7mm Rem. Mag vs 300 Win Mag
Ballistics Performance Comparison of 7mm Rem Mag vs 300 Win Mag Cartridges
If you’re looking to hunt medium to large game, the 7mm Remington Magnum and the .300 Winchester Magnum have probably come up as some of the leading cartridges. Both have been used to take most big game, including moose and bear, and do well even out past 300 yards. While both cartridges are highly popular with North American hunters, they are far from identical. The 7mm Rem Mag has a lighter recoil and an advantage for smaller game and game where you’ll have to trek through mountainous terrain, while the .300 Win Mag has the extra size (and therefore power) you might need for larger game. In this guide, we’ll dig into the specific differences between these two cartridges in the most important quality factors so you can decide which is right for your unique hunting needs.
The following ballistics tables show a side by side comparison of the 7mm Remington Magnum vs 300 Winchester Magnum based on bullet weight and various performance metrics including velocity, energy, usage and recoil.
| 7MM Remington Magnum | 300 Winchester Magnum | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bullet Velocity (Muzzle) | 3,030 ft/s | 3,070 ft/s | |
| Bullet Velocity @ 100 yds | 2,856 ft/s | 2,871 ft/s | |
| Bullet Velocity @ 200 yds | 2,689 ft/s | 2,681 ft/s | |
| Bullet Velocity @ 300 yds | 2,527 ft/s | 2,499 ft/s | |
| Bullet Velocity @ 400 yds | 2,372 ft/s | 2,323 ft/s | |
| Bullet Velocity @ 500 yds | 2,222 ft/s | 2,156 ft/s | |
| Bullet Energy (Muzzle) | 3,302 ft⋅lb | 3,767 ft⋅lb | |
| Bullet Energy @ 100 yds | 2,933 ft⋅lb | 3,294 ft⋅lb | |
| Bullet Energy @ 200 yds | 2,600 ft⋅lb | 2,873 ft⋅lb | |
| Bullet Energy @ 300 yds | 2,298 ft⋅lb | 2,496 ft⋅lb | |
| Bullet Energy @ 400 yds | 2,023 ft⋅lb | 2,159 ft⋅lb | |
| Bullet Energy @ 500 yds | 1,775 ft⋅lb | 1,858 ft⋅lb | |
| Usage @ 0 yds | Toughest Game | Toughest Game | |
| Usage @ 100 yds | Toughest Game | Toughest Game | |
| Usage @ 200 yds | Toughest Game | Toughest Game | |
| Usage @ 300 yds | Toughest Game | Toughest Game | |
| Usage @ 400 yds | Toughest Game | Toughest Game | |
| Usage @ 500 yds | Largest Game | Largest Game | |
| Recoil Energy | 20.3 (160gr) | 25 | |
| Recoil Velocity | 12 | 14 | |
| Recoil Score* | 3.42 | 4.05 | |
| *Cartridge ballistics, usage and recoil figures takend from Sportsman's Warehouse rifle ballistics and rifle recoil tables. Recoil score based on weighted average of recoil energy and recoil velocity normalized between 1 and 10. | |||
Velocity
When we’re comparing cartridges, differences in velocity can help us understand which bullet is most powerful. Right out of the muzzle, the .300 Win Mag has a slight advantage, traveling just 40 ft/s faster than the 7mm Rem Mag. However, this advantage slips away by the time we get to 200 yards, where the (lighter) 7mm Rem Mag is traveling 8 ft/s faster than the .300 Win Mag. By 500 yards, the 7mm Rem Mag’s advantage has expanded to 66 ft/s. Still, we can see that these two calibers are extremely well-matched in velocity.
Energy
The .300 Win Mag and the 7mm Rem Mag are fairly evenly matched when it comes to ballistics. As we’ll discuss below, there is a small but important difference in their size, which does affect the energy of each. The .300 Win Mag has slightly larger bullets, and this is reflected in a slight advantage in energy.
Out of the muzzle, the .300 Win Mag moves with an additional 465 ft-lbs of energy over the 7mm Rem Mag. This difference decreases as we get to longer distances, with the .300 Win Mag’s advantage narrowing to 198 ft-lbs at 300 yards, and going down to 83 ft-lbs at 500 yards. These comparisons are between a 180 grain .300 Win Mag and a 162 grain 7mm Rem Mag; if we were to use heavier bullets from the .300 Win Mag, the difference in energy would increase.
Trajectory
Both of these cartridges are known to be flat-shooting bullets that do quite well past 300 yards. This makes them ideal for long-range hunters targeting medium to large game, as a flatter trajectory increases your likelihood of hitting the small vital zone of a faraway animal.
The .300 Win Mag does hold a slight advantage over the 7mm Rem Mag when we look at bullet drop. Let’s take a 165 grain .300 Win Mag and a 168 grain 7mm Rem Mag, zeroed at 200 yards. At 300 yards, we’ll see the .300 Win Mag has dropped 6.1” compared to the 7mm Rem Mag’s 6.8”; out to 500 yards, the .300 Win Mag will drop 36.0”, while the 7mm Rem Mag will drop 38.8”.
We can also measure the wind drift of these same size bullets, which analyzes how the bullet’s trajectory is impacted by a 10mph crosswind. Here, the 7mm Rem Mag has a larger advantage. We’ll see the 7mm Rem Mag drift 4.8” at 300 yards compared to the .300 Win Mag’s 6.1”; at 500 yards, the 7mm Rem Mag drifts 13.9” compared to the .300 Win Mag’s 18.2”. A heavier bullet will be less susceptible to wind drift, which is worth considering if you are planning to shoot heavier .300 Win Mag bullets. Otherwise, the 7mm Rem Mag might be a good option if you’ll be braving the elements and windy conditions.
Recoil
Recoil isn’t just about your comfort – it’s also about your ability to shoot the gun accurately. Especially if you plan on a long day of target shooting or firing several shots over a weekend of hunting, you need to make sure that your shoulder can take the beating and continue to place your shots well. The .300 Win Mag does have a significantly greater recoil than the 7mm Rem Mag. This also means that the mm Rem Mag can be more comfortably chambered in a lighter rifle, as felt recoil often increases in lighter rifles and could become unmanageable for the .300 Win Mag. However, both recoils are considered to be moderate, and something most experienced shooters can handle.
Versatility
Both the 7mm Rem Mag and the .300 Win Mag have been used for basically all game in North America. The lighter weight, lighter recoil, and greater wind resistance of the 7mm Rem Mag make it a strong choice for mountainous conditions, especially when targeting medium sized game such as mule deer. The .300 Win Mag is a better choice for African game and other large game such as elk or caribou thanks to its heavier bullets. Both of these calibers have seen plenty of play in long range shooting competitions, military, and law enforcement.
Price & Availability
Both of these calibers are extremely popular and therefore quite readily available from essentially all major manufacturers. Similarly, you’ll be able to find quality rifles chambered in both of these calibers with plenty of options. Reloading components are also widely available, and they share bullet sizes with many other popular cartridges. The .300 Win Mag is often just a bit more expensive than the 7mm Rem Mag, but exact prices vary depending on the manufacturer and retailer.
Size Comparison
The 7mm Win Mag and the .300 Win Mag are both belted magnums using a modified .375 H&H Magnum case, meaning they have the same rim diameter of .532”. However, the 7mm Rem Mag uses .284” bullets, while the .300 Win Mag uses .308” bullets. The .300 Win Mag has a longer case length and a longer overall length. The .300 Win Mag’s shoulder also sits a bit further forward, giving it a 5-8% larger capacity. Because of the similarity in size, both calibers are used in standard or long action rifles.
The .300 Win Mag often shoots heavier bullets, which gives it an advantage in energy. The 7mm Rem Mag is available from 139-175 grains, while the .300 Win Mag is available anywhere from 15-230 grains. If you’re targeting large and dangerous game, those heavier bullets certainly make a difference.
Rifle Type
Both the 7mm Rem Mag and the .300 Win Mag are only chambered in standard/long action rifles. However, it is often easier to find smaller rifles chambered in 7mm Rem Mag thanks to their smaller size. This can be an advantage if you are planning on doing backcountry hunting where you will need to carry the rifle over long distances. Even a few ounces (and especially a pound or more) can add up over the course of a long hunting weekend.
Which Caliber is Best?
Both of these calibers have devoted fan bases and are highly popular hunting cartridges in North America and beyond. Both will shoot medium to large game at long ranges with flat trajectories and plenty of energy. If you want less recoil, a lighter rifle, and primarily to target more medium game, the 7mm Remington Magnum might be a great fit. If you want bigger bullets for greater energy to use on larger games and don’t mind the extra punch and extra gun that comes with it, the .300 Winchester Magnum might be the right choice.
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