7mm Rem mag vs .300 win mag

[270Shooter]

So I'm in the market for a new rifle and I am on the fence between these two calibers. I would mainly use this rifle for elk hunting. My gut tells me the .300 would better because it offers a significant jump in energy over my .270. My shots would probably be 500 yards max but may want to get into the long range game eventually once I get setup to reload my own. Which cartridge would you choose and why?

[C-Money]

I have access to all 3, and still shoot the .270win. My father has killed all his elk with the .300 win mag, my uncle has killed most of his elk with the 7mm rem mag. (uncle got a nice 6x6 in Colorado with his .270win) All proven killers, follow your gut, cant go wrong. To me, not enough of a difference to stress about.

[BULLBLASTER]

I'd go 300.  higher energy levels. I own a 7 mm rem mag and had a 300 rum and am currently waiting on getting a 300 win mag that I feel like will do anything I want it to.

Big bullets and the Winnie are a good match.

[ghosthunter]

Based on the amount of 300 wm you see for sale on here. I would go with the 7mm.
A lot of guys get real tired of the pounding. Get something you can shoot into retirement.

[270Shooter]

Yes that's another thing I've been curious about. I'm not exactly recoil sensitive and I've shot the 7mm and you can definitely feel it but it's not terrible. Never shot a .300 though, is it really that much more recoil?

[baker5150]

If your worried about recoil, have a break installed.

I'm a 30 cal guy, but hunt with 7mm guys.  We all take game.  It's just personal preference.

When in doubt, buy both.

[Dhoey07]

I've shot my dad's 7mm mag a handful of times and I have a .300 win mag myself.  I shot deer with both and don't notice any difference between the two.  My dad has killed plenty of elk with his gun, without any problems. 

I don't think you could go wrong in this situation 

[b23]

If your worried about recoil, have a break installed.

I'm a 30 cal guy, but hunt with 7mm guys.  We all take game.  It's just personal preference.

When in doubt, buy both.

 

I've got a variety of a little bit of everything and like them all for different reasons but for a lot of years the only centerfire rifle I owned was a 300 Weatherby that I used for everything from coyotes to elk and all things in between so I suppose I'm a bit partial to 30 cals as well and if I had to pick between the 7 Rem Mag and 300 Win, I'd have to go with the 300 Win, especially if elk were to be it's primary use.

[Buzz2401]

Never owned a 300wm but have personally killed a dozen elk with a 7mag and not one of them went more then 30 yards.  But I would have to think they are near identical in just about every way.

[Alchase]

I have both, not much difference between the two really. Any recoil differences are more rifle type dependent them the round themselves. Neither has a bad recoil. The 300WM has a minuscule edge on energy and FPS for comparable rounds.
The 300 WM has more bullet choices in more locations, but I never had a problem finding quality 7MM bullets either.

Both will do what you need very well, don't think you can go wrong with either.

PS: one of the loudest (annoyingly load) rifles I have ever heard was a 7MM with a boss. It will ring your ears.

[Magnum_Willys]

IF stepping up from 7mm goto 338. Its kick is no more than the .300 and terminal velocity greater.   If not 338 I would stay with popular 7mm
Everyone I hunt elk with uses a .338. 

[bullfisher]

I prefer the 7mm for the BC. A 7mm can reach BC's over .600 or a g7 over .300 at about 160 grains. To match that in a 30 cal you need to shoot a bullet 200 grains plus. If you built a rifle with a reciever that can handle the longer 7mm bullets, you could achieve a g1 bc over .700, which is insane.

[BULLBLASTER]

I prefer the 7mm for the BC. A 7mm can reach BC's over .600 or a g7 over .300 at about 160 grains. To match that in a 30 cal you need to shoot a bullet 200 grains plus. If you built a rifle with a reciever that can handle the longer 7mm bullets, you could achieve a g1 bc over .700, which is insane.

The 300 really shines with the long heavy bullets the same as a 7 does.

[BULLBLASTER]

IF stepping up from 7mm goto 338. Its kick is no more than the .300 and terminal velocity greater.   If not 338 I would stay with popular 7mm
Everyone I hunt elk with uses a .338.

That depends on the 338 chambering. If I were to step up to a 338 it would be one that can push a 300 grain bullet fast. Which would increase the recoil and blast significantly over a 7 or 300.

[JDHasty]

If your worried about recoil, have a break installed.

I'm a 30 cal guy, but hunt with 7mm guys.  We all take game.  It's just personal preference.

When in doubt, buy both.

 

I've got a variety of a little bit of everything and like them all for different reasons but for a lot of years the only centerfire rifle I owned was a 300 Weatherby that I used for everything from coyotes to elk and all things in between so I suppose I'm a bit partial to 30 cals as well and if I had to pick between the 7 Rem Mag and 300 Win, I'd have to go with the 300 Win, especially if elk were to be it's primary use.

For big game I shoot a McMillan stocked Mod 70 Winlite in 300Wby.  It is really the only big game bolt action rifle I use.   I have a 243 & a 30-06, but never use them.  The 300 is just such a versatile rifle.