RE: 7 mag vs. 7 ultra mag
 

I'd go for the good 'ol 7mm Rem Mag myself. The RUMs are more spendy for ammo, and in the proper hands you wouldn't know the difference between the 2 rifles for performance in the field.

Plus, to get a RUM you would have to buy a Remington, and we all know they are JUNK ;)

RE: 7 mag vs. 7 ultra mag
 

Rammer almost made a good point, until slamming Big Green. Off the rack guns in RUM will be limited, if one does not fit you you will have to modify, $$$$$$$$.

RE: 7 mag vs. 7 ultra mag
 

I have had two 7mm Rem. Mags. The first wouldn't shoot better than 2 MOA (A-bolt) so I sold it and bought a Tikka Whitetail hunter. All Tikka's have a 1 MOA guarentee so with high hopes I took it to the range and it does shoot 1" groups at 100 yards or better. I handload too and that helps accuracy a bit so if you haven't tried reloading yet it might be time to start! I started when I was 13 with shotgun shells and have loved it ever since!

I would tend to echo what these guys have said. The RM is more than enough gun for 99% of the hunters out there. It even seems to kick harder than an '06 (have one of those now too). The 7mm's tend to be one of the flattest shooting calibers out there as you can shoot a 160g Accubond and it has a Balistic Coefficient of .531 (the higher the BC, the less wind slows the bullet in flight, just like a very aerodynamic car or plane). To put that in perspective in order to find a .30 Caliber bullet with the same BC you're looking for a 200g bullet. That's going to mean either it'll shoot a rainbow-like arc or it'll kick like amule (or most likely both) to get the same trajectory.

So, look to the 7mm RM and even the .280. Both shoot same bullet and if recoil is an issue even the 7mm-08 is a great round I think. We're talking about a few inches difference out at 400 yards and farther in terms of point of impact and depending on where you hunt your odds of ever NEEDING to take a 400+ yard shot are slim so why beat yourself up?

---edited for spelling---

RE: 7 mag vs. 7 ultra mag
 

The difference in 7mm mag and ultra mag in frop @300yds is almost 2in with the same size bullet. The difference in recoil is from "wow, thats not bad at all" to "ouch, i think i dislocated something". I think your freind is mistaken, if you wanted either for the mountains, the reg. mag would be alot better. The 150gr. bullet can be sent down range at 3100 fps out of a 26in barrel. Thats awesome for all around deer hunting, short or long range. Mine is a 7mm saum, which is ballistically the same. Kicks like a 243, and hits like a cannon. Shoots inside 1/2 minute. its the remmy sendero. I love that rifle, 100 grain bullets have hardly any recoil and are awesome on coyotes and such, 140 or 150 grain is killer on deer and would roll an elk also. I recommend a mag over an ultra for any purpose. My short mag does alot better on deer in close than my freinds ultra. I reload mine. I like to keep the 150's around low 3100's in fps. and the 140's around 3100 also, even though I could get 3250, I think thats too fast for hunting closer ranges.

RE: 7 mag vs. 7 ultra mag
 

MY 7mm saum, sighted in @150yds, will shoot only 3/4in high @100 and dead on @50 also. 2in low @200, 3 1/2in @250, Around 6in @300. If you get one, look into the remington sendero, they're awesome, have really low recoil, lower than most would believe, and shoot very accuratly.
This drop is with 150gr swift scirocco, 58,6gr IMR 4831, 3088fps.

RE: 7 mag vs. 7 ultra mag
 

That gun must be hell to carry..Especially thru the woods with a 246 inch barrel....:D

RE: 7 mag vs. 7 ultra mag
 

I don't think that it is too much velocity if you place your bullets properly.I drive a 140gr bullet at 3500fps out of my 7mmstws and have taken deer,bighorn,elk and moose at ranges as close as 25 yards.

RE: 7 mag vs. 7 ultra mag
 

It's not too much really, but it's not needed IMO. I can getr alot better expansion around 3100 with the 140's than I can at 3200+. And also, if you hit bone at speeds like that it pretty much destroys the deer :D

As for good loads: I have tried the 150gr sciroccos and they do almost as much damage as a BT. Then I found the 140gr nosler accubond. Good expansion and weight retention, always passthru. Leaves a 50cent size hole. No bloodshot. I load it around 3100 though I could get 3200+ out of my short mag. It shoots inside 1/2 minute @ 100yds. The most accurate bullet i'vetried. And has devastating knockdown.I have found that sighting in @50yds also puts it dead on @150.

Mine is a remington 700 sendero SF in 7mm saum. 26in fluted bull barrel, HS precision Graphite comp. stock. fully aluminum and not glass bedded, free floated barrel which I had the stock worked some more also. Action touched up and trigger set a 2.5lbs with no creep. Shoots and looks awesome. here it is: my baby and she always treats me right :D

RE: 7 mag vs. 7 ultra mag
 

It's also topped with a leupold 4.5x14 40mm B & C scope with 30mm maintube. Heres a better pic:

RE: 7 mag vs. 7 ultra mag
 

I like the 7mmRemMag also. I have a Win 70 with a 26" barrel and it is a sub .5 moa shooter with the right bullet/powder combo. It will push a 140 Ballistic tip 3350fps using 7828 powder and often puts them into under a half inch at 100 yards. I've never shot anything but paper under 200 yards but the deer I've shot at 200 to 300+ yards never knew what hit them, they just dropped where they stood. I can't think of too many situations where I would need more than this gun on this continent, just need to work up the right load for the situation.