You can't beat the 7mm mag. Very good knockdown power, flat shooting. My dad has been hunting elk with his Ruger since 1970 shooting 19 elk, and 4 deer. We use handloads, Sierra 170gr Round Nose, with 63 1/2 gr. of 4831. Where we hunt there are few place for really long shots, this combo puts meat on the pole. Dad did take one elk at 500 yds with his 7. I also shoot a Ruger M77 stainless synthetic stock, but this year I bought a laminated thumbhole wood stock. I really like the new stock, very comfortable.