.270 or 7mm Rem magnum

[JACKNZ]

I am looking at buying a new rifle for 300-400yrd deer shooting.The deer I
Hunt are SIKA and RED DEER.The SIKA are around the same size as a white tail and REDS are about fifty lbs larger .I have taken many of both with a .308 from 10--200yrs, but I wish to change my hunting style and this will involve longer ranges.I am familar with the .270 but wish to know more about the 7mm Rem magnum.I am mainly interested in recoil and how eazy it is for the avarage light weight hunter to manage.I can shoot
a .308 or .270 all day with no problems.I will not be interested in a muzzle break.Is the 7mm mag a better proposition than the .270.This rifle will be shot a lot and will not be a light weight, it will also be shot off a bipod.
Thanks all..Jack.

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

The 7mm mag has recoil along the lines of a .30-06---maybe a touch stiffer.

It would perfom a bit better then the .270 at longer ranges---basically throwing a bigger heavier bullet at the same trajectory.

Magnum rifles tend  to be bigger and heavier also---generally.

Check this out:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

[Dave in WV]

Jack, I don't know what the firearms and ammunition situation down there is as far as what's available. The .270 Winchester short magnum is the one short mag cartridge I honestly believe is here to stay for sure. I have no experience with it but if I was in the market for a .270 that would be my choice. If you don't reload it would probably not be the best choice. I believe if going to a long magnum cartridge I'd consider the 300 Winchester mag over the 7mm mag. I honestly don't see a real gain with a 7mm mag over a 30-06 if the 06 is loaded to the same chamber pressure as a .270 or .308. Dave

[tominboise]

I have both and use both, both in Winchester M70 rifles.  I like both.  If I could only choose one, it'd be the .270 for sentimental reasons, plus it doesn't have that d@#n belt on the case.  You can load up with a 150 gr partition and have a good load for heavier game.  My .270 is heavier than my 7mm Mag, but both shoot very well - usually under 1 MOA, and often enough to not be a fluke under 1/2 MOA.  Recoil is about the same, it seems to me.  Off hand I don't notice, and on the bench, I always use a sandbag.  I use the 7mm with 160 gr Partitions for Elk.  As mentioned, you can go with heavier bullets in the 7mm - up to 175 gr.

Your choice, either one will do the job for you.

[jhm]

Jack:  Like some of the other post I also have both, there is a little more recoil (felt) shooting the 7mag or at least it seams so for me, as to which one to get I like both but with the new short magnums out a lot of the older high quality rifles in 7 mag. are being put on the used market, so if I was in the situation where I wanted a quality rifle in a long range caliber I would be looking at a used 7mag. in a quality rifle, just my thoughts on buying another rifle.   JIM

[SHW]

I own & have used both calibers in several rifles.  I hunt whitetails, where a 300 yard shot is not that uncommon.  I prefer the 7MM rem mag.  The 270 is great but the 7mag just does everything a little better.  I shoot 150 grain bal tips & 140 grain partitions with great success.  The 7mag is truly one of the best all around calibers for elk size game & smaller.  I am not that impressed with the new short mags.  WHAT do they really offer over the old reliables.  Just my view.  You can't go wrong with a 7mm rem mag.
GOOD LUCK :-D

[Zachary]

I also own both.  The 7mag hits game with greater authority.  I have never taken game with either the .270 or 7mag at distances of 300 or 400 yards, but there is no doubt that, at those longer ranges, that's where the 7mag comes into play.  The 7mag bullet will be heavier, wider and traveling faster.

As for recoil, it's noticeably more than the .270, but really not that bad.  Keep in mind that heavier bullets translate into higher recoil.  For your type hunting at those super long ranges, you will want premium boat-tail type bullets.  Keeping in mind that the animals you will be hunting are about the size of our whitetail - or even a bit bigger - I would stick with bullets no heavier than, say, 160 grains.  Hornady 154 grain Interlocks or Interbonds, should be ideal.

Zachary

[longwinters]

For the type of hunting you are considering, I would go with the 7MM.  As already stated the recoil will be a bit more than the 270 or a 30-06.  But for velocity with a 160 grain bullet (like the Nosler Partition) which you would probably want with deer that could go over 200lbs I think the 7mm is a better choice.  If you go with the 30 caliber big boys look for alot more recoil than the 7MM will dish out.

long

[JACKNZ]

Thanks for the input guys,It seems to be about a fifty-fifty split on these
two cals,It looks like I will be spending time a the local rifle range speaking to owners of the 7mm before I will make the final decision.
NZ has a VERY strong shooting tradition,with all American and European
brands avaliable, so I will have no worrys ether way.
Thanks again,,Jack.

[Dragon31]

JACKNZ

I use both the .270 and the 7 Mag.  Using the 7 mag, 175 grain bullets with a 24 inch barrel you get slightly more recoil than a 30 06.  I use the .270 as a "bean field rifle" shooting from a high tree stand over looking 600 x 400 yard bean field.  This particular guns has a 26 inch heavy barrel and with the right reloads will come with in just a few feet per second of matching the 7 mag of similar bullet weights up to 150 grains.  The rifle and scope are heavy and recoil is less than a 308.  I have and hunt with two other .270 cal rifles.  One has a 22 inch barrel and the other a 24 inch barrel.  Reloading with H4831SC and H1000 there is a considerable difference in the speed of the same bullet from the 22 inch barrel and the 26 inch barrel.  I do not normally use the 7 mag to hunt Whitetailed deer but use it with the heavy bullets on elk and larger North American game.  Both calibers do an excellant job for most North American hunting.  If I had to use just one Rifle of either 7 mag or .270 I would go with a stainless steel rifle with a 24 inch barrel in .270 cal.

[Muddyboots]

I would go with the .270 only on basis the 7 RM is not needed for the extra bullet weights. The .270 will kill out to the ranges you described adequately. The 7 RM will out perform the .270 but again it is not needed and the .270 is easier to reload anyway. Own them both and prefer the 7 RM but each has its place. The 7 RM shines with heavier bullets but these are not really what you are looking for to kill deer size game. My Ruger No. 1B 7 RM shoots 140 gr BT's or 139 gr. SST's exceptionally well and pushes them along at 3250. IMR 7828 pushes the 139 gr. SST's even up to 3400 if you want to. But you don't need it for deer size game so why not stay with the .270 for easier reloading, cheaper brass and so on? I'd pick the .270 and never look back.
Muddy

[Gray]

If you could get the rifle chambered in 280 Rem. that would be the best of both worlds.  You would get the advantage of 7mm bullet diameter as well as no magnum belt or magnum recoil.  Your velocity with the 280 Rem. will only be behind the 7mm Mag. by about 150 fps.  This is ONE great round!

[WW1]

Jack I personally would look at the 280 Rem...I have both it and the 7mm mag....according to the books, if we can believe books, the 280 is close to the 7mm out to 400 yards using less powder....it shoots the same bullets as the 7mm, and will shoot a heavier bullet faster than a 270...oh I know the 270 guys will be throwing stones at me, but that is my oppinion....the last deer I shoot with mine was ranged at 375 yards and he went down with one bullet and never took a step...took me a long time to give up my old 06 but the 280 has a little less recoil onmy old shoulders......ww1