7mm wsm or 30-06

[jagertiger]

I'm looking for a rifle to hunt both elk and whitetail. What would be the better rifle the 7mm wsm or the 30-06?

I'm leaning toward a browning a-bolt 7mm wsm. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[bigbulls]

The dead elk and deer will never know the difference. The 7mm will give you flatter trajectory than the 30-06 will but the 30-06 is available any where.

Some will say that the 30-06 will have an advantage over the 7mm when hunting elk because of the heavier bullets available but that is a bunch of BS. There is not an elk alive that will not die from a 160 grain 7mm bullet.


I have never been a huge fan of the 30-06 or the 7mm bullet but I would probably pick the 7mm WSM of the two. Personally though, I would go for the 300 WSM over both of them. But that's cause I have a 270 and a 7mm would only be too close in caliber.

[killer243]

i would also go for the 7mm wsm over the 30-06. but i just like bigbulls would rather a 300 wsm great minds think alike i guess lol however i think it is more a personal choice as to which you'd rather have

[Porintree]

Not a major difference between the 7mm WSM and the 30-06. As Bigbulls said the 7mm will shoot a little flatter. Federal has increased its factory loads for the WSM's considerably, so bullet availability is less of an issue than in the past. Finding a rifle you are comfortable with in either caliber is the way to go. Choose appropriate bullets for the game you are pursuing and put the bullet in the right place. The animal won't notice the difference between the 06 and the 7mm.

[James B]

If I had one or the other I wouldn,t change. I might buy a 300 WSM but never a 7MM WSM I would take the 06 over the 7 WSM I know guys that have them and the powder takes up to much bullet space and you just can't get the gain you are looking for. This according to some of my reloading buddies. I have never tried the 7MM WSM myself. I really am not a 7MM person. Except for the 280.

[10-a-c-huntr]

tiger;

I have both calibers-the 06 since 1969 and the 7mm wsm almost 2 years.
Like the other post have said the elk can't tell any difference. More bullet selection with 06. The 7mm wsm is noticably more accurate than my 06
which I have killed a lot of deer with over the years. Have only killed one deer with the 7,which didn't go very far after being shot.I like it.


Hope this helps

[elknut1]

Harold---I was out last night and the bulls were bugling and the cows were inviting me over for a cocktail!! Just something to keep the excitement alive! Talk to you soon!- Paul

[mnbohunter]

I shoot a Rem 700 in '06 and that gun is deadly accurate out to 300 yards. (I don't have a range where I can shoot further) I've never elk hunted but I would be very confident with this gun.

[Tim Buma]

Can't speak for 7mm WSM. But the 7mm SAUM (Very similar.) would be my preference.
Less recoil, flatter tragectory.
Only downside I see is feeding and magazine capacity. i.e. feeding not always pefect in the short fat cartridges, and magazines hold less than 30-06.

[fillae]

Personally, I would go with the 7mm rem mag, not the wsm. Of course, that's what I shoot. If you do a lot of reloading, the 30-06 may be better for you.