7mm "The Most Over Rated Caliber"?

M

Major Dave (retired)

New member
A Field & Stream article states that when the 7 Rem Mag is chronographed it has velocities very close to those of the .270, .280, and 30-06, using similair bullet weights.

In other words, velocities published by manufacturers (and reloading manuals?) are "optimistic", for the 7 RM.

If you have ever chronied a 7 mag, WHAT SAY YOU?
 
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I wouldn't say it is overated but I'd say the other three are underated. The biggest hinderance to load data on the .30-06 and .280 is that the pressures are kept low for older bolt actions and semi-auto and pump action rifles. I've owned all the calibers you mentioned so far that are in the article. The two I kept were the .270 and .30-06. My brother in law got the .280 and my 7mm Rem Mag was rebarreled to a .375 Ruger. I never chronied any of the rounds but I never felt that either of the 7mm rifles did anything any better than my .270 Win did.

I never tested all of my rifles on anything larger than varmints but I didn't see where any any of the 7mm rifles had an superior advantage in range or knock down power over my .270 Win. I had kills on coyotes beyond 400 yards with all three but couldn't tell you which one got there faster or killed the coyote deader. My .270 has accounted for several deer, pronghor, and elk, with one deer taken at beyond 500 yards. I never did compare it to my .30-06 because I'm only using heavy bullets in that one 200+ grains.

I know a lot of people will say what a high BC and SD that the 7mm bullet has over the .277 caliber. If you look at some of the newer hunting bullets out today that the .277 runs neck and neck with most 7mm bullets and even beats a few of them out in the BC and SD catagory. The three calibers are so close IMO that you might as well flip a coin and be happy with what you get.

IMO the .280 is the most underated cartridge and don't know why Remington didn't chamber it in the M700 first.
 
I read that. I think the 7mm Rem Mag is overrated, but then I think ALL mid-caliber belted mags are overrated. The velocity of the 7mm Rem Mag over a 280 Rem in factory loads is about the same as 300 WinMag over 30-06, about 10% velocity gain. At 500 yds, there is very little difference between a 280 and 7mm RemMag, just as there is very little difference between a 30-06 and a 300 WinMag. But if you look at the ballistics of either of the mags, you will see that there is only about 5-6" of drop difference at 500 yds between the mags and the standard loadings of the same caliber until you get into the really heavy bullets. Will people pay for that little bit of difference? You bet. Will they claim it makes all the difference between a dead deer and one running away? Sure!
 
There's a lot of overlap, especially if one is looking at hunting Elk and Deer sized game at 300yds or less - and in a sense the .270 IS a 7mm ie. 7mm-08,.270,.260, .308, .30-06 are all capable of doing the same thing...very well.



The 7mm Rem. Mag. - when it was first introduced - was sorta billed as the best all around caliber for anything in North America. It's a decent round, but it was perhaps<like just about any new round>over-hyped by the marketing folks.


Some rounds are really great, but just don't get popular ie. the 6mm Rem. Maybe the .260 Rem.will suffer the same fate. In a sense there's 'too many choices.' I like my .243 and my .308, and my .300. - but there are other combos of rounds that'll get the same jobs done just as well. There's a lot to be said for just learning how to dance well with the partner you brought to the dance.:D
 
They all overlap in performance, and all are great calibers. I have a special affinity for the 7mag, but also hunt with the .270. I love variety. My all time favorite will always be the 30-06, and I always do at least 1 hunt a year with that caliber.
 
130gr Barnes original, 70gr of RL 22, 3163 fps avg, SD 6.31. 8 shots.
175gr Barnes original, 61gr of RL 22, 2775 f[s avg, SD 19.01. 8 shots.

That's all I have.

Tom
 
I have been recently researching this very issue and I have found that when it comes right down to the nitty gritty the Old 30-06 is one tough cartridge to out perform and the 7mm RM and 300 WM don't improve on 30-06 ballistics by much if any. A 7mm with 175 gr bullets I have found a max vel of 2900 fps Hornady lists 30-06 Lgt Mag 180 gr loads @ 2900 fps so no gain at all and the 30-06 is pushing 5 more grains of bullet. 300 WM Horn Hvy Mag loads list 180 grains @ 3100 fps which means that if you zero each rifle to 200 yds and shoot at a target that is at 300 yds and you hold dead on center with both guns, the 30-06 will strike the target 1/2 of an inch below where the 300 WM hit the target. Basically nill difference and less then 300 ft lbs difference in the energy. I think that the designers of the 30-06, even though they had no clue, made the 30-06 a very versital and efficient cartridge. BTW I own only 1 hunting rifle, A Winchester Model 70 Featherweight, Guess what Caliber;)
Jim
 
7mm what?
mag?
yes.
7x64mm Brenneke?
no.
the most underrated, probably.
7x64-Patrone+KJG-spitz.jpg
 
7mm "The Most Over Rated Caliber"?
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I'm with ringworm (just sounds wrong), 7mm is the caliber, not the cartridge.

If the author doesn't catch that "oops" then the editor should.

I'd love to own a 7-30 Waters. I do love my FIL's 280. My 7x57 is the bee's knees. The 7-08 is the 7x57 in a shorter case.

The 7's are great, but I have no desire to have a mag.
 
I grew up reading about the exploits of the 7mm remington mag. From arizona to alaska it was used on every game animal that breathed including brown bears. Nuf said, I was sold then and see nothing to change my mind now. My hunting is limited but I've punched enough paper to feel confident in the 7mm remington mag.

These days there are short mags, ultra mags, non mags, new cartridges and old cartridges. I can't afford to buy every new or old cartridge in every new gun. You buy what you want or can afford, use it, hone your skills and don't second guess yourself. If I ever had a chance to hunt big horn sheep, moose or brown bear I would be happy to take my 7mm remington mag and I wouldn't be under gunned. As I am sure hundreds of others would feel about their different caliber choices. Aren't choices great!
 
recoil

I owned A 7mm Mag. A few years ago. My problem with it was it had too much recoil. I used A 30-06 cal. most of the time and the 7mm mag. shot much harder than the 30-06. Needless to say I stuck to the 06. I'll admit there was some difference in the two guns(weight,barrel length,ect.) but the recoil from the 7mm mag had more hurt than the 06. Its hard for me to describe but it was A different recoil than the 06.
 
I was sold then and see nothing to change my mind now.
My hunting is limited but I've punched enough paper to feel confident in the 7mm remington mag.
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try this...
ONE MAN, ONE RIFLE, ONE LAND
Over 25 years ago, J. Y. Jones started his North American big-game hunting career, which ultimately evolved into a quest to take all the huntable species and subspecies with the same .30-06 rifle. Few hunters have enjoyed such a variety of North American hunting experiences, which range from the polar bear of the high Arctic to the jaguar of the lowland jungles of Mexico. His stories include hunting for the grand slam of North American sheep, all five North American bears, all eight North American deer subspecies, all six caribou, three elk, four moose, the pronghorn, mountain goat, walrus, jaguar, and much more.
One%20Man%20Cover%20small.jpg
 
over here the most over rated rifle is the much loved(even by my self) 375H&H. i have been amazed at the amount of damage this rifle does with good shot placemant, and still it is not a first shot kill on small antilope when the 30-06 in the same day at the same antilope on the same spot puts the buck down first shot.this is a big piont of discussion around the fire at night as a lott of hunters have seen this and dont know how to explain it.
 
Ringworm - I am not sure that Brown and Kodiak are officially different species. But I am wrong as often as I am right, so maybe:confused:
 
My guess is that even soft 375 H&H bullets are too tough for antelope, so they don't expand, and penetrate fully doing most of their damage on the landscape behind the animal. Shoot a 350g Woodleigh at 2400 fps out of a 375 H&H at bison, elk, grizzly bear and you'll see a different outcome.
 
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