7mm Rem Mag vs 300 Win Mag: Ammo Comparison

The 7mm Remington Magnum and 300 Winchester Magnum are both fantastic cartridges. They’re used by long-range shooters and hunters, both groups that love to debate the pros and cons of the two magnum rounds. So, which one would come out on top in a fair cartridge fight? We’re here to answer that question.

7mm Remington Magnum vs. 300 Winchester Magnum Specifications

Why compare 7mm Remington Magnum vs. 300 Winchester Magnum?

These two magnum rounds are frequently considered to be similar performers. Both have the 375 H&H Magnum as their parent case and quite a few of their dimensions are similar. They also have the same bullet diameter. Case length on the 300 Win Mag is longer than on the 7mm Remington Magnum and as a result the former also has greater case capacity. SAAMI also lists it as having a maximum psi 3000 higher than the 7mm Remington Magnum’s. So while they are similar, they’re not identical. 

The place these two cartridges are most likely to be debated is among hunters, although you’ll also find long-range shooters discussing the benefits of one over the other. Long-range shooters tend to lean toward the 300 Win Mag when it comes to these two particular cartridges—but that isn’t always true. We could consider this from those two perspectives: which cartridge is best for hunting, and which wins for long-range use on steel?

It’s the cartridge vs. cartridge face-off: 7mm Remington Magnum vs. 300 Winchester Magnum.

7mm Remington Magnum Review

Since its inception, they have geared the 7mm Remington Magnum toward hunters. For decades they have favored it for making solid longer-range shots on big game, but it’s also great at somewhat closer distances, too. In fact, it has a fascinating history.

7mm Rem Mag History and Purpose

Although Remington Arms technically did design and mainstream the 7mm Remington Magnum in 1962, it got its start before that. This belted magnum cartridge started as the 280 Remington Magnum years prior to its development and production by Remington, thanks to outfitter and gun writer Les Bowman. Some of the land Bowman hunted was rich in elk—so amazing Bowman called it Elk Heaven. Hunting that area required a great deal of hiking and a reliable rifle capable of making longer shots, and Bowman found he wasn’t pleased with what was available at that time.

After trying various loads, Bowman decided he might have to make the perfect elk cartridge happen on his own. It needed to have more manageable recoil than many magnums produced and, preferably, be chambered in a relatively lightweight platform. This lead to the 280 Remington Magnum, which was eventually used by a friend of Bowman’s who worked for Remington. The two men talked to Remington about selling the round commercially, but Remington said no. They later changed their minds and designated it the 7mm Remington Magnum, and the rest is ammo history.

With time, 7mm Remington Magnum has gained a reputation not only as a great long-range hunting round but a good one for dealing with dangerous game. It was created to cycle well during rapid-fire, which isn’t something all magnums or rifles can claim, and it doesn’t recoil much more than the 30-06 Springfield. It can be a bit difficult finding the ammo for it at local gun stores, but it’s readily available online, meaning you might need to plan ahead a bit to keep your rifle fed.

Pros and Cons of 7mm Rem Mag vs 300 Win Mag

Best Ammo for 7mm Remington Magnum

There are some fantastic options available for this cartridge. These are our picks for 7mm Remington Magnum:

300 Winchester Magnum Review

The 300 Win Mag has a large and varied following among everyone from long-range target shooters to hunters. Like the 7mm Remington Magnum, they specifically created it for hunting purposes, but its versatility has significantly boosted its popularity over time.

300 Win Mag History and Purpose

Winchester designed the 300 Win Mag for hunters in 1963. Its parent case was the 375 H&H Magnum. One thing that made it—and continues to make it—a favorite of many shooters is the fact that it fits into standard actions. Unlike some magnums, 300 Win Mag doesn’t require a long magnum action. The first rifle offered in 300 Win Mag was Winchester’s Model 70 bolt-action rifle. While it might not have enjoyed instant fame, it built a stellar reputation over the years.

Winchester designed the 300 Win Mag when the ammo maker made quite a few magnums in a row (the 300 Win Mag was actually the last in the lineup). Prior to the creation of 300 Win Mag, Winchester came out with the 264 Winchester Magnum, 338 Winchester Magnum, and 458 Winchester Magnum. And while those cartridges have their place, it’s safe to say the 300 Win Mag has outdone them all. Many people believe it was the creation of the 7mm Remington Magnum that encouraged Winchester to design 300 Win Mag, and it’s possible (they launched 7mm Remington Magnum just one year prior). 

In the 60 years since the 300 Win was first introduced, it’s gone from one of many new magnums to the one that’s stood the test of time and been accepted by a variety of shooters. This round has a reputation as a top-performing big game cartridge, a fantastic long-range option, and a fun magnum round to shoot at the range. And, of course, it’s enjoyed quite a bit of military use. It’s a truly versatile magnum cartridge.

Pros and Cons of 300 Win Mag vs 7mm Rem Mag

Best Ammo for 300 Win Mag

Fortunately, there’s a lot of different ammo available for 300 Win Mag. Whether you’re interested in shooting steel or hunting, there are many options. These are our picks for 300 Win Mag:

Ballistics Comparison: 7mm Remington Magnum vs. 300 Win Mag

Perhaps the best way to compare these two cartridges is to take a look at ballistics side by side. After all, they were launched a year apart, are both magnums, and have similar specifications. It can be a tough call choosing between them.

To compare cartridges beyond 100 yards, we’re going to take a look at a few different loads. First, let’s consider Nosler Trophy Grade 7mm Remington Magnum 160 grain AccuBond with a ballistic coefficient of 0.531 against Barnes VOR-TX 300 Win 180 grain TTSX with a ballistic coefficient of 0.484.

Distance (yards)	Nosler Trophy Grade 7mm Remington Magnum 160 grain AccuBond Velocity (fps)	Nosler Trophy Grade 7mm Remington Magnum 160 grain AccuBond Energy (ft-lbs)	Barnes VOR-TX 300 Win 180 grain TTSX Velocity (fps)	Barnes VOR-TX 300 Win 180 grain TTSX Energy (ft-lbs)
0	3000	3197	2960	3502
100	2818	2820	2766	3057
200	2643	2481	2580	2660
300	2474	2175	2401	2305
400	2312	1899	2230	1987
500	2156	1651	2065	1705

This is an interesting comparison because the 7mm Remington Magnum bullet is 160 grain while the 300 Win Mag bullet is 180 grain. There’s only a slight difference in muzzle velocity, and at 500 yards that different is still under 100 feet per second. As for energy, the 300 Win Mag understandably produces a lot more energy and maintains that lead, although it does become a narrow lead with distance. Overall, these two loads are relatively equally matched. Of course, with a 180 grain bullet, that 300 Win Mag is going to create a larger wound cavity on game animals, which translates to a quicker, more ethical kill.

If we change over to different loads and compare Barnes VOR-TX 7mm Remington Magnum 140 grain Polymer Tipped Spitzer Boat Tail with a ballistic coefficient of 0.412 and Hornady Match 300 Win 195 grain ELD with a ballistic coefficient of 0.584, what happens?

Distance (yards)	Barnes VOR-TX 7mm Remington Magnum 140 grain Polymer Tipped Spitzer Boat Tail Velocity (fps)	Barnes VOR-TX 7mm Remington Magnum 140 grain Polymer Tipped Spitzer Boat Tail Energy (ft-lbs)	Hornady Match 300 Win 195 grain ELD Velocity (fps)	Hornady Match 300 Win 195 grain ELD Energy (ft-lbs)
0	3100	2988	2930	3718
100	2865	2552	2769	3321
200	2643	2171	2615	2960
300	2431	1837	2465	2631
400	2229	1544	2320	2331
500	2036	1289	2180	2059

This chart confirms the fact that 300 Win Mag can keep up with velocity while pushing a much heavier bullet down range. As for energy, the difference is enormously tipped in 300 Win Mag’s favor. 7mm Remington Magnum still makes a good showing, but it simply cannot compete for energy. Let’s consider how these two loads stack up for drop and drift.

Distance (yards)	Barnes VOR-TX 7mm Remington Magnum 140 grain Polymer Tipped Spitzer Boat Tail Drop (inches)	Barnes VOR-TX 7mm Remington Magnum 140 grain Polymer Tipped Spitzer Boat Tail Wind Drift (inches)	Hornady Match 300 Win 195 grain ELD Drop (inches)	Hornady Match 300 Win 195 grain ELD Drift (inches)
0	-1.50	0.03	-1.50	0.03
100	-0.01	0.72	0.00	0.55
200	-2.76	2.88	-3.05	2.15
300	-10.51	6.68	-11.18	4.93
400	-24.16	12.34	-25.05	8.99
500	-44.84	20.10	-45.39	14.45

Despite having a bullet that’s a full 55 grains lighter than that of the 300 Win Mag, the 7mm Remington Magnum doesn’t really perform better. Drop rate remains nearly identical and drift is less with 300 Win Mag. According to this chart, 300 Win Mag comes out on top.

Our Take – 7mm Remington Magnum vs 300 Winchester Magnum

From a ballistic standpoint, 300 Win Mag is the superior cartridge. It can move significantly heavier bullets at equal or better speeds while delivering far more energy, and drop and drift aren’t an issue, either. When you’re hunting, it’s ideal to have greater energy transfer on target, not to mention a larger wound cavity. Of course, if you’re target shooting, you’re also going to benefit from 300 Win Mag because it doesn’t drift as much as 7mm Remington Magnum. That said, the trajectory remains similar, so 7mm Remington Magnum is still going to perform well.

It’s important to take felt recoil into consideration. The 300 Win Mag does typically produce quite a bit more felt recoil and that might remove it from the running for many shooters, especially if you’re shooting at a higher round count. It might be accurate to say that 300 Win Mag wins for hunting while 7mm Remington Magnum is a close match for target shooting. As always, it comes down to personal preferences and availability.

If you agree with us, and think the 300 Win Mag is the winner, check out our best rifles in 300 Win Mag.