7mm Remington Mag or .308

[jwcrabb]

Guys,
I have a specific need and welcome your opinions. I want a gun capable of taking 180lb deer out to 500 yds max. I want to pick either a 7 Rem mag or a .308 . This is based on the specific factory rifles I am considering. I guess my biggest question is... will the 7mag offer any significant advantage in killing power and wind drift at that max range? Fire away...

[MTBULLET]

both will work.
I prefer .308 because of bullet selection available, AND I just like the .308 !

[pburton]

That is a really difficult decision to make. There are positives and negatives for both rounds. Me personally I really like my 7mm mag. I have shot several rifles chambered in each. The .308 will have less recoil and there are a lot of factory loads available. In my opinion you cannot go wrong with either as long as you are keeping within the 500 yards with factory ammo. I think past 500 that the 7mm has a good advantage. Higher velocity and more ft/lbs of energy with factory ammo. But, if you reload that could change. Go shoot both if you have the option. Pick the one that you are most comfortable shooting. I would bet it will be the .308.

[SavageScott]

You cannot go wrong with either of them. Both of those will get the job done, but in my opinion the 7mm Rem Mag gets it done a little better. The 7mm has plenty of knock-down at that range, and that caliber bucks the wind better than most others.

However, if you are sensitive to recoil, go with the. 308. You really can't lose with either choice

[jwcrabb]

Thanks guys, I reload so I should be able to put together the best combination in the .308. Maybe somebody can run the ballistics of say the 308 with the 155 amax compared to the 7mag with a 140 BT. I'm not too worried about the elevation, it's the wind drift difference out at 500 that would worry me.

[MTBULLET]

Originally Posted by jwcrabb

Thanks guys, I reload so I should be able to put together the best combination in the .308. Maybe somebody can run the ballistics of say the 308 with the 155 amax compared to the 7mag with a 140 BT. I'm not too worried about the elevation, it's the wind drift difference out at 500 that would worry me.

if you have a couple loading manuals, that data is in there, if you don't have a few, get 'em.

[Joe King]

7mag has the advantage in ballistics,and shear power. 308 has a pretty big advantage in recoil and barrel life. Either will do what you need. I say get both