7mm Mag vs .30-'06

Y

youp

New member
I am thinking about another rifle. Platform is decided, caliber is not. 7mm Rem Mag or 30-06 Springfield?
 
IMO inside of 300 yards it doesn't make a flip. If you are in to longer range hunting a 7 Mag can certainly be made to shoot flatter. In the long run the 30/06 is probably a better choice. Barrel life, cost to shoot and all that. But, they are a little out of style. I wouldn't want a 7 Mag larger than the standard Rem mag myself.
 
Either or. The 30.06 is the standard, but the 7mm Rem Mag is no slouch either.

I agree that inside 300 yards, in the real world, there isn't much difference between the two.
 
I don't knock the 7mm Maggie; it's a great cartridge. I just don't see that it has enough more thump on the front end to justify the added thump on the back end.

The Maggie is a bit flatter for trajectory, but again IMO it's not enough to care about.

Proper shot placement with either cartridge if you're talking about 400 yards and more means you have to know the distance within 25 yards; maybe less. If you know the distance and your trajectory, it doesn't matter which cartridge is used to make the hit.

I dunno. In my active shooting years, I pretty well proved that with my pet '06, anything inside of 500 yards belonged to me...
 
The '06 has more bullet weights, and is a little more efficient on powder usage. Factory ammo will likely be cheaper for the '06.

The 7mm mag bullets have a little better BC, and therefore shoot slightly flatter; retained energy at longer ranges will be slightly better with the 7mm Rem Mag with same weight bullets in each.

Muzzle velocities using either cartridge with same weight bullets will be nearly identical, with pressures slightly higher in the 7mm mag with most powders.

With most rifles, you'll get an extra cartridge in the magazine with an '06. If the same rifle carries 4 '06 cartridges in the mag, it'll only usually hold 3 if it's chambered for the 7mm mag.

If you handload, brass usually lasts longer for the '06.

I shoot a 7mm Rem mag, mostly because I've been shooting the cartridge since around 1986. Had I switched to an '06 at that point instead of a 7mm mag, I'd probably be using an '06 now.

Lest I sound like I'm favoring the '06, I'm not. I love the 7mm Rem mag cartridge, and it's my favorite all around big game cartridge for North America. Even so, an honest evaluation based on cost of shooting (factory or handloaded ammo), performance, and overall advantages will show the '06 to have an advantage for a lot of shooters.

Daryl
 
Both are great cartridges!! I bought one in 1966 because it was new and different. No one that I knew had a magical "big Seven" as it ws called back then. Passed on better deals on both the 270 and 06'. Haven't regretted the decision. Which is better? Flip a coin or get the best deal!
 
Comparing bullets with similar sectional densities (140-165/160-180 grn) the 2 at 500 yds the 7mm has an additional 100 ft/lbs of energy with nearly an inch less drop and 1-3 inches less wind drift (10 mph).
I'm the type that likes improvements or advantages however minor. For long range shooting I'd chose the 7mm. For anything less I'd probably chose the 30-06 as it's a little cheaper and a little lighter on the shoulder. Not to mention it puts a little bit bigger/heavier bullet into your game.
 
I have been thinking about a rifle and was kinda thinking about a 308, How does a 308 compare to the 06 and the 7mag?
 
I have been thinking about a rifle and was kinda thinking about a 308, How does a 308 compare to the 06 and the 7mag?
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The .308 is similar to the '06...50 yards closer with light and mid-weight bullets.

It doesn't do as well with the heavier bullets.

Daryl
 
I own both calibers and my go to rifle is decently my 7mm rem mag. Im actually thinking of giving my 30-06 to my little brother when he gets his licence in the end of march. I am thinking of replacing it with another 30-06 or getting a 300. wsm.

my votes for the 7mm
 
If you don't reload and if you buy a typical 22"-barrelled rifle, the .308 is so nearly the same as an '06 so as to make no nevermind. About the same MV for 150- and 165-grain bullets. The '06 starts getting an advantage with 180s and heavier.

I deliberately chose a 26" barrel setup for my pet '06, and I've been handloading forever. That put me bunches up on the .308.
 
I have a 7 mag and love it, but it can be finicky and ammo is much more expensive than standard cartridges. So, I handload...
If I were to do it all over I'd get an 06, and if I was really smart I'd get a .308 and be very happy indeed.
 
deliberately chose a 26" barrel setup for my pet '06, and I've been handloading forever. That put me bunches up on the .308.
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I agree. I deliberately chose a 26" barrel on my 7mm mag for the same reason.
 
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