7mm Ultra Mag Opinions

cbhester · January 18, 2012, 08:35 AM

Ive been looking at some ballistic charts to figure out what caliber rifle tobuy to replace my deer rifle that i sold this past year. I had my eye on the ole stand by .270 winchester but considered 30-06 as well as 7mm-08. I know that the 7mm Ultra Mag must be intended for larger game but i couldnt help but be very impressed with the speed that it obtains. I would imagine that the ultra mag would pack a pretty tuff punch but was hoping to get some info from someone with experience in this caliber to confirm my thoughts, so any advice or opinion is appreciated!

Bigfatts · January 18, 2012, 09:20 AM

My opinion on the 7 Ultra is the same as with every other "big" magnums. Unnecessary. Ammo is expensive and depending on where you live, hard to find local. It sends lead out fast but that translates to a lot more felt recoil for a round that won't kill anything any deader than the .270 you were looking at.

jimbob86 · January 18, 2012, 09:32 AM

Unless you are hunting at really long range, a 7mm Umag would be like having a Ferrari in Suburbia: Expensive to run, and while it is cool as hell to have that kind of capability, you can't appreciate it there- a Mini-van would be more practical. In fact, due to the financial pain of the Ferrari, you will more than likely seldom, if ever, drive it. The mini-van driver will be more experienced!

At under 300 yards, there is no appreciable differerence between the end results of any of the above cartridges when used on deer, with appropriate bullets....assuming good placement. Recoil and the cost of practice rounds would make that placement a more difficult proposition with the Umag.

uncyboo · January 18, 2012, 09:36 AM

You are going to be asked a gazillion questions so let's get them out of the way:

1. Do you hand load?
2. What type of terrain do you hunt in?
3. Do you hunt any other game besides deer?
4. Do you stand hunt or walk, or both?
5. How much off season shooting do you do?
6. What is your mother's maiden name?

The 270, 30-06, and 7mm 08 will do everything you need to do for deer. Of those 3 I like the 7-08. I have 2 rifles and a handgun chambered for it and like them all. However if you have a burning desire to get the 7mm UM go for it. Depending on your answers to MOST of the above questions, it's probably not a practical choice. But sometimes, who cares about practicallity? I just told you I have three 7-08s.....the chambering is a practical choice but having three of them is probably not.

The rifle I tote more than any lately is a Rem Alaskan Ti in .280 Rem. My hunting is 100% walking.

All that said, I have never owned a 7mm UM. I did have a 7mm STW in a Sendero and really enjoyed it. Only reason I sold it was because somebody wanted it worse than I did and was willing to pay for it. I will have another someday. Why? Just cuz.......

cbhester · January 18, 2012, 10:06 AM

Thanks for the replies, im hearing pretty much what i expected to hear.

I do hand load
I hunt primarily deer
I stand hunt, do not walk hunt
I do enjoy range shooting

That being said, i knew going in that the umag was an unnecassary caliber for wha i mainly do i just thought that it would be fun at the range and i will be hand loading ammo. However, if its gonna pound my shoulder much harder than a 30-06 im not gonna want to shoot it repeatidly a the range so ill probably end up going with something a little less hard on my health.

Scorch · January 18, 2012, 10:19 AM

A 7mm RUM will definitely kick harder than a 30-06, it launches bullets of comparable weight approximately 25% faster, burning 75% more powder, both of which translate pretty neatly into felt recoil. I don't feel like looking up the numbers, but let's say 25% more recoil than a 30-06 (I have no doubt that someone will come along soon with the actual numbers). This will definitely impact your enjoyment of shooting it. It will also damage considerably more meat on a deer-sized animal, so if you enjoy eating venison it will impact your enjoyment there as well.

Logan9885 · January 18, 2012, 11:11 AM

I have 7mm UM and love it!! I have shot it several times and it does have a stout kick. I took several deer with it and they dont move but it does do quiet a bit more meat damage and takes several mins to get your hearing back. It is by far the most powerfull 7mm cartridge and while you dont need one for most hunting situations its still cool to have one just in case......My main hunting gun is a 30-06 tho........

Brian Pfleuger · January 18, 2012, 12:10 PM

No experience with the 7RUM but I do know that you don't need it. 7mm-08 is a fantastic deer cartridge. Fantastic. Best there is, IMO.

uncyboo · January 18, 2012, 12:46 PM

Quote:

No experience with the 7RUM but I do know that you don't need it.

Oh come on peet since when does need fit into our rifle choices?

Quote:

7mm-08 is a fantastic deer cartridge. Fantastic. Best there is, IMO.

However, strictly for deer, THIS ^ is hard to argue....

warbirdlover · January 18, 2012, 01:14 PM

Sometimes you just need that big BOOM from a magnum!

But after using a .300 Win Mag for almost 20 years deer hunting this year I got a .270 Win. It seems the .300 hurts me more then it used to.

uncyboo · January 18, 2012, 03:02 PM

No, the 270 just hurts you less...........

cbhester · January 18, 2012, 05:50 PM

Well thanks for all the good advice and opinion. I think I've narrowed my search down between the .270 win and the 7mm-08 and I'm leaning toward the 7mm-08 because I've never owned one and they look to be a perfect deer gun.

That being said, I still want to get into long range shooting for fun (not competition). I guess I am going to at least entertain the option of making a future purchase of the 6.5mm x 284 which seems to be a common caliber in comp. shooting. I've always wanted to get into 1,000 yrd shooting, however, it seems that I remember pricing some brass and bullets for the 6.5x284 and finding that it was very expensive to shoot, even when hand loading. Any other opinions on a good long range rifle?

Thanks again for all the input!

Wyoredman · January 18, 2012, 06:18 PM

I have never been to Kentucky, only seen it on TV. Seems to me there are too many trees to shoot 1000 yards! Enlighten me!

cbhester · January 18, 2012, 06:35 PM

Quote:

I have never been to Kentucky, only seen it on TV. Seems to me there are too many trees to shoot 1000 yards! Enlighten me!

Kentucky is pretty good size state. I live in south central Kentucky and there are lots of trees for the most part but there are plenty of farms around here (including one in my family) that have long narrow fields exceeding 1,000 yards, though full of, mostly shallow, rolling hills. I also have a shooting range in near by Park City that has a range that goes up to 1,300 yards (I think).

Brian Pfleuger · January 18, 2012, 06:35 PM

You can shoot a long ways with a 7-08 too. Especially if you find one with a fast enough twist to stabilize the heavier bullets.

Coyote_Buster700 · January 18, 2012, 06:39 PM

That all depends on where in KY you are hunting. I live in the western part of the state and it's a mix of terrain. On my farm alone I can hunt in dense woods, sit on a small food plot, or take a 6-700 yard shot overlooking a cornfield.

Most places however, are hills, valleys, and woods. Not much call for a big magnum.

Then again, I hunt with a 7mm Rem Mag.

Wyoredman · January 18, 2012, 06:41 PM

I think I would like to go to Kentucky!

Coyote_Buster700 · January 18, 2012, 06:45 PM

We have a lot of deer around these parts lol. In the county I currently reside in, you can get permits to kill does during the summer because they've actually become a nuisance.

Wyoredman · January 18, 2012, 06:47 PM

Now I really want to visit Kentucky!

uncyboo · January 18, 2012, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Any other opinions on a good long range rifle?

Next round of questions:

1. Is there a particular class/style of LR shooting you're interested in?
2. How much you wanna spend?
3. What is your mother's maiden name?

The 6.5 x 284 is intriguing to me as well. Savage makes the Long Range Hunter, the Lightweight hunter model, The F Class, and according to their web site 5 other models in this chambering. There must be something to this cartridge as it's becomming quite popular.

Coyote_Buster700 · January 18, 2012, 06:59 PM

is that the 6.5 swede? or is it a different cartridge?

uncyboo · January 18, 2012, 07:23 PM

Way different. 284 Win necked to 6.5mm.

Ballistically should be similar to 6.5-06

gak · January 19, 2012, 01:19 AM

+1 what most folks have said. The 7mm-08 is an excellent choice. Basically ".270 or-- if you prefer--.280 Lite" and that's no denegration. The .270 will send the bullet down range a bit more, so if seriously contemplating frequent shots past 300--"long range shooting," I'd go with that. Otherwise, the 7mm will do what it does--in a shorter action, which also equates to slighly shorter OAL in otherwise apples-to-apples rifles often firing from the same 22" barrels (some .270s are 24" as well)--and offered in some specialized smaller formats than .270 (see Rem Model 7 and a Ruger equivalent IIRC) as well. To me, the 7mm-08 is the ultimate "Mountain Rifle" in just about any of its platforms. We're not talking much here, but every oz counts when you're doing a lot of trekking. Since you say you stand mostly, where longer OAL isn't really a factor, and may get into the longer range stuff, hard to go wrong with the .270. Otherwise, pretty much a toss up...and I'm a big (huge) .270 fan and 40 year shooter. A 7mm-08 Featherweight will be my next bolt rifle purchase "just because."

Now, if you want to be a bit different and get into semi-exotica, get a .35 Whelen. (Recent thread on that somewhere here I think). Great round, non-magnum, regular (.270, 30-06 etc) action whopper--think .06 Plus) that excels on elk-sized game...but although certainly effective on deer as you might think, also largely unnecessary.

5RWill · January 19, 2012, 01:39 AM

Unless your shooting game at beyond 1000yds are beyond i think a an assortment of .284win, 7WSM, .300WM, etc. would work. 7mm RUM is overkill for the situation.

cbhester · January 19, 2012, 07:11 AM

Quote:

1. Is there a particular class/style of LR shooting you're interested in?
2. How much you wanna spend?
3. What is your mother's maiden name?

Thanks again for all the replies.

1 There is no particular class I want to shoot it, if I get into long range BR shooting it will be for fun unless I get to a point that I think I could compete at some local competitions which I doubt.

2 My price range is between $800 and $1200 but I already have a good scope and with the savage long range precision rifle chambered in 6.5x284 I believe I can stay in that range.

3 Mothers maiden name huh? Thats funny.

Now for my next question. If I do decide to go with the savage long range precision in 6.5x284, there is no reason that I can't deer hunt as well as long range BR shoot, right? I mean you have a bullet that is just a bit smaller than the .270 and achieving more speed than the .270, I'm sure someone manufactures this caliber in a good tnt hollow point or something like that.

PS
I will be posting a new thread pertaining to the 6.5x284 that we are now discussing. Thanks again for all the info, advice and opinion!

January 18, 2012, 08:35 AM	#1
cbhester Member Join Date: January 14, 2010 Location: Brownsville, KY Posts: 57	7mm Ultra Mag Opinions Ive been looking at some ballistic charts to figure out what caliber rifle tobuy to replace my deer rifle that i sold this past year. I had my eye on the ole stand by .270 winchester but considered 30-06 as well as 7mm-08. I know that the 7mm Ultra Mag must be intended for larger game but i couldnt help but be very impressed with the speed that it obtains. I would imagine that the ultra mag would pack a pretty tuff punch but was hoping to get some info from someone with experience in this caliber to confirm my thoughts, so any advice or opinion is appreciated!

January 18, 2012, 10:19 AM	#6
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	A 7mm RUM will definitely kick harder than a 30-06, it launches bullets of comparable weight approximately 25% faster, burning 75% more powder, both of which translate pretty neatly into felt recoil. I don't feel like looking up the numbers, but let's say 25% more recoil than a 30-06 (I have no doubt that someone will come along soon with the actual numbers). This will definitely impact your enjoyment of shooting it. It will also damage considerably more meat on a deer-sized animal, so if you enjoy eating venison it will impact your enjoyment there as well. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

January 18, 2012, 12:10 PM	#8
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	No experience with the 7RUM but I do know that you don't need it. 7mm-08 is a fantastic deer cartridge. Fantastic. Best there is, IMO. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

January 18, 2012, 05:50 PM	#12
cbhester Member Join Date: January 14, 2010 Location: Brownsville, KY Posts: 57	Decided on the deer gun, now for the fun gun! Well thanks for all the good advice and opinion. I think I've narrowed my search down between the .270 win and the 7mm-08 and I'm leaning toward the 7mm-08 because I've never owned one and they look to be a perfect deer gun. That being said, I still want to get into long range shooting for fun (not competition). I guess I am going to at least entertain the option of making a future purchase of the 6.5mm x 284 which seems to be a common caliber in comp. shooting. I've always wanted to get into 1,000 yrd shooting, however, it seems that I remember pricing some brass and bullets for the 6.5x284 and finding that it was very expensive to shoot, even when hand loading. Any other opinions on a good long range rifle? Thanks again for all the input! Last edited by cbhester; January 18, 2012 at 05:50 PM. Reason: Forgot the title

January 18, 2012, 06:18 PM	#13
Wyoredman Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,352	I have never been to Kentucky, only seen it on TV. Seems to me there are too many trees to shoot 1000 yards! Enlighten me! __________________ Go Pokes! Go Rams!

January 18, 2012, 09:20 AM	#2
Bigfatts Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2005 Location: Lutz Posts: 1,528	My opinion on the 7 Ultra is the same as with every other "big" magnums. Unnecessary. Ammo is expensive and depending on where you live, hard to find local. It sends lead out fast but that translates to a lot more felt recoil for a round that won't kill anything any deader than the .270 you were looking at.

January 18, 2012, 09:32 AM	#3
jimbob86 Junior member Join Date: October 4, 2007 Location: All the way to NEBRASKA Posts: 8,722	Unless you are hunting at really long range, a 7mm Umag would be like having a Ferrari in Suburbia: Expensive to run, and while it is cool as hell to have that kind of capability, you can't appreciate it there- a Mini-van would be more practical. In fact, due to the financial pain of the Ferrari, you will more than likely seldom, if ever, drive it. The mini-van driver will be more experienced! At under 300 yards, there is no appreciable differerence between the end results of any of the above cartridges when used on deer, with appropriate bullets....assuming good placement. Recoil and the cost of practice rounds would make that placement a more difficult proposition with the Umag.

January 18, 2012, 09:36 AM	#4
uncyboo Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2008 Location: Shelby, MT Posts: 1,013	You are going to be asked a gazillion questions so let's get them out of the way: 1. Do you hand load? 2. What type of terrain do you hunt in? 3. Do you hunt any other game besides deer? 4. Do you stand hunt or walk, or both? 5. How much off season shooting do you do? 6. What is your mother's maiden name? The 270, 30-06, and 7mm 08 will do everything you need to do for deer. Of those 3 I like the 7-08. I have 2 rifles and a handgun chambered for it and like them all. However if you have a burning desire to get the 7mm UM go for it. Depending on your answers to MOST of the above questions, it's probably not a practical choice. But sometimes, who cares about practicallity? I just told you I have three 7-08s.....the chambering is a practical choice but having three of them is probably not. The rifle I tote more than any lately is a Rem Alaskan Ti in .280 Rem. My hunting is 100% walking. All that said, I have never owned a 7mm UM. I did have a 7mm STW in a Sendero and really enjoyed it. Only reason I sold it was because somebody wanted it worse than I did and was willing to pay for it. I will have another someday. Why? Just cuz.......

January 18, 2012, 10:06 AM	#5
cbhester Member Join Date: January 14, 2010 Location: Brownsville, KY Posts: 57	Thanks for the replies, im hearing pretty much what i expected to hear. I do hand load I hunt primarily deer I stand hunt, do not walk hunt I do enjoy range shooting That being said, i knew going in that the umag was an unnecassary caliber for wha i mainly do i just thought that it would be fun at the range and i will be hand loading ammo. However, if its gonna pound my shoulder much harder than a 30-06 im not gonna want to shoot it repeatidly a the range so ill probably end up going with something a little less hard on my health.

January 18, 2012, 11:11 AM	#7
Logan9885 Member Join Date: January 28, 2011 Posts: 81	I have 7mm UM and love it!! I have shot it several times and it does have a stout kick. I took several deer with it and they dont move but it does do quiet a bit more meat damage and takes several mins to get your hearing back. It is by far the most powerfull 7mm cartridge and while you dont need one for most hunting situations its still cool to have one just in case......My main hunting gun is a 30-06 tho........

January 18, 2012, 01:14 PM	#10
warbirdlover Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2009 Location: central Wisconsin Posts: 2,324	Sometimes you just need that big BOOM from a magnum! But after using a .300 Win Mag for almost 20 years deer hunting this year I got a .270 Win. It seems the .300 hurts me more then it used to.

January 18, 2012, 03:02 PM	#11
uncyboo Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2008 Location: Shelby, MT Posts: 1,013	No, the 270 just hurts you less...........

January 18, 2012, 06:35 PM	#15
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	You can shoot a long ways with a 7-08 too. Especially if you find one with a fast enough twist to stabilize the heavier bullets. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

January 18, 2012, 06:39 PM	#16
Coyote_Buster700 Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 261	That all depends on where in KY you are hunting. I live in the western part of the state and it's a mix of terrain. On my farm alone I can hunt in dense woods, sit on a small food plot, or take a 6-700 yard shot overlooking a cornfield. Most places however, are hills, valleys, and woods. Not much call for a big magnum. Then again, I hunt with a 7mm Rem Mag.

January 18, 2012, 06:41 PM	#17
Wyoredman Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,352	I think I would like to go to Kentucky! __________________ Go Pokes! Go Rams!

January 18, 2012, 06:45 PM	#18
Coyote_Buster700 Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 261	We have a lot of deer around these parts lol. In the county I currently reside in, you can get permits to kill does during the summer because they've actually become a nuisance.

January 18, 2012, 06:47 PM	#19
Wyoredman Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2011 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,352	Now I really want to visit Kentucky! __________________ Go Pokes! Go Rams!

January 18, 2012, 06:59 PM	#21
Coyote_Buster700 Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2012 Location: Kentucky Posts: 261	is that the 6.5 swede? or is it a different cartridge?

January 18, 2012, 07:23 PM	#22
uncyboo Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2008 Location: Shelby, MT Posts: 1,013	Way different. 284 Win necked to 6.5mm. Ballistically should be similar to 6.5-06

January 19, 2012, 01:19 AM	#23
gak Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2005 Location: Aridzona Posts: 2,767	+1 what most folks have said. The 7mm-08 is an excellent choice. Basically ".270 or-- if you prefer--.280 Lite" and that's no denegration. The .270 will send the bullet down range a bit more, so if seriously contemplating frequent shots past 300--"long range shooting," I'd go with that. Otherwise, the 7mm will do what it does--in a shorter action, which also equates to slighly shorter OAL in otherwise apples-to-apples rifles often firing from the same 22" barrels (some .270s are 24" as well)--and offered in some specialized smaller formats than .270 (see Rem Model 7 and a Ruger equivalent IIRC) as well. To me, the 7mm-08 is the ultimate "Mountain Rifle" in just about any of its platforms. We're not talking much here, but every oz counts when you're doing a lot of trekking. Since you say you stand mostly, where longer OAL isn't really a factor, and may get into the longer range stuff, hard to go wrong with the .270. Otherwise, pretty much a toss up...and I'm a big (huge) .270 fan and 40 year shooter. A 7mm-08 Featherweight will be my next bolt rifle purchase "just because." Now, if you want to be a bit different and get into semi-exotica, get a .35 Whelen. (Recent thread on that somewhere here I think). Great round, non-magnum, regular (.270, 30-06 etc) action whopper--think .06 Plus) that excels on elk-sized game...but although certainly effective on deer as you might think, also largely unnecessary.

January 19, 2012, 01:39 AM	#24
5RWill Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,654	Unless your shooting game at beyond 1000yds are beyond i think a an assortment of .284win, 7WSM, .300WM, etc. would work. 7mm RUM is overkill for the situation. __________________ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me."