7mm Rem mag v .270

[JACKNZ]

I am looking at buying a new rifle for deer at ranges out to 400yrds or more if I can get my skills up to it.I currently shoot a .308 but wish to change my hunting style,This will mean shooting off a bipod at what for me is long range.I am already familar with the .270 but am considering a
7mm Rem mag.I have never shot a magnum of any type but am aware the 7mm is the mildest of them,even so I would like to know how eazy it would be to handle the recoil compared to the .270.Also will the 7mm mag have a real advantage at these ranges.How,why,ect..DEER ONLY..
THANKS...Jack.

[John Traveler]

How do, Jack!

I'm a 7mm Remington Magnum fan too, and yes, I graduated from the .270 Winchester and 7x57 Mauser cartridges.  Although I still favor the smaller rounds for all-around shooting, the 7mm gets the nod for those barrel stretching distances in open country.

The recoil difference is certainly noticeable between a .270 compared to the 7mm mag, but not significant enough to make a difference during hunting.  It's quite manageable, unlike the .300 Winchester and Weatherby magnums using the heavier bullets.

The flatter trajectory, higher terminal velocity, and greater hitting power AT THE TARGET gives the 7mm mag a significant advantage over the lesser rounds.  My father-in-law went to the 7mm Magnum after loosing a couple solidly-hit big South Texas whitetail  bucks.  The NZ deer are not all that big, are they?

The downside to the 7mm Magnum is that accurate barrel life is only about 1500 rounds.  That's a LOT of rounds if you are only going to use it for load development and hunting.  The barrel life for the standard calibers can be at least three or four times that.

I know several hunters that swear by the effectiveness of the 7mm magnum at extended distances.  It definitely is easier to hit with at distance, but whether you really need the extra killing power is the question.

What part of NZ are you at?

HTH
John

[Enforcer]

The 7MM Rem Mag is a step above the 270.It sends a larger diameter bullet at 200fps-300fps faster than the 270win.As far as the 7MM Rem Mag being shot out or not accurate after 1500 shots.Its BS don't buy it,cause it just ain't true.We have two 7MM Rem Mags.One has about 6000 shots thru it and the other about 7500,and still shoot 1" at 200yds and always have!The 7MM Rem Mag is not that hot a cartridge to shoot out barrels.

[Lawdog]

JACKNZ,

Both are great cartridges, both have their good points and bad points.  As far as recoil goes in rifles of equal weight, say 8.5 lbs., the .270 shooting 130 gr. at 3140 fps. will give you just about 14 lbs. of free recoil.  The 7mm Rem. Mag. shooting 140 gr. at 3150 fps. will give you about 22 lbs. of free recoil.  For just deer size animals I don't see any advantage going to the 7mm Rem. Mag..  Ammo is going to cost more and accuracy wise I'd give the nod to the .270 Win. due to it's lighter recoil.  Hope this helps you some.  Lawdog

[JACKNZ]

Thanks for your input guys,I live in the north island of NZ but hunt over the whole country, the rilfe I wish to buy will be used mostly in the  central NTH Island where distance can go way beyond any shooting range.Also I intend to hunt bull Thar in the southen alps where again distance can be way out there.Bull Thar go 400lb and a big Red stag around 250-300 ,Sika deer are a smaller animal but are a very tough
critter.I can see I will have to haunt the local rifle range for a while,but for now 7mm is looking the go.
THANKS AGAIN...Jack.

[Enforcer]

JackNZ,what Lawdog forgot to add to his velocity,recoil example was this.

Factory 140gr 7MM Rem Mag
3175fps-3133fpe,Momentum:63,KO:18

Factory 130gr 270win
3060fps-2702fpe,Momentum:56,KO:15


As Lawdog said for deer sized game,it won't make a big difference.But for the stuff you will be hunting.It could be the difference between bagging the game or not.As you can plainly see the 7MM Rem Mag is a cut above the 270Win,anyway you cut it!

[Lawdog]

I was going by JackNZ original post where he said at the end,

DEER ONLY

And please lets not get started with KO values.  Taylor's Knock Out Values have very little real use.  If you go by Taylor's chart don't try to stop a common crow or squirrel with a .177 pellet rifle(a 1000 fps. hunting type springer rifle).  Most likely it will let them finish their charge and kill you.  Lawdog

[Enforcer]

Lawdog,your right forget the Taylor KO.Just look at the factory ballistics,velocity,energy,momentum,larger diameter all in favor of the 7MM Rem Mag.Easy,for larger game the 7MM Rem Mag should get the nod ,hands down!

[Jim n Iowa]

After I ordered my big 7, as it was the odds on choice in the 70's of western game hunters(longer distances) I started to compare it to other cal. I had a 30-06 also. The 270 really impressed me, the stats were close, not the range, but running antelope are not a shot for me at +250 yds. Now there are more bullets available, so if you are a reloader its probably #2 or #3 popular in dies. I have a win 70 that is 25+yrs and I like to shoot at the bench trying out diff. loads and this gun is no where in need of a barrel change. I must be getting old as my groups are +1" at a 100.
Jim

[GTBuzz]

I am looking at buying a new rifle for deer at ranges out to 400yrds or more if I can get my skills up to it.
[SNIP]
 would like to know how eazy it would be to handle the recoil compared to the .270.Also will the 7mm mag have a real advantage at these ranges.How,why,ect..DEER ONLY..
THANKS...Jack.

Jack - your first sentence says it all, "I can get my skills up to it".    You are using your head.   Both are going to drop considerably at 400 yards using a 200 yard zero.    Without considerable practice with EITHER, a 400 yard shot will likely equal a miss or a wounded animal.

Consider this, a .270 Winchester shooting a 130g Nosler BT (BC .433)  at 3100 fps will have 1513 ft/lbs of energy at 400 yards and have 18.03" of drop at 400 yards (assuming a 200 yard zero).

The 7mm RM shooting a 140g Nosler BT (BC .485) at 3250 fps will have 1936 ft/lbs of energy at 400 yards and have 15.70" of drop.

Either has plenty of power to dispatch a deer at 400 yards and there is a whopping 2.33" of difference in drop.  Big whoop.   Both will require practice and good range estimating skills to hit game at 400 yards.

I have the opportunity to shoot full sized deer shiloettes at 531 yards.  I have no problem pegging them with a .270 Winchester.

Buy which ever one gives you confidence and go practice  

[txpete]

I have a 7 mag and a 270 both in rem 700's.both rifles are tack drivers.Last deer I dropped with my 270 was a 12 pt at 285 paces.neck shot using sierra 130 sp bullet.I use the 270 for deer hunting here in tx.
for the critters you are talking about hunting and the distance of the shot I'd say go with the 7 mag.one thing....
it isn't a magic bullet and shot placement is everything.if it was me I would go with a 300win mag or a 300 H&H.
pete

[lgm270]

My vote goes to the .270.    There is so little difference in the two rounds that I find the extra recoil and blast of the 7mm magnum to be an unnecessary burden.

I have chronographed other shooters'  7mm mag's at the range for inforamtion purposes to see how they really perform,  and  in a disappointing number of instances the 7mm mag is no better than the .270, espeically with factory ammo.

The real hotrock 7mm mag's are those that are handloaded by savy shooters with access to chronographs.  Individual 7mm's can  ben goosed up substantially, but, in my observation, it takes a knowlegedable handloader with the time, expertise and willingness to embark on load development.   You can get 3,300 fps with the 140 grain bullets and 3,200 fps with 150 grain bullets and 3,100 fps with 160 grain bullets. That is a material improvement over the .270, but some of the standard factory rounds that produce 2950 with the 150 grain bullet and  3,000 fps with the 140 grain bullet are simply not  in any  way superior to  a properly loaded .270.

[Bubba Jack]

If I were going to take a 400 yard shot at an animal, the .270 would be my choice. Plenty of energy and you have a better chance of hitting the animal knowing you will still have the fillings in your teeth, when you pull the trigger. Tends to make hard shots easier when you are comfortable and sqeeeeeze the trigger knowing there is no punishment.

[Dand]

Why not stick with the .308?  Many are wonderfully accurate.  I think the practice is the issue.  I haven't compared the ballistic charts but a good 150 or 165 gr bullet in the newer hot loadings should be plenty.   If after some practicing you still feel you need something more - then go for it. I was once in an informal competition among a bunch of average hunters.  We shot at a glass pie plate set at a measured 440 yards.  The only person to hit it was a state trooper who borrowed my semi custom .300 win mag and my ammo.  All the other 30-06, 6mm Rem varmit wt, 220 swift, 300 weatherby - and I can't remember what else missed - including me with my own gun - several times.  Knowing the trajectory and judging the wind was the key.