30-06 or 7mm

[leftmehangin]

I'm going to buy a new rifle and I want something with available ammo and these are the best choices I can find. Will be used for whitetails and black bear maybe elk.

[idahoelkinstructor]

I will pick the 7mm any day. Its good for deer not an overkill, flat shooting, can be loaded with big 160 or 175 grain bullets to handle anything in North America, not recomended for big bears, but it could work if you had a proper bullet. If I were choose between all the calibers you have posted about I would choose the 7mm overall. From the sounds of it you will mostly deer hunt but want to sometime elk hunt. I feel the 7mag will fit that need rather well. I like it for deer and antelope hunting with a 140 grain bullet. Its great for elk hunting where you might have a long range shot, and it can be loaded heavy for moose and big bears. Then on the other end it can be downloaded with a small 120 bullet for coyotes if needed. IMHO its a better do it all cartridge than the 30-06 and others.

[BareBack Jack]

I like the 7mm also it has good trajectory and plenty of power,and said befor you can put some 160-175 gr slugs in it for about everything.

The 30-06 is a good all around rifle,if this is you first rifle purchase I would take the 30-06.

[apmaurosr]

.308 winchester. Same cartridge as the 30-06 but necked down. It's also used in military applications so there's plenty of inexpensive ammo available for target practice. Widely carried by all hunting stores (both ammo and rifles). Less recoil than 30-06. Can drop any No. American game and most African game with bullet weights up to approx. 200 grains. Not the flatest shooting rifle but depending on the distance you used to zero in, the caliber is effective to at least 400 yards. As with any caliber, bullet placement is the main factor in humanely dropping the animal.

Ant
www.anthonypmaurosr.com

[KonaBoy]

Go with the '06

[rather_be_huntin]

I used to shoot an 06 but switched to 7mm. Flatter trajectory and good down range knock down power. I have been very happy with the switch.

[manwithgreenjeans]

i have a 30- 0ttt 6 and a 7mm rem mag now i have to say that if i had the chose of having only one of those it would be the 7mm rem mag just a great gun.

[Sharp Shooter]

7MM

[rob1]

Between these two I would go with the 7 mag. But given another choice, I would choose a 300 Winchester Mag!

[30-06 hunter]

Another vote for the 30-06!