308, 7mag,or 300win.mag need help deciding

[mdavies]

I have been doing all kinds of searches and reading everything I can, but still can't decide. I have shot a 270win. since i was 12 and every gun I have owned has always been a Ruger. Love the 270 but it doesn't seem to be that popular and bullet selection is still sparce.Live in eastern Oregon's high desert hunting mule deer and elk. Also want to use this gun on coyotes (don't save the hides). I'm a one gun nut. Eventually want to build a 20"-22" varmint contoured barreled rifle. Mule deer to 800yds, elk to 400yds. I am slightly recoil sensative (last 7mag I shot was over 15 years ago, it was a wood stocked Ruger with the typical hard rubber recoil pad and it left me unimpressed, however stocks and pads have changed dramatically in the last 15 years). Never liked muzzle brakes because of the noise. I always use hearing protection at the range and have some plugs when I hunt but there is always that time when something jumps up in front of you and you don't have time for the plugs. Read a post where "Michael" (senior member) talked about a break that directed the gases foreward, but no mention of maker. Would definately be interested in that for those rare shots w/out plugs. Gathering reloading components but don't currently reload.
Bottom line: looking at 308, 7mag or 7wsm, 300win.mag or 300wsm in a short barreled, tollerable recoiling rifle. Currently looking at a "Walmart special" Savage in 7mag w/Accutrigger to try out for @$300. If I like it can build on that action. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

 

[ol mike]

Howdoo ,

I'm recoil sensitive -my cut-off point is a 270 w/ 140gr bullets in a sporterweight rifle.
I'd guess a 308 w/ 168-175gr bullets is in the same ballpark if not more recoil ,w/out a brake i'd say forget the magnums .

Have you seen the berger 150gr vld in .277" =270cal. ?
They have a bc of nearly .6 and would do well on mule deer to 800yds and elk at 400 -i guess.

I'm not clear on whether or not you have a 270 now ?
Anyway -personally i'd shy away from the big 300's w/out a brake -and maybe look at 6.5 caliber also.

Not sure about a brake that blows the pressure forward? That would seem to go against the way a brake works?

 

[AJ Peacock]

Weight is your friend in reducing recoil.

Also, reloading will enable you to create the exact amount of recoil you want.

I'd go for a 7mm Mag that weighed 11-12 pounds. If you reload, you will be able to create the perfect rifle/load combo for your needs. The 7mm Mag gives you the best selection of bullets in the weight range you would want for low recoil applications.

AJ

 

[bwaites]

I think AJ hit it on the head, although I would go 7mm WSM because of the shorter action and more efficient powder columns of the WSM's.

Bill

 

[Willys46]

Hear would be my choices if I were you.

Heavy 7 Rem mag like AJ seggested or a 7-08. You get the bullet selection your looking for with limited recoil.
Then the step up form that would be a 280 or 280 AI (if you reload). You do not lose much velocity over the 7 rem mag.

For the savage..yes you can build off it. The $300 one I would look at upgrading the stock right away. Once you get the action you can call Pac-nor and get a prechambered in something else you you like.

 

[AJ Peacock]

I think Bwaites and Willys46 have it down!

Get a Savage with the correct boltface for the 7mmWSM, order a heavier stock for a heavy barrel contour, call Pac-Nor and order a heavy 7mmWSM barrel and you will be all set!

AJ

 

[mdavies]

Thanks for the help. Other than the 308 which is common in shorter length barrels, is one caliber better than another concerning the ones I mentioned in a short barrel? Also,does the 7wsm use the same bolt face as the 7mag?

 

[AJ Peacock]

...
Also,does the 7wsm use the same bolt face as the 7mag?

Pretty close. The 7mm Rem Mag has a .532" and the 7WSM has .535", close enough that I think you can get by without changing the boltface. If you buy the 7mm Rem Mag, it will either work as is, or it is a 5 minute fix on a lathe.

Get the cheap Savage at Walmart and then upgrade it with a heavier barrel and stock, you will be happier than a pig in @@@@!

AJ

 

[J E Custom]

Of the 4 choices you mentioned My vote would be the 7 WSM "BECAUSE"

1= The 7 WSM is equal to the 7 rem mag in horsepower.

2= The 7 WSM will work in a short action making the overall length of the
Rifle shorter with a 24'' barrel as apposed to the long action required
by the 7 mag or the 300 win mag.

3= The 7 WSM has better ballistics than the 308.

4= Also the 7 WSM in a 10lb rifle produces 19.1 ft/lbs of recoil (Compared
to 27.7 ft/lbs recoil of the 300 win mag in a 10lb rifle and 24.1 ft/lbs of
recoil of your 270 win in a sporter weight of 7.5 lbs).

5= The 7 WSM also works real well with a 160gr accubond for ELK and the
140 works well for deer size game. And if you want to get crazy you could
use 100gr or 120gr and get 3400 to 3500 ft/sec velocity for varmints.

Just a few comparisons.

J E CUSTOM

 

[AJ Peacock]

Of the 4 choices you mentioned My vote would be the 7 WSM "BECAUSE"
...

2= The 7 WSM will work in a short action making the overall length of the
Rifle shorter with a 24'' barrel as apposed to the long action required
by the 7 mag or the 300 win mag.
...

But he could use the Long action Savage and swap the barrel to a 7WSM, enabling him to load long bullets and still magazine feed them.

AJ

 

[rem300ultra]

I agree with A.J., go with the 7 mag.

 

[linksmechanic]

I see a little more fps with the 7rm and there is way better brass(norma).

 

[mdavies]

Thanks again, Will buy the 7mag and play with it for awhile. Will add some weight with a good stock and barrel. Want the long action so I have the choice to go with the 7wsm and load longer rounds in the future. Had no idea just how much weight will reduce recoil (thanks JE Custom for the comparison). Currently have a 270 Ruger Mark II stainless synthetic with Pachmeyer decelerator pad. If I can even come close to this recoil with a magnum (by using a little more weight and a better stock) I will be happy.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

I have hunted with a 7mm Rem Mag most of my hunting life and it has been a great gun and always got the job done. Farthest shot was 425 yds (paced off) on an antelope. Shooting it on the bench was ok up to about 20 rounds and then I would get recoil sensitive. I never felt it in the field.

I have just swithched to a 300 WSM, Sako 85 finnlight, and took it out shooting for the first time yesterday to begin load work and barrel break in. I only got 4 shots fired and decided to pack it in due to tech difficulties including a malfunctioning chrony. The rifle weighs 6 3/8 lbs and NF scope another 2 lbs for 8 3/8 lbs total weight. The Sako recoil pad is so-so and I put a slip on recoil pad for the bench shooting anticipating about a 40 round day of shooting for load work. My first 4 rounds were starting loads about 4-5 gr from expected max. The recoil was much lighter than the 7mm RM of about same total weight. And with the slip on butt pad, very little felt recoil. More than a 243 but less than a 270. These were light loads. I'm hoping to get it back out shooting today.

Sooo.... if it's not too late, I would recommend a 300 WSM. It will get you a little more range and a little more authority down range. I base down range killing effectiveness on bullet terminal opening performance velocity which is typically around 1800 fps. A few of other things to consider are momentum, SD and size of hole. If you can kill a mule deer @ 800 yds with a well performing bullet, then you can kill an elk also, provided you are not trying to smash through a shoulder. IMO, the 7mm's will be very iffy for reliable performance @ 800 yds based on ballistics charts. The 300 WSM is a good 800-900 yd rifle depending on velocity and bullet performance. And recoil can easily be dealt with. If I get a chance to get back out today I'll report back on the results.