Scott Gags

I based the comparison on best BC shown on the Norma website it was.378. Curious as to what the BC is for the 170 Grain Noma load at 3018FPS. As far as comparing the XLC coated bullet the 7MM 160 is 3060 FPS with a .508 BC this is just 31 FPS behind the 165 3091 FPS 30 Caliber with a .505 BC. Basicallypretty even. I agree with Red Allison that the 160 7MM bullet will penetrate further than the 165, but the 165 it will also leave a larger wound path. My position is that the 165 Barnes with the 90% plus retained weight will still passthru while damaging more tissue on the way.

As far a advertised vs actual velocities of course they are pumped up, but they are also pumped up on the 7MM unless the samemanufacturers making the 7MM and 06 areartificially inflating the 06 vs 7MM in some sort of diabolical plot.

I witnessed 180 Federal High energy loads chrony 2877 which is 3 fpsunder the stated velocity. Sako rifle. There are 7 factory loads thatI know of that which generate 3300 ft/lbs or more from an 06 at the muzzle. Federal High Energy ammo roughly matches the performance of the Light Magnum. Those loads use special powder which does not have the proper burn rate for the 7MM. See the attached link. http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3730/is_200210/ai_n9115412

Red Allison I am sure based on my postings that you will not be surprised to hear I only own an 06 for hunting, and 17 HMR for plinking,and a 223 for varmints. My hunting is mainly for whitetails with one trip out west. Got a cow elk at all of 85 yards. Going back next year with 165 Grain barnes bullets. Hope to take a bull this time. Irespect your opinion andI am not saying the terminal performanceof the 06 is superior I am saying it is equal.I feel the 7MM is actually at its best on deer at long ranges with 140 wt bullets, then there is a bit of separation. Both of these guns are clearly marginal at 400 yards on game the size of elk/Moose and quite frankly I would probably pass on a shot that long.

mn16point

30-06 is the onlyrifle you will ever need, I have taken buffalo, elk, black bear and countless deer with it. The only 3 guns you will ever need are a .22, 12 gauge, and a 30-06.....................................
butyeah it sure is fun to have others

NRA

stubblejumper

You don't "need" a 30-06.I have taken ten species of big game without a 30-06 and have never found any reason to own one..

HighDesertWolf

I asked myself the same question once, I ended up choosing a 300 win mag.

48thguns

30-06 is the onlyrifle you will ever need, I have taken buffalo, elk, black bear and countless deer with it. The only 3 guns you will ever need are a .22, 12 gauge, and a 30-06.....................................
butyeah it sure is fun to have others

'06 all the way....I love my 7mag, 7x57 and 243, but in the final analysis, the '06 is the gun for a lifetime. regards, Rick.

Hunter4life81

But doesn't the 7mag have more retained nrg at a distance making it have more knock down power @ long range, which i personally i'd r rather have a 7mag if i take a long range shott at n elk 375yrds away n put him dead in his tracks!!!!!!!!

Hunter4life81

I say you look on federals website and go to the 7mag vital shock 165 sierra gameking, and look at the 30-06 180grain nosler partion with high energy, and compare those 2 together and it will sow aftter 200 yrds the 7 mag has more nrg

Gundigest

If you think about it, all of the energy/velocity comparisons between the two are unnecessary. Both have similar velocities and energies and with a good shot both bullets exit the animal. This means you are not using all of your energy anyways. The extra energy gets used up in the tree behind your game, so it does not matter if it is a 7mm or a .308. Looking at it this way one could argue that because the bullet does not use all of its energy then the larger diameter bullet would probably use more energy than the smaller diameter bullet.

I personally would use a 180gr or 200gr X bullet in the good old 06.

Scott Gags

The BC of that round is an incredible .613 it is a proprietary bullet under contract to Federal. With that bullets external ballistics the 7 MM remingtron factory load does have better down range energy than the 06 despite lower numbers at the muzzle. Those numbers are still exceeded in the 06 with 64 Grains ofMRP @ 2965 FPS. The180 Grain Barnes XLC handloads with the .552 BC still have the edge despite that ballistic freak at .613 BC. The 180 Grain Barnes still has 100 ft/lbs more KE(2157) at and 5 lbs more Momentum (59.75) at 400 yards. I have still not seen a factory or handload in a 7MM remingtonexceed this.
Just think about this for a second the 7mm has 30% more case capacity and a higher pressure limit than the 06 yet the performance of the two is nearly identical. These numbers are being accomplished with5 lbs less recoil energy also. The fact that a 7 MM needs a .613 BC to edge out the 06, and only at loang range, speaks volumes as to the efficiency of the 06s internal ballistics vs the 7MM.

stubblejumper

Just a simple question requiring only a yes or no answer.Have you personallyverified thevelocity posted for the barnes load that you keep referring toover a chronograph in your 30-06? Or in any other 30-06 for that matter.