7mm-08 Vs. 7mm Rem Mag

[SuperstitionCoues]

I have a 7mm-08 and a 7mm WSM.  Close enough?  The difference is in one word - range.  The amount of reach with the 7mm WSM is a lot farther.  You pay for it though in the amount of "thump" you take when you set it off.  I use the 7mm WSM for elk and long range deer when I can get drawn, and the 7mm-08 for closer (i.e. hunting a water hole, etc.) mule and coues white tail deer.

[Don Fischer]

Never owned a 7-08 but have had several 7x57's and a couple 7mm mags. Actual difference in preformance? The 7mm mag handles heavy bullets better than the smaller cased cartridges. Any of the 7mm's with proper bullets will kill cleanly farther away than 99% of hunters and hit. 7mm mag has more recoil.

[yooper77]

175 grain bullets perform very effective in the 7x57 Mauser, along with 140 grain bullets.

7mm Remington Magnum?  I don't need to feed my 7x57 Mauser or 7mm-08 Remington the extra powder or feel the extra recoil to have the same dead animals.

yooper77

[Coyote Hunter]

175 grain bullets perform very effective in the 7x57 Mauser, along with 140 grain bullets.

7mm Remington Magnum?  I don't need to feed my 7x57 Mauser or 7mm-08 Remington the extra powder or feel the extra recoil to have the same dead animals.

yooper77

Other than fit in an intermediate-length action, there is nothing the 7x57 can do that the 7mm RM cannot do as well.  The 7mm RM can be downloaded to 7x57 performance and recoil but the 7x57 cannot match top 7mm RM performance.

Recoil of many top 7mm RM loads is on a par with standard .30-06 factory loads - hardly a big deal to most folks.

If I had to choose only one, it would be the 7mm RM.  Did that in '82 with no regrets.

[yooper77]

175 grain bullets perform very effective in the 7x57 Mauser, along with 140 grain bullets.

7mm Remington Magnum?  I don't need to feed my 7x57 Mauser or 7mm-08 Remington the extra powder or feel the extra recoil to have the same dead animals.

yooper77

Other than fit in an intermediate-length action, there is nothing the 7x57 can do that the 7mm RM cannot do as well.  The 7mm RM can be downloaded to 7x57 performance and recoil but the 7x57 cannot match top 7mm RM performance.

Recoil of many top 7mm RM loads is on a par with standard .30-06 factory loads - hardly a big deal to most folks.

If I had to choose only one, it would be the 7mm RM.  Did that in '82 with no regrets.

Well sure, any larger case can be downloaded given the correct powder and bullet.

My largest rifle case is 30-06 Springfield, and it can handle heavier bullets than my 7mm Mauser and 7mm-08, so its my choice for heavier game.  Its nice to gave the option of 180, 200 to 220 grain bullets.

I reload to save money in order to shoot more often, so I stick to standard size cases.

Large belted magnum rifle cases are too expensive.

yooper77

[Coyote Hunter]

Well sure, any larger case can be downloaded given the correct powder and bullet.

My largest rifle case is 30-06 Springfield, and it can handle heavier bullets than my 7mm Mauser and 7mm-08, so its my choice for heavier game.  Its nice to gave the option of 180, 200 to 220 grain bullets.

I reload to save money in order to shoot more often, so I stick to standard size cases.

Large belted magnum rifle cases are too expensive.

yooper77

yooper -

I think I understand where you're coming from, I just have a different perspective.  My 7mm RM and .300 WM will both shoot flatter and deliver more energy downrange than can any of my three .30-06s or my .308 Win.  My first .300 WM loads were designed to provide .308 Win velocity and recoil but I have loads at the top end as well.

My .257 Roberts is my favorite rifle and I was using it yesterday to plink clay pigeons at 400 yards.  Low recoil, powder efficient, but less power than the .308 Win, let alone the larger cartridges.  But when I really want to reach out and thump something, the magnums get the call.

[SHOOTALL]

When ya get down to it - the guy with the 708 has to get a couple yards closer to make the shot . But in the end they both will have to walk all the way to the animal . That is if they make the shot !

[DC]

 I have a ruger in 280 Rem. which is close to a 7mm Mag without the amounts of powder needed and the whallop you get in recoil.  It out performs the 7mm-08 but it reaches its full potential as a hand loaders round.

[Coyote Hunter]

I have a ruger in 280 Rem. which is close to a 7mm Mag without the amounts of powder needed and the whallop you get in recoil.  It out performs the 7mm-08 but it reaches its full potential as a hand loaders round.

Close, but not equal.  Checking Nosler 6th's top 140g loads with my ballistic calculator, the 7mm RM adds about 20 yards to the .280 in terms of bullet drop (checked at -24" with 3" max rise for both) but 75 yards extra in terms of energy (checked at 1500fpe).

That said, I've never killed an elk with any rifle, including the 7mm and .300 magnums, that I couldn't have killed as easily with a 7mm-08, 7x57 or .280 Rem.

[mannyrock]

   I don't live out West, so real long shots are rare.

   But, I can tell you this.  The 7 Mag absolutely sucks if you have to shoot a deer at 75 yards or less!  I have done this on three differrent deer.  The rounds are so fast, that they just blow through the deer, with very little or no expansion.  (Factory 175 grain rounds, Rem core-lokt.)  I retrieved all deer, but only after multiple chest shots.  Very Embarrassing!

   The 7mm-08 andr .280 Remington are much smarter choices.

Mannyrock

[Drilling Man]

   I don't live out West, so real long shots are rare.

   But, I can tell you this.  The 7 Mag absolutely stinks if you have to shoot a deer at 75 yards or less!  I have done this on three differrent deer.  The rounds are so fast, that they just blow through the deer, with very little or no expansion.  (Factory 175 grain rounds, Rem core-lokt.)  I retrieved all deer, but only after multiple chest shots.  Very Embarrassing!

   The 7mm-08 andr .280 Remington are much smarter choices.

Mannyrock

  It's NOT because it's too fast...  It's because the bullet you chose is too tough for such a "lightly" constructed animal...  Switch to 150 grain for deer, and you will be much happier...

  No cartridge works well, if you choose the wrong weight/construction bullet for the animal your shooting...

  DM