'06 with 180gr, slower heavier bullet, controlled expansion, I think somethign small and light would want to bust apart more on impact and not keep going. Course nowadays you can get any bullet in any caliber just about to find something that works great.

In regards to barrel length, I was stating that all mags.....tend to have 26" barrels, 7mm or 300 win mag, so that adds weight, and if you can get buy with a lighter setup, a 270 or .30-06 i'd go that route, and if I am going to need a mag, or prefer to shoot a mag, I'd take the 300WM over the 7mm Mag.

I'm a fan of the win mag, and yea I'm not sure how you can load a '06 up to win mag specs, or even close with such a difference in case capacity. The .300 win mag is just such a class/awesome catrdige IMO, I remeber the first time I used it thinking, nothing could stand up to a .300 mag. Just seeing that bigger magnum case when I was use to a .270 case, was awesome. You're loading 7mm with 140grs going about 3400fps? I think that would be more my style than a 175gr in a 7mm going 2900-3000fps? Not sure what I'd use if I had a7mm on elk, prob 160gr, though again I think how much great is 160grs in a7mm vs 150 in a 270, or 150/165/180gr in a '06. Sure you can shoot the same bullet with an extra 400fps? and it's flatter, I just think 3000fps is ideal for big game, varmints i like 4000fps, and african/dangerous I like 2400fps. To each their own, I'm not sure I'll ever shoot enough elk/moose with a rifle to really become sold on one way or another, so till my .300 mag lets me down, or .340 wby, speaking of, how abbout a .340 shoting 210gr partitions at around i dunno 3400fps? mayb 3300fps?

And so of your new question, id say .30-06 with 180gr at 100yds for hog, over the 7mm with 160. If you're really not shooting far, I don't think you need a mag either, at 100yds yoru not worried about bullet drop etc....

How about a .308 for hogs? could be great for your setup at 100yds....