in fact it proved a bit too much for deer at woods range.     

If you had not mentioned elk, then the Stevens 200 in 7mm-08 would be an excellent choice for deer and black bear, IMO.  It would work for elk, too, but for some reason, I would feel more comfortable with more powder behind my 175 grain bullet. 

The .280 or 7mm Rem mag are both about the best all around cartridges out there (IMO the 30-06 and 270 beat them only because of ammo availability, otherwise they'll all do the job).  Plus they have the edge on the 7mm-08 in that they can send a heavy bullet out there a little faster.

[Graybeard]

5. Remington Model 7 in 7-08.

[sniperVLS]

It's not in your list but I'm in agreement with Graybeard.

[Cheesehead]

I have an A-bolt in 7mm Remington Magnum. A nearly perfect rifle caliber combination for me. The A-bolt is extremely accurate and durable. The 60 degree bolt throw makes it a fast bolt to operate. I have had this gun for almost 15 years and it has served me well. The 7 mag is a great caliber, moderate recoil, very flat shooting and high energy. You can buy this cartridge in all sporting goods stores and is also fun to reload. As far as magnums go, it is at the top of the heap for hunting all but the largest dangerous game. This was the first new scoped rifle it had ever owned. I topped it with a Leopold vari-x 3  3.5x10. My mindset at the time was to get one rifle that does it all very well at all ranges. IMHO this comes very close. I recommend it.

Cheese

[Coyote Hunter]

USMC Hunter -
Not on your list is a Ruger M77 MKII in 7mm Rem Mag.  My Ruger M77 has been killing prairie dogs, coyotes, antelope, mule deer and elk for 25 years.  It was my choice a long time ago and still would be.  Don’t see what the WSM’s and SAUM’s have to offer except possible feeding problems and lower velocities.  Any potential increase in accuracy attributed to the short, fat powder column is theoretical at best, of no practical value in the field, and non-existent in many cases.

[thumbcocker]

I'd go with the ruger 77 in 7 saum.

[Grumulkin]

Look at the ballistics.  Not even a BIG cartridge like the 7mm STW gets all that much more velocity than the 7mm Remington Magnum does with less powder.  The 7mm Remington Magnum has been around a long time with many choices in ammunition and reloading components.  You can always, with proper bullet selection, shoot somthing up close with a flat shooter like a 7mm Remington Magnum but you can never make a 7mm/08 the long range shooter the 7mm Rem. Mag. is.  In my opinion, the 7mm Rem. Mag. is a classis or at least deserves to be.

[Don Fischer]

Look at the ballistics.  Not even a BIG cartridge like the 7mm STW gets all that much more velocity than the 7mm Remington Magnum does with less powder.  The 7mm Remington Magnum has been around a long time with many choices in ammunition and reloading components.  You can always, with proper bullet selection, shoot somthing up close with a flat shooter like a 7mm Remington Magnum but you can never make a 7mm/08 the long range shooter the 7mm Rem. Mag. is.  In my opinion, the 7mm Rem. Mag. is a classis or at least deserves to be.

I'd certainly disagree with that. A well placed shot from a 7mm-08 at any range will definately be more effective than a poorly placed shot from a 7mm Mag. Reduced recoil makes the 7mm-08 much more plesant to shoot which means for most they'll likely shoot it bettter. The little known secret to successfully killing an animal at any range is placing a properly designed bullet well, not velocity or foot lbs of energy!

[huntswithdogs]

If it were me,I'd be buying something that I could buy shells for. The SAUM or the WSM ain't in this catagory. 7-08 shells are kinda hard to find around here so I'd leave it alone also. Of course if ya reload all the prior comments are invalid.
I've not seen an 7600 that was as accurate as a bolt gun in the same chambering. From your choices,I'd pick the Browning. If you're looking for something less expensive there are lots of choices out there. Savage & CZ lead this list.


HWD

[kudzu]

There's a good reason the 7saum is a good deal. Probally won't see them around much longer.(have a 300saum and in the same boat). IMO you will be fine with the WSM line, except maybe the 7wsm. The 270 and 300 wsm are there to stay.
As to the orignal post question. What are your current .30 cal. With these listed we can find what will best fit with them. And  also a price range.

[1marty]

I'm going into my 46th season in deer hunting and without a doubt the 7-08 is probably the best one I ever shot when it comes to recoil, accuracy and knockdown power.  I'm partial to remington 700's but the Browning is a great rifle too. I found shot placement which comes from practice, practice and more practice is the very important.

[s.w.ecology]

Ruger M77 7 WSM or 7-08.  Ilove my Win. M70 Featherweight in 7 WSM. and the ruger is as close as you can get these days.  7-08 if you are shy of recoil, otherwise send the WSM off to Williams Gunsmithing and have a brake installed.  Mine shoots like a .223 with one.

[kombi1976]

How's this for a suggestion......
A CZ 550 in 7x57.
Or for a really nice rifle if you're man using a single shot( ) a Ruger No.1a in 7x57.
Both can be loaded to the hilt and still be kind to the shoulder.
How was it that Jack "God" O'Connor described the 7mm Mauser?
That's right......"a vicious killer!"
His wife Eleanor used it extensively throughout Africa and more or less took the same game with it as he did with 270 Wins and 7mm Rem Mags.