30-.06 vs 7mm and 7mm mag

snipe2

What's the advantages or disadvantages of the 7mm over the .06. Thanks.

Bert H.

The advantage is that the ballistic coefficient of the 7mm (.284) bullet is better for identical weight bullets than the 30-60 (.308) bullet. As such, it has a slightly better inherent accuracy, as it will fly true for greater distances.

The disadvantage to the 7mm versus the 30-06 is the availablity of the number of different bullet weights available. The 7mm tops out at 175-grains, whereas the 30-06 can handle bullet weights up to 220-grains.

My nickel's worth[:)]

45er

Howdy Snipe,

I take it you mean 7mm Mauser & 7mm-Remington Mag??

7mm... lighter recoil, else the 30-06 & 7mm-mag out perform in all aspects. Rarer in the states, so unless you reload, will be more costly.

30-06 can be handloaded down to, I think, around 100gr. bullet,just to give spectrum of it's wide adaptiblity with Burt H's high end. Less expensive over the counter than either 7mm's. Absolutely one of the best all around cartidges ever as over 100 years attest to.

Factory load for 7mm-mag are start at around 130gr.

45er

BoltactionMan

Bullet selection favors the 30-06, ballistic coefficients favor the 7 mms. On game, not much difference using same weight bullets.

Just my opinion.

KC

Mobuck

I've used both the 30/06 and 7mm Rem Mag to hunt animals from coyotes to elk. Recoil is similar with most loads and the 7 RM shoots flatter than the 06 with similar sectional density bullets. The 7 mmRM will extend the no holdover range by 30-50 yards over the 30/06 and put slightly more foot pounds of energy on target. If your other comparison was with the 7x57 Mauser, that's in a slightly different league although not strictly out of play. I've used the 7x57 to kill many deer and never found it wanting while getting kicked quite a bit less than either of the other rounds listed. With certain bullets and handloaded in a strong rifle the 7x57 is certainly adequate for elk within 300 yards. There's a lot of dead game all over the world in the last 115 years that certifies the 7x57 as a fine hunting round.

5mmgunguy

Wasn't there a big game hunter that killed hundreds of elephants with the 7MM Mauser?

Bergtreffer

5mmgunguy -- When I was on safari in Zimbabwe in year 2000, my professional hunter/guide told me that his father killed an elephant with the very 7mm (7 X 57) Mauser that he himself was then carrying. It was a nice looking Mauser, and appeared to be a standard military version. I have no idea if that is the person you referred to, but in the instance that my PH told me about, the 7 X 57 did indeed take down an elephant. I remember reading perhaps 30 or 40 years ago about a professional person who culled elphants, that he used a .22 long rifle to take down elephants. In that case, I believe that he shot the elephants either in the ear canal or just behind the ear.

swearengine

quote:Originally posted by 5mmgunguy
Wasn't there a big game hunter that killed hundreds of elephants with the 7MM Mauser?



W. D. Karamojo Bell

It was referred to as a 275 Rigby

5mmgunguy

Yes Bell was his name.

huntsman53

quote:Originally posted by Bert H.
The advantage is that the ballistic coefficient of the 7mm (.284) bullet is better for identical weight bullets than the 30-60 (.308) bullet. As such, it has a slightly better inherent accuracy, as it will fly true for greater distances.

The disadvantage to the 7mm versus the 30-06 is the availablity of the number of different bullet weights available. The 7mm tops out at 175-grains, whereas the 30-06 can handle bullet weights up to 220-grains.

My nickel's worth[:)]


I grant you that there are less available Factory loads for the 7mm Rem. Mag. compared to the .30-06 but I see no disadvantage in what is available! Use the Remington 140 grain Core-Lokt PSP's for Whitetail...Black Bear and Wild Boar, the 150 or 160 grain Core-Lokt PSP's for Mule Deer & for Black Bear & Wild Boar if you want a little more insurance and the 175 grain Core-Lokt PSP's for Elk...Moose and most Grizzlies. There are also a fair variety of different loads from Federal, Winchester, Hornady and I think Norma. Whether you use a 7mm Rem. Mag or a .30-06, just keep in mind, that with increased bullet weight, comes increased punishment from the recoil! Now if you shoot the 7mm Re. Mag. and are only going to be shooting Ground Hogs or Prairie Dogs and Coyote, then you will have to load your own ammo with the appropriate bullet for what you are going to be shooting! Bullets from the top producers range from 110 grains with many increasing in increments of 5 to 10 grains all the way up to 175 grains (i.e. 115 grains, 120 grains, 130 grains, 140 grains, etc., etc.) but there are some that vary from that such as the 139 grain and 154 grain Hornady bullets.

jonk

I think it has been pretty well covered by the previous responses, in that for any North American game except the heaviest and meanest (like brown bears) any of the three are fine. One thought though to add here is that in terms of ballistics, to really utilize the 7mm mag to its full potential, you need a full length rifle barrel. Shorter barrels and carbines will mean you get all the penalties of the round with no benefit- ballistics will be no better than a .270 Winchester.

Another thing I would add is that the magnum will tend to have shorter brass and barrel life when loaded to full potential. Maybe not as much as some of the really short magnums, but if you plan on using it to target shoot as well as hunt, it's something to consider.

Also worth considering is not only selection of bullets but cost. Factory 7mm and 7mm Mag ammo is going to be more expensive, as will reloading components.

I suppose the end answer is your intended use. All are fine for big game and the range alike, I'd personally take the 06 due to its versatility. I've shot everything from 60 gr .32 ACP bullets through monster 250 gr cast lead through my 06; it's hard to get something that is utterly useless as it is a very forgiving cartridge. I can't say the same for the other 2.