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Short mag. action VS. Mag. Action

MN Hunter
ive been looking into a new rifle, more exactly a 7mm. at the local gun shop, they have a 7mm ultra mag, remington mag and a winchester short mag. is there much difference between any of the different actions?? any help and input is greatly appreciated. thanks

"Not many like us, in fact very few, and most of them are dead" LtCol Pratt - USMC
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5 comments

Date Votes
  • JustC
    as far as mechanical differences,..the short magnum action will be shorter in it's length and bolt pull length,..and the standard magnum action will be longer is both respects. As far as power,..the WSM and the 7mm Rem mag will be close to the same,..but the Rem Ultra Mag will be much stronger on both ends. Now if you mean the Rem Short Action Ultra Mag,..then both actions will be the same in length and bolt pull,..and both the WSM and the RSAUM will be almost identical in impact and trajectory.

    why chase the game when the bullet can get em from here?....
    Got Balistics?
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  • Hunter375
    If you intend to use this rifle for hunting, the short action affords you no real advantages. In the case of the WSM, it is actually a disadvantage for the fact that magazine capacity is only 3 rounds becasue of the larger case body (when compared with the 4-round capacity of .270, .280. .30-06, etc.). You simply aren't going to notice the difference in bolt travel when hunting. The 7mm Ultra offers about 35% more power than the 7mm WSM, but you will pay for it in recoil. That said, the 7mm Rem Mag has nearly identicle (though slightly better)performance as the 7mm WSM, but ammo can be bought at any sporting goods store in many more loadings for a lot less money. So, that said, unless you feel the need for Ultra mag performance, I would go with the tried-and-true 7mm Rem. Mag.

    Liberal compassion inhibits progress.........think Republican and prosper!
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  • THINMAN
    THE ADVANTAGE'S ARE BETTER HANDLING , LIGHTER , SHORTER [BARREL & ACTION ] , HIGHER VELOCITY , FLATER TRAJECTORY , & MORE ENERGY .
    AMMO IS NOT EXPENSIVE $22.00 UP AT MY SHOP . BTW , WHO NEEDS MORE THAN 4 SHOTS [ 1 WSM WILL DO THE TRICK ] ?? http://www.shortmags.org

    THINMAN
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  • ern98
    Short actions are touted to be stiffer and thus more accurate then standard and magnum length actions. The Ultra Mags and standard mags all want 26" barrel and between the two add up to a somewhat heavier overall rifle weight. I expect in a not to distant future the RUMs will be left to the wildcatters and the WSMs will still be going strong. Still for practical hunting I don't own a 7mmMag of any type. I get all I need out of my 21" 7x57mauser and 24" 280rem.
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  • Hunter375
    quote:Originally posted by THINMAN
    THE ADVANTAGE'S ARE BETTER HANDLING , LIGHTER , SHORTER [BARREL & ACTION ] , HIGHER VELOCITY , FLATER TRAJECTORY , & MORE ENERGY .
    AMMO IS NOT EXPENSIVE $22.00 UP AT MY SHOP . BTW , WHO NEEDS MORE THAN 4 SHOTS [ 1 WSM WILL DO THE TRICK ] ?? http://www.shortmags.org

    THINMAN

    Sounds like a Winchester advertisement, almost verbatim. But let's break this down, shall we?

    Better handling: Don't you think that depends more on the gun than the chambering? I mean, we are talking short action, not carbine. Carbines are a whole different animal.

    Lighter: Most of the short mag rifles have a short action and 22" or 24" barrel. Most standard magnums are standard action with a 24" barrel. The Ultra mags have a magnum action and 26" barrel. On the outside, the weight difference createed by 4" of barrel and 3/4" of action is less than a half pound. Closer to 4 or 5 ounces when talking 7mm Rem. Mag vs. 7mm WSM.

    Shorter: again, without going guide gun or carbine, the maximum length difference will be 4-3/4". In most cases, it will be only 3/8" or 2-3/8" with 22" vs. 24" barrel.

    Higher velocity, flatter trajectory and more energy: Compared to what? Let's just look at the 7mm family. All tested with a 24" barrel(26" for 7mm STW & 7mm RUM), and factory loaded 160 grain spitzers.

    Cartridge.......................MV..................ME
    .280 Remington................2840................2866
    7mm Rem. Mag..................2980................3155
    7mm WSM......................2915................3020
    7mm STW.......................3250................3750
    7mm RUM.......................3200................3637

    Now, we all know that handloading can raise the bar. But, like the 7mm STW, the 7m WSM has little flexibility because the listed winchester factory load is already at 61,700 PSI. SAAMI maximum is 65,000 PSI.

    Cost: A box of Winchester CXP3 failsafe in 7mm WSM is $32.99 at walmart. A box of Remington Premium Accubond 7mm Rem Mag is $17.99.

    And as to "who needs more shots?" maybe you if you tumble down a mountain and loose you pack and you are stuck over night. But that was the least of my points.

    That said, my father in law commented that the Browning A-bolt he has in 7mm WSM would have been in 7mm Rem Mag if he had not gotten such a smokin' deal ($650 for the gun w/3-9x40mm Nikon Buckmaster, brand new)because ammo is cheaper and more abundent. On a side note, his wood-stocked A-Bolt II (without B.O.S.S.)is only 6 ounces lighter than my Synthetic Remington 700 in .375 Ultra Mag.(his is much more pleasant to shoot, however.)


    Liberal compassion inhibits progress.........think Republican and prosper!
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