I applaud the op for the purchase of the 7mm mag, love mine and you won't flinch if you squeeze the trigger. Slapping or Jerking the trigger is bad. The other round is viable, my 11 year old grandson shot a pig with the 7-08 this year. . Th 🐷 dropped on the spot.

Don't forget the 280 rem in this mix, it is basically a 7mm -06, provides great options for a reloader.

I'd go with the 7mm08 I'm in a sorta the same situation I've got a 7mag and a 280 and use the 280 a lot more . If he's find a 7-08 at the right place and price I'd get it. There's just something about the 28 I like

Another comparble to the 7mm-08 is the 25-06.. Almost identical ballistics and very little recoil..

Since you already have a 30-06 and a 300 win mag, the obvious choice is arguably, in MY opinion, THE best/most versatile whitetail cartridge ever designed of all time-provided you reload! Even if you don't reload, there's plenty of different loadings available for it. Felt recoil is roughly about 1/2 what the 30-06 feels like, extremely accurate, not overbore for long barrel life, cheap and very easy to load for, not finicky on loads. What more could you ask for? I've shot or have watched whitetails shot with the 7mm08 from 10 yards way out to "you ain't going to believe this" distance, I've not seen a deer get further than 10 yards with a well placed hit,it is the ballistic twin of the old 7x57 Mauser when using factory loaded ammo.

Mossberg makes good hunting rifles. I recently read a Mossberg 702 review

Zarith-what in the world does a mossberg 702 review have to do with the original poster's question??????

I'd go with the 7-08 in a mountain rifle with a detachable mag. I've got a 280 and 25/06 in that and they handle great.

7mm mag....do not put a muzzle break on it. The noise will affect your hearing. If it was a rifle with a harder recoil but the 7mm mag has close to the same recoil of a 30-06.

Put a good (Pachmayr) recoil pad on it; and use both ear plugs and ear muffs when shooting it at the range.

Start with +/-140 grain ammo.

A good follow through is imperative !!!


I saw NoMercy say that this thread was 8 years old ; I wonder if he developed a FLINCH ?!?!

Maybe he should have taken-up knitting ??

if it was my choice i would pick the 7mm-08. you said that you would be hunting in thick brush and the 7mm mag isnt the best choice as it moves too fast and could be effected by brush. also the recoil of the 7mm mag is a lot more then the 7mm-08. if you hunt in fields more then in brush then the 7mm would be a better choice.