HELLO GUYS,

I AM HAVING A LITTLE DILEMA WITH CHOOSING A NEW DEER RIFLE, I HOPE YOU GUYS CAN HELP. I HUNT IN PA AND THE TERRAIN IS THICK BRUSH/ FIELDS ETC. I AM LOOKING INTO BUYING A NEW RIFLE AND REALLY LIKE THE 7MM-08 RIFLE. I ALSO LIKE THE 7MM MAG. I ALREADY HAVE A 30-06 AND I USE A 300 WINCHESTER MAGNUM, BUT WANT SOMETING IN BETWEEN. MY QUESTION IS, 7MM-08 OR THE 7MM MAG? CAN ANYONE PROVIDE INPUT? I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR TESTIMONIALS, PREFERENCES, ETC..THANKS,


KC

I just got this one in 7MM Stainless synthetic with a detachable magazine



http://www.sakoa7.net/

I got a Rem 700 sps 7 mag on order

7mm-08 is my choice, awesome caliber...probably one of the best out there. There is not much you can't do with that gun, plus it won't pound you and ammo is reasonable. You already have a magnum (and a great one!) this would be my choice.

The 7mm-08 would fit your "needs" perfetly hunting deer in PA but you said you wanted something inbetween your 30-06 and the 300 and that would be the 7mm mag. The 7mm-08 ballistically a step behing the 30-06.

I have a few friends who shoot 7mm-08 and they all love them. One friend has a Weatherby Vangaurd, another has a Model 7 Remington, the other a model 700 Bdl.

One shoots 140 ballistic tips, the other 140 nosler partitions, and the other 140 core-lokt out of em all they all kill deer. Its just an all round great round for whitetail. You already have a cannon for larger game this probaly fits the bill alot more for you since you have an 06.

If i didnt shoot a 270 i would be all over a 7mm08 as a primary deer rifle. Im in the opposite boat as you im looking at either a 300win mag or a 7mm Mag.

A good 140 gr bullet fired from 7mm08 will kill any whitetail ever to walk the earth within 400 yards in the right hands,and with a considerable amount less recoil compared with 30-06 or .300 win mag. The 7mm rem mag is pretty close to the 30-06 you already have so it wouldn't make much sense to duplicate it.

I too hunt Pennsylvania. I'm familiar with your "dilema". Since you already have a larger rifle or two, I see no need to go the 7 Mag route.
I hunted with a 7 Mag for 20 yrs., and killed a lot of deer with it. About 4 yrs. ago I bought a 7-08. The Mag is a closet queen now. I simply love that 7-08, and have no reason to think of anything else for whitetail. It has filled my deer tags repeatedly. It's a pleasure to shoot and to do bench work with. I'm totally sold on it.
If you handload, you may want to try IMR 4350 in the 46-48 gr. range under 140 Accubonds. A lot of 7-08 guys are shooting this combo and doing well with it.....both in the woods and on paper.
Good luck on your decision.....either is a potent round....the 7-08 being a lot easier on ya........

Another vote for the "little guy".The only real advantage for the mag is in retaining more energy for extra long shots at elk on up.

Ive got both as well. The 7mag never leaves the cabinet and the 7-08 usually wins the fist fight with the 270 for first in the woods.