Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 7mm-08 and 7mm Rem Mag Overlap???

Hey everybody,
I have been hankering for a new rifle for awhile now and I thought that I had decided on a Rem. Model 7 in 7mm-08, but then I got to thinking I have already have a 7mm. Is there alot of overlap between the 7mm Mag and the 7mm-08? I would use this gun for whitetails/bear.
YH

Overlap?

The loading range for a 7mm Remington Magnum using RL-22, 57.0 grains to 66.0 grains CCI-200 Primer

The loading range for a 7mm-08 using RL-22 From 45.0 grains to 48.0 grains
Remington 9-1/2 Primer

This is with 168 grain bullets.

you might not use your 7 mag anymore. the 08 will do fine for both with half the recoil. i noticed your from maine. how about a med/big bore? a new blr in 358. or even the rem 673 in 350 mag. throw away all the garbage they hung on it and you have your model 7 in an ass kicking round! i cant wait to crawl in the swamps up there every year. a 350 mag is all i bring now. devastating on the deer, haven't used it on a bear yet. good luck and let us kneo what you decide.
woofer

Yes. The both use the same bullets and as such have the same amount of killing power. The 7 Mag does shoot a little flatter, but that isn't really much of an advantage.

Blaine

Blaine, I would call 400-500 fps and 500+ foot pounds of energy quite a difference. Isn't that why you went with a .300 over a .308. Come on now, there isn't any difference between those two calibers either <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> If you want less recoil etc., simply download the 7mm mag and have the best of both worlds. Flinch

So you're saying the 30cal carbine has the same "killing power" as a 300 win mag because they use the same bullets??? <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

I do not have a 300 Win mag. I have a 30-06. I sold the 300 because it provided no advantage in killing power over the 30-06.

Regardless, the principal is the same. A 180 grain Nosler Partition out of a 308 will kill an elk just the same as a 180 grain Parition out of a 300 Win. All you have to do is put it through the vitals.

To reliably increase killing power, you need more tissue disruption (wound channel and diameter and length). With our current crop of popular high velocity hunting chamberings, increasing bullet diameter will disrupt more tissue--increasing killing power, than simply increasing velocity with the same bullet. In many cases, increasing velocity will actually reduce killing power.

Also, 400-500 fps for the 7mm Rem mag over the 7mm-08 is an overstatement. The #4 Nosler Manual gives a velocity of 2780 fps for a 7mm-08 shooting a 160 grain Parition, the "classic" 7mm elk bullet. That same manual says a 7mm Rem mag will push the same bullet at 3118 fps. That is a 338 fps difference. We can spot the mag 50 fps for the 7mm-08's two inch longer barrel. However, I had a hard time getting even 3100 fps from my 26" barreled 7mm Rem mag with 160 grain bullets.

Energy is a meaningless figure when it comes to killing animals. Disruption of vital tissue is what kills, not energy.

But you guys already know this.................

Blaine

<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

You know that this is not true! You won't have any disruption of vital tissue if you don't have any energy. It is a combination of both energy and bullet that kills the animal.

young hunter,
If you like the mod. 7, the 7mm-08 should fill your needs nicely, and with a well placed shot will cleanly dispatch any Black Bear on the planet.
But if you feel you NEED to have something w/ a bit more punch for them bears, I would agree with Woofer that the .350 Rem. Mag. would be a fine choice. Remington's custom shop offers the Model Seven Custom KS in .350 rem. mag., I believe the M.S.R.P. is around $1,300.00 though, but hey, if your budget dictates it might just be the new toy you're looking for all wrapped up in one package. You can see it on their website under the link for their custom shop. Good luck what ever you choose. YB.

AFP,

Gotta agree with you on this topic. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

It only stands to reason, that a 7mm-08 at say...100 yards, is traveling the same speed as the 7mm Mag at 250 yards.

(I pulled those figures out of thin air, it's just an example)

So at some point in both cartridges 'range' the 7mm-08 is indeed capable of equally, and even exceeding, the 7mm Mag. Naturallly, when comparing both cartridges at the exact same distance, the magnum is going to carry more speed.

So I guess as long as the shooter is willing to accept the loss of some long-range power and trajectory, the 7mm-08 is a good choice.

i saw that YH was from maine. i assumed that his shots will be closer to 50 yards than 500. i have yet to put crosshairs on a deer up there over 75 yards away. it happens but usually for me it is inside 30 yards. i just commented that the 08 would do everything he needed in a 7mm if that's what he wants. if he just wants another gun then the 350 is the obvious choice. inside 300 it will dispatch anything up there with great authority. this is my opinion. no flaming!@E#@$$%.
woofer

Younghunter,
The 7mm-08 and 7mm Rem Mag are great combinations.

With the 7-08 in the model 7 you will have a great light weight package. Top it off with a VXII in 2 x 7 with heavey duplex and you will have a neat woods rifle. The 20" barrel of the model 7 will give you a fast pointing and easy carring rig. 120gr. Nosler BT are a great bullet for whitetails. 140 Partitions will work for anything with teeth or tusk. The 4" of barrel that you loose with the model 7, along with the reduced case capacity will make a significant difference in velocity lost to the 7 mag, exspecially in bullets over 150gr.

You are already familiar with the 7 mag. It is a great round. The 160gr. Partition is adiquate for anything in the lower 48. You will see a big difference in velocity between a 20" 7-08 and a 24" 7mag in this buller weight.

One advantage to this combo is the fact that the bullets will interchange. I shoot 120 BT in my 20" 7-08. They are extreemly accurate with mid range powders like 4064, RL 15, and Varget. They are a great whitetail round and I have taken a couple of hogs with them as well. I dont have a chrony but I estimate I am geting 2700-2800 fps. Nosler list that same bullet out of a 24" 7 mag at 3400-3500 fps. This will make this bullet one flat shooting round, great for shooting clearcuts and open areas. The same holds true for the 140 partitions, the extra velocity will extend your range and penetration with the same bullet.

I think this would be a great combo. And the ability to use the same bullets will make if economical as well.

GB

I own one of each. Love 'em both.

A M70 Compact with a 1" pad installed in 7-08, and a M70 Stainless synthetic in 7mm Mag.

They overlap on whitetails at 25-250 yds. On Elk at 25- to way less than 250 yds. The 7mm Mag is a 350-400 yd antelope and mule deer gun, the 7-08 is not.

In my humble opinion everyone should have one of each.

TMAN, you hit the nail right on the head. The 7mag is a great long range western cartridge, it gets it done up close also. I have a 7 mag, and I would love to also have a 7mm-08. I use 140 and 150 gr ballistic tips, and scirocco's for mule deer, it is a flat shooting round, the 7mag. With a 2.5 inch high zero at 100 yds, I have a load with 140 gr ballistic tips that only drops 11 inches at 400 yds. The powder I use in that load is Reloader 19. I find Alliant's powder to burn cleaner than some of the others. I am also partial to IMR powders, but then, I should, I work for Dupont.

You are no doubt confused by all these answers. According to most loading manuals, the 7mm Remington Magnum has about a 300 fps advantage over the 7mm-08 Remington, given the same barrel lengths and bullets. This amounts to about the velocity the 7mm Magnum loses in 100 yards. This means the 7mm-08 will do at 300 what the 7mm Mag does at 400.

The 7mm Mag will shoot a little flatter and kick a LOT more. As far as the 7mm-08 not being a 350-400 yard deer and antelope cartridge, well, if somebody can't shoot accurately at 350-400 with a 7mm-08, then it sure isn't.

But if a hunter can shoot a 7mm-08, it will work fine on either game as far as 140-grain bullets will reliably expand, which is at least 400 yards. I knopw this because I've done it, and not just with the 7mm-08 and its ballistic twin the 7x57, but lesser cartridges such as the .257 Roberts.

I live in Montana and would happily hunt any legal big game here, including elk and moose, with a 7mm-08 and one of the great 140-grain bullets available today, such as the Fail Safe, Barnes X or Trophy Bonded Bear Claw.

One other consideration in the 7-08 would be to put a custom 24 inch barrel on it in sporter size. The 7-08 with a 24 inch barrel is right on a 7 mag with the lighter bullets. But just remember one thing, if velocity is what you are after, the 7 mag will win every time. My 7 mag kicks alittle more than a 30-06, but it is not a mountain rifle. If all things were equal , so to speak, and you had light rifles, the 7-08 probably would be more enjoyable to shoot. If long shots are in the cards, the 7 mag is the round of choice. Both are excellent cartridges, and both have their strengths and weaknesses. Best way for me to put it is I wont be selling my 7 mag any time soon.

I'd try something else. You have your long range rig. I take it you want an all day carry rifle/brush gun. Did you think about a 308? Still fits in the 7,more bullet weight available,so it will be a little better at stopping the animal. Another option is a Rem 7600 in 308 or 3006. A quick second shot with the pump.

Hi MD,

My 7mm Mag turns up 3300 +/- with 139gr Hornady's with WMR, R22, & IMR7828.

My 7-08 turns up 2700 FPS with the same bullet, with W760, H414, R19, my old M7 was able to hit 2600 with the same loads. That's a lot more like 600fps difference.

With a tight sling, on a good day, I can sit down and drop most of my shots in a grapefruit at 300 yds with the Mag. My little M 70 7-08 will do the same at 200 yds, under the same conditions, it's a full 2.5 lbs lighter.

Without a doubt the 7-08 is a hell of an antelope, mule deer, whitetail, or even elk if you can pick your shots. (I have a .lightweight .375 H&H for those big critters) But it ain't a 7mm Mag.

What barrel lengths do you have on you 7mm-08 and 7mm Rem mag, and how does each shoot the 160 grainers?

Blaine

What barrel length is your 7mm-08, and what load ? I have easily gotten 2900 with the 139 Hornady with excellent accuracy from a couple 22" barreled 7mm-08's using Hodgdon's top load of 50-H4350, about the velocity they list. Add a couple inches of barrel to the 7mm-08 and we're right in there at around 300 fps difference.

Never have felt the 7mm-08 was a 7mm mag. But never have felt the 7mm mag was a "big rifle" either. Mostly have observed that a good shot with a 7mm-08 beats a bad one with a larger rifle any day!