Not to be a technical geek but whats a 7mm Win Mag????
Every situation has a "Class" of chambering that "CAN" get the job done and many many more that "WILL EASILY" get the job done.
To me, long range hunting for big game is a choice on my part. I do not want a chambering that "CAN" get the job done, I want one that takes as much guess work out of the equation as possible simply because its more responsible in MY MIND to not use a chambering that will get the job done in good conditions.
I want a chambering that will get the job done even if I do not dope the shooting conditions exactly but still get them close.
I suppose a 338 AM or 375 AM would cause some of us to pass out and they certainly are not the best for most situations in fact but when they are appropriate, there is nothing out there that will really run with them other then other wildcats in their same class.
Say a 1000 lb bull elk is feeding calmy on that sidehill at 1500 yards. No way to get closer before light fades and because of the cover, even if you were on the same hillside, you would never be able to see him until you were on top of him and likely he would wind you long before you got a shot off.
If I were sitting there with a 7mm Rem Mag, no matter how accurate and consistant it was, I would never consider the shot. IF I was sitting there with my 338 AX or espeically 338 AM, Again, in ideal conditions and alot of range time on the rifle, there would be no doubt about the practicality of taking that shot and making it with confidence. Not only making the hit but knowing that that big 300 gr SMK would do the work needed no matter where I hit the bull in the vital zone at that range.
Anyway. lets look at some numbers at 1500 yards at 6000 ft elevation.
7mm RM with 168 gr VLD @ 3050 fps
Retained velocity............................1542 fps
Retained energy..............................887 ft/lbs
Drift..............................................6.75 moa
TOF..............................................2.0833 sec
338 AX w/ 300 gr SMK @ 3000 fps
Retained velocity.............................1704 fps
Retained energy...............................1933 ft/lbs
Drift...............................................5.5 moa
TOF...............................................1.9936 sec
338 AM w/ 300 gr SMK @ 3400 fps
REtained velocity..............................1991 fps
Retained energy...............................2640 ft/lbs
Drift...............................................4.5 moa
TOF...............................................1.7343 sec
Now, lets look at the drop numbers if those are important to you, with a 100 yard zero for each and then adjustment needed for 1500 yard zero:
7mm Rem Mag..................................40.0 moa
338 AX...........................................37.5 moa
338 AM...........................................28.5 moa
Many will tell you that the 338 AM is so overkill its basically worthless for any big game hunting. That is until they actually are able to slap steel consistantly and accurately at a mile with a 16 lb rifle that has no recoil hardly at all. Again, opinions are fine, we all have them, lord knows I do as well, but when an opinion is so off with what real world experience proves, its hard to not call someone on it.
For extreme range hunting on big game, there are dozens of choices that are much better and much more impressive at long range on big game.
THe trick is to match up what you want to do with the right equipment. In many cases, the 7mm Rem Mag is just fine. In others its not. Same goes for every other chambering including my wildcats. When used when they should be, they all work great. There is no perfect chambering for all situations and to attack all the larger chamberings because you favor the 7mm RM is simply silly.
