The 300 Weatherby Magnum and the 7mm Remington Magnum are two cartridges that are used for long range shooting and hunting. However, these two rounds have their are unique in their own manner and have different qualities. So in this article, we look at both of these cartridges to see which is better and why.
Here is the short answer:
The 300 Weatherby Magnum has a larger bullet and more energy, making it better suited for larger game at longer distances. The 7mm Remington Magnum is a flatter-shooting cartridge, making it ideal for medium-sized game at shorter ranges.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, and see how both cartridges compare in-depth.
In-depth Look at the 300 Weatherby Magnum
The 300 Weatherby Magnum is a powerful cartridge that was introduced in 1944 by Roy Weatherby. It features a .308-inch bullet diameter and a case length of 2.825 inches, with a bullet weight range of 150-220 grains. This is a large cartridge with a lot of energy and good versatility due to its wide range of bullet weights.
With a muzzle velocity of 3,200 fps and a muzzle energy of 4,023 ft-lbs, the 300 Weatherby Magnum can easily take down large game such as elk, moose, and bears at extended ranges. However, its powerful recoil can be a drawback for some shooters, making it less than ideal for target shooting or smaller shooters.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 300 Weatherby Magnum with a 180-grain soft point:
| Range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 3100 | 3841 |
| 50 | -0.3 | 0.1 | 3002 | 3600 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.5 | 2905 | 3373 |
| 150 | -0.8 | 1.2 | 2811 | 3158 |
| 200 | -2.6 | 2.3 | 2719 | 2955 |
| 250 | -5.7 | 3.7 | 2629 | 2762 |
| 300 | -10 | 5.4 | 2540 | 2579 |
| 350 | -15.6 | 7.4 | 2453 | 2406 |
| 400 | -22.6 | 9.8 | 2368 | 2242 |
| 450 | -31.3 | 12.7 | 2285 | 2087 |
| 500 | -41.7 | 16 | 2203 | 1940 |
In-depth Look at the 7mm Remington Magnum
The 7mm Remington Magnum is a popular cartridge among hunters and long-range shooters. It was introduced in 1962 and is based on the 375 H&H Magnum case necked down to accept a .284 (7mm) caliber bullet. Due to the smaller bullet with a high BC, the 7mm Rem Mag has a flatter trajectory and better energy retention than most other cartridges that use a bigger bullet.
The 7mm Remington Magnum is known for its flat trajectory, long-range capabilities, and still manageable recoil. The 7mm Remington Magnum is ideal for medium to large game such as deer, antelope, and elk. The downside to the 7mm Rem Mag is that it does have a higher price tag due to its size.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 7mm Remington Magnum with a 175-grain soft point:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 2860 | 3178 |
| 50 | -0.2 | 0.2 | 2752 | 2942 |
| 100 | 0 | 0.8 | 2646 | 2720 |
| 150 | -1.1 | 1.7 | 2542 | 2512 |
| 200 | -3.5 | 3 | 2441 | 2316 |
| 250 | -7.3 | 4.8 | 2343 | 2132 |
| 300 | -12.8 | 7.2 | 2246 | 1961 |
| 350 | -20 | 10 | 2152 | 1800 |
| 400 | -29 | 13.3 | 2060 | 1649 |
| 450 | -40.1 | 17.1 | 1970 | 1508 |
| 500 | -53.2 | 21.4 | 1882 | 1377 |
In-depth Comparison
Both cartridges have their strengths and weaknesses, which make them better suited for specific hunting scenarios. The 300 Weatherby Magnum has a larger bullet and more energy, making it better suited for larger game at longer distances. However, the cartridge’s powerful recoil can make it less than ideal for target shooting or smaller shooters.
On the other hand, the 7mm Remington Magnum is a flatter-shooting cartridge, making it ideal for medium-sized game at shorter ranges. However, the 7mm Rem Mag is more popular and has more information available on its load data and which loads are best for which tasks.
Conclusion
The 300 Weatherby Magnum is ideal for larger game at longer distances due to its power. The 7mm Remington Magnum is better suited for medium-sized game at shorter ranges or for those who want a round that is easy to handload.