As an avid arachnophobe, and someone who read this thread title as "Any Spiders Around Here? 7mm Mag Question", I am a bit disappointed that it didn't go as I expected.

tlfw378 said:

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Catag94 said:

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I agree with the negatives on the 20" barrel. The short barrel will also cost you velocity and therefore ballistics. I for one also detest breaks and would never have one in a hunting rifle. All that aside, I only use a 7MM Rem Mag. for any game species in NA. I have one that was purpose built as a light weight mountain rifle. I reload for it and have a muzzle velocity of 3250 fps (160 gr. Nosler Accubond). It has a 24" barrel and weighs 5.5 lbs. Good luck in your search.

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Can you provide some details of you load? Brass, COL, primers, powder and charge. I would love to get gain 250 fps on my current rounds.

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I agree, that's more than 200fps over what Nosler has in their reloading manual for a 160gr. partition, that I've been reloading for over 35 years.

Any 160 out of a 7mag doing 3250 is exceeding pressure limits, IMO.

28 nosler I had built. Weight was the biggest thing i was trying to eliminate. The swarvoski scope is light but the turret only makes one complete turn so I can "only" shoot out to 850 yards.

that's a sweet rifle, now weigh it with the sling, bipod, can, and 3 rounds! :p

They are actually 3175 or so and I've been loading them for many years. No signs of over pressurization and I get several loads out of each brass.

Catag94 said:

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They are actually 3175 or so and I've been loading them for many years. No signs of over pressurization and I get several loads out of each brass.

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What powder and charge? I use IMR4831 62.5gr

I think Ruger makes a 20in 338 Win Mag. That could be fun.

Why not just use your 300 Win Mag for everything? That's the only gun I use on pronghorn, whitetails, and also on my elk last fall.

IMR4350 63.5

4 grains over book, but 4350 is pretty slow and every rifle's different, if it's safe in yours rock on. That's why we don't get our load data off the internet.

swampstander said:

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I think Ruger makes a 20in 338 Win Mag. That could be fun.

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I'd be curious how much performance that gives over a 20in 338federal?

Darby said:

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Gunny456 said:

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Chris Kyles preferred cartridge was a .300 Win Mag.

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I love the 300 WM. I have had 2 and will always have one

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If you love it why not stick to it for all game? I just bought the weatherby first lite vanguard in 300 win mag and love love love this gun with the break on it, it's so much fun to shoot

Puryear Playboy said:

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OP, the loss of velocity is really not that big a deal. 20 vs 24" like you noted will be 100-150 FPS. Put a can on it and you might get half that back.

The real issue is shootability, it will be loud with the brake, but 7mags are loud anyway. Put a brake on a 24-26" 7mag and tell me how lovely it sounds. Loud is loud. Recoil will be a bit more due to light weight, but the brake is there to aid with that.

Hunting rifles are carried a lot, and shot very little. In the mountains every ounce matters.

I would have no issue buying that rifle. There are other calibers you could use, but look at what you think your max range will be (you said 500, which is very reasonable) and then compare the ballistics you will have to work with from the 7mag vs the other calibers mentioned. You will be ahead of the game with the big 7. I think the real benefit is energy. That 160 class bullet will be carrying the mail compared to the other available options, even in that short(er) barrel.

And for hunting, energy and bullet type are what you want. It's a specialized tool for special application. Go for it.

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I would agree with this assessment, and would have no problem owning and shooting this rifle. I have a 20" 300WSM, shoot 168 Barnes TSX with fast burning powder and wouldn't change a thing.

44mAG said:

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Why not just use your 300 Win Mag for everything? That's the only gun I use on pronghorn, whitetails, and also on my elk last fall.

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I can't wait to shoot mine...should be tomorrow.

I was looking at ballistics of 300wm....they are pretty exceptional, and very wide ranging. My biggest concern is recoil, I'm a bit of a pansy.

NRD09 said:

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swampstander said:

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I think Ruger makes a 20in 338 Win Mag. That could be fun.

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I'd be curious how much performance that gives over a 20in 338federal?

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I wonder myself. I really like my 22 in .338 Federal. I was going to suggest the OP pick up a 22 in Ruger in that caliber and have a smith chop it to 20 but I see that Ruger has dropped that cartridge.

could just take your pick of 308s and have JES make it a 338 federal for you...

Aggie Hunter said:

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Aggie Hunter, tell me about this sling. I am looking for one for my heavy barrel .243.

El Chupacabra said:

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44mAG said:

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Why not just use your 300 Win Mag for everything? That's the only gun I use on pronghorn, whitetails, and also on my elk last fall.

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I can't wait to shoot mine...should be tomorrow.

I was looking at ballistics of 300wm....they are pretty exceptional, and very wide ranging. My biggest concern is recoil, I'm a bit of a pansy.

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A muzzle break solves that

El Chupacabra said:

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44mAG said:

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Why not just use your 300 Win Mag for everything? That's the only gun I use on pronghorn, whitetails, and also on my elk last fall.

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I can't wait to shoot mine...should be tomorrow.

I was looking at ballistics of 300wm....they are pretty exceptional, and very wide ranging. My biggest concern is recoil, I'm a bit of a pansy.

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Plenty of elk have been killed with 7mm-08s, 270 WCF, 308s, etc. None of those come close to a 300 WM recoil wise, but are just as effective at reasonable ranges.

I'll have to find it, but there was a study done one the distance big game traveled after being hit, and there was no appreciable difference between the .30-06 and other cartridges until one got to the 375 H&H. There's just not that much difference in reality, especially if you shoot the lighter recoiling rounds where you are aiming more consistently than you do with the heavier recoilers.

The newer crop of premium bullets, especially the monometals, have made smaller rounds more effective. They retain more weight thus can penetrate further than the more traditional cup and core bullets.