7mm vs 30-06 - Page 5

TheNatureBoy · September 3, 2008, 04:01 PM

Close your eyes and point. Either of them will do you good.

HiBC · September 4, 2008, 02:38 AM

I would boil it down to barrel length and what sort of shots you intend to take.
If you go with a barrel much less than 26",you compromise the 7 Mag.It needs a long runway.The '06 or a .280 will be right with it.I had a 23 in Husky 7 mag.It didn't make much sense.

If you do not plan to shoot at ranges longer than 300 yds,the magnum is unnecessary.
IMO.for many situations,the 22" 30-06 is the more practical choice,But,
If you are playing with over 350 yd shots and carrying a 26 " barrel,the 7mag has a payoff.Is that going to be what you do?
To disagree with an earlier statement,I think the 30-06 is NOT overbore.In a bolt gun,with common powders,100% loading density is practical and safe.The 30-06 is a sweet spot in bore/case ratio.The 7 mag is moderately overbore,the majority of loads not exceeding 80% loading density.
I will concede in loads meant for gas guns,using quicker powders,the '06 may not have full loading density.(80% with 4895)

Unless you are pretty technical in handloading,the '06 will get more loads per case,and will use less powder,your barrel will last longer,premium bullets are less necessary,its not as loud,it will metal foul less,and the rifle holds one more.Usualy, a 7 mag comes with a #4 barrel,and a 30-06 a #3. Lighter.

Firepower! · September 4, 2008, 05:55 AM

Well it goes like this:

Anything 30.06 can do, 7mm Rem. Mag. can do better, and anything 7mm Rem. Mag. can do, 300 Win. Mag. can do better.

Art Eatman · September 4, 2008, 08:42 AM

HiBC, if I didn't say "slightly" overbore, I should have. What's been discovered with the advent of the .308 is that those case dimensions are more efficient in terms of velocity vs. powder weight. From the standpoint of percentage velocity and percentage powder weights, the .308 is somewhat of a standard. The '06 would be slightly overbore, and the .300 WinMag and up are definitely overbore. As a generality, this leads into the needs regarding barrel lengths for best performance.

Bambi usually doesn't care.

Firepower!, it seems to me that "better" depends on the opinions of the person. If, as example, I can reliably get a one-shot kill out around 400 or more yards--and I have--with my '06, isn't the lesser recoil better than if I had done the same with a .300 WinMag? A flatter trajectory is not necessarily the sole criterion of "better".

Boston T. Party · December 28, 2008, 03:18 PM

For me, the .30-06, since I hunt Africa often.

Within a sportsmanslike range of <300yds, the slightly
flatter shooting 7mm Rem has no advantage.

200gr for Africa/Canada, and 180gr for USA.

The "aught six" rules!

Boston

http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/sto...ari%20dreams&s

jckeffer · December 28, 2008, 04:10 PM

Beyond 400 yrs it's much more the shooter than the rifle. The late, great Marine sniper Carlos Hatchcock had a verified kill at 1200 yards with... - you guesed it, a 30.06. You'll alway find someone at hunting camp with an '06, alway find a variety of ammunition to fit the occasion. It definitely has the most flexibility in reloading options. From 55gr sabot to 220gr round nose.

sserdlihc · December 28, 2008, 04:23 PM

I have a 308, 30-06, and 7mm mag. My 308 is in a BAR, 30-06 is in a Sako, and the 7mm mag is a Ruger mk 2. I love all three. They each have their own characteristics, good and bad. I enjoy shooting my 06 due to the fact that it has a wood stock. My ruger has a synthetic stock and whips my tail when I shoot it. I don't shoot my 308 as much due to the fact I loan it to my best friend to hunt with.
At first, I tried to loan the 7mm mag to my friend. He gave it back. Said it hurt too much when he shot it!!
If I did it all over again i would not have gotten the synthetic stock on the Ruger. But that is just me.

zahnzieh · December 28, 2008, 08:13 PM

With the 7mm you had best reload your own, too pricey for factory ammo!

DiscoRacing · December 28, 2008, 08:17 PM

i have one of each but prefer the .06 myself just for the wider range of weight and style of bullets since i reload

RocketRider · December 28, 2008, 10:27 PM

What About The 7mm Ultra Mag?

Daryl · December 29, 2008, 02:37 PM

This is one of those comparisons that in the end is mostly a matter of preference. Either choice will do about the same job, as long as the shooter takes the time to learn the trajectory, capabilities, and limitations of the cartridge and load chosen.

I use a 7mm Rem Mag. I don't care much about bullet choices, because I already know what I'm going to use. I load 145 grain bullets, either Speer Grand Slams or Speer SPBT's, and use them for anything from coues deer and antelope to elk and buffalo. They do a great job on any of them, and some other critters as well.

The right bullet in a 30-06 will do just as well; you just have to know your rifle and cartridge, and what it's capabilities and limitations are..

Daryl

Para Bellum · January 3, 2009, 06:02 AM

Here's good info on your quest (I'd go for 7mm):

http://www.rifleshootermag.com/ammunition/seven_092105/

Firepower! · January 3, 2009, 07:20 AM

7mm Mag is better, but lighter. However, more variety in bullets is available in 30-06.

texfar · January 3, 2009, 08:21 AM

I bought a 7mm Rem Mag second hand in an old 700 Classic years ago and fell in love with it. It was my rifle of choice because I liked it and it was unbelievable accurate. Hey, I liked it and nothing I shot at walked away. That is all I needed or cared about. Two years ago, The throat was gone, no longer fun to clean so I put a Rock Creek 26" barrel, with all the custom accuracy receiver tricks and chambered it 7mm STW. I hand load and really don't care much what it cost me so forget about bucks to shoot it. Yes there are accurate cals out there, but I wanted another 7mm and not an ultra. I guess simply put is the STW is a 7mm Rem Mag on steroids. My smith's quote. anyway, it is the most accurate rifle currently in my crib. Recoil...I shoot a .300 Ultra Mag and don't flinch. Never been a factor for me. I know it is there and live with it. My opinion is buy what you want and be happy with it. Do I need this blaster to shoot Texas white tail. No, but it is so accurate I could care less. I built it and am gonna kill something with it pure and simple. Quoted several time "overkill"? Dead is dead. Honestly, when I started all this gun stuff many years ago, everyone had a 30-06 and I kinda wanted to be different. My choice. The only 30-06 in my crib is a Garand which I dearly love, but everything else is different. I might try let folks know the advantages or disadvantages of different cals, but the choice is theirs and that is OK by me. I don't get into arguments much on personal choices. As stated, flip a coin and go for it. You won't go wrong with either in my opinion.
Rant over.
Ken

Para Bellum · January 3, 2009, 05:13 PM

Why not a .270 WSM. That case form bears higher accuracy.

Daryl · January 3, 2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Why not a .270 WSM. That case form bears higher accuracy.

'Cause that's not what he asked about.

Daryl

ZeroJunk · January 3, 2009, 05:59 PM

The 7MM Rem Mag is one of the best all around cartridges. I have had a couple over the years but didn't keep them for one reason or the other. But, I think I will put one together to hunt with next year. I have decided to fall in love with the .284 160 grain bullets, for the moment anyway.

azsixshooter · January 3, 2009, 06:41 PM

Why not go for the best of both worlds? .280 Remington. In fact, the .280 Ackley Improved is supposed to be very close to the 7mm Rem Mag's ballistics but with the long case life of the '06 case, longer barrel life, less powder and less recoil. If I could find/afford one of those Nosler Custom Rifles in .280 AI I'd take that in a heartbeat.

.280 Rem/.280 AI aside, I would go for the .30-06. It is the smart choice all-around.

But like the man said earlier in this thread: If you want more recoil, more weight to carry in the field, a longer barrel to hang up on brush, shorter case life, shorter barrel life, more muzzle blast and flash for slightly better ballistics that probably don't make any practical difference for hunting North America then the 7mm Rem Mag could just be the gun for you!

WhiteWolf4 · January 3, 2009, 07:03 PM

It all comes down to personal preference....Buy the one you want the most....WhiteWolf

ZeroJunk · January 3, 2009, 07:49 PM

You can push a 160 grain Nosler Partition 3100 FPS form a 7 Rem Mag with a 24 inch barrel. You can push a .308 165 grain Nosler Partition 3000 FPS from a 24 inch barrel in a 30/06. At least using manual data which usually comes up short on my chronograph. But, anyway that would give you 17.7 inches drop at 400 yards as opposed to 20 .2 for the 30/06 with a corresponding difference in energy of 1931 to 1677 foot pounds. If you don't want a 26 inch barrel, saw the sucker off.

Daryl · January 3, 2009, 08:23 PM

The Remington 700's used to come with a 24" barrel on the magnums, and a 22" barrel on the standard.

My 7mm mag has a 26" barrel, and I've never found it to be a problem.

I can tell you though...

Quote:

But like the man said earlier in this thread: If you want more recoil, more weight to carry in the field, a longer barrel to hang up on brush, shorter case life, shorter barrel life, more muzzle blast and flash for slightly better ballistics that probably don't make any practical difference for hunting North America then the 7mm Rem Mag could just be the gun for you!

Except for the shorter case life, that's a bunch of hogwash to try to sway someone else's choice.

The 7mm Rem Mag is an excellent cartridge for North American big game. So is the 30-06. I've killed lots and lots of big game animals with my 7mm mag, and I'm quite sure I would have killed them just as dead with an '06.

I stand 5'7", and weigh 140 lbs. I've never found my 7mm mag to be too long, too heavy, or to recoil too much. I've never found the muzzle blast to be excessive (and since I don't hunt big game at night, muzzle flash isn't an issue), and I've been using the original barrel for almost 20 years now (and I do quite a bit of hunting). It still touches bullets at 100 yards, so I'm pretty sure the barrel's still good.

I would expect no less from the same rifle chambered in 30-06.

You just need to learn the characteristics of the cartridge you choose, and use it accordingly.

eezridr · January 3, 2009, 10:01 PM

I have found the recent Federal HE loading for the 06 using 180 gr Nosler Partitions an outstanding load in my old Sako. It actually Chronos at 2900 FPS out of my rifle and will shoot into an inch or under at 100 yards.
That is hard to beat and I have never been able to achieve those results at my loading bench.
You 06 guys should give them a try. That is the beginning of 300 Mag territory with excellent accuracy.

Para Bellum · January 5, 2009, 04:19 AM

Quote:

'Cause that's not what he asked about

But maybe he can use the suggestion anyway...

YODA308 · April 8, 2009, 01:50 AM

maybe a little off topic but i dont believe that a shot past 350 or 400 yds to be ethical (for me)so i will stick with my 308 win.150 grain ballistic tips for deer and 180 grain partitions for elk. as i am familiar enough with the ballistics of either bullet to hit what i shoot at out to 400. i am talking about real practice at these ranges not just looking at a ballistics chart and applying theoretical bullet drop numbers.YOU MUST PRACTICE IN REAL SPACE NOT CYBER SPACE !

hardhit · April 8, 2009, 02:37 AM

Deer and Possibly Elk

I would be inclined to go 3006 using 150 grain for deer,

If you get a chance at an elk you can load 180 or 200 grain Partition or accubond,

A well placed shot in the boiler room will anker any elk on the spot with the 3006, at sane shooting distances.

Your slightly governed by the 175 gr as your max bullet in the 7mm rem mag no problem on deer and ,

very capable of getten the job done on Elk but the,

06 work for me.

December 28, 2008, 04:23 PM	#107
sserdlihc Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2008 Location: S.C. Posts: 1,454	I have a 308, 30-06, and 7mm mag. My 308 is in a BAR, 30-06 is in a Sako, and the 7mm mag is a Ruger mk 2. I love all three. They each have their own characteristics, good and bad. I enjoy shooting my 06 due to the fact that it has a wood stock. My ruger has a synthetic stock and whips my tail when I shoot it. I don't shoot my 308 as much due to the fact I loan it to my best friend to hunt with. At first, I tried to loan the 7mm mag to my friend. He gave it back. Said it hurt too much when he shot it!! If I did it all over again i would not have gotten the synthetic stock on the Ruger. But that is just me. __________________ Familiarity breeds contempt, while rarity wins admiration. Aupleius If someone doesn't like you, that's their problem! Milton Childress

December 28, 2008, 10:27 PM	#110
RocketRider Member Join Date: December 6, 2008 Location: Sugar Valley, GA. Posts: 36	What About The 7mm Ultra Mag? __________________ Shhhh,,,,,,Do you hear that?,,,,,,,,,,,,,Join The NRA

January 3, 2009, 06:02 AM	#112
Para Bellum Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2005 Location: right there Posts: 1,882	Here's good info on your quest Here's good info on your quest (I'd go for 7mm): http://www.rifleshootermag.com/ammunition/seven_092105/ __________________ Si vis pacem - para bellum If you want peace - prepare for war

January 3, 2009, 07:20 AM	#113
Firepower! Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2008 Posts: 2,109	7mm Remington Magnum 7mm Mag is better, but lighter. However, more variety in bullets is available in 30-06.

January 3, 2009, 05:13 PM	#115
Para Bellum Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2005 Location: right there Posts: 1,882	.270 Wsm Why not a .270 WSM. That case form bears higher accuracy. __________________ Si vis pacem - para bellum If you want peace - prepare for war

September 3, 2008, 04:01 PM	#101
TheNatureBoy Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2007 Posts: 1,204	Close your eyes and point. Either of them will do you good.

September 4, 2008, 02:38 AM	#102
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,288	I would boil it down to barrel length and what sort of shots you intend to take. If you go with a barrel much less than 26",you compromise the 7 Mag.It needs a long runway.The '06 or a .280 will be right with it.I had a 23 in Husky 7 mag.It didn't make much sense. If you do not plan to shoot at ranges longer than 300 yds,the magnum is unnecessary. IMO.for many situations,the 22" 30-06 is the more practical choice,But, If you are playing with over 350 yd shots and carrying a 26 " barrel,the 7mag has a payoff.Is that going to be what you do? To disagree with an earlier statement,I think the 30-06 is NOT overbore.In a bolt gun,with common powders,100% loading density is practical and safe.The 30-06 is a sweet spot in bore/case ratio.The 7 mag is moderately overbore,the majority of loads not exceeding 80% loading density. I will concede in loads meant for gas guns,using quicker powders,the '06 may not have full loading density.(80% with 4895) Unless you are pretty technical in handloading,the '06 will get more loads per case,and will use less powder,your barrel will last longer,premium bullets are less necessary,its not as loud,it will metal foul less,and the rifle holds one more.Usualy, a 7 mag comes with a #4 barrel,and a 30-06 a #3. Lighter.

September 4, 2008, 05:55 AM	#103
Firepower! Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2008 Posts: 2,109	Well it goes like this: Anything 30.06 can do, 7mm Rem. Mag. can do better, and anything 7mm Rem. Mag. can do, 300 Win. Mag. can do better.

September 4, 2008, 08:42 AM	#104
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	HiBC, if I didn't say "slightly" overbore, I should have. What's been discovered with the advent of the .308 is that those case dimensions are more efficient in terms of velocity vs. powder weight. From the standpoint of percentage velocity and percentage powder weights, the .308 is somewhat of a standard. The '06 would be slightly overbore, and the .300 WinMag and up are definitely overbore. As a generality, this leads into the needs regarding barrel lengths for best performance. Bambi usually doesn't care. Firepower!, it seems to me that "better" depends on the opinions of the person. If, as example, I can reliably get a one-shot kill out around 400 or more yards--and I have--with my '06, isn't the lesser recoil better than if I had done the same with a .300 WinMag? A flatter trajectory is not necessarily the sole criterion of "better".

December 28, 2008, 03:18 PM	#105
Boston T. Party Member Join Date: December 28, 2008 Posts: 15	For me, the .30-06, since I hunt Africa often. Within a sportsmanslike range of <300yds, the slightly flatter shooting 7mm Rem has no advantage. 200gr for Africa/Canada, and 180gr for USA. The "aught six" rules! Boston http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/sto...ari%20dreams&s

December 28, 2008, 04:10 PM	#106
jckeffer Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2007 Posts: 185	Beyond 400 yrs it's much more the shooter than the rifle. The late, great Marine sniper Carlos Hatchcock had a verified kill at 1200 yards with... - you guesed it, a 30.06. You'll alway find someone at hunting camp with an '06, alway find a variety of ammunition to fit the occasion. It definitely has the most flexibility in reloading options. From 55gr sabot to 220gr round nose.

December 28, 2008, 08:13 PM	#108
zahnzieh Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2006 Posts: 206	With the 7mm you had best reload your own, too pricey for factory ammo!

December 28, 2008, 08:17 PM	#109
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	i have one of each but prefer the .06 myself just for the wider range of weight and style of bullets since i reload

December 29, 2008, 02:37 PM	#111
Daryl Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Posts: 2,350	This is one of those comparisons that in the end is mostly a matter of preference. Either choice will do about the same job, as long as the shooter takes the time to learn the trajectory, capabilities, and limitations of the cartridge and load chosen. I use a 7mm Rem Mag. I don't care much about bullet choices, because I already know what I'm going to use. I load 145 grain bullets, either Speer Grand Slams or Speer SPBT's, and use them for anything from coues deer and antelope to elk and buffalo. They do a great job on any of them, and some other critters as well. The right bullet in a 30-06 will do just as well; you just have to know your rifle and cartridge, and what it's capabilities and limitations are.. Daryl

January 3, 2009, 08:21 AM	#114
texfar Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 404	I bought a 7mm Rem Mag second hand in an old 700 Classic years ago and fell in love with it. It was my rifle of choice because I liked it and it was unbelievable accurate. Hey, I liked it and nothing I shot at walked away. That is all I needed or cared about. Two years ago, The throat was gone, no longer fun to clean so I put a Rock Creek 26" barrel, with all the custom accuracy receiver tricks and chambered it 7mm STW. I hand load and really don't care much what it cost me so forget about bucks to shoot it. Yes there are accurate cals out there, but I wanted another 7mm and not an ultra. I guess simply put is the STW is a 7mm Rem Mag on steroids. My smith's quote. anyway, it is the most accurate rifle currently in my crib. Recoil...I shoot a .300 Ultra Mag and don't flinch. Never been a factor for me. I know it is there and live with it. My opinion is buy what you want and be happy with it. Do I need this blaster to shoot Texas white tail. No, but it is so accurate I could care less. I built it and am gonna kill something with it pure and simple. Quoted several time "overkill"? Dead is dead. Honestly, when I started all this gun stuff many years ago, everyone had a 30-06 and I kinda wanted to be different. My choice. The only 30-06 in my crib is a Garand which I dearly love, but everything else is different. I might try let folks know the advantages or disadvantages of different cals, but the choice is theirs and that is OK by me. I don't get into arguments much on personal choices. As stated, flip a coin and go for it. You won't go wrong with either in my opinion. Rant over. Ken

January 3, 2009, 05:59 PM	#117
ZeroJunk Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2006 Location: Browns Summit NC Posts: 2,589	The 7MM Rem Mag is one of the best all around cartridges. I have had a couple over the years but didn't keep them for one reason or the other. But, I think I will put one together to hunt with next year. I have decided to fall in love with the .284 160 grain bullets, for the moment anyway.

January 3, 2009, 06:41 PM	#118
azsixshooter Senior Member Join Date: April 22, 2007 Location: Pinckney, MI Posts: 657	Why not go for the best of both worlds? .280 Remington. In fact, the .280 Ackley Improved is supposed to be very close to the 7mm Rem Mag's ballistics but with the long case life of the '06 case, longer barrel life, less powder and less recoil. If I could find/afford one of those Nosler Custom Rifles in .280 AI I'd take that in a heartbeat. .280 Rem/.280 AI aside, I would go for the .30-06. It is the smart choice all-around. But like the man said earlier in this thread: If you want more recoil, more weight to carry in the field, a longer barrel to hang up on brush, shorter case life, shorter barrel life, more muzzle blast and flash for slightly better ballistics that probably don't make any practical difference for hunting North America then the 7mm Rem Mag could just be the gun for you! __________________ "Which side are we on? We're on the side of the demons, Chief. We're evil men in the gardens of paradise, sent by the forces of death to spread devastation and destruction wherever we go. I'm surprised you didn't know that." --Saul Tigh http://sargesrollcall.blogspot.com/2...s-no-more.html

January 3, 2009, 07:03 PM	#119
WhiteWolf4 Junior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Posts: 1	It all comes down to personal preference....Buy the one you want the most....WhiteWolf

January 3, 2009, 07:49 PM	#120
ZeroJunk Senior Member Join Date: August 14, 2006 Location: Browns Summit NC Posts: 2,589	You can push a 160 grain Nosler Partition 3100 FPS form a 7 Rem Mag with a 24 inch barrel. You can push a .308 165 grain Nosler Partition 3000 FPS from a 24 inch barrel in a 30/06. At least using manual data which usually comes up short on my chronograph. But, anyway that would give you 17.7 inches drop at 400 yards as opposed to 20 .2 for the 30/06 with a corresponding difference in energy of 1931 to 1677 foot pounds. If you don't want a 26 inch barrel, saw the sucker off.

January 3, 2009, 10:01 PM	#122
eezridr Junior Member Join Date: January 1, 2009 Posts: 9	I have found the recent Federal HE loading for the 06 using 180 gr Nosler Partitions an outstanding load in my old Sako. It actually Chronos at 2900 FPS out of my rifle and will shoot into an inch or under at 100 yards. That is hard to beat and I have never been able to achieve those results at my loading bench. You 06 guys should give them a try. That is the beginning of 300 Mag territory with excellent accuracy.

April 8, 2009, 01:50 AM	#124
YODA308 Member Join Date: March 27, 2009 Location: PHOENIX/ARIZONA Posts: 39	maybe a little off topic but i dont believe that a shot past 350 or 400 yds to be ethical (for me)so i will stick with my 308 win.150 grain ballistic tips for deer and 180 grain partitions for elk. as i am familiar enough with the ballistics of either bullet to hit what i shoot at out to 400. i am talking about real practice at these ranges not just looking at a ballistics chart and applying theoretical bullet drop numbers.YOU MUST PRACTICE IN REAL SPACE NOT CYBER SPACE !

April 8, 2009, 02:37 AM	#125
hardhit Senior Member Join Date: August 18, 2008 Posts: 343	Deer and Possibly Elk I would be inclined to go 3006 using 150 grain for deer, If you get a chance at an elk you can load 180 or 200 grain Partition or accubond, A well placed shot in the boiler room will anker any elk on the spot with the 3006, at sane shooting distances. Your slightly governed by the 175 gr as your max bullet in the 7mm rem mag no problem on deer and , very capable of getten the job done on Elk but the, 06 work for me. Last edited by hardhit; April 8, 2009 at 03:39 AM.