Bought my 1st 7 Rem Mag in 1970 when I was 15, ardent fan of Les Bowman wondered why JOC wasn't smart enuf to listen to him. I had already learned to handle recoil and shoot a 7x57 which I loaded my own ammo for by 15. Shot my 1st whtl buck at 17 with the 7x57 and 140 npt's with 4350. Shot my 2nd whtl buck with the 7 mag,1st antelope and 1st mule buck on my own with knowledge from guys like Les Bowman and Bob Hagel to guide me. Coupla years ago I had a wake and drank a few cold ones for the original stainless barrel on my old 7 mag 700 adl. It wears a newer one now that shoots as good or better than the original. Thousands of rounds ,many different bullets and powder combinations and many dead animals on the ground. Didn't imagine any of it, BTDT. Never did run a round of factory ammo thru it on game. When people have problems with a 7 mm Mag it's because they caused them. They needed to learn how to shoot first, before relying on a high performance tool to make up for their own lack of knowledge, skill, and confidence in what they can do. It's that simple and it don't just pertain to the 7 mag. The 7 just attracted more dilrods than more accomplished nimrods for first time use. Caused by advertising. I enjoy shooting a wide spectrum of calbers and cartridges for the last 45 years, along the way I noticed when you aim them right they all kill correctly. Some of the bullets out there today will get it done full spectrum close or far, any angle or velocity. Some won't, experience teaches that. When people bad mouth a cartridge they are showing their lack of experience not the superiority of it. Some cartridge designs are lacking causing function problems but that is a small %. Good thread like this allways helps clear the air about who knows what and who don't know jack. Magnum Man