What would be the better gun for 200-400 yard shots on deer 300 win mag or 7 mag ? The 300 has a Nikon prostaff 5 3-9x14 and the 7 mag has a leupold vx 2 3-9x50

At that range there is t going to be a bit of difference as far as killing. Pick which one you like

I have both. The 7 is a WBY. Deer wont know the difference.

The 300 is better because it's 293 more

7 mag , less recoil , ammo is cheaper.

They'll both kill deer @ 400 yards. The 300 can tote a heavier bullet therefore having more down range energy.

For that purpose the 7MM for the lesser recoil would get my vote.

The one that is most accurate.

Check this out ...

Head to Head: 7mm Rem. Mag. vs. .300 Win. Mag.

Depend on the rifle but on my two Remington 700's the .300 Win. Mag. has less felt recoil and both same weight, same scope, and stock. As for ammo have found the .300 Win. Mag. cheaper and plently of it most places, shooting 180 gr. core-loc in the .300 Win Mag.

The Win Mag delivers more energy down range and will drop most any deer in its tracks if you do your part. The Rem Mag isn’t very far behind and will drop deer in its tracks if you do your part. I’ve had both and killed many deer with each, i now own a 7 Rem mag and shoot 120 ttsx, kills like lightning. The Rem mag has less recoil and will do the job. The win mag has more recoil and more energy and will do the job, ammo is usually a little more too.

Guess it depends on what you already own. If I had a .308 or 3006 I certainly wouldn't buy a 300 Winchester. Personally I'd Probably get a 340 Weatherby or 375 Holland and Holland to have something bigger in that case. I absolutely love my 7mm Weatherby magnum shooting Weatherby ammunition because the combination puts deer down with proper shot placement. Only way the Weatherby makes sense is using the Weatherby ammunition. Ammo is expensive though so for deer I could see going with the Remington chambering instead of Weatherby. In the end it's all about bullet placement as I've seen folks shoot deer in the wrong place with a 7 mag and not drop it in its tracks.

I have a Leupold vx2 4-12 x50 and it's a great scope. No experience with the Nikon.

I have a 338WM, 300RUM, 300WM and 7MAG. The 7 gets the most use by far. Pushing some pretty hot handloads and it’s still a light shooting gun.

You can drop a deer in it's tracks with a 308 at 400 yards. Just find an accurate gun you can shoot well. A deer will not know the difference between a 7mm RM and a 300 WM at any range if you put a good bullet in the boiler room.

I'l take a 7Mag because, well, just because.

The 7 mag is a browning a bolt 2 and the 300 is a Charles daily with a Mauser action

Get the Browning.

I have used both. No real difference. Both will do the job.

Browning quality has suffered lately in my opinion this is coming from a former die hard browning fan

Well, you couldn't go wrong with either one. Consider this, if you go out west one day the 300 will be slightly more effective on larger game. And I've seen more sporting good stores stock the 300 ammo when they didn't on the 7mag. I'd go w/ the 300.

I’ve owned both. Prefer the 300.

Both are over kill for deer out to 400 yards. I’d choose a rifle caliber independent of the scope currently mounted on the rifle.

300 win mag if it works for the military it'll work for me

How much deader than dead can you get?

I ain't never saw too dead but I have seen not dead enough lol

Surprise the 6.5 crowd ain't hijacked this thread yet

.264WM is the only 6.5 worth looking at, al the others are just wannabes.

My 7mm does this with 162 grain Hornady ELD-X over 58.6 grain IMR4831. 10.5 mm = .413 inch center to center at 100 yards. So 7mm for me!

I hunted with a 7mm for years and a couple years I bought a Browning 300wsm and I just love that gun. As far as killing deer they both work good. The 300 wsm shooting a 165 grain bullet is deadly and does not destroy the deer as some folks claim.

I’m a 7mm guy and to honest both are probably a little overkill for whitetail in Alabama. Anyway......as long as you are comfortable at shooting those distances and have decent optics that yardage is a chip shot for either rifle.

I'll ask it again on this thread - how much deader than dead can you get?

Maybe I should ask, what is just the right amount of dead without overkilling the deer?

Of the two, I prefer the 7 in the lighter bullets. Need to use a well bonded bullet with it. A 7mag with lighter weight soft points will fragment due to the speed.

I like Hornady's 154s

Good read!

My wife shoots a 7mag and it does great. If you really are using it for what you said, then just buy the rifle that feels and shoots better. You won't notice a difference in the rounds. If you ever want to hint out west and shoot extra big things then buy the 300 for "just in case" you want a 200+g bullet one day.

The sebummag builds energy way out there.

You need dead dead... any more than that and you’ll go to cald... that’s to far

The xtra big things out here get killed with less. I'm a 7mag guy personally. My Grandfather gave me a Rem 7mm mag when I was 13 years old and I've seen no reason to go bigger. I've killed everything from deer to my Kodiak brown bear with it. I will say after putting my 7mag bullet nest to a 45-70 I had a few bad thoughts lol

To answer the question directly.....I’d say which ever you like best. Best feel, best accuracy, cheapest ammo, lowest recoil. What are you looking for out of a 200-400 gun. Are you toting it or sitting? If it’s two very particular guns (as I think you have specified ) you need to shoot both and take your pick.
Last year I almost bought a Browning Xbolt 300wsm. Thought I’d love it. I shot it before buying and it kicked like a pissed off mule. I let the guy keep it. And I really like Browning rifles. And it was going to be cheap. So at that range get what’s comfortable for your needs and situation.

257 Roy

I've had 2 Winchester M70 300WM and have shot a Browning 7RM several times. I sent both the Winchesters down the road. The Browning is an A bolt 2 and is a sweet shooting gun. Personally my next magnum will most likely be a 300 Wby or a 300 Ultra mag. Might as well push as fast as you can, it hurts on both ends either way.

If you can tolerate the 300’s recoil - and can honestly shoot it well with the recoil - probably get the 300. If you’d shoot more accurately with less recoil, get the 7mag.

As a processor my first recommendation would be learn to put it where it needs to be at that range. Glass and knowledge over caliber. There are plenary of effective rounds at that range but if you’re gonna send it know where it’s going to land. I sold my 300 because it makes too big of a hole for my taste.

Finally a man thats honest. If you want a little deer meat, dont blow it up with a cannon.

I never understood why guys use a tank and cant see more than a few hundred yards.

Deer dont know the difference. Pick the one that you can actually hit the deer with at 400 yards and go hunting. By the way, the longest kill shot I ever saw in Al. was made with a 220 Swift. (Over 600 yards)

Do you handload? I find it easier to create a GOOD 7mm recipe vs 300wm. Not sure why but I have loaded for both calibers in several different makes. The 7mm is always easier, to me.

.270 Win...Cmon man, That's Whitetail Lightnin.