7MM magnum for Whitetails

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    gejshooter

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    I’m looking at a great deal on a used bolt action rifle in 7MM magnum. This will be used almost exclusively for Whitetail in south Mississippi. Shots are 300 yards and under. Is this too much gun? I normally shoot 308, or 30-06. Also some 270.
     
    IronBeard

    IronBeard

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    If the deal is great, have at it. You might not need 7mm, but you can certainly use it. Hunted for years with a guy that used only 7mm during rifle season. It worked just fine.
     
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    Boogan1

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    I have always thought a 7 mag was too much gun for whitetails, not too big of a bullet, but more recoil and bullet velocity than is needed in most hunting situations. That being said, if you reload it can be an excellent choice. There is a wide variety of weights and shapes of bullets available for the 7mm (.284) caliber rifles and most designs have a pretty high ballistic coeffecient. A 120 to 140 grain bullet can be loaded for a pretty flat trajectory and still not beat your shoulder off. My two favorite personal rifles are both 7mm in caliber, a custom 7x57 mauser and a custom .284 winchester.
     
    5lima30ret

    5lima30ret

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    .243 or .270 is plenty for whitetails! Many people tend to shoot them (especially .243) better than the magnums. I had a friend that I hunted with in New Mexico and he got a mule deer and an elk every year with a .243. He was a very good shot with that .243!
     
    sloporsche

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    5lima30ret said:
    .243 or .270 is plenty for whitetails! Many people tend to shoot them (especially .243) better than the magnums. I had a friend that I hunted with in New Mexico and he got a mule deer and an elk every year with a .243. He was a very good shot with that .243!
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    243 was the best shooter i ever owned
     
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    gejshooter

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    Boogan1 said:
    I have always thought a 7 mag was too much gun for whitetails, not too big of a bullet, but more recoil and bullet velocity than is needed in most hunting situations. That being said, if you reload it can be an excellent choice. There is a wide variety of weights and shapes of bullets available for the 7mm (.284) caliber rifles and most designs have a pretty high ballistic coeffecient. A 120 to 140 grain bullet can be loaded for a pretty flat trajectory and still not beat your shoulder off. My two favorite personal rifles are both 7mm in caliber, a custom 7x57 mauser and a custom .284 winchester.
    Click to expand...
    Thank you
     
    DixieReb

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    I hunted with a Rem 7mm mag for about 12 years, still have it but haven’t used it in about 20 years. It’s accounted for probably more than a 100 white tails. Used to have lots of clear cuts to hunt and dropped several deer out to 300-340 yards with it back in the day. Read a book that a trophy hunter published 30+ plus years ago and his favorite do it all caliber was the 7mm mag, so that’s what convinced me to buy one. Sentiment is only reason I’ve kept it, just prefer to tote a lighter gun now. My all time favorite caliber is the 30-06, it’s dropped many deer for me. Lots of good calibers out there, I’m not bashing none of them.
     
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    boatbum101

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    Definitely more gun than needed for WT . Also more recoil than the others you mentioned . Assume it's a used rifle also . Ask why it's for sale & why it's priced that way . Best case it kicked the snot out of 'em & you'll know it's a kicker . Worse case it don't shoot that good . Sometimes a little TLC & scrubbing all the copper out the barrel & you got a good shooter .
     
    G-rat

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    i know several doodes that ONLY shoot 7mm for rifle season. puts them whitetails down in a hurry. my shoulder is to shoot out for most of the hotter rifle rounds these days but .243 is still good for me.
     
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    seminole1

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    I have 3 different Browning Abolts ,7mag, 30-06 , .270wsm. Honestly, I can't tell the difference in recoil between any of them. That's just me, but I also have several 7mm-08's and they are all way , way more mild.
     
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    gejshooter

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    DixieReb said:
    I hunted with a Rem 7mm mag for about 12 years, still have it but haven’t used it in about 20 years. It’s accounted for probably more than a 100 white tails. Used to have lots of clear cuts to hunt and dropped several deer out to 300-340 yards with it back in the day. Read a book that a trophy hunter published 30+ plus years ago and his favorite do it all caliber was the 7mm mag, so that’s what convinced me to buy one. Sentiment is only reason I’ve kept it, just prefer to tote a lighter gun now. My all time favorite caliber is the 30-06, it’s dropped many deer for me. Lots of good calibers out there, I’m not bashing none of them.
    Click to expand...
    Thank you for your thorough response.
     
    sloporsche

    sloporsche

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    gejshooter said:
    I guess I’m not understanding your response. Shots are 300 yards and under. I’m not sure how to answer your other questions.
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    he is asking questions that you should be asking......is the 7mm ammo TOO expensive ,is the ammo easily obtained , because of the recoil are you going regret the recoil , do you need a rifle capable of 250 + shooting . My 2 cents since i owned one is it aint a plinker because of ammo cost and recoil , while i loved my 300 win mag i hated to zero it pre hunting trips but if the 7 mm is the right price yes. remember to factor in a scope which those magnums really shine with expensive ones .
     
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