7MM Rem. Mag

[Al3006]

I have used a Remington Model 742 semi auto in .30-06 to hunt moose and deer for 40 years. I have finally had more than enough jamming issues...I prefer the semi-auto action as we hunt semi thick/thick bush and running deer/moose are common at ranges of 50 yards to 100 yards, however we go northwest in Ontario occassionally to hunt moose and can get shots to 300 yards +. I am hoping to get recommendations for shells to shoot deer and moose with.... I had great success with the .30-06 in 180 grain Remington A Frame s for moose and deer. Remington has a 160 grain in A Frame & I am leaning towards that. Any opinions/recommendations are most welcome. Thx Al

[300HH]

I had a 742 for some time also I now use reminton 700 in both 7mm and my favorite 300HH both do the job really good short or longer distance

[rickt300]

I have a 7MM RM. I like to shoot 160 grain Partitions in it. But my 30-06 still works fine and my big game nowadays is generally feral hogs which I seldom see farther than 100 yards out so my longer range needs are well taken care of by my 30-06. While the 7MM Mag may shoot a bit flatter I'm not sure it will give you any advantage over a bolt rifle in 30-06.

[Grumulkin]

A 30/06 is very capable of 300 yard shots.  In fact, I shoot an M1 Garand with iron sights in CMP matches and get groups that would be acceptable for moose hunting off hand at 200 yards and acceptable moose sized groups prone at 300 yards.  Just choose whatever ammo gives you acceptable accuracy at the range at which you intend to shoot it.

My 7mm Rem. Mag. is an Encore.  It's quite accurate.  Shots at big game from a good rest are very doable with it at 400+ yards.

[jro45]

My 7mm Rem Mag. Model 700. I have killed a Boar using 160 gr Partitions. Would like to kill another, That meat was delicious.

[JTD305]

Get yourself a Browning BAR in 30-06 or 300 WM or WSM and you will be all set.  They function great and are very accurate!

[mcwoodduck]

If you like the auto I would look at the Browning Bar.  But I would keep my shots to 150 yards and under with the auto.  If you looking to shoot 300 yards I would get a bolt action. 
As far as Moose or Deer in the woods the wider the bullet the better and you may want to look at the 338 Win Mag.
What do you want for your jamamatic?

[JTD305]

My shortrac in 308 will shoot three inch groups at 200 yards.

[Lone Star]

If you like the auto I would look at the Browning Bar.  But I would keep my shots to 150 yards and under with the auto....

Now, why would you make that recommendation?  BARs are not shotguns.   And moose are large aminals with heart-lung areas that are far larger than those found on deer.  The last one I shot was the size of a horse (well, so was the first one I shot....).



.

[BBF]

I'm confused. Are you staying with an Auto Banger?

I have run ballistic numbers on several different 7mm Rem Mag versus 30-06 Spfld loads and do not see enough difference in performance with medium to heavy bullets to get rid of one for the other. My all around British Columbia 30-06 load was with the 200 gr Speer Spitzer not because I needed that much bullet but that load would shoot the tightest groups ever out of the rifle I had at that time and performed on anything I hunted.

If you need more power and that is a personal choice for sure, you would be better served going into any of the 30 cal Magnums for what you want to do.

Moose are not armor plated a 165 to 180 gr bullet will do. Certainly a Rem
CorLokt or similar controlled expansion type is suitable.

[Al3006]

If you like the auto I would look at the Browning Bar.  But I would keep my shots to 150 yards and under with the auto.  If you looking to shoot 300 yards I would get a bolt action. 
As far as Moose or Deer in the woods the wider the bullet the better and you may want to look at the 338 Win Mag.
What do you want for your jamamatic?

I am handing down to me son...he is an auto mechanic & a few boyz at his work said they had the same jamming problems with their Remington semi autos...they tore the guns apart cleaned every piece possible and put them back together and now they don't have those problems.... hmmm we'll see

[mcwoodduck]

Lone Star,
Ok goofey Corn pone story.  My father has a browning auto 5 and has had it since 1965.  He went to a pump gun about 10 years ago for duck hunting and it was funny to watch him shoot the thing.  He was so used to the auto that the pumping was new and he had problems and had problems trying to get a second shot off for a couple years at the first of each season.  Now when we go upland hunting he tries to pump his O/U.  If this gentleman has has this auto and only this auto for all these years he may want to stay with the same format so there is no fumbling in the woods if a second round is needed.
And yes I know Moose are really big.  Have not had the pleasure of seeing one in the woods yet but would like to some time in the next few years. 

[BBF]

Re Moose are big.
This reminds me of an old Indian guy I met years ago near the Nation Lakes in British Columbia who bemoaned the fact he couldn't get a rifle in the same caliber as the one he had before. He had a Win 94 type in 44 Rem in his hands. Thinking he was talking about a 30-30 which was and still is popular with the Natives, I asked him what caliber he used to have. He replied " I had a
25-20" !!   :-))  NO KIDDIN !

[jro45]

I have a 7mm Rem Mag and  I have some Noslers 160gr bullets loaded. I beleave the A-frame and noslers are about the same.

[7magfan]

Hey Al3006, I have used both in the field and my dad handloads both for me (he has been handloading for 30+ years). Here is what we have found and done..Hope it is helpful.
Shoot a Rem 700 7mag (it's one of the older stainless steel but has a blued barrel models). I have shot 2 moose with it. One was with 140 grn speer handloads running at factory speed. Shot it in the neck at ~ 175 yds. Dropped on the spot. Bullet made a complete pass thru. To my Dad's chegrin, i went out and bought 150 grain remington scirocco's for the second moose hunt. This time I put the bullet a little back. The moose was broadside at ~125 yds, bullet went through the liver and some other goods. The moose went about 75 yds and we recovered the bullet in the opposite hide. Retained about 95% of it's weight. This is the exception though for our family we rely on 140 grain sierra boattails or speer boattails. The have killed many animals and never failed, from 30 yds to 419 paces on a 200+ lb Maine whitetail. That bullet took out the heart, one lung and was in the hide on the opposite side and weighed 121.8 grains. Deer went ~75 yds. I can get the exact load from my Dad if you would like ? The closest factory load we have seen is the 139 grain Hornady boattail interlocks. All of these rounds shoot under an inch at 100 yds. We have shot the Sierra's to a 5/8 inch group at 100 off the best.
For the 30'06 I am not a believer in anything bigger than 150 grain bullets. This email is already too long whinded to add in all of the shortcomings we have seen with the 180 grain bullet, mostly in the old 742 semi's. I went out a few years ago and bought a 7600 pump carbine for my woods hunting, the mag was just getting too heavy. It loves 150 grain Hornady's and remington factories. My Dad loaded up the 150 interbond this year and I whacked a nice buck , but the jacket seperated from the core?>!!  I guess the Hornady guy is right, he said the bullet performed flawlessy cause the deer is dead.
Anyways, in summary 139grain to 145 grain speer in the 7mag. 150 grain in the '06. And to all of those guys who say on paper the two rounds are pretty much the same...yeah on paper they are. I love my 06 pump but mine and my family's experience with both rounds puts the '06 in a distant second place
Ok sorry if this is too long guys, get carried away

[Freezer]

   Let me see if I have this right.  Your giving the Remington to your son.  This Remington was your only/primary deer/moose gun.  Shots are close in 90% of the time but you'll have an opportunity to do some long shots on a blue moon occasion.  IMHO it sounds like a job for a BAR in a 30 wsm or similar cartridge.  The 06 would also fill the bill very well and you already have all the reloading componants for it.  If you like an auto loader stay with it.  The only thing I have against the Rem is it's shotgun trigger.  It can be touched up but it still isn't great. 
    Buy a gun that fits the hunting you do most of the time and make it work (and the Bar sure will) for the blue moon occasion.  Be comfortable and familiar with your gun especially if it's your only/primary big game gun.  I don't see the logic in buying a gun you won't use on a regular basis.  If you spend a lot of money on a hunt why carry a gun your not absolutely comfortable with?
    As for bullets, controlled expansion 160's work well, I don't hunt moose,  I hunt deer, pig and bear.  I use 165 gr Sierra Game Kings in a Savage 99 in 308.  For distance hunts (350 plus yards) I use a Rem 700 in 280 Rem with 160 gr Sierra game Kings.  I've never had to track an animal.