Which 7mm cartridge is the "best" poll?

[odonata]

As a left-handed shooter, it's kind of surprising that I only have one 7mm rifle in my safes (a compact Ruger RSI in 275 Rigby) since various manufacturers actually offer a pretty good selection of LH rifles in this caliber. The most common choice for a southpaw is the 7mm Rem Mag & I think I developed an irrational bias or indifference against this round when I was younger. Because my friends & relatives all hunted in the kudzu & vine-laden thickets of the southeast, no one I knew had a magnum anything. The rifle rack was usually dominated by 30-30's & 30-06's. For many years, all I hunted with were standard long-action rounds. It wasn't until much later in life that I started shooting the 375 H&H and my 458 Win Mag...and fell in love with both of them.

Recently I've had several friends who have started hunting a lot with 7mm's mostly over in Texas. One had really good results using a 7mm Rem Mag on an aoudad and a couple more have been using the 7mm-08 mainly for deer & hogs. I really do have everything I "need" but there are a couple of empty slots in my safe that I would like to eventually fill simply because I enjoy buying new rifles (...and shooting them!). I had asked a similar question recently in a thread that mostly discussed cartridges with lightweight bullets in the quarter-bore range which was very informative & helpful.

For this particular thread I was curious what cartridge you think is ideal that has the following criteria. I value the feedback & opinions of the members of this forum:

• 7mm caliber
• Capable of taking all but the largest plains game
• Max distance of several hundred meters (350 ~ 450)...probably much closer
• What bullet weight / type to achieve best accuracy / best terminal results?
• I can handle heavy recoil...but I will favor more reasonable suggestions

I was limited to ten items in the poll so the list favors rounds that I have a chance of acquiring a LH rifle in. I'm really looking for a bolt action but you could always talk me into a kipplauf with a rimmed cartridge. I already have eight falling blocks so I've cut myself off on purchasing more of them (ha!...another lie I tell myself). Based on my eyes, age & an honest assessment of my shooting ability, I can't ever see myself taking a shot at an animal at longer +500m distances.

One question I could answer for myself but haven't yet is how well would my No. 1 with a shorter 20" barrel do at longer distances. So far I've only used it in dense woods. The shooting ranges near where I live are limited to 200 yards or less so I need to make it out to a friend's pecan farm in central Arkansas one day & test the limits of the shortest rifle from my safe.

 

[Hififile324]

Fun poll! It is very hard to beat the 7mm Rem Mag for ammo and component availability both here and abroad. The rifle selection in 7 RM is among the best.

Few rifle calibers offer the bullet diversity that will cover most of the world's game animals. Mine is going with me back to RSA in August with 175 Partitions.

Accuracy, long range ability, tolerable recoil, what's not to like!

 

[ThreeJacks]

I have several 7x57 and 7mm Rem Mag rifles that I really enjoy shooting. But AH is a bad influence, based on posts here I acquired a 7x64 that I really like and have since added two more.

 

[slam8031]

I have my theee daughter’s shooting 7-08. They are very accurate rifles and they shoot them well. My primary rifle is 7 mm rem mag. I have hunted elk and kudu and many in between with the 7 mag. I am impressed with the ballistics advantages of the 7 PRC.

 

[Berettaco]

For the largest plains game I would lean towards a heavier bullet. From my limited knowledge of all things 7mm I would guess that would narrow the selection down to the which 7 can accurately shoot a 190-200 grain bullet. 7x57 or 7PRC ?

 

[farmer_john]

My vote would be the humble .270 winchester.
If doing custom id do a 1 in 8 or 9 twist to take advantage of higher bc heavier bullets.

Other plus its in every store

 

[odonata]

The rifle selection in 7 RM is among the best.

Left-handed 7mm Rem Mags are readily available in a several of my favorite rifles (Sako, Ruger, Remington, etc.) so it will always be a practical & affordable option to consider. I actually owned a Ruger MkII in 7mm RM but never used that caliber. I bought it as a donor rifle to make my LH 458 Win Mag so I've only shot it as the large caliber.

7mm Rem Mag before. 458 Win Mag after.

I have several 7x57 and 7mm Rem Mag rifles that I really enjoy shooting. But AH is a bad influence, based on posts here I acquired a 7x64 that I really like and have since added two more.

I love my LH Steyr CL II in 30-06. But they make left-handed models in both the CL II and SM12 that can be chambered in 7x64. It has a lot of appeal.

 

[TMac]

I am sure you could find a load that will do what you need with your 7x57. To stretch the range with that cartridge and shorter barrel, you may need to look at a “softer” bullets. If you hand load that would be an advantage. Hornady SST/Eld-X, Nosler BT etc.

I’ve shot a 280 Rem for almost 40 years, and voted accordingly. 150 & 175 partitions were often used. More recently 140 Fusions, 140 Accubonds, 160 Accubonds and 145 LRX are my go to’s. I get 3,013fps with the 145 LRX and it holds enough velocity to be capable to 600 yards. Small deer to elk, an effective and shootable round.

Today the 280AI seems more popular than the regular 280. A 7mm-08 is an excellent round and does well in short barrels. It’s likely the 280 AI or 7mm-08 would be my choice today if I was picking my first 7mm.

 

[odonata]

I have my theee daughter’s shooting 7-08.

One of my friends who shoots the 7mm-08 uses the Reduced Recoil Hornady ammo to let his grandkids hunt with it. From the pictures he shares, they are doing really well with that setup.

My vote would be the humble .270 winchester.

Not a totally unexpected reply even if it is off by a fraction of a millimeter!

All opinions are welcome...

I’ve shot a 280 Rem for almost 40 years, and voted accordingly.

The 280 has been leading from the start but the voting is still early!

 

[slam8031]

I have worked up a load for 175 swift a frames that one of my 7 mags really likes. I’ve taken 20 plus African game with that set up. From kudu/waterbuck./gemsbuck down.

 

[odonata]

I have worked up a load for 175 swift a frames that one of my 7 mags really likes. I’ve taken 20 plus African game with that set up. From kudu/waterbuck./gemsbuck down.

It's hard to argue with admirable results like that! Just out of curiosity, what was the average / longest distance on the shots? I know we're different shooters but how far would you be comfortable taking a shot with that setup?

 

[coyote wacker]

Have been using a 7mm RM since the early 70's. My wifes only centerfire rifle is a 7 mm RM. A great cartridge you can max it out or load it down depending on your need.

Have a LH Ruger 77 stainless steel 7 mm Rem. Mag. coming my way. If its not a good shooter 458 WM is what it will end up being.

 

[sgt_zim]

Within velocity limitations, it's hard for me to pick 1 over another.

IMO, 175 gr 7mm pills are THE best medium game bullets a hunter could use (relative to recoil), whether they're fired at 2400 or 3000, I think it doesn't matter much. And the only thing 3k fps gets you is another 200 - 300 yards of lethality beyond 2400 fps. Won't kill animals any deader or more reliably than 7mm-08 or 7x57 where those 2 are still effective.

Having said all that, my 7 is a 280 AI.

 

[Schüler Jumbo]

I’ve been shooting a 7 STW for twenty-years. I stay with fast 140 grain bullets for longer range shooting at lighter weight thin-skinned non-dangerous game. Where legal I would use on leopard with heavier bullets. I also like the 7mm Rem Mag and 7mm Weatherby.

 

[Nosler guy]

If doing custom id do a 1 in 8 or 9 twist to take advantage of higher bc heavier bullets.

Hmmmnnnn .... sounds like you need a .280, that would solve your problems, lots of bullet selection

Given - you won't buy ammo in just every store

 

[odonata]

I’ve been shooting a 7 STW for twenty-years. I stay with fast 140 grain bullets for longer range shooting at lighter weight thin-skinned non-dangerous game.

Because left-handed CRF rifles in larger calibers are harder to find, I sometimes make the mistake of not paying enough attention to magnum-length options that would work well in a push feed rifle for non-dangerous game. I'm not as well-versed on what LH push feed rifles can be rebarreled for the 3.6" / 91mm cartridges. I need to educate myself more...

 

[farmer_john]

Hmmmnnnn .... sounds like you need a .280, that would solve your problems, lots of bullet selection

Given - you won't buy ammo in just every store

Lol only have a 270 becsuse gift from my grandpa

 

[Hififile324]

Hmmmnnnn .... sounds like you need a .280, that would solve your problems, lots of bullet selection

Given - you won't buy ammo in just every store

Another great cartridge that's much under appreciated!

 

[DaddyFlip]

Wait, wait; you haven't completed the quarter bore exercise and we're already moved on to 7mm? BTW, that thread is now on Page 4...

 

[odonata]

Wait, wait; you haven't completed the quarter bore exercise and we're already moved on to 7mm? BTW, that thread is now on Page 4...

I can multi-task!