Can't say it any better than JagMag said. These rifles are very simular in application. The 7 Mag will shoot a little faster and flatter but the 30-06 with bullets up to 250 grains gets the edge for bullet weight and performance on Real Big Critters. My choice for a one rifle battery between these two would be the 30-60 hands down. I have owned three or four of each of these calibers but own niether right now. For primarily deer I would take the 280 above either of the others listed here. I am a big fan of the 280. It comes very close to both the 30-06 and the 7Mag without the recoil of either. Of all the rifles I have owned (and thats a lot) and includes the 300 Mag both Win and Weatherby, 338 Win Mag and 416 Remington Mag. Only the 416 rendered more felt recoil than the 7mm Mags that I have owned. The ones I have had (7 Mags) Savage Ruger and winchester kicked harder for the energy delivered than any other gun I have owned. And I am speaking of felt recoil, how much it hurts my shoulder. The 416 Rem mags recoil got your attention in a big way[]. That rifle was a Ruger NO 1 single shot.