7mm wsm or 30-06
 

I'm looking for a rifle to hunt both elk and whitetail. What would be the better rifle the 7mm wsm or the 30-06?

I'm leaning toward a browning a-bolt 7mm wsm. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

The dead elk and deer will never know the difference. The 7mm will give you flatter trajectory than the 30-06 will but the 30-06 is available any where.

Some will say that the 30-06 will have an advantage over the 7mm when hunting elk because of the heavier bullets available but that is a bunch of BS. There is not an elk alive that will not die from a 160 grain 7mm bullet.


I have never been a huge fan of the 30-06 or the 7mm bullet but I would probably pick the 7mm WSM of the two. Personally though, I would go for the 300 WSM over both of them. But that's cause I have a 270 and a 7mm would only be too close in caliber.

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

i would also go for the 7mm wsm over the 30-06. but i just like bigbulls would rather a 300 wsm :D great minds think alike i guess :eek: lol however i think it is more a personal choice as to which you'd rather have

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

Not a major difference between the 7mm WSM and the 30-06. As Bigbulls said the 7mm will shoot a little flatter. Federal has increased its factory loads for the WSM's considerably, so bullet availability is less of an issue than in the past. Finding a rifle you are comfortable with in either caliber is the way to go. Choose appropriate bullets for the game you are pursuing and put the bullet in the right place. The animal won't notice the difference between the 06 and the 7mm.

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

If I had one or the other I wouldn,t change. I might buy a 300 WSM but never a 7MM WSM I would take the 06 over the 7 WSM I know guys that have them and the powder takes up to much bullet space and you just can't get the gain you are looking for. This according to some of my reloading buddies. I have never tried the 7MM WSM myself. I really am not a 7MM person. Except for the 280.

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

tiger;

I have both calibers-the 06 since 1969 and the 7mm wsm almost 2 years.
Like the other post have said the elk can't tell any difference. More bullet selection with 06. The 7mm wsm is noticably more accurate than my 06
which I have killed a lot of deer with over the years. Have only killed one deer with the 7,which didn't go very far after being shot.I like it.


Hope this helps

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

Harold---I was out last night and the bulls were bugling and the cows were inviting me over for a cocktail!! Just something to keep the excitement alive! Talk to you soon!- Paul

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

I shoot a Rem 700 in '06 and that gun is deadly accurate out to 300 yards. (I don't have a range where I can shoot further) I've never elk hunted but I would be very confident with this gun.

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

Can't speak for 7mm WSM. But the 7mm SAUM (Very similar.) would be my preference.
Less recoil, flatter tragectory.
Only downside I see is feeding and magazine capacity. i.e. feeding not always pefect in the short fat cartridges, and magazines hold less than 30-06.

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

Personally, I would go with the 7mm rem mag, not the wsm. Of course, that's what I shoot. If you do a lot of reloading, the 30-06 may be better for you.

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

Ever see a 180 grain bullet in a 300 win case or wthby case and see how far it intrudes? No different then a 7 WSM. It shoots a 160 grain partition with a 200 yard zero 7" flatter at 400 and hits with 2000 KE at that range vs 1550 for the 06 with a 180 grain partition. So you can buy the 06 at every Kmart and Walmart ..that may be a big deal and the 06's only advantage.

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

I say the 7mm WSM only for the qualities of the .284 bullet. Personally, I think it is the best all around diameter out there, you just have to pick what to push it out there with! Especially if you start shooting longer ranges. 7mm Rem Ultra Mag is how I get it out there.

RE: 7mm wsm or 30-06
 

Having owned three 300 Win Mags and a 300 Weatherby Mag, I have seen many of the bullets and know how much room they take up. The 7MM short mag is even more bothered buy this loss of space. This is not just my idea but I have read in several of the reloading manuals that this is a problem with that caliber. If a guy uses shot placement as his guide then the difference between 2000 lbs and 1500 ibs of muzzle energy is a mute point. I can see no real need to own one if I owned the other already which it the case with me. I have a 30-06 and a 280. Now I would be the last to try and talk anyone out of buying another gun(As my wife would verify). So if you want one then buy it. I used to sell guns. Every gun sold strengthens the position of gun owners. Have a good hunt this fall.