ORIGINAL: bigbulls
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.
I am trying to understand how I am manipulating the numbers. I simple stated that 30 cal bullet BC are as good asthe other calibers and then Ilisted 3 - 30 caliber bullets along with their BC. Actually, I cannot help but notice that your original statement "any given bullet weight" has now evolved to "similar bullet weights for their bore size". Using 7 mm bullets with higher SD to demonstrate that the 7MM has better BC is not "apples to apples". The only 30 and 7mm with the same SD is the 140 vs 165 bullets and the Barnes at .505 BC is a good bullet for the 30 caliber. When the SD is actually equal I am not aware of anything else in a 7MM that is that good.
With regard to the MatchKing bullet I was only comparing hunting bullets and I believe that is a target bullet. If target bullets are on the table Lost River Ballistics offers a 220graintarget bullet with a BC of .930but againI think most in this forum are interested inhunting bullets not ballistic freaks.
Lastly I was very clearI my post that the7mm is more powerful except for the HighEnergy powders, so comparing standard 06 loadsto 7mm loads as above does not really compare the best of the 06.