Ok Scott lets compare apples to apples here. Given similar weight bullets (180 grain for the 30 and 160 for the 7mm) the 7mm will have better BC and SD. It is a fact that can not be argued with no matter how one tries to manipulate the numbers. Besides that no one factory loads the 200 grain NAB for the 30-06.

If you wanted to compare a 200 grain 30 caliber bullet you would need to compare it to the 175 grain 7mm bullet. The 7mm bullet will again have better BC and SD. Sierra matchking 200 - 30 cal has a BC of .565 yet the 7mm 175 grain matchking has a BC of .608. When comparing the same bullets of similar weights for their bore size the 7mm will almost always have better BC and SD.



Federal published data

180 NAB - 30 cal - .271 SD and .507 BC. MV of 2700 at 500 yds 1903. ME of 2914 at 500 yds 1448.

160 NAB - 7mm - .283 SD and .531 SD. MV of 2950 at 500 yds 2127. ME of 3093 at 500 yds 1608.


Yes there are a couple of factory high energy loads for the 30-06 that do give an edge to the 30-06 at the muzzle. However there is a 175 sierra game king load from Federal that has the 7mm rem mag back on top in energy levels between 150 & 200 yards.


The 7mm Rem mag is still the more powerful cartridge.