Got an itch! Help

Mr Drysdale

Active Member
Mar 24, 2013
443
337
I have an itch for another rifle. Thinking 7mm Rem Mag, 300 WM or 300 WSM. Rifle would be stainless/synthetic. Looking at Browning X-Bolt and Tikka T3 Lite. Could do a Model Seven in the WSM. What say you and why? Mainly Whitetails.
 

brdhuntr

Member
Feb 17, 2016
64
0
Eagle Idaho
I just bought a new toy today, a 28 Nosler topped with a 6x24x50 Vortex Viper.I've shot a 300 Win. for 30 years,and just wanted to try something new. Can't wait to see what she will do..
 

RICMIC

Veteran member
Feb 21, 2012
2,017
1,796
Two Harbors, Minnesota
I truly do love my Tikka T3 SS. Mine is in 30-06, but my bro-in-law got his in 300 WSM and complained that it kicked like a SOB. He ended up porting the barrel. If you don't reload, you will also find that the 300 WM ammo is cheaper and more available than the 300 WSM.
 

xtreme

Very Active Member
Feb 25, 2011
859
4
Searcy, Arkansas 72143
I would go 7mm and it will take a heck of a gun to out shoot the browning with a boss. Probably no one would believe me if I told you what one of my Brownings will shoot with factory ammo. My 7mm will shoot a 1/2 moa with 168 Berger, and its fast. Just think about the long range capabilities, study the ballistics. I don't really need the punishment of anything larger then the 7mm. If Browning don't offer the BOSS anymore have the custom department put one on your new purchase, it works.
 

Slugz

Veteran member
Oct 12, 2014
3,665
2,341
55
Casper, Wyoming
I think from a sheer ballistic perspective a .284/7mm will out perform the .30 caliber rounds......really cutting hair though I think under 400 yards with modern bullets.....post 450 yards the .284/7mm will out perform. That being said hard to beat a Tikka or a Rem 700, any model. Interested to see what CC says when he weighs in.

WRT if its your "whitetail" gun shooting that size game.....the guns you mention are a lot of gun vs animal IMO. To each his own though.
 

sneakypete

Veteran member
Aug 9, 2011
2,821
275
Oakdale Ca.
Where's the love for a Winchester model 70 extreme weather....... Of course in 7mm. One shot kills 2015 moose, elk, and mule deer:)
 

Gr8bawana

Veteran member
Aug 14, 2014
2,670
604
Nevada
Another vote for a 7mm Mag here after 35 years of shooting everything from jackrabbits-coyotes-antelope-muledeer to elk with the same
7mm mag using only factory ammo.
 

Tim McCoy

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2014
1,855
4
Oregon
They will all work fine. One thing I would check is the barrel contour on a M7, there have been reports about accuracy issues with some M7's with the very thin whippy barrel in STD. calibers, not sure if the magnum comes with a heavier contour. My SS M7 in 7-08 shoots most everything under 1 1/2 moa out to 350-400, which is good for a very light handy factory rifle. It has the 20" whippy barrel. Probably a #1 ish or less contour.

The OP was not asking about very long range work, but since it was brought up in terms of ballistic superiority, here's my two cents. Relative to ballistic superiority between the two calibers, with factory rifles used to hunt out to 500-600 yards or so, not much real world difference with similar bullets. Some of the heavier & higher BC bullets may or may not stabilize in these rifles (ie: .284 195 gr Berger ) or have adequate LR terminal performance at the muzzle velocities you could attain in these rifles.

Both calibers are on the short list of best LR hunting calibers, but with larger cases than the OP is considering for more velocity with heavy bullets, in most cases. One being better than the other for hunting is more about current bullet availability and recoil tolerance than the bullet diameter.
 

Mr Drysdale

Active Member
Mar 24, 2013
443
337
Lots of good advice and input. I have hunted out west and hope to again someday so this rifle would be the one I would bring. I don't have any problem with recoil as I mount scopes and sight rifles for others as a past time/hobby. I hunt with both a 260 in the Model Seven and 308 in an A-Bolt. Have sighted 300 RUM's and shoot 3.5 12's without a problem. I have owned a 7mm Mag in two different rifles and a 300 WSM in the Savage Weather Warrior. Have taken deer out to 315 yds. As I stated, I know the 308 is adequate for the distances I'm talkin about, but I have an itch. I have posted this on four different forums from Mississippi to the far West and have received a lot of good advice from Montana Rifle Company to 26 Nosler. It's amazing the difference in advice from down South to out West. I am leaning Tikka T3 Lite in either the 300 WM or 7mm Rem Mag. NOW Tikka decides to come out with a new Model!!!!! Should I wait on the new model or take advantage of the price reduction that will surely come in the current one. Thanks for everyone's input and response.
 

Tim McCoy

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2014
1,855
4
Oregon
The T3x has some nice improvements. Have not handled one, but the stock improvements seem a step in the right direction. The added screw for rail attachment may make sense for a light rifle shooting magnum loads, but both have a recoil lug so that is only a real advantage if your rail lacked the lug. There are a few other tweaks as well. The ejection port is larger, good so long as action stiffness was not compromised, and should be easier to load a single round I guess. I'd have to see any price differential to say for sure, but have been very happy with my T3lites in 270.