Which One??

[Colorado Luckydog]

I know there are other forums for this but I wanted as much input as I could get, so I put it here.

I purchased a Browning A-Bolt 7mm mag. I was all set for this to be my new all around big game rifle.

Then I got a shotgun my buddy just had to have. He traded me a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight 300 Win Mag.

Both rifles are in excellent shape. I've checked the ballistics on both rifles and they are very close. I really just want to keep one rifle and use it for several years to come. Which ever one I keep, I will be putting my Burris Black Diamond 3 1/2x12x50 on it. I do not reload. I want to be able to reach out and take an elk at longer distances if I need to but I'm also going to use it for antelope and deer. Any thoughts or am I just splitting hairs? Thanks.

[Troublco]

Wow, this thread is going to have so many opinions it's gonna smell like a fertilizer factory!

Personally, for the uses you mentioned of these two I believe I'd go with a .300 Win Mag. There's a wider range of bullet weights available for the .300, from 110 to 220 grains. The 7mm bullet range is more limited, from about 120 to 175 grains. To me the increased versatility this allows makes the .300 about the most capable big game rifle available for hunting in Colorado, and many other places.

I have a Whitworth Mk X in 7mm Mag that I'm going to re-barrel to .300 Win Mag. The 7mm is my only 7mm, and I have several other .30 cal's so this would give me the ability to use bullets I already have and use that larger range of bullet weights.

That's my $.02

[kidicarus13]

I recently had two guns of the same make/model in the calibers you are considering. Accuracy comparo was too close to call. I went with the 7mag because recoil was less and I had more 7mag ammo on hand.