Most shooters will not be able to notice a difference of the drop between the 7mag and the .30-06 within the ranges of which most hunters will be shooting. Take your pick. Either will kill about anything in NA with room to spare. Personally I would (and already have) opted for the .30-06 vs. the 7 mag. I would have also taken the 7 mag, but opted for the 06 because that was what everyone in my family has ever hunted with, and what my grandpa gave me, so my new gun that I bought in 1999was a .30-06, and I have not regretted it.