Having a serious bout of magnumitis...
 

Got some long awaited draw tags coming up in the next couple years, P6 antlered elk this year (probably 936), antelope soon, mulie, maybe even Alaska. And after eating tag soup on my P7 antlered moose a few years ago, I’ve got it in my head that I should buy a long(er) range setup, you know...just in case there’s that one in a million 4-500 yard shot opportunity. Right now I have a model 88 308 (terrible trigger) and lightweight 243 (could work at <300, but ain’t getting an exit wound on a big bull)

No, it wouldn’t have helped me get a moose, never saw a single live bull in November.

Yes, I know that 936 is thick and most shot opportunities are close anywhere. Killed most of my animals within 15 yards with an arrow. But what if...

Foolishness. Stupidity. Waste of money. Too much recoil. Anything else?

Specifically looking at the 7rm Christensen Mesa :love:

Thought, opinions, and mostly please try to talk me out of it. I can’t seem to go a year without buying that one last x-thousand dollar thing I need to hunt with :lol:

It's never a waste of money ... Do it!:sHa_shakeshout:

Before I got to your comment about the Christensen, I was already thinking 'he should get a nice 7 mm RM'.....shoot 165 TTSX and Bob's your uncle. Why talk you out of it? It's a classic and effective cartridge, without being too punishing on the shooter. And it will make you happy.

You already talked yourself into it,so go buy the 7mm and enjoy shooting it.
You will just spend the money on something else then regret not buying it,how's that for talking you out of it.

Plus sell the stuff you don't need and buy one that's good,no use owning something your not happy with.

I used to own a 300 WM and I couldn’t group that thing at all so I got rid of it. Failed experiment. Put a Tinmey trigger in your 308 and forget about getting a magnum. It’s plenty of enough rifle for a 500 yd shot.

Christensen Arms make great rifles and a 7mm rem mag kicks about as hard as a 30-06 maybe not even. Grab the gun and love it.

I've never shot a Christensen, heard they're light but the brake will help that. Brake & practice time a no go for me. 7 RM fine choice, buy it & enjoy it. Good luck on the hunts!

I just picked up a LH Mesa Prophet River ordered for me. Its a 6.5 Creedmoor.
I havnt shot it yet, but I must say im pretty impressed with the fit & finish. Bolt is nice and tight and smooth as butter.
A 7RM in a Mesa is a winner if you ask me.
Prophet River has one in stock to.

Difference between a 7rm and your 308 recoil is minimal. A good pad and you likely couldn't tell the difference. More rifles is never a bad idea but a 308 for the type of hunting you're doing is lots of cartridge.

I'm not a fan of levers but thats just me. Nice 24 - 26" barrel in a 7rm BA is pretty hard to beat and easy to shoot.

What is this brake you speak of sir? Could I put one on my 243? :)

I'm always loving a 300WM or weatherby version. its a hole puncher for sure.

When I was shopping around for my last rifle I looked at the Mesa. Pretty fine gun but it didn’t come in the chambering I wanted. I looked at the browning hells canyon speed. It was a couple $100 less and just as good imo.

I’ve never shot a 7mm rem mag or any of the 300 mags that I’ve liked but some guys love them. For just about anything I prefer my 338 wm but having said that I’m converting slowly to a 26 nosler.

There’s lots to choose from and the decision can be tough but good luck.

I’ve hunted 936 quit a bit the last few years. I think your better off using that money to scout other hunting areas and use your bow on your bull in 936

Id second what norwest says
A 338, i think, is a better performing all around caliber on the big animals
If you want a hard hitting hot rod, a 26 nosler is ballistically superior to the 7mm and 300 win. Recoil is about the same.

Point regarding 26 nosler. I read somewhere that the cartridge wears out barrel life quickly due to the velocities it puts out. Due to the velocity of the buller, the life of a 26 nosler barrel is around 1000 rounds or somewhere around that, is what i heard

to OP: Maybe just get the tried and true 300WM in a semiauto. :fighting0030:

I shot a deer with a .375 once. I don't think the deer noticed what I used.
My wallet sure did.

I was cured of magnumitis with that rifle. Although I do dearly miss my .338 WM I just can't justify it.

Having said that, I can't really tell someone not to do it. Big booms are kinda fun.

Buy it if ya want it, too heck with the nay Sayers.... Just bought a 7x64 Brenneke...Why you ask ? like I need another 7mm cartridge...well it is just so much cooler to say then a 280 or 7mm rem ...or...??? that's why. :fighting0074:

Far be it from me to convince you to NOT get a new to you rifle.

I just don't know that a 7 RM is that much different than your 308 in terms of real world killing power. My suggestion would be to go big or go home. 375 H&H or 340 Wby.

Then again, maybe you just want something kinda different which is why you are buying a Christensen. Of the ones Prophet River has, this is the one I would get...

https://store.prophetriver.com/chris...-801-01022-00/

If yah want one and ya can afford to get one go for it. 7mm is a fair step up from a 308 out past 3-400 yds and the 300 is a step ahead of that yet. Or another direction you could go would be shorter range thumper. Ie. 35 whelen, 338 federal, 35 rem mag, 45-70,450 marlin, 444..ECT....haven't hunted that zone but perhaps the moderate range thumpers might fit your needs.

It is a step up but is it really worth it for a hunter who has a two gun battery, wants something with oomph, and is entertaining the thought of Alaska?

I would say it is an incremental step at best.

I have shot an awful pile of animals over the years, and more with those two cartridges than any others. I can honestly say that I don't think there is a single animal I harvested with the 7RM that wouldn't have died just as quickly with the 308. Just my opinion.

I would say 300 Win at minimum. They have one in stock too.

165gr TTSX out of a 7mm remmag?

Agree to some extent at normal hunting ranges. Once you get a bit out there the 7mm leaves the 308 in the dust.

Everytime you shoot your gun you take away from the lifespan of your barrel. Some say 1000 some 1500. What I was sold don't shoot it repeatedly and give it time to cool.

you can shoot a lot of critters with 1500 rounds

Then you need a 6.5 Creedmore...leaves them both smelling smoke.....:sHa_sarcasticlol:

Lol no thanks. For a paper puncher sure, but I'll stick with the 300 for LR hunting applications.

One should always be encouraged to add another gun. However, your model 88 will kill anything that you can hunt.:)

I don't blame you.

4-500 yds is not that far. If your 308 has a 1-10 twist, shoot a heavy bullet like the Berger 215. Or maybe the 185 gr. You won't need more gun than that for out to 500 yds. Or instead of buying new have your 308 trued up with a new barrel and stock. Lots of options and the 7mm Christensen is a good option as well. But I think your 308 is plenty of gun out to 500 yds. If you plan on shooting game farther than that at some point then maybe the 7mm is a better option. 308 is lots for targets/steel out to 1000 yds. F/FTR guys do it all the time. Run some numbers with the 308 and a 215 Berger, you might be surprised.

I can't speak to the cartridge choice but I just got a Mesa .308 from Prophet River and couldn't be happier.shipped to Edmonton the next day, fit and finish is amazing. Can't wait to take it to the range!