What side of the 7mm vs. 30-caliber debate are you on?
I remember reading an article written by John Sundra, titled, “I am a worm, I don’t like the 30 caliber” John seems to fit in well with this debate; he is partial to his own wildcat 280 improved, much like a Gibbs, it is a blown out case with an extended shoulder, I could never see why he would just not have opted for a 7mm Rem. Mag. if he needed more power than the standard 28 provided, yet knowing he lives for guns, I do understand. His main point, he sees no reason for having any 30 caliber, finding it too large for deer size game and too small for the Elk size game. John is a fan of the 8mm Rem Mag and perhaps medium size bores, such as the 338/340. Another of his wildcat favorites is his 375 JRS, it is a 418 Rem case necked down to 375 and I do find that a good wildcat. I have a cousin who is a committed 7mm man; he has all the 7mm calibers from the 7mm-06 up to the 7-STW. His other caliber crush is the 35 caliber and he has the 358 Win, a 34 Whelen and the big 35-STA. For some reason, he believes that the calibers with the best ballistics are the 264 and the 358 and there is no changing his views,
I have always been partial to the 30 caliber; I like the 308 for any purpose, in a light rifle, it is top drawer and it is the only automatic I have, a Remington model that shoots true. The 30-06 has for me, always been the best overall round for an all-purpose hunting tool. The 300 Win. Mag. is another favorite; it will do what a 7mm Rem. Mag and more, just run your loads on a chronograph, the 300 is as flat shooting as the big 7. Moreover, it offers more in pushing heaver bullets, the 200 grain is on par with the 7’s 175 grain. I will give you, the big 7 will shoot flatter with bullets under 150 grains because they 284 has better ballistics with pills under 165 grains. Yet, if you need that weight, the 264 Win. Mag has that area covered. At the top end, the 300 Jarrett will outperform the 7-STW.
I have to say my favorite is the 30 caliber and with a 264 and 270 for lighter work, I have all I need in a flat light shooter. On the heavy end, I like the 338 on up for the heaviest game.
Most of these calibers are very accurate and the 308 and 300 has proved themselves in competition, as has the 284 and 264 varieties. The preference for 7mm or 30 caliber is just that, a preference, nothing more. The only legitimate claim is that the 284 will have less recoil, but if that is not the issue, the 30 caliber has more to offer in my opinion.
I remember reading an article written by John Sundra, titled, “I am a worm, I don’t like the 30 caliber” John seems to fit in well with this debate; he is partial to his own wildcat 280 improved, much like a Gibbs, it is a blown out case with an extended shoulder, I could never see why he would just not have opted for a 7mm Rem. Mag. if he needed more power than the standard 28 provided, yet knowing he lives for guns, I do understand. His main point, he sees no reason for having any 30 caliber, finding it too large for deer size game and too small for the Elk size game. John is a fan of the 8mm Rem Mag and perhaps medium size bores, such as the 338/340. Another of his wildcat favorites is his 375 JRS, it is a 418 Rem case necked down to 375 and I do find that a good wildcat. I have a cousin who is a committed 7mm man; he has all the 7mm calibers from the 7mm-06 up to the 7-STW. His other caliber crush is the 35 caliber and he has the 358 Win, a 34 Whelen and the big 35-STA. For some reason, he believes that the calibers with the best ballistics are the 264 and the 358 and there is no changing his views,
I have always been partial to the 30 caliber; I like the 308 for any purpose, in a light rifle, it is top drawer and it is the only automatic I have, a Remington model that shoots true. The 30-06 has for me, always been the best overall round for an all-purpose hunting tool. The 300 Win. Mag. is another favorite; it will do what a 7mm Rem. Mag and more, just run your loads on a chronograph, the 300 is as flat shooting as the big 7. Moreover, it offers more in pushing heaver bullets, the 200 grain is on par with the 7’s 175 grain. I will give you, the big 7 will shoot flatter with bullets under 150 grains because they 284 has better ballistics with pills under 165 grains. Yet, if you need that weight, the 264 Win. Mag has that area covered. At the top end, the 300 Jarrett will outperform the 7-STW.
I have to say my favorite is the 30 caliber and with a 264 and 270 for lighter work, I have all I need in a flat light shooter. On the heavy end, I like the 338 on up for the heaviest game.
Most of these calibers are very accurate and the 308 and 300 has proved themselves in competition, as has the 284 and 264 varieties. The preference for 7mm or 30 caliber is just that, a preference, nothing more. The only legitimate claim is that the 284 will have less recoil, but if that is not the issue, the 30 caliber has more to offer in my opinion.
