Author Topic: 7mm Rem Mag, .308 or 30-06 (Read 3078 times)

kombi1976 · « **on:** July 19, 2004, 06:36:26 PM »

At the moment I'm tossing up which cal I'll get when I buy a new rifle around New Year. For a while I tossed up getting a 7mm-08 or a 7x57 but the 7-08 is limited as far as heavy bullets for really big game like sambar deer(like elk, maybe a little bigger) due to it's neck length and the 7x57 is getting harder to buy in new rifles.
As such I'm left wondering which of the above 3 I should invest get.
I know the 308 is very accurate but it doesn't push the big 30 cal bullets very effectively.
The 30-06 is great for short to medium distances but it isn't real flat despite its effectiveness on big game.
The 7mm Rem of course has recoil and noise as well as case life against it but can I counter these by not loading it so hot? It's a great round but I don't want to have to put up with these issues all the time.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #1 on:** July 19, 2004, 08:00:45 PM »

Kombi 1976
Have you considered the Rem 280 ? In my mind you would have the best of two worlds, You can load the 280 and just about match the kicking 7mm
or soften the loads to a nice easy round to handle. So many people have overlooked the 280 and they don't know what they have missed. When i drop below the 375 H&H it's automatic 280 time. Loaded with160 or 168 gr.
Quality bullet sure makes sweet music. Well Sir I wish you the best or
good day mate...............Joe................

longwinters · « **Reply #2 on:** July 20, 2004, 10:56:54 AM »

Same quandry I was in. I have shot 06 for years. But I felt like a new rifle and did not want to duplicate calibers. I was never a big fan of the 308, and looked at the 280, 7mm and 300win. I ended up going with the 7mm for a couple of reasons. I looked at the reloading books and to get the 280 up to 7mm mag you end up with just as much recoil. Actually the 280 has very little added velocity over the 06 or the 308. I did not want the recoil of the 300 win, and so settled for what I thought was the best average of all that, in my mind, being the 7mm.

Now that I have had it for over a year this is where I am at. I still like the 7mm, but have added a 243 and a 308. In my mind I now am set for light, medium and medium large game. I doubt if I would ever be able to go for anything bigger than elk and the 7mm (or 308) would do just fine. All three rifles are within my recoil limits since I have just begun to shoot weekly rather than just to check my sites before hunting. Ammo is easy to find although I reload, which I also started doing a little over a year ago.

But if I had to pick only one rifle for everything. . . . . . and could not diversify I would go with the 30-06. It is hard to judge a caliber until you have carried it and shot it a fair amount . There are always calibers that will be better at something. But you have to decide what charactoristics are important to you and what range of game you will use it for. You mention heavier bullets (which I think is over 165 grains) this puts you in the 30 cal. department. You really can't do it with the 7mm's over 175 grains. So for you this will be significant in your decision. Otherwise I could go with either the 06 or 7mm mag.

GOOD LUCK ON THIS ONE!!

lONG

Lawdog · « **Reply #3 on:** July 20, 2004, 11:44:00 AM »

kombi1976,

After reading your post it sounds to me like you have already made up your mind. I'll support you and say get the 7mm Rem. Mag. or you could consider the 7mm WSM. Not that much difference in ballistics between the two. Small groups and tight lines to you. Lawdog

kombi1976 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 20, 2004, 03:15:29 PM »

In reply to a few of the suggestions, I already considered getting a .280 but the ammo is hard to come by here in Australia and I don't fancy ejecting cases and then having to search for them in the dark when I'm pig shooting at night. The 7mm WSM is a great round too but it has the same limitations in terms of ammo, at least at the present. The 7mm Rem wouldn't be my only rifle. I also have an Enfield .303-25(303 Brit necked down to .257 cal) so medium game is not an issue.

Con · « **Reply #5 on:** July 20, 2004, 03:59:20 PM »

kombi,
Have you thought about a 270WSM? Yes... cases are more expensive but it'll shoot flat, there are good rifles in this calibre in all price ranges, and the premium bullets in the factory ammo will give you an edge on Sambar. Out of the others that you suggested I personally like the 30/06 best, good all-rounder. I chase Sambar with a 375H&H and 45/70, they're a big animal and running in the scrub I prefer the bigger calibres and as much bullet weight as I can comfortably shoot. Given that you've got the 25/303 for the small-medium stuff, maybe a 338WM would be the go for the Sambar, and load it down to a 250gr at 2300fps if the recoil hurts initially.
Cheers...
Con

kombi1976 · « **Reply #6 on:** July 20, 2004, 05:39:37 PM »

Con, my reasons for considering .308, 30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag are 2 fold:

1. I want a powerful round capable of long distance accuracy with good stopping power at most ranges.

2. I don't want to have to worry about turning up to a gunshop in the outback and finding the place doesn't stock the cartridge I'm using, should I run out of reloads.

I might add that the .303-25 has been a constant problem in terms of getting or forming cases, so much so that 2 weeks ago when I went shooting near Bourke in Northern NSW I was cycling the spent cases out of the action really slowly and fumbling around in the dark so that I wouldn't lose any of the cases I have. This was while we chased a mob of goats through the scrub & I was in constant fear of seeing a great shot appear while was still trying not to lose spent cases. I'm forced to reload and the cases are rare or take considerable time to form so I don't want to be caught in the same position again. It's fine if you're using regular rounds like .223s, .243s, .270 Win or .308s but not if you have to try and account for every round you fire. Another aspect of the .303-25 is that while it is great for culling roos or taking down mid sized game out to about 150yds its accuracy begins to degrade from there on. It's an o.k. rifle but it's no Weatherby.

As far as the .270 WSM goes, I'm not sure I'd be comfortable taking down a sambar with it despite the good reviews, mainly because of the cal and the available bullet weights. The 7mm looks o.k. but once again, it's yet to become a common round(if it ever does) here in Oz.

On the other side of the fence, I can't see myself shooting scrub bulls or cape buffalo in the forseeable future(if ever) and when I fired a 300 Win Mag recently I ended up with bruises. I'm sure it was my technique, not the rifle, but I don't relish the thought of getting it wrong at a time when it counted and ending up sore for a week. As such the .338 has little appeal for me.

But there you go. I will say, though, that a 45-70 does hold some attraction for me. Maybe the day will come when I buy or have a rifle built in that round. That day won't be anytime soon, however. The thing about shooting in Australia is that it varies so much, everything for long distance plains work to up-close scrub chases. Since I have limited means and a wife who isn't keen on guns I'm not likely to build up much of an armoury, at least not anytime soon. My better half believes you should only need one rifle for everything and anything you can't shoot with it is best left alone. She's a good soul & she puts up with a lot but it's an uphill battle.

Con · « **Reply #7 on:** July 21, 2004, 02:05:45 AM »

kombi,
Okay, sounds like your missus and mine know each other! In that case grab a 7mmRemMag, buy a Weatherby Vanguard, they're selling around $650 in the bigger city gunstores (O'Reilly in Melb, Horsley in Syd or Cleaver up in Qld) with mounts which is great "family budget" value. If you end up wanting to get rid of it after a year or two you'll make money at the current price as you'll be able to sell for a minimum of $700ish. Alternatively a sound second-hand Rem700, can be bought for around $700. Buy a premium factory load for the Sambar and reload a cheap "bulk" 130gr projectile for the long range goats. A mate used 150gr factory loads years ago on goats and got full penetrations without any expansion, so a lighter bullet is probably going to be best. If I had of known a couple of months ago that someone was after 25/303 cases I would have sent you a couple hundred for the cost of freight, as I was given quite a few by a mate. A few locals around here use 25/303 cases made from Sth African ex-mil cases necked down as their not that expensive compared to commercial brass and there is lots of this brass floating about. The primer is a hassle though!
Maybe it's worthwhile to ditch the 25/303 for a couple hundred dollars and put it all towards a 7mmRemMag?
Take care...
Con

kombi1976 · « **Reply #8 on:** July 21, 2004, 03:47:26 PM »

Con, you're reading my mind! :grin:

I'm actually saving up for a Weatherby Fiberguard, the Vanguard with the Bell & Carlson synthetic carbonfibre/fibreglass aluminium pillar-bedded stock. It's going for just over $900 but it's a great rifle and I reckon it's worth the extra for the good stock. Plus they come with Leupold mounts and rings.

I have been thinking about selling the 25/303. I'd also sell the dies, rounds and cases with it and the rifle has mounts and rings I'd be willing to part with although I'd keep the scope. But I'd probably use the $$$ from that to pick up a single shot Rossi in .223. I was checking one out at Horsley Park a week or so ago and they're a tidy little unit with open sights. The rifle's already drilled and tapped for mounts and for just over $300 you can't really go wrong. It's very similar to the H&R/NEF Handirifle and a lot of folks are very big fans of that particular rifle.
Let's face it, a 7mm Rem Mag is just a tad over board for use on rabbits, hares and possibly even foxes, although I'd possibly be exploiting the long range abilities of the 7mm sniping foxes.

RaySendero · « **Reply #9 on:** July 21, 2004, 04:33:18 PM »

I know its a bit lighter than what you've been considering but.... my suggestion would be a:
270 Winchester. :mrgreen:

kombi1976 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 21, 2004, 05:06:22 PM »

I thought about .270 for a while, Ray, but the minimum cal for hunting deer in particular places in Oz .270. Furthermore, most who hunt sambar deer believe you have rocks in your head if you head out with anything less than a 7mm Rem. It's considered adequate for the game and since most of my shooting doesn't involve stuff that size I figured I'd get a round that is suitable for the top end of the game I hunt and is a good wallop for the medium stuff.

If I bought a .270 Win I think I'd eventually find myself buying something bigger. While a 7mm Rem Mag is not necessarily the ultimate all-round cartridge it has enough top end to take out most game.

The down fall of the .270 is not it's accuracy or range or even power but simply the limitations in terms of available bullet weights. A .270 win works best with a 130gr bullet. A 7mm Rem on the other hand can push a 150 very effectively, has to power to push a 175gr with decent clout and has the frontal area above a .270. The differences may seem small but they remain and with a big animal like a sambar or elk you don't want to feel under-gunned. I suppose it's psychological but I also have a weakness for the 7mm/.280 cal.

The truth is if I lived in Europe I'd probably be buying a 7x64 Brenneke but with the predominace of American cartridges and the relative rarity here in Australia of such popular European rounds as the Brenneke the 7mm Rem Mag is the best choice I feel. Every ammo manufacturer also produces serious premium ammo for the 7mm Rem & there's plenty of cheap ammo available anywhere, cheap brass and a wide range of bullets for reloading.

Con · « **Reply #11 on:** July 21, 2004, 05:31:43 PM »

kombi,
Make sure to have a good look at the Vanguards. The discounted rifles around at the moment have a "Classic" style Butler Creek stock that I've used on a 458WM with no problems. They're a nice stock with a comfortable rounded forend. The new Weatherby style synthetic stocks look like a cheap Piers stock with a very triangular and in my opinion uncomfortable forend. I haven't seen the Bell & Carlson stocks yet so can't comment.
The older Vanguards usually have Weaver mounts which I prefer as they're a little lighter and just as strong.
Cheers...
Con

kombi1976 · « **Reply #12 on:** July 21, 2004, 06:01:30 PM »

Well, the Fiberguards certainly look fine. You can check them out if you go to Horsley Park or the St Mary's shooting range. As far as I know they're the same stock they use on the Fibermark, the up-market model.

RaySendero · « **Reply #13 on:** July 22, 2004, 02:30:37 PM »

Quote from: kombi1976

I thought about .270 for a while, Ray, but.......

The down fall of the .270 is not it's accuracy or range or even power but simply the limitations in terms of available bullet weights. A .270 win works best with a 130gr bullet. A 7mm Rem on the other hand can push a 150 very effectively, has to power to push a 175gr with decent clout and has the frontal area above a .270. The differences may seem small but they remain and with a big animal like a sambar or elk you don't want to feel under-gunned. ..........

Understand your logic - Just want to add some more little known facts.

I reload the 270 as follows: 1) White tail deer inside of 150 yards - 130 grain bullets loaded down to 2,700 fps. 2) Targets - 135 Match bullets load 0.5 below max. 3) White tail deer long distance - 150 grain boat tails loaded max (figure this load actually carries over 1500 ft-lbs of energy to 400 yards! Shoots flat too: +1.25" high at 100yards, dead on at 200yards, 6" down at 300 yards. I would bring the sights up some to get a bit flatter trajectory but at this setting the top point of the lower duplex in my scope happens to be dead on at 500 yards. So it kinda works like a mil dot.). 4) Hogs - 160 grain noslers PTs.

Can't explain but - Some 270 winchesters have an uncanty nack of shooting a variety of bullet weights into the same point of impact! Mine does this very well. A target I shot working up a loads with 130 grain spitzer and another load using a 140 grain boattail. There are 4 shot in the group - 2 of the 130s and 2 of the 140s! I didn't have any that day but 150s would have printed in there real close too.

kombi1976 · « **Reply #14 on:** July 22, 2004, 05:32:50 PM »

Sendero, that's quite an argument. Which model rifle are you using these loads in?

Big Paulie · « **Reply #15 on:** July 23, 2004, 06:13:14 AM »

The .308 Winchester would be my choice. In the regular factory loads, it will handle all game up to medium sized elk. For larger elk and moose, you can now buy the Hornaday Light Magnums, or the Federal Hi-Energy rounds, that push a 180 grain Nosler Partition or Barnes X bullet at the same velocity as the 30-06. This is totally sufficient for elk and moose (due to the excellent bullets). If you doubt it, go back through the last 24 months of American Hunter, Shooter's Times, and Guns and Ammo, and read the stories.

By the way, Jeff Cooper took his scout rifle, in .308 Winchester, with a 20 inch barrel, and the Federal Hi-Energy rounds, to Africa, and shot 20 head of largest plains game, including the greater Kudu, the Gazelle, and the Eland. He had 18 one-shot kills. On two of the animals, he required a second shot to finish them, but they were on the ground.

The availability of great premium bullets in factory loads for the .308 Winchester has changed the entire equation for this round. Also, take a look at Craig Boddington's book on big game cartridges. In his section on the .308 Winchester, he notes that it is one of the most underappreciated hunting cartridges there is, and that despite the differences on paper, he never saw any practical difference in the game killing performance between the .308 and the .30-06.

If you are at all recoil sensitive, or just like a light-kicking rifle, go with the .308 Winchester. I know it is not a good Grizzly Bear round, but lets face it, not 1 in 1,000 of us will ever be hunting Grizzly.

Best Regards,

Big Paulie

Krazyhorse · « **Reply #16 on:** July 25, 2004, 10:31:34 PM »

kombi1976:
I'll have to jump in with a vote on this. With all of the criteria you have given I would definitely go with the .30-06! With all of the different game you will be going after at all the different ranges, it sounds like a perfect fit for an '06. It is hard to find a cartridge that has a wider selection of factory loadings and if you reload that makes it even a better selection! Brass is real easy to find for it, there is lots of bulk ammo for it, bullet selection like no other caliber that I know of and without the extra noise, cost or recoil of the magnums. You can load light for small game, (all the way down to 55gr. if you can get the sabots for it "down under") or up around the 220gr. range for big critters! It may not be much over the .308 but it pulls away a little after you hit the 180gr or heavier weight range. Good luck and good hunting with whatever you decide on.

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #17 on:** July 26, 2004, 01:34:58 PM »

I love my 7mm Remington Magnum and I also love the old 30/06 you cant go wrong with either one...they both have about the same recoil(7mag seems like its just a "sharper,quicker" kick) 7 mag just fliies a little flatter and faster and has a little more punch(on average) you can not go wrong with either.
If ammo availablity is a main concern go with the .30'06 no doubt a GREAT round

dkhnt · « **Reply #18 on:** August 21, 2004, 02:06:29 AM »

My vote goes for the .280 Remington. Your almost at 7 Mag. velocity but with far less recoil. When comparing the .280 Remington ballistically with the .270 and .30-06 it shines at all distances but this is especially true from 200 on out ... at all distances.

My vote goes for the .280 remington. It just don't get no better!

stork · « **Reply #19 on:** August 22, 2004, 07:30:45 AM »

The 7mm Rem mag and the 30-06 will provide exactly the same performance, so it is just a matter of what you like the best. Both are great so you can not go wrong. my vote would be the 30-06, but that is just because I have a 30-06. If you can't decide flip a coin, heads 30-06, tails 7mm mag.

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #20 on:** August 22, 2004, 08:16:05 AM »

Quote from: stork

The 7mm Rem mag and the 30-06 will provide exactly the same performance.

They are close but not exact, I am not big on factory charts but is a good guideline, I grabbed this simple comparison straight from Remington. Please note the same bullet type and weight...the 7mag clearly has a speed advantage and quite a bit more power at all ranges...the 7mag has about the same energy at 500 yards that the 30'06 has at 300 yards, a big difference if you actually dial out long distances...also the 30'06 drops almost 10 inches more than the 7mag at 500 yards if sighted in at 200yards...again these are factory charts but I own both and have shot the '06 and the 7 mag at long distances and the charts are very close to being exact.

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Cartridge Type Bullet Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
7mag: Premier AccuTip 150 ABT 3110 2926 2749 2579 2415 2258
30'06: Premier AccuTip 150 ABT 2910 2686 2473 2270 2077 1893

ENERGY (ft-lbs)
Cartridge Type Bullet Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
7mag: Premier AccuTip 150 ABT 3221 2850 2516 2215 1943 1697
30"06: Premier AccuTip 150 ABT 2820 2403 2037 1716 1436 1193

SHORT-RANGE¹ TRAJECTORY*
Cartridge Type Bullet 50 100 150 200 250 300
7mag: Premier AccuTip 150 ABT 0 0.5 zero -1.6 -4.3 -8.2
30'06: Premier AccuTip 150 ABT 0.1 0.7 zero -2 -5.4 -10.3

LONG-RANGE² TRAJECTORY*
Cartridge Type Bullet 100 150 200 250 300 400 500
7mag: Premier AccuTip 150 ABT 1.3 1.2 zero -2.3 -5.9 -17 -34.1
30'06: Premier AccuTip 150 ABT 1.7 1.5 zero -2.9 -7.4 -21.5 -43.7

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But to defend the '06 from myself...It is 100 years old and still holds it's own against just about ALL calibers out to 300 yards and is fully capable of super long shots in the hands of a skilled shooter...There was quite a few confirmed kills during WWI and WWII with the '06 in excess of 1000 yards.

The 7mm Remington Magnum is 42 years old this year and is considered by many as one of the best multiple purpose big game rifle chamberings in the world.

stork · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2004, 11:27:21 AM »

The problem with those charts are that the bullets have totally different ballistic coeficients wich affects how well it flyies through the air, and if a bullet flies through the air better than anouther bullet it usually is going to drop less and retain more speed. I will agree that the 7mag has a lot more speed, but if you substituted a 165 gr, for the 06, the bullet drop would probably be very close.

dkhnt · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2004, 03:10:05 PM »

Stork -

The ballistic coefficient would still be better for the .284 bullet and not drop as fast at the .308 bullet of the same weight. The 7mm Mag. would continue to be superior to the .30-06. In fact, compare the same weight bullets being shot from a .280 Remington and a .30-06. Same case but the .284 bullet far exceeds the .308 bullet ballistically ... at all ranges.

My two cents!

stork · « **Reply #23 on:** August 23, 2004, 03:58:42 PM »

I understand what you are saying but when comparing bullets of the same weight in two different calibers the larger caliber bullet will have the lower ballistic coeficient. therefore the bullet weights must be changed to make the ballistic coeficients of both calibers comparable. Once that has been acomplished you can really see the advantages or disadvantages of one cartridge over another.

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #24 on:** August 23, 2004, 07:16:48 PM »

Dear Stork,
I know about ballistic coefficient but as I said, the "charts" I provided was just a "guideline". If you "even out" the Ballistic Coefficient, the .30'06 can drop up to 14 inches more than the 7mag at 500 yards if sighted at 200 yards, depending on bullet choice. Over a full FOOT of drop MORE!!! On top of that, the '06 still has less speed and energy.
Please read on...

I shot my first deer when I was six years old with a 30'06. I packed that '06 around the hollers of Kentucky by myself since I was 9 or 10. I made a 400 yard shot on a red fox from my backyard out across the cow pasture.(he was eatin' the chickens)when I was 12, and 2 years after that I made a shot on a whitetail in excess of 500 yards and did it all with the same Remington 700 BDL 30'06 with the same old Weaver 4x scope and that is not counting all the deer, coyote, fox, crow, and groundhogs that I shot in between and after, so I am no amateur when it comes to the .30'06.
I used that gun up until I bought my 7mm Rem. Mag. The first thing I noticed after sighting in(zeroed the same as the '06)and moving my targets out passed 400 yards on our shooting range(a large field with a big hill at the end) was that the 7mag consistently shot "WAY" HIGH from what I was used to. Now, if the 30'06 Springfield and the 7mm Remington Magnum had the "exact" same performance would that had happened???

The "government" "created" the 30'06, so tell me, if they are exactly the same, Why does the U.S. Secret Service Counter-Sniper Teams choose the 7mm Remington Magnum over the 30'06?

But again in defense of the 30'06, It is and always will be America's most popular hunting cartridge, and those who choose it are not wrong.

Also, although the 7mm Magnum CLEARLY outperforms the 30'06, it was the 30'06 that CLEARLY set the standard for todays cartridges and gets the utmost respect from me.

Truly,
7mag

When you even up the Ballistic Coefficients the '06 just drops that much more than the 7mm Remington Magnum and still has less speed and energy. Like it or not, It is a fact.

Cartridge Type Wt. (grs) Bullet Style Primer No. Ballistic Coefficient
30'06: Premier Scirocco Bonded 180 Swift Scirocco .5
7 Mag: Premier Scirocco Bonded 150 Swift Scirocco 0.533
30'06: Premier Core-Lokt Ultra 180 Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt® 0.402
7Mag: Premier Core-Lokt Ultra 160 Pointed Soft Point Core-Lokt® 0.415

VELOCITY (ft/sec)
Cartridge Type Bullet Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
30'06: Premier Scirocco Bonded 180 SSB 2700 2522 2351 2186 2028 1878
7mag: Premier Scirocco Bonded 150 SS 3110 2927 2751 2582 2419 2262
30'06: Premier Core-Lokt Ultra 180 PSP CLU 2700 2480 2270 2070 1882 1704
7mag: Premier Core-Lokt Ultra 160 PSP CLU 2950 2724 2510 2305 2109 1924

ENERGY (ft-lbs)
Cartridge Type Bullet Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
30'06: Premier Scirocco Bonded 180 SSB 2913 2542 2208 1910 1644 1409
7mag: Premier Scirocco Bonded 150 SS 3221 2852 2520 2220 1948 1704
30'06: Premier Core-Lokt Ultra 180 PSP CLU 2913 2457 2059 1713 1415 1161
7mag: Premier Core-Lokt Ultra 160 PSP CLU 3091 2636 2237 1887 1581 1315

SHORT-RANGE¹ TRAJECTORY*
Cartridge Type Bullet 50 100 150 200 250 300
30'06: Premier Scirocco Bonded 180 SSB 0 zero -1.3 -4 -8.3 -14.2
7mag: Premier Scirocco Bonded 150 SS 0 0.5 zero -1.6 -4.3 -8.2
30'06: Premier Core-Lokt Ultra 180 PSP CLU 0 zero -1.3 -4.2 -8.7 -15.1
7mag: Premier Core-Lokt Ultra 160 PSP CLU 0.1 0.6 zero -1.9 -5.2 -10

LONG-RANGE² TRAJECTORY*
Cartridge Type Bullet 100 150 200 250 300 400 500
30'06: Premier Scirocco Bonded 180 SSB 2 1.7 zero -3.3 -8.3 -23.9 -47.9
7mag: Premier Scirocco Bonded 150 SS 1.3 1.2 zero -2.3 -5.9 -17 -34
30'06: Premier Core-Lokt Ultra 180 PSP CLU 2.1 1.8 zero -3.5 -8.9 -25.8 -52.7
7mag: Premier Core-Lokt Ultra 160 PSP CLU 1.6 1.4 zero -2.8 -7.1 -20.8 -42.4

Stay Safe. Happy Shooting/Hunting.

kombi1976 · « **Reply #25 on:** August 24, 2004, 03:16:26 PM »

O.k., the emphasis seems to be on the 7mm Rem Mag.
The big question of course is, can I light load it to use on varmints and extend case life and only worry about the hotter loads when I have to shoot bigger game?
I've heard many folks say that they can load their .280 Rem real close to 7mm magnum performance so I imagine the opposite is possible if I want to.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 24, 2004, 03:30:41 PM »

7Mag.
I think you burnt your keyboard up on that one,,,,LMAO,,,,But you got it right. I was about the same way, Shot the 06 for many years until the 7 mag came out, I was real lucky, I managed to pick up one of the first ones that came to Albuquerque N.M. I have killed 11 big bull Elk with it all one shot kills. There is nothing wrong with the 06 they have been used more than any other round except maybe the 30-30. My bigest problem is I love all my guns, It's not like people,,, There are no bad guns.
Take care and stay safe............Joe............

7magWoodsman · « **Reply #27 on:** August 25, 2004, 02:44:46 AM »

Quote from: kombi1976

can I light load it to use on varmints and extend case life and only worry about the hotter loads when I have to shoot bigger game?
I've heard many folks say that they can load their .280 Rem real close to 7mm magnum performance so I imagine the opposite is possible if I want to.

Yes and Yes.
The .280 is a GREAT cartridge. I originally dwelled on the decision of 7mag or .280 and chose the 7mag because, although you can load the .280 up to a 7mag, you can load the 7mag beyond even that.

Quote from: oso45-70

I think you burnt your keyboard up on that one,,,,LMAO.
My bigest problem is I love all my guns, It's not like people,,, There are no bad guns.

My keyboard was startin' to smoke pretty good, but I paused and shot some Rem Oil to it, and it slacked up pretty good.

I also agree that there are "no bad guns" only "bad people" and there is a thought that has always been in my mind: "If it was a Law that everyone HAD to carry a gun, how long would it take to filter out the bad people?" thus leaving only good people with great tools. :-)

Chuck White · « **Reply #28 on:** August 25, 2004, 01:04:02 PM »

I suggest you go with the 7mm Rem.Mag!

I've had one for about 30 years and I love it.

You will hear lots of talk about short case life, but if you load within reason, your cases will last for years!

I use the Hornady reloading manual and find the max load for the bullet/powder combo I want to use, then back it down two increments! That is two loads below max! This is usually a very accurate load too!

Knock-on-wood, I have never had a split neck or any other trouble with my loads.