7mm or .308?

[AverageJoe]

The energy is almost pound for pound with the 7mm. I can't justify the extra weight and recoil

 

you must be referring to .270WSM.[/quote

 

 

No a 270 win. This is what I get with my loads

 

270 130 gr sst drop

100 yds 2101 ft lbs 0"

500 yds 1127 ft lbs -50.3"

700 yds 800 ft lbs -124.5"

 

 

7mm rem mag 139 gr sst

100 yds 2265 ft lbs drop 0"

500 yds 1260 ft lbs -49.3

700 yds 913 ft lbs -121

 

So if this is a big difference the deer will never know. But with the recoil and extra weight and cost of ammo not that much difference for me

the big difference is you can shoot the 162 or 168 gn bullets out of the 7mm. That is where the 7mm shines. Then that is where it indeed blows the 270 out of the water.

 

also your speeds must be very slow to get the numbers you are getting for the 7mm. The 7mm shoots the 139sst anywhere from 3200-3300 fps. Which puts the drop and energy quite a ways off from what you stated. energy at 700 is around 1130 and drop around 99 "

[Norteno]

308Nut, what do you recommend in 308? The app I have is Winchester and the only options in that bullet were 150 or 168gr.

[AverageJoe]

175 smk or 200 gn sierra gameking for the 308. also can use the 208 amax at 2500 fps...

[roninflag]

IMKLEV- when you say 7mm caliber ; what cartridge in that caliber are you going to get ? 7-08 , 7STW, 7 rum? whenyou say 308 caliber what cartrdge are going to get?

[n2horns]

7mm rem mag - 168 gr berger or nosler accubond long range. 1200 yds im running just over 1000 ft lbs energy. 7mm can run hotter, but watch barrel life. This will do the job for just about everything, my choice in looking for a 1 rifle.

[rcdinaz]

The energy is almost pound for pound with the 7mm. I can't justify the extra weight and recoil

 

you must be referring to .270WSM.[/quote

 

 

No a 270 win. This is what I get with my loads

 

270 130 gr sst drop

100 yds 2101 ft lbs 0"

500 yds 1127 ft lbs -50.3"

700 yds 800 ft lbs -124.5"

 

 

7mm rem mag 139 gr sst

100 yds 2265 ft lbs drop 0"

500 yds 1260 ft lbs -49.3

700 yds 913 ft lbs -121

 

So if this is a big difference the deer will never know. But with the recoil and extra weight and cost of ammo not that much difference for me

the big difference is you can shoot the 162 or 168 gn bullets out of the 7mm. That is where the 7mm shines. Then that is where it indeed blows the 270 out of the water.

 

also your speeds must be very slow to get the numbers you are getting for the 7mm. The 7mm shoots the 139sst anywhere from 3200-3300 fps. Which puts the drop and energy quite a ways off from what you stated. energy at 700 is around 1130 and drop around 99 "

 

Yes, the .270 is not even close, and the figures are completely wrong even from the factory Hornady site the 7mm RM is @ 1,626 ft lbs at 500 yds. ~500 ft lbs yep I would say that would guess the deer will notice a difference on a less than perfect shot. Of course dead is dead.

 

If you are after the "magical" 1K ft lbs of energy the 270 would be a 500yd gun and the 7mm RM a 750 yd gun. As pointed out you really have to compare the optimal wt bullet for the caliber. A 168 gr just under 3K fps in the 7mm will have that same energy out to 1,000 yds.

 

For the .308 I would start the comparisons with 180gr bullet or larger and a 30-06 will be right there with the 7mm out to just shy of 700yds.

[HOSS....]

It's not the caliber. It's the hunter. Always has been. Always will be. Amazing numbers though. Awesome topic.

[willhunt4coues]

If you want a gun that even a 7 year old can shoot look at the 6.5 line. I have now 2 6.5 Creedmoors 1 of them is a Model 10 and the other Model 11 long range hunter. Both are decent speed but not to fast at 2800 fps. Here is my info:

 

140gn Berver VLD, H4350, 2800fps

Density Altitude 4550, 70 degrees

100 yard, 2214 ft lbs, 2668 fps, 0"

500 yard, 1477 ft lbs, 2180 fps, 44.50"

700 yard, 1190 ft lbs, 1956 fps, 106.40"

1100 yard, 741 ft lbs, 1544 fps, 343.20"

 

The 6.5 calibers have some of the best ballistics. I have owned both .308, 7mm and can tell you I would sell everything just to have a 6.5 Creedmoor. .260 and even 6.5x47 are some awesome rounds too. But to be able to see my son shoot at 600 yards and hit while actually enjoy shooting without flinching is PRICESS

[DesertBull]

http://www.hornady.com/store/30-Cal-.308-208-gr-A-MAX/

 

http://www.hornady.com/store/30-Cal-.308-180-gr-SST/

 

http://www.hornady.com/store/30-Cal-.308-180-gr-InterBond/

 

https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/2165/308-dia-200-gr-SBT

 

https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/2210/308-dia-190-gr-HPBT-MatchKing

[nralifer]

I grew up shooting a 270 maybe a little less recoil not sure about less weight. Remember you can load a 7mm down but you can't load the 270 up to match it. The other huge advantage is the 7mm and .308 probably have more bullets available than any other calibers you can find. For the record I think the 270 WSM is a really great cartridge. I am building a 6.5 right now which you could also make the same arguments for in 140gr bullet.

You need to read the posts on Superformance powder for the 270Win. You can outperform any factory 280 Rem load.

[nralifer]

The energy is almost pound for pound with the 7mm. I can't justify the extra weight and recoil

 

you must be referring to .270WSM.[/quote

 

 

No a 270 win. This is what I get with my loads

 

270 130 gr sst drop

100 yds 2101 ft lbs 0"

500 yds 1127 ft lbs -50.3"

700 yds 800 ft lbs -124.5"

 

 

7mm rem mag 139 gr sst

100 yds 2265 ft lbs drop 0"

500 yds 1260 ft lbs -49.3

700 yds 913 ft lbs -121

 

So if this is a big difference the deer will never know. But with the recoil and extra weight and cost of ammo not that much difference for me

With Superformance powder using 140 gr Barnes bullets I get 3050 FPS (2890ft lbs). See posts on Superformance powder for 270 Win. Try it. You'll like it.

[DesertBull]

I use 69.5 grains H1000 with a 162 Amax or 68.5 grains with a 162 SST in my 7mag

From a bench rest with a bipod and rear bag I can get a .80" group at 200 yards.

4000 ft elevation - -800 yards
Amax 3160 fps MV / 1634 ft lb / 2134 fps

SST 3050 FPS MV / 1436 ft lb /. 1946 fps

[Heat]

Remember, a 7mm RM is a Magnum! It is loud, kicks hard, and might shred a small critter like a coues deer unless you are shooting from a long ways off. If you are a meat hunter there might be better options. For your basic all around rifle for hunting big game in AZ, nothing wrong with a .308. Shorter action, shorter barrels equal lighter rifles, equals happier hunter at the end of the day. A plethora of load options available from hunting, to match, to cheap practice stuff. Great ballistic coefficient.

 

Magnum rifles are overkill for me, but that's just my opinion! One thing for sure is with a thread like this, you are sure to get a lot of opinions! Sort through the facts to figure out what you want.

[DesertBull]

The word "magnum" is a marketing ploy. It means very little in reality.

 

I killed a Javelina with a 7M and did not lose any more meat than I would have with a so called "normal" cartridge. Meat loss has more to do with shot placement and bullet type, IMO. I have had 30/06's that kick way harder then my 7M.

 

That said, my next rifle will be a .308.

[284nut]

I am a strong fan of the .284, whether you are talking standard 7mm Remington mag or 7 STW. 160 and 168 Grain Nosler bullets have a relatively high BC and have proven quite consistent over my last 30 years of chasing toughest deer on earth( strictly opinion).

 

We all strive for perfect shot setups, but push to come to shove I prefer to have the extra velocity and energy generated by a magnum case. It has been my experience that if I knock him out of his feet, he usually stays anchored. But have also seen spectacular heart- lung shots that allowed a dead deer walking cover substantial ground before giving up the ghost.

 

This being said, what you experience in the field forms your opinions, who is to say that mine won't change in the future. If it works for you, stick with it.