7mm Mag

[beemanbeme]

something that noone seems to have touched on is the 7mags I have seen are very accurate.  With only a little practice, one can get accustomed to the recoil and then shoot some pretty tight groups.  Also, the 7mag seems to be a round you can easily find a good load for.  
My 7mag holds it's zero from year to year (I know that's more the rifle than the cartridge) and its a tack driver.  That seems to be the norm rather than the exception.

[Don Fischer]

My 7mm Mag and one I worked with for another guy were both very very accurate. Mine shot bugholes. Recoil was also something you learned to handle. I used it and a 338 Mag to shoot gophers up in Montana. But getting used to recoil only makes it manageable, time takes it's toll if you shoot a lot. For hunting purposes, the recoil became no problem if I kept in practic with it. Then again, mine was also far more accutate than was necessary. That, I wouldn't have any other way!

[Cheesehead]

Don,

I believe all the cartridges I listed are completely adequate for all deer species and more. I believe everything in my post is true. In fact I traded my 300 mag for a 308 Win last year because the 308 is all I need and want for energy and trajectory in the whitetail woods. I also have several 6.5x55s and feel they to are adequate. If I were to go elk or moose hunting I would take my 7 mag because it would make the most sense for a couple of reasons. It does provide more ft/lbs of energy and has a greater chance of dropping the larger animals quicker by causing greater hydrostatic shock, greater bone and tissue damage. The other cartridges are indeed adequate, but the 7 mag may be more efficient in some scenarios. It might keep that animal from going the few extra yards to jump that ridge or fence making it unobtainable. Sometimes hitting harder is a good thing, even if it just a little bit. I bought the 7 mag for its broad spectrum of capabilities, the taking of animals both small and large with out extreme recoil. That is the personal niche it filled for me in my opinion.

Cheese