In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Options
.30-06 vs 7mm Rem Mag
samadam165
Member Posts: 41 ✭✭
I'm torn between the two calibers. I live in AZ and would be hunting ELK and Mulies mostly. I need some of your opinions about the two calibers. I really like the Savage Accu-Trigger models. This will be the only big game rifle I will buy.
Thanx,
Sam
Thanx,
Sam
Comments
Be prepared for a lot of opinions about calibers and rifles.
I think the Savage is about the best buy for right out of the box.
I will say first, for what you want, you wouldn't go wrong with either. The 7mm Rem Mag will provide flatter shooting if you prefer to shoot that way. The 30-06 will allow you to move up to a heavier bullet if getting more energy on the target is what you want.
For the best comparison I can use a 7mm will push a 150 gr. bullet to 3000fps (3100 loaded hot) and the bullet has better ballistics than the 30-06 which will push a 150 gr. bullet to 2900 (2950 is hot). However, the 7mm caps out at 175gr. bullets. and the 30-06 will go all they way up to 240gr.
Ammunition is found everywhere for both. -Good luck
We have the second amendment so that all the rest are secure....UNK>
samadam165,
Be prepared for a lot of opinions about calibers and rifles.
I think the Savage is about the best buy for right out of the box.
I will say first, for what you want, you wouldn't go wrong with either. The 7mm Rem Mag will provide flatter shooting if you prefer to shoot that way. The 30-06 will allow you to move up to a heavier bullet if getting more energy on the target is what you want.
For the best comparison I can use a 7mm will push a 150 gr. bullet to 3000fps (3100 loaded hot) and the bullet has better ballistics than the 30-06 which will push a 150 gr. bullet to 2900 (2950 is hot). However, the 7mm caps out at 175gr. bullets. and the 30-06 will go all they way up to 240gr.
Ammunition is found everywhere for both. -Good luck
We have the second amendment so that all the rest are secure....UNK>
Since when is a 7mm Mag 150 grain load @3100 fps considered hot[?][?]. I shoot 160 grain SPBTs in my Model 700 BDL @3250 fps, and that is not what I would exactly call "hot". My old reloading manuals show loads for a 150 gr. 7mm Mag clear up to 3350 fps.
In answer to the original question, the 7mm Mag cartridge will do everything that the 30-06 will do... but just a wee bit better. I hunt elk with a 7mm Mag 160 gr. load, and I hunt deer with a 150 gr. load 30-06. In a pinch, I would not hesitate to use either rifle for deer or elk sized game... as bullet placement is the real key to clean kills.
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!
Personally I am a .30-06 man, and here is why.
-Has been what I have always used.
-I like the huge selection of bullet weights to choose from. You can select lighter ones for coyote or heavy ones for deer or elk.
-I know that if something happens, and I forget ammo on the hunt of a lifetime, I can walk in any store that sells ammo, and there will have a decent selection of .30-06. Granted the 7mm is very popular as well, but I think that it can be harder to find sometimes.
-Factory ammo is a little more expensive, and like it was pointed out earlier, will be a little more expensive if you reload.
-I also collect and like to shoot 1903 Springfields and M1 Garands. I like being able to shoot the same ammo in these that I do in my hunting rifle. You just have to be carful not to shoot too heavy of a bullet in the M1, but that is another issue.
I like the 7mm because for most any range out to about 500 yards the drop is close enough not to need a hold over and stay in a clean kill zone. I have a Win 70 with a little more barrel and use the Hornady Hevi-Mags with 139 grain pills. I think the numbers I'm seeing here are a little conservative compared to my chrony. A whitail thru the shoulder (not behind) is dead on impact.
Ted Kennedy's car has killed more people than my gun.
Worth looking at IMHO...
Liberty Bells Life Member
http://www.libertybelles.org
Psalm 109:8