I thought my 7 mag was plenty, it gave me a gun perfect for long distance mountain shots Pronghorn, Mule Deer, and Elk. It is light, little kick, and great ballistics. I think it is still a great Elk gun for text book shots broadside. After recent experience shooting Elk with 7 mag head on and tracking for several days I want to consider a higher caliber for closer rut and Texas drive spot & stalk type hunting where animal not likely to be more than 200, but likely to be looking head on.

Here are stats on my current 7 mag:

150 gr. 3000 fps 2326 200y/lbs 19.2 recoil

I am big fan of the Barnes TTSX, so would love to get a caliber they produce:

300 WSM 150 gr: 3310 fps 2685 200y/lbs 22.5 recoil
300 WBY Mag 180 gr: 3100 fps 2930 200y/lbs 31.6 recoil
300 Win Mag 180 gr: 2960 fps 2659 200y/lbs 25.9 recoil
300 RUM 180 gr: 3250 fps 3233 200y/lbs 32.8 recoil
338 Win Mag 225 gr: 2800 fps 3006 200y/lbs 35.2 recoil

I'm not sure the 300 WSM or 300 Win Mag would provide a huge energy increase over the 7 mag, but it would be an improvement and still keeping the recoil manageable. If I really want to differentiate from the 7 mag, which I will continue to use most hunts, it looks to me the 300 RUM a great balance of performance and recoil

thoughts? thanks!

Sources:

Barnes: http://www.barnesbullets.com/files/2015/05/VORTX-Rifle-rev-5-21-2015.pdf

Chuck Hawks Recoil: http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

Rob, I have killed a lot of elk with a 7mm using 180gr bullet, they are super tough animals and I keep chambering rounds until they have at least one leg down. Most of the time it is a one shot deal.

I now have a 300wsm, also using 180gr scirrocos (sp) I also shot a bull head on looking at me after I used a cow call to stop him, hit him just above the brisket and he stood there looking at my wife and I, Wife thought I had missed ,but at 123 yards it was spot on, he turned after a few seconds and I hit him again, he made it about 20 yards and went down.

I wouldn't personally spend a fortune on a new rifle unless you just want one, I also wont take another head on shot, unless it is my only choice, just to much there to adsorb the shock.

7mm has taken a ton of elk, it wasn't the caliber my friend.

I literally had an antelope take I a front chest shot like a champ. When I hit him he took two steps backwards and then started walking again. I was floored., but he died.

If you want to be a grizzly among bears though... 30-378 wby or 338 lupa

.50 would do it too.........permanently....

Honestly, a change in bullet will be a huge game changer for you with your existing 7 Mag. I'm assuming you are shooting a Barnes (T)TSX in the 7 Mag. A 7 Mag is plenty for elk, and almost anything in N. America. But, like I have said for years, a Barnes bullet does NOT provide the hydrostatic shock that a lead bullet does. I have had MANY of my customers complain about how far a big game animal runs after being hit with a Barnes TSX or TTSX bullet. We end up switching to a Berger VLD, or other premium lead bullet. They call me after the hunt and tell me that the lead bullet solution is exactly what they were looking for. The Barnes will expand to 1.5 times diameter, and will penetrate deep and exit the off side. But they do not give the large shock like a lead bullet does. A good lead bullet in about 160 to 180 grains will flat out hammer an elk in a 7 Mag. I'd spend some extra money on some good ammo with a good lead bullet, some range time with that rifle and ammo, and work on practicing with your set up. Extra range time will cure a lot of shot placement issues, also.

On the 300 RUM, or any RUM, for that matter. If you can't get it done with a 300 Win Mag, a RUM will not help you either. The RUM calibers are huge over bore, and are the most finicky round I have ever had to reload for, accuracy wise. It is the only caliber I will not guarantee less than MOA with. Brass life is horrible for reloading it, and they heat up a barrel way too fast for any practice time with the rifle.

Also, on a head-on facing shot, I aim low in the chest, not middle or high. The area of the vitals most forward is his heart, which is low in the chest on almost any 4 legged critter. See drawing below. Most people aim too high, and lack the energy of the bullet to do it's damage by the time it reaches the lung area when hit high.



Looking at the diagram above, the heart is very low, so the head-on facing shot will need to hit there. At the image below, I would aim near the red circle area, if not on the bottom line of the red circle to hit the heart area first. Shot placement in this area head-on will result in a downed animal. But you better make sure your shot placement is perfect, since there is not a lot of room for error on a front facing, head-on shot.

I'm with the others on here-it wasn't the caliber. But if you do choose to step up from the 7mm, I'd skip the .30s and go to the .338.

I only take broadside shots. Barnes bullets work best when they hit bone.

Rob, I honestly think you pulled on the shot and got into shoulder more than vitals. An animal center punched through the chest with a decent bullet is going to die PDQ.

Real good possibility, bullet could have traveled around the side right under the skin..

.338 Win mag. And its great on the big bears, moose, Mt. Goats..etc.
Federal premiums pushing 210 Nosler partitions would be perfect. I use them on everything here in Kodiak. And its a great excuse for a new gun.

I'd change bullet before I changed the gun, 7 mag is plenty. As with anything,,,,shot placement.

As previously stated the 7 mm mag. Is more than adequate for taking elk if the bullet is properly placed.

But If you want gut shoot them, then you need to step on up to a .50 BMG with a deep cavity hollow point bullet. And be prepared to do some tracking.

What Chad said.

Your numbers look like you are all about velocity. Sure speed is important, but don't forget bullet weight which also adds to energy delivery. I run a 180 gr Berger VLD in 7 Rem Mag, and every animal I have shot it into has died most ricki tick, including a bull elk at 200 yards.

Get you a 300RUM! Its been my primary caliber since about 2000 and all I hunt is hogs and deer. Where I hunt long shots are pretty common so I like a big flat shooting gun that will put them down quick and that will help me eliminate a lot of guess work on hold over. I am always impressed with performance regardless if its a Yote at 10 yards or a 300 pound Boar at 300 yards. Then again I am under 6' and 150 pounds soaking wet so I am sure some will say I am compensating.

For Elk I would go with a Partition or a A-Frame. You put either one of those on a path to a Elks vitals and there aint much going to stop it from getting there.

Have seen a 2.5 year old bull elk shot from the front but was a little to the right taking out part of the left lung. He went a little over half a mile. That was with a 300 Win Mag and 180gr partitions. It is amazing what they can do.

I would much rather have a quartering or broadside shot than a frontal shot on any critter. let the air out of both lungs and they do not go far. If you can handle the 338 it makes a great elk round but the 7mm Mag is no slouch, agree with Chad though on the lead core bullets though I lean to Partition, trophy Bonded, Sirocco, Accubond... than Berger for the task just in case a not so perfect shot is what is presented.

The 7mm mag is a good round and should be fine. Switch bullets. I like the Barnes tsx because of the construction and weight retention, however they tend to punch a hole in one side and another out the other. A bad shot can leave you with a long blood trail. I shoot a 300 rum a ton. I am on my second barrel. That being said it takes a lot to reload and a shooter to handle the recoil of heavy bullets. I have taken my 300 rum to three continents and most of that was with tsx bullets. If you go the 300 rum route my biggest suggestion is not to get preoccupied with velocity but focus on bullet weight. I am shooting a 208 gr amax now at approx 3250fps. it is awesome and super accurate round. I believe the internal damage has been greatly increased with the change in bullets. Still you can switch bullets in the 7mm mag and save a ton of money. my 2 cents.

If I would step up from a 7 mag...I get a 375 of some Ilk...ruger, ultra or good ol H&H....375 is where the hammers start...

Ed

.35 whelen or 9.3x64

Aaron I like the way you think... 9.3x64 is a great round...it use to be hard as heck to get brass though...I have taken quite a few critters with a 9.3x62 though...

Ed

Or you could go with a 9.3x74R in a double rifle, just in case you get charged by an elk.

FYI in my data the 200y/lbs number is the bullet energy.

I'm going to email Chad to look at some custom loads. I don't like tinkering and changing ammo though, but if there is a single round better for Mule Deer, Aoudad, Elk, and Grand Slam Sheep than a 150 Barnes TTSX then I may get a batch done.

A better load then that is going t come down the personal preference. Your load will work for everything listed. My preference would be a premium lead bullet 150 or heavier. That's just because I haven't been impressed with the barns bullets but a lot of people will swear by them.

I think the positives of the TTSX are accuracy and flat shooting you get with a ballistic bullet, but it also retains weight being copper.

This is the first time I've had problems recovering an animal with it. I've shot a Pronghorn, 3 Aoudad, 2 Mule Deer, Axis, and multiple hogs with it. All were DRT except 1 Mule Deer we had to put follow up shots in. The only head on shot was this Aoudad that was DRT, but only 80 yard shot. Similar distance and shot to my Elk, except I had no time and was free hand with the Elk.

What rifle are you shooting ?