Author Topic: What is the biggest animal (Read 1974 times)

jro45 · « **on:** October 26, 2007, 03:26:15 AM »

What is the biggest animal you would shoot with your 7mm? I'm talking Africa, USA, or Canada. The biggest I've shot with mine is a Boar. He was running full Boar ahead when I shot him.

Mr. Joe · « **Reply #1 on:** October 26, 2007, 04:22:24 AM »

With either my 7mag or my 7mm-08 i would confidently take any animal in N. America and all but the big 5 in Africa. Want justifacation? The .30-06 has done it many times and my big 7 is substantially more powerfull than that, and the 7mm08 is a balistic twin to the 7x57 which has been doing it for over 100 years, and by such known people as Jack Oconnor. Shot placement and bullet selection is the key, aside from that...the world is full of versitle game stoppers.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #2 on:** October 26, 2007, 05:34:58 AM »

In a pinch, I'd shoot anything with a 7. Hell, in a pinch, I'd shoot anything with a .22. I've shot elk with a 7mag and would again without a thought. I'd shoot an elk with a 7-08 only if it was my only rifle and then under careful circumstances.
When Oconnor and Bell performed their feats, they didn't tell of the game left to wonder off wounded. People had a much more cavalier attitude toward game back then.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #3 on:** October 26, 2007, 10:15:48 AM »

Any animal that didn't leave me any other choice.......period.....

fatercat · « **Reply #4 on:** October 26, 2007, 10:24:32 AM »

Sir, Jack O'connor would never take a shot he was not sure off. Why take a jab at a fine writer and a honorable man that has passed away? Much less will be thought of you for that remark.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #5 on:** October 26, 2007, 01:01:00 PM »

Beeman, I love your posts but I gotta know the answer to this question. You said, "When O'Conner and Bell performed their feats, they didn't tell of the game left to wonder off wounded". I've heard that about a thousand times but to date nobody has told me what game it is. I wish someone would give me a few accurate accounting's of these accusations. This is no different that the finger pointing that goes on about the long range shooters and the people wounding all those animals with 30-30's and 243's.

Unfounded accusation's, nothing more

billy_56081 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 26, 2007, 02:34:12 PM »

W.D. Bell shot thousands of elephants with a 7X57 mauser with military ball. Good thing those were the non magnum type elephants of yester year. I'd have no problem hunting any North American game with a 7mm as long as I knew the gun and the ammo.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2007, 02:51:17 PM »

I would hunt all of the largest non dangerous game in North America and Africa with my 7mm Remington Magnum, with heavy premium bullets.

Cheese

nomosendero · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2007, 03:11:47 PM »

Quote from: Don Fischer on October 26, 2007, 01:01:00 PM

Beeman, I love your posts but I gotta know the answer to this question. You said, "When O'Conner and Bell performed their feats, they didn't tell of the game left to wonder off wounded". I've heard that about a thousand times but to date nobody has told me what game it is. I wish someone would give me a few accurate accounting's of these accusations. This is no different that the finger pointing that goes on about the long range shooters and the people wounding all those animals with 30-30's and 243's.

Unfounded accusation's, nothing more

Or those rumors about people wounding animals because they shoot long range, for which there is even less proof.

Lone Star · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2007, 03:26:20 PM »

Quote

...When Oconnor and Bell performed their feats, they didn't tell of the game left to wonder off wounded. People had a much more cavalier attitude toward game back then.

What "feats" did O'Conor perform with the 7x57? I've read my copy of Jack O'Connor, The Legendary Life of America's Greatest Gunwriter by Robert Anderson cover to cover several times. This tome catalogs every big game animal O'Connor is known to have killed, and nowhere does it list an animal shot with his three 7x57s that was not what most of us would consider appropriate for cartridges in this class. In Mozambique his wife killed 17 head of game with 19 shots with one of his 7x57 - not a lot of wounded game wondering off there.

O'Connor owned many big bore rifles and used them for large game in Africa and Asia, including two .416 Rigbys, a .450-400 double, a .450 Watts, a .458, and a handful of .338s and .375s. Unlike what the uninformed believe, he had a lot of rifles that were not chambered in.270 WCF.

.

Mr. Joe · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2007, 06:51:54 PM »

"Take it from me, any skilled riflemen can kill any animal in N. America with cartridges of the .30-06, .270, and 7x57 class" Jack Oconnor

Until anyone can prove to me that they know more than the expert of experts...ill take Mr. Oconnors word for it.

Mr. Joe · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2007, 06:54:55 PM »

Lone Star...that is a great book! I had a copy for a while but lost it...my search for a new one starts today! They say Oconnor was a gun nut more than a hunter. He did most certainly have and use many other rifles than the .270

beemanbeme · « **Reply #12 on:** October 27, 2007, 05:40:48 AM »

Fatercat, YOU, sir, need to get your facts straight. I easily recall several of his mag articles where he related how he or his wife lobbed shots at animals on the other side of wherever and scratched the animal down after several attempts. Jack O'Connor was a man, not a God. And if telling the truth, diminishes me in your eyes, I will try to bear up. (imagine a very large smiley face here)

beemanbeme · « **Reply #13 on:** October 27, 2007, 06:24:38 AM »

I will stand by my original post about Messrs Bell and O'connor. I was an avid reader of the old hunting books and if I missed an article by Jack O'connor in Outdoor Life, I would be surprised. So my post was a consensus of my feelings from reading those books and articles.
I will admit, however, that I am writing this whilst sitting on a pillow because of all the vicious bites to my backside. (imagine a large frowny face)

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #14 on:** October 27, 2007, 06:32:35 AM »

I've only hunted North America and honestly the only animal I ever shot with a 7mm was a large caribou in northern Quebec. It was a 7mm rum and had no problem with a 300 yard plus shot. Caribou are fairly thin skinned animals though.

Mr. Joe · « **Reply #15 on:** October 27, 2007, 12:05:40 PM »

beemanbeme...cant say i agree with your assumption of Mr. Oconnors hunting ethics. Just letting it be known...not that you should care. Their are many many people on this board who are Jack Oconnor experts...this is a hunting and shooting board after all. Your assumptions are wildly against the norm so unless you have some inside track...i should think you are mistaken. Please do not take this as a flame, i just feel it necessary to stand up for a man who did so much for the things i love. Such mindless slander is uncalled for and certinly theory.

deltecs · « **Reply #16 on:** October 27, 2007, 01:08:10 PM »

Quote from: billy_56081 on October 26, 2007, 02:34:12 PM

W.D. Bell shot thousands of elephants with a 7X57 mauser with military ball. Good thing those were the non magnum type elephants of yester year. I'd have no problem hunting any North American game with a 7mm as long as I knew the gun and the ammo.

Excuse me, but I thought Bell shot his elephant with a .275 Rigby, which is identical to the 7x57 case. However, I believe he used 175 gr solid round nose bullets rounds made by Rigby that were steel jacketed, not military ball ammo. At least that is the information I've read concerning Bell's hunting.

sdb777 · « **Reply #17 on:** October 28, 2007, 12:47:24 PM »

Quote from: jro45 on October 26, 2007, 03:26:15 AM

What is the biggest animal you would shoot with your 7mm? I'm talking Africa, USA, or Canada. The biggest I've shot with mine is a Boar. He was running full Boar ahead when I shot him.

Do whales count? I'd shoot it with the .283Butler......I'd shoot anything with it. It's all in the placement, not the displacement!

Scott B

jro45 · « **Reply #18 on:** October 30, 2007, 03:37:32 AM »

Whales are not animals. They have a different classification.

sdb777 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 30, 2007, 03:48:09 PM »

Quote from: jro45 on October 30, 2007, 03:37:32 AM

Whales are not animals. They have a different classification.

Animals are all animals, like bugs are all bugs, and insects are all inserts.......right?
Even if they are in a different classification...it'd be fun to try!

Scott B

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #20 on:** October 31, 2007, 02:13:47 AM »

There is nothing in North America I wouldn't hunt with my 7mm Rem Mag, and with proper bullet selection, feel confident in the results.

That said, if I ever go to hunting in the Land of Big Bears I might well prefer a .338 or .375 for defensive purposes. And I can almost guarantee I would take such a hunt as an opportunity and excuse to purchase such a rifle.

coyotejoe · « **Reply #21 on:** October 31, 2007, 04:55:52 AM »

I can't believe you'd even ask. I thought it was well established that the 7mm mag was certainly adequate for all game on this continent and overkill for most. I don't own a seven mag because I find my 6.5x55 to be more than enough gun for all my hunting in Colorado. I don't know who started the rumor that it takes a big gun to kill elk, from what I've seen I'd say they are no harder to bring down than deer. With a high lung shot an elk may walk a bit farther than would a deer because it takes longer to bleed out but with equal shot placement there is not much difference, just don't do the Texas heart shot.

smokepolehall · « **Reply #22 on:** October 31, 2007, 05:09:43 AM »

I don't own a 7mm big or small. I do own a 1916 Swede 6.5x55 that my Pa took a Kodiak Brown in 1948 with he was in the Navy up there. So i reckon it will do what needs to be done.

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #23 on:** October 31, 2007, 06:06:17 AM »

The 7 mm rem. and the 3006 aren't that far apart at least not a " hell of alot "
a good shot from either should kill anything that walks .
but neither would be a stopping gun !

Dand · « **Reply #24 on:** October 31, 2007, 10:52:56 PM »

Several of my good friends carry 7mm Rem Mags here in Alaska. One friend has killed several moose, caribou, black tail deer, maybe a black bear or two and two brown bears (one on Kodiak) with his 7 mag and factory loads. One of my current hunting partners has killed 4 bull moose in the last 4 years with his 7 Rem Mag and factory loads. The bulls ranged from rather small to medium size. One of them died on the spot from a hit to the upper leg - when we butchered the animal I couldn't figure out what killed it as there was NO blood in the body cavity. Apparently my friend hit the brachial artery and leg bone and the animal bled out on the spot. None of his moose have gone more than 10 yards, the shots were 35 yards to 150. This same guy has taken a several caribou too. My other current hunting partner has killed several moose and caribou with his Ruger in 7 Rem Mag. Its a pretty popular cartridge here in Alaska - mostly with the 175 gr bullet. Another good friend killed a lot of caribou, a couple moose, and a smallish brown bear with his 7 Rem Mag - he loads Nosler Partitions. I was on the bear hunt. It was about 150-175 yard shot to the heart lung area. The bear spun around and hit the brush. After an hour wait we couldn't find the animal before dark- pretty scary in the alder tangles. Came back a day later and found the bear - it had gone about 70 yards and died probably beery quickly qafter being hit.

I'm a 30 caliber man and prefer the 30-06 to the 7mm Rem Mag and actually carry a 300 win mag. But there's no doubt about it, the 7 Rem Mag works very well. For all but the biggest moose and brown bears in general, I'd bet the 280, 7-08 or 7x57 would do nearly as well with decent shot placement.

qajaq59 · « **Reply #25 on:** November 04, 2007, 01:03:47 AM »

Quote

"Take it from me, any skilled riflemen can kill any animal in N. America with cartridges of the .30-06, .270, and 7x57 class" Jack Oconnor

Note: The key word in that sentence is SKILLED!!!! You can't shoot them in the butt and expect them to instantly fall down dead with any caliber rifle.

Drilling Man · « **Reply #26 on:** November 04, 2007, 03:03:43 AM »

Quote

Several of my good friends carry 7mm Rem Mags here in Alaska.

I also carried a 7 Rem mag. in Alaska for a time... With 175NP's it out penetrated many of the bigger rounds and had no trouble breaking down even the biggest bears. On anything smaller it was a piece of cake...

My 7 mag. is long gone, replaced with many different guns and cartridges/calibers, ending up with the lite-weight 280 Rem. i still have today...

The longest shot i ever made on an game animial was with a 7 mag. loaded with 140NP's at the below Dall...

DM

Sourdough · « **Reply #27 on:** November 16, 2007, 07:28:02 PM »

Many of my friends used to carry 7MM Mags for everything, no more. They still carry them for sheep, goats, deer and caribou. For moose and the big bears they all now carry .338s or .375s, they got tired of having to track down animals. Yes the 7MM is adequate to take anything in North America, but this is not a perfect world and shots are not always made perfect. At least with bigger bullets you can be a little off and still drop the animal. Or at least do enough damage that the animal does not, or can not, leave the area. From years of experience I will not use a bullet lighter than .225 gr, I like 250s better, the heavier the bullet the better I like it. The 7MM light bullets just don't cut it in my camp.

Had an acquaintance in Eagle River that carried a 7MM Mag. He lived nest door to my hunting partner, and he went with us for several years, but never shot anything. Then one year he got the chance to shoot a Moose. I was not there, but my hunting partner was. According to my partner, He took his shot at under 100 yards. Then the moose started running, and was shot with the 7MM two more times. Moose was lost, never found. Next two years my partner avoided him just before hunting season, and slipped out without his neighbor knowing we had left. Then the third year the neighbor came over as we were packing our gear. He asked if he could join us that year. My partner asked if he still carried that 7MM, he said he did. My partner then said he needed to grow up and shoot a real gun and leave the varmint gun at home. I thought that was a bit rough, but over the years I have gotten to look at it pretty much the same way. I haven't shot my 7MM Mag in over twenty years, and have no intentions of getting it out to hunt here in Alaska. If I go south to hunt antelope or mulies, it will be the gun I take. Otherwise it will sit in the vault.

Brithunter · « **Reply #28 on:** November 16, 2007, 10:22:56 PM »

Actually Mr W.D.M. Bell used three different cartridges during his professional hunting career starting off with a pair of Lee Speeds in .303 then a Mannlicher mdl 1893 in 6.5x53R and finally a Mauser which was most likely a model 1893 or 1895 as it came from the Boer's of South Africa and yes was the 7mm which every one talks about. What folks seems to not remember it that bell did walkign Safaris where he and his porters walked out into the hinterlands and shot teh elephants on the way burying the tusks for later collection. They walked as far as their supplies lasted or until they had as amny tusks as they could carry.

Bell also did not like recoil and another reason for using small bores was that the report of firing a small rifle did not disturb the herd like a big bore so he could walk up into the herd and shoot from close range. It's recorded that on occasions he shot teh spine at the base of the tail to drop the elephant on it's rump then ran up it's back to shoot it in the back of the head. Not something I would wish to try! When he retired bell brought a small place in Scotland where his neighbours regarded him as a poacher as he selected a place with an excellent crossing point for deer and took many splendid specimens which the neighbours regarded as theirs. he also shot Cormorants on the wing as they circled the loch with his Mannlicher Schoenauer 6.5x54MS.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #29 on:** November 17, 2007, 02:13:35 AM »

I would imagine Mr. Bell would have been an interesting person to sit down at a fire with.