ORIGINAL: npaden
Okay, still researching. Talked to my brother again tonight and he brought up the .300 Win Magnum. Just as flat shooting as the 7mm Rem Mag but better punch for Elk and big Mulies but without the bullet fragmentation of the 7mm Rem Mag. Looking at the recoil table that jumps up to a 25 vs. a 20 for the 7mm Rem Mag with a 150gr bullet or a .30-06 with a 180gr bullet. Am I getting out of the comfortable range here?
Should I just get an easy shooter like the .270 win and plan on buying a second rifle if I hunt elk? This is tough, I should have just gone out and made an impulse buy!
Please enlighten me on the bullet fragmentation of 7mm rem mag???
When doing comparisons you should use bullets with similar Section Denisity vs gr size. In the .284 (7mm) 150gr bullet has SD of .266 vs. .308 (3006, 300, etc) 150gr has a SD of .226. ie: 140/.284 & 165/.308 both have a SD of .248.
I realize your talking about recoil numbers but you really should check what the bullets you'll be using in the .308's are producing vs a straight across gr size comparison. The heavier the bullet the more it jabs and you'll probably be using 165-180 gr bullets in either of the .308 calibers.
If you worried about the recoil the 300WM will be more then your first 2 choices. Whether it is tolerable or not is up to you. All 3 are more then capable of taking the biggest mule deer or elk, no fear of that just boils down to preference. Seeing you seem to be really worried about the jab the rifle will give youtry and shootthe 300 wm& 7mm rm, if not possible you might be best to stick with what you know in the 06'.