ELKEATER

Redhead,

I have owned both calibers. I started hunting with a Sako 7mm and used it for 20 years. I killed numerous deer and elk with it in one shot. The last bull elk I shot with it was about 40 yards away and coming straight at me. I bugled him in. One shot to the chest and it shook him to the core. He coiled up and damn near flipped over backwards while trotting up the hill. He reared up and sunfished down the hill and died by the time he hit the ground. I am sure any sized animal taking that direct hit will respond near the same. It is a great caliber. My dad had a Sako 300 Win Mag that he used for over 20 years. I witnessed him shooting several bulls and bucks with it. They seldom went far after impact. He died in 2001 and I in herited his rifle. I took both rifles to the range and compared them. The 300 Win Mag shot tighter groups and kicked less. The 300 has killed numerous deer and elk, and I will kill a bull with it this year in Arizona. I hated to do it but sold the 7mm. I can only hunt with one gun. Nuff said.

rick_reno

Doesn't matter, either one will kill and elk/deer.

NVMIKE

Either one will do fine. I preferr the 300winny. It has a bit more whack factor. It also hasthe most choices for bullets.

redhead522

I'd just like to say, thanks to everyone for their input . I've finally decided on the 300 win mag. It wasa hard decision, but I'm sticking to it.

NVMIKE

You wont regrett it when it comes to elk the 300win is hard to beat. For deer you wouldnt have noticed the difference

TomFromTheShade

I would opt for the 7mm. You will find that in reasonable hunting ranges, bullet drop is inconsequential. I think that you will appreciate the reduced recoil of the caliber as opposed to the 300 magnum, and you will find that the 175g bullets penetrate every bit as well as the 180 grain 300. Also, you can use lighter bullet weights in the 7mm when going after smaller quarry than moose.

pintoshot

To me, where you will notice the difference is with respect to deer.
I have shot deer with a 300 WM and the resulting meat damage was unacceptable for me. On elk, no problem with either. But, I think the 300 WM is too much for deer. Especially when there are so many other selections available. For a combo gun my rating would be something like this:
1.30-06/308
2. 7mm
3. 270 WM
4.7mm-08
4. 270WSM
being someone who really cherishes the meat in my freezer, I think the 300WM is best for elk and larger only. I know all sorts of folks hunt deer with the 300 WM and 300WSM. But even in the wide open spaces that I hunt, the longest shot i have ever made on elk or deer is 150 Yards.

ShatoDavis

Meat Damage? where are you shooting these dear? I don't utilize any of the meat on the ribcage myself. OBTW, the 30-06 or 308 that was your "#1" has the same diameter bullet as the 300 wm so meat damage would be nearly identical. Seriously do people think about what they are writing prior to clicking the submit buton?[8D]

pintoshot

Let me ask you the question....this isnt based on any printed fact, only what I have seen for myself in the field. Shot a deer at 75 yards with a model 70 300WM hit the deer just behind the shoulder. Blew out the off side with a hole about the size of softball. The impact blew the whitetail off its feet like a sledge hammer It shocked me a bit. lost the the entire off shoulder meat and the off ribcage.The gun worked.
Look, I love the 300 WM. But it mustve been the velocity that bullet was moving at that resulted in a very great 30 cal impact. I will admit though...that the bullet choice was decent cuz the expansion happened. That type of damage has never occurred with my 270WSM which I have killed both deer and elk with with one shot...and none of the animals took so much as a step after impact...they went down hard and fast. Deer with 130gr silvertips and elk with 140gr failsafes.

ShatoDavis

deleted.
I'm just testy I quess.[8D] Come on september 8