Big difference in the size of the hole, also ammo price is different.

Several people in Oregon are building up 7mm mags into 1000 yard shooters, not sure why, I opted for the 25-06.

 

Carlos Hathcock didn't fire a .300 at Camp Perry all those years for no reason.

 

If it was me id stay with the 300. The 7mm mag does have better balistics but are limited on round and reload components. The 300 run from 110-250grn bullets the 7mm their like 100or 110-178grn. I think. Alot of your longrange shooters us the 300 bigger bullet good bilistics and less wind deflection. Both good guns and good rounds but if i was going to keep shot limited to 500yrds then id stay with a standard round. The animals you said can be killed with a 243-30-06 at that range. I myself wont shoot a game animal like a deer or bigger past 300yrds. To much to take into account like wind the time to impact it may only be a a half second but tgats enough movement to go from a kill shot to a gut shot if they move. Just me though but out of the 300& 7mm id take the 300.

 

the 300 Win Mag gives you more options on bullet size and can be flatter than the 7mm with 165 grain bullets

 

A 7mm magnum is plenty for all the animals in the state and in most cases a 300 mag could be way too much IMO

I had a 7mm mag, I traded it off because, if I missed my first shot, it took me considerably longer to get down on target to get a 2nd shot off, especially on smaller animals.

I used a 30-06 and I found it was too much gun at shorter ranges and on smaller deer, I retired it.

I have found that a 130gr out of a 270 is all you need here in the state, or 120gr in a 25-06 same as 100 grain in a 243.

For South and Hill Country deer, I think a 22-250 or a 243 is an excellent choice.

In the panhandle or West Texas is where your magnum cartridges or larger calibers work really well, you very well could have a shot that could go up to 1000 yds but I wouldn't take those shots on game animals. Coyotes are a different story though.

In Palo Duro canyon, aoudad are plentiful, you definitely need a long ranging cartridge, this is where your flatter shooting bullets shine!

One thing I've noticed hunting Texas all through the years is one day, a pistol is all you need and some days I think a 30-378 Weatherby would be a good choice.

FWIW


Let us know what you choose!

 

The 7mm is plenty of gun for the animals you mentioned and what I would prefer. If you were going to start looking at longer shots at elk, the 300 would be the superior round. The choice may be more about you and the gun instead of the caliber (either one will do what you are asking of it). How recoil sensitive are you, how does the gun feel to you (are you used to the one you have), what trigger do you like the best and etc? The best answer anyone can give you is keep the one you have and buy the other one!!!

 

Big difference in N Tx is the wind. Wont batter around the 300 mag like the 7mm. I say most folks cant outshoot a 308, about max- and available in many 'assault' systems unlike 7mm or 300 mags. Dual purpose round- two guns, or one gun with a good AR10.

 

Both are overkill X 2 for the game you're hunting, but of the 2, the 7mm will have less recoil, so have at it.

 

Yep, what he said. I own both, one in 300 cause I thought I needed something bigger and badder and I have two in 7mm Rem Mag, needless to say I like the 7mm's much more. Recoil wise, according to my "calibrated shoulder", the 7mm falls about mid way between the 30-06 and the 300 Win Mag. In fact the 300 Win Mag is about the breaking point that most folks can handle before recoil becomes an issue. If I had a dime for every would be deer hunter that showed up to our ranch with a 300 and couldnt hit a pick up truck past 100 yards, and had to use a "loaner" 25-06, 270, Id be a million aire! I gotta admit it was hallarious watching them get a "Magnum Eyebrow" though!

Im in Texas and hunt the same game you are planning and you know what I use almost exclusively these days? A Remington 700 VLS in the "wimpy" .308 Winchester! The drop on my load is 23 inches at 400 yards with a zero set at 100 yards making it plenty flat shooting with power to spare for as far as 95% of hunters have any business shooting at game in the first place. And you know what? I wouldnt hesitate to use a 260 Remington, 7mm-08 or 7 x 57 and dare to say the deer and hogs wouldnt know the difference.

You know the older and wiser I get the more I appreciate the more efficient cartridges and what they can do. They generally cost less, recoil less which means I shoot more and the more I shoot the better I get at doing my part and putting a round precisely on target. Its a lot less punishing from the bench than my 8 lbs 338 Win Mag too! Yeah I got one of those too back in the day when I was convienced the 300 Mag wasnt enough gun...stupid huh? Guess sometimes learning can be a slow and lengthy process...

 

honestly they are similar in how they will perform

choose the rifle you want and will be happy with both are capable calibers out to 1000m
if you like the look feel and whatnot of the wincheser better than the remington go for it
if you like your remington keep it

this one all boils down to get what you like because there not much different

almost like asking whats the difference between the 222remington and the 223 answer not much neck shape mostly case is same dimensions and uses same bullet for the most part

i noticed you have another thread about it if its that hard a descision and you like em both get a quarter

heads keep your remington
tails get the winchester

problem solved

 

I have one thread targeting primarily the rifle design and one targeting the two associated cartridges. I never feel satisfied until I have enough feedback from multiple sources to eliminate most, if not all doubt. I can see now that its a tossup between the two in genersl. Like I stated, I am fairly new to the specifics. I've killed several deer and multiple hogs to this point with borrowed rifles and not once did I know what caliber I was
shooting and as odd as it may be for someone who just picks up a gun and shoots, I have
never missed. You have lengthy experience and thats stellar, so forgive me if I dont just take two or 3 opinions to the bank as collateral for a loan.

 

i prefer the 300wsm, but i elk hunt. i have shot quite a few deer with it as well, but if your just going for deer or hog the 300 is a bit of overkill IMO...

 

Talking distance shooting here, the .300WM has heavier loads which buck wind better than lighter faster rounds like the 7mm Mag.

I have both rifles and would choose the .300 in a heart beat. I have shot deer with the 7mm Mag, and I think i will do that no more. I misplaced one shot, hit the shoulder blade (front quarter that the .300 would have punched through) and ricocheted off it, hit the spine, followed the spine all the way down and exited the ass end, pretty much ruined the whole deer.

 

You can't buy 7mm AP projectiles.

 

where can you buy any AP bullets?.....we have a big Brother Barak you know

 

My 300 is Weatherby not Winchester, another step up the ladder. I also have 30-06, 7MM Mag, 6.5, .223, 25-20, 32 win spcl and 30-30 in my rack. Of all of them the one I didn't mention gets the most use the .308, after that its the 32 Win spcl. The 7 will do whatever you want at reasonable hunting ranges for approximately the same cost but less recoil. Like my 300 Wby which is only used for poking holes in paper now the 300 Win is really overkill unless you really like the testosterone factor. Just between you me and the neighbors dog I would suggest a .308 as the best all around caliber that will kill anything the other two will and do it with less pain at the cash register when you buy or make ammo for it.

If you are stuck on 7 or 300 go with the 7. The only game I would not use that one on is Bison and Grizzly, it would work but I would prefer something with a bigger hole for those two. I took a black bear with my 32 and my uncle took his moose with a 270 so it seems obvious to me that most hunters today are over gunned for the game we shoot the most.

I hunted in New Mexico for the same game you are after and you really don't need anything more than .308, if you want to add antelope the 25-06 would be another option, it will work on all 3 and shoot a little flatter but it won't kill them any deader than the .308.

 

300 is too much for whitetail... 7mm is ok for long range shots... 300 etc...

 

My shoulder and ears don't want either one of them!

 

i just have to ask...are you a girl?
my 125# wife can shoot my 300wsm. but she is from ID

 

If you hand load, both are fine choices and can be reduced to match the game hunted. Neither are very fun to shoot in a light wt rifle or without ear protection.

Of the two I choose to skip the 300 mag. I own both a 7 mag and a 338 mag.

 

Both are excellent rifles.
Unless you are shooting elk sized animals and larger OR
shooting very long distances, they are probably more gun
than needed.
I know the local Wally World always has 300 Win Mag in stock,
I cant say the same about 7mm Mag.

If you need it, or you just want it and can afford it,
buy which ever makes you happy.

 

For the sake of history, get the 7 mag. Such a cooler gun, and not as nasty to shoot as a 300. I would rather have the Model 70 any day of the week, even if the two guns were the same caliber.

 

The 7mm mag is about halfway between a 308 and a 300 mag.

Both cartridges are made for larger game such as elk / moose. A little hot for deer, although ive seen people use them for mule deer.

 

A .300 Win Mag is not a .300 WSM.

The original poster (OP) asked the following: "My question is, is there really a big difference between the .300 win mag and 7mm mag?" Where do you see WSM? You do know that WSM stands for Winchester Short Mag right?

 

Looking to buy?

7mm is a fine caliber. I would choose a .280rem and maybe go Ackley Improved. The AI will almost match 7mm rem mag in ballistics, but you can load 5 in the magazine vs. 3 rounds of ammo for the magnum.

Barrel life is a real concern, or do you figure to be rebarreling after the collapse? If you handload the magnum, you can tune it down, but still not as versatile as the .280rem. Being able to neck-down .30-06 brass is also a plus. There is a minor difference in case length, but there's lotsa 06 brass out there.

.30-06 is also a fine option. If you just have to own a "magnum", consider the .30-338 which is also known as the .308 Norma Magnum.

The 7mm bore offers about the best variety of high Ballistic Coefficiency bullets to choose from. Study up on the ballistics and look at handloading.

This is a Survivalist forum. You Ought to be able to reload your empty cases at least, or better yet assemble your own ammunition and save money. The 280rem offers more to you than any magnum. If choose not to handload, go .30-06.

 

Both are fine for what your stated hunting purposes are. Both are even at distance to acceptable hunting ranges for south and west Texas.

I'd personally stay with the 300 Win Mage as .30 caliber has more bullut options than 7mm

 

In MT, used model 70's retain value and go for a lot more than used model 700's. If you are talking a straight trade, you are getting the better deal manetarily.

.300's are more popular tha 7 mm's, but he 7 mm will do what you need it to do.

 

anecdotal evidence is not evidence

Digging up an old thread because I can't believe the crap information given on this topic. If you don't have evidence and data, why bother with "opinions" that mean absolutely nothing when it comes to ballistics? Just because it worked for grandpa doesn't mean it's the best choice today.

Here is a direct comparison of 300 Win Mag firing the popular 178gr A-MAX vs 7mm Rem Mag firing the popular 162gr A-MAX.

1. Weight of the bullets in grains does not mean it is better in the wind. The ballistics coefficient is what determines that. In general .30 cal bullets have a lower BC than 7mm, 6.5, and 6mm bullets. At 1,000 yards, the 300 Win Mag will drift 20 more inches in a 10mph crosswind. .242/6mm and .260/6.5mm calibers are the most popular in long range shooting competitions.

2. The higher powder charge of 300 win does not mean it shoots flatter. Again, a better BC means less drop. At 1,000 yds, a 300 Win Mag will drop 30 more inches than 7mm Rem Mag.

3. Yes, the 300 Win Mag has higher energy at the barrel, but due to inferior bullet BC it does not retain that energy at longer ranges. Eventually the 7mm will be carrying more of a punch. At 500 yards, the 7mm Rem Mag overtakes the 300 Win in stopping power.

Also consider 300 Win Mag will have substantially more recoil and cost slightly more to reload. On the west coast, most hunters use the 7mm Rem Mag for rifle elk season, so ammo and reloading supplies are more common.

If building a tactical rifle that uses AICS magazines, both calibers can use the same chassis and mags.

 

300 win-mag....hands down (I have two, I love them so much). First of all, it's 30 caliber, so for reloading, any .30 (actually measures .308) bullet can be used. So, you can buy a box of .30 cal bullets and reload 30-30, 308,
30-06, and 300 Win-mag. If people in your group have one of these different rifles, it'll help. As to flat shooting, I sight in at 400 yds. I'm 5" high at 200 yds, 5" high at 300 yds, on at 400 yds., and 14" low at 500 yds.
Plus, the 300 simply hits harder. Bigger casing = more power, more versatility. If you get one of these, learn to reload. Otherwise, the costs will kill you.