7MM Rem. Mag. - How Loud is It?

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You may not notice the boom when hunting with no ear protection, but it will damage your hearing just the same.
 
gspn said:
No tougher than a bull elk. Either is capable of absorbing lots of hard hits and moving down the road. I shot an elk last week through both lungs, then pounded him through the heart and into the far shoulder. My buddy shattered his left rear leg with his 7 mag (I pulled no fewer than a dozen large bone fragments from the wound)...and he continued to run as if he wasn't hit.

Big animals can take some pain. Hit it in the right spot with a good bullet and it will die shortly.
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Did your elk go 200 yards? I've never shot an Oryx yet, and I suspect you haven't either, but from what I've read they are tougher than anything in the deer family. I've taken several elk with my 6.5x55, but don't know of anyone with experience who would recommend that for Oryx.
 
Paul7 said:
I've taken several elk with my 6.5x55, but don't know of anyone with experience who would recommend that for Oryx.
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No animal is bullet proof. I'm not saying it's not a tough animal, it's just a little funny to read an argument that they are somehow far tougher than a bull elk.

Here's a list of suggested oryx cartridges from several sources (the .270 is included in all of these):

Chuck Hawks:

"Here are some suggested scimitar oryx and gemsbok cartridges:

6.5mm Remington Magnum, 6.5x68, .264 Winchester Magnum, .270 Winchester, the .270 Magnums, 7x57, 7mm-08 Remington, 7x64 Brenneke, .280 Remington, the 7mm Magnums, .308 Marlin, .300 Savage, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, the .300 Magnums, .303 British, 8x57JS, .338 Federal, .338-06 A-Square, .338 Win. Magnum, .356 Winchester, .358 Winchester, .35 Whelen, .350 Remington Magnum, 9.3x57, 9.3x62, 9.3x74, .375 Winchester, .405 Winchester, .444 Marlin and similar cartridges."

Here's the link to his full article if you care to read it:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/exotics_oryx_cartridges.htm


African Sky outfitters recommends a .270 on the low end with 7mm and 30 magnums working well:

"This is one of the tough antelope - the .270 caliber should be considered the minimum, with a good quality 150 grain bullet. The 7mm and 30 caliber Magnums are an even better choice."

Hunting Africa Safari's provides this list of recommended calibers:

"Hunting in Africa Safaris suggests the following calibers as being the best calibers for hunting gemsbok in South Africa: 270, 7 X 57, 7 mm Rem Mag, 308, 30-06, 300 WSM, 300 Win Mag and any comparable calibers."
 
gspn said:
No animal is bullet proof. I'm not saying it's not a tough animal, it's just a little funny to read an argument that they are somehow far tougher than a bull elk.

Here's a list of suggested oryx cartridges from several sources (the .270 is included in all of these):

Chuck Hawks:

"Here are some suggested scimitar oryx and gemsbok cartridges:

6.5mm Remington Magnum, 6.5x68, .264 Winchester Magnum, .270 Winchester, the .270 Magnums, 7x57, 7mm-08 Remington, 7x64 Brenneke, .280 Remington, the 7mm Magnums, .308 Marlin, .300 Savage, .308 Winchester, .30-06 Springfield, the .300 Magnums, .303 British, 8x57JS, .338 Federal, .338-06 A-Square, .338 Win. Magnum, .356 Winchester, .358 Winchester, .35 Whelen, .350 Remington Magnum, 9.3x57, 9.3x62, 9.3x74, .375 Winchester, .405 Winchester, .444 Marlin and similar cartridges."

Here's the link to his full article if you care to read it:

http://www.chuckhawks.com/exotics_oryx_cartridges.htm


African Sky outfitters recommends a .270 on the low end with 7mm and 30 magnums working well:

"This is one of the tough antelope - the .270 caliber should be considered the minimum, with a good quality 150 grain bullet. The 7mm and 30 caliber Magnums are an even better choice."

Hunting Africa Safari's provides this list of recommended calibers:

"Hunting in Africa Safaris suggests the following calibers as being the best calibers for hunting gemsbok in South Africa: 270, 7 X 57, 7 mm Rem Mag, 308, 30-06, 300 WSM, 300 Win Mag and any comparable calibers."
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I've read the article before, which is why I agree with my guide that I need more than a 6.5x55. I've heard of some bad stories with the .270 oryx hunting. Unlike the link you provided that seems to be geared towards private range hunting and says long range shots aren't common there, long range shots ARE common in NM.
 
Paul7 said:
I've read the article before, which is why I agree with my guide that I need more than a 6.5x55. I've heard of some bad stories with the .270 oryx hunting.
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Whichever gun you choose...I'm certain it will be a blast. Make sure to bring us some pics. :D
 
I've shot deer with both the 30-06 and the 7mm Remington magnum, and noticed no difference between the two at the time in either recoil or noise.
 
If noise is your concern whilst hunting, this is generally true...

If not wearing any during hunting...........you won't notice much boom when shooting at game. If you do, then you were next to something that reflected the blast and or you weren't concentrating on the dang shot.
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You also won't feel any recoil...
 
I never have noticed the noise when people have touched off magnum rifles next to me out hunting everything from 375 H&H to 264win mags.. When your focused its just a background noise.
 
Gunnerboy said:
I never have noticed the noise when people have touched off magnum rifles next to me out hunting everything from 375 H&H to 264win mags.. When your focused its just a background noise.
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I always try to wear low profile earmuffs when taking a shot. I'm of the opinion that whether you notice it or not, a high power rifle will damage your hearing without protection.
 
IMHO, the 7 mag. is barely noticeably louder than a 30-06 or .270 win. I shoot all three, and then some, and although I never range shoot without hearing protection, I do hunt with an unprotected ear.

Also, when we are firing a weapon in a hunting situation we don't notice the report in the same fashion that we do when punching paper.

As for Oryx, 7 mag. would be very appropriate for that animal. They are a thicker skinned animal, and also heavier / larger than deer. The one's I've seen taken were in the range of 500 - 600 lbs.. But some species are smaller / larger. However, with the right load I wouldn't feel at all under gunned with an 06.

I've eaten quite a good deal of Oryx meat, and they are very tasty. But this also coming from someone who thinks Ibex is tasty also. When I lived in New Mexico our local game warden would give me lots of road kill Oryx and Ibex.

GS
 
Here is a little table with different rifles tested ... not sure why they choose some of those barrel lengths ...

Table 2. CENTERFIRE RIFLE DATA

.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18 _" barrel 155.5dB
.243 in 22" barrel 155.9dB
.30-30 in 20" barrel 156.0dB
7mm Magnum in 20" barrel 157.5dB
.308 in 24" barrel 156.2dB
.30-06 in 24" barrel 158.5dB
.30-06 in 18 _" barrel 163.2dB
.375 — 18" barrel with muzzle brake 170 dB
 
JimKirk said:
Here is a little table with different rifles tested ... not sure why they choose some of those barrel lengths ...

Table 2. CENTERFIRE RIFLE DATA

.223, 55GR. Commercial load 18 _" barrel 155.5dB
.243 in 22" barrel 155.9dB
.30-30 in 20" barrel 156.0dB
7mm Magnum in 20" barrel 157.5dB
.308 in 24" barrel 156.2dB
.30-06 in 24" barrel 158.5dB
.30-06 in 18 _" barrel 163.2dB
.375 — 18" barrel with muzzle brake 170 dB
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Jim, something must be off there, no way a 20" 7mm mag. is less blast than a 24" .30-06. A 20" 7mm mag would also bring its effectiveness down to about .270 level.
 
Lafitte said:
I have both and don't find a noticeable difference in either noise level or felt recoil.

Lafitte
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Ditto. Shooting from the bench back to back I can tell the 7mag shoves a bit harder than the 06', but in the field I doubt I would be able to tell the difference. As for noise, I find that any high-powered rifle without protection rings my ears equally. I actually hear lower powered rifles as louder, (.30-30). I find louder sounds are a bit disorienting and harder to "hear" as a result.

Shooting a .30-30, I hear the boom, the echo, all of it. With a .30-06, .270, .308, 7mmrm; I hear a ring.
 
AKElroy said:
Ditto. Shooting from the bench back to back I can tell the 7mag shoves a bit harder than the 06', but in the field I doubt I would be able to tell the difference. As for noise, I find that any high-powered rifle without protection rings my ears equally. I actually hear lower powered rifles as louder, (.30-30). I find louder sounds are a bit disorienting and harder to "hear" as a result.

Shooting a .30-30, I hear the boom, the echo, all of it. With a .30-06, .270, .308, 7mmrm; I hear a ring.
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A 30-30 generally has a shorter 20" barrel.
 
I shoot both 30-06 and 7 MM mag. Like most, I haven't noticed any difference between them. I think bullet choice is more critical in the 7 MM mag.
 
When I bought my 7 mag, I worked up some loads, set my chronograph out on its tripod the normal 15 feet, fired the first shot and blew the chrony over. The cardboard screens went flying and the chrony and tripod blew over. I thought I'd shot the chrony, but no, it was just the muzzle blast. Moving it out another 15 feet and it functioned just fine. None of my other rifles did that, but I don't have a .30-06, do have a .308 and two 8x57 Mausers and used to shoot a 7x57 over it.

Yeah, it's got some muzzle blast for sure, but I've hunted with it and it doesn't bother me in the field. Not enough recoil to justify a muzzle break and muzzle breaks re-direct that blast in the wrong direction.

Contrary to popular belief, though, I don't find the recoil that objectionable over the .30-06 and it offers better down range performance with better BCs. But, you .30-06 guys just knock yourself out bashing the magnums. :rolleyes:

Personally, though, I'd probably hunt 'em with my .308. :D I don't have much use for the big magnums anymore, either, hunting the woods at short ranges as I do, but I don't sell accurate rifles. :D My 7 is a Savage, wouldn't take much to rebarrel it to .338 which I've given thought to just because. :D I mean, go big or go home, right?
 
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Paul7 said:
Thinking of buying a 7mm Mag. for an upcoming Oryx hunt, but have heard they are pretty loud. How would a 24.5" barrel 7mm Mag. compare to a 22" .30-'06 as far as muzzle blast?

Thank you
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At 65 years old my hearing is what it is. While I don't get out hunting much anymore I never wore hearing protection when I was hunting. I always wear hearing protection on the range. Here nor there as when hunting we are generally exposed to the sound of a single (maybe two) shot. That's it, it's not like shot after shot. Most will tell you that when hunting they never really hear the shot and granted, that does not mean no damage was done. However, speaking on my own behalf and having hunted with 30-06 and 7mm Remington Magnum I never really noticed much if any difference in the bang. I have noticed that for me, a Ruger M77 in 7mm Rem Mag does seem to kick me noticeably harder but that is about it.

In the end since hunting, unlike being on the range for a hundred shots is most often a matter of a single shot or maybe two so how much would the difference between a 30-06 and a 7mm Rem Mag really matter?

Ron
 
Ages ago I had a 7 RM 700 Bdl,was invited to the range by a friend.
Set up my target,rifle rest and other equipment 4 benches down were a few guys were shooting 22s. Sat at the bench fired one round muzzle flash looked like an RPG going off,dust came from the ground and down from the overhang of the roof. Got the what are you shooting look and the 4 gents moved down to the end of the range.
 
Buy a .338 Win.' Mag.' they kick hard and make a lot
of noise. No one in Africa will complain about the noise.
If recoil bothers you put a muzzle break on it and wear
ear plugs. It will drop any African medium game. I would
tell you to get a .375 H&H but that might be taking you
too far.
 
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