.30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

Well, i'm getting myself a new rifle and i just can't make up my mind! I'm getting the savage stevens model 200 for it's low price but amazing accuracy, and i'll be hunting it out here in eastern washington, which is a lot of spot and stalk hunting in wide open and rolling farmland, sort of long range. on the other hand I might come over one of these little hillocks here and see a deer within 100 yards of me. I live on the westcoast primarily but am out here for school. I might at some point be over on the peninsula hunting in the hoh rainforest, which is quite different.

So my question is, out of YOUR EXPERIENCE, do you guys think a flat shooting 7mm Mag or a versatile .30/06 is more in order, even for those long range shots? the .30/06 is a 22" barrel and the 7mm is 24". Am i really going to need those extra 2"? also, i'm pretty confident in my shooting if that makes a difference for you.

BTW i'll be shooting whitetail and coyote out here.

Thanks for any help!

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

7mm WSM

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

I prefer the 7mmremmag.

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

Well either one would sure kill deer and coyotes but so would the 25-06 or 270 with less boom and recoil.

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

honestly id say the 7mm remmag or the 7mmWSM will be a little better than the .30-06 in the distance catagory

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

Deadeye, either will suit your needs fine! The 7MM RM will have some power advantage, and will be a flatter shooting gun, the '06 will give you more variety of bullets, at a cheaper price than magnum ammo! The 7MM's need the longer 24" barrel for best results! Again, EITHER will be great, so take your pick, or flip a coin! Good luck with the new gun!

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

Most shooters will not be able to notice a difference of the drop between the 7mag and the .30-06 within the ranges of which most hunters will be shooting. Take your pick. Either will kill about anything in NA with room to spare. Personally I would (and already have) opted for the .30-06 vs. the 7 mag. I would have also taken the 7 mag, but opted for the 06 because that was what everyone in my family has ever hunted with, and what my grandpa gave me, so my new gun that I bought in 1999was a .30-06, and I have not regretted it.:D

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

Two years ago I decided that the 30-06 was way more gun than I needed for deer so I retired it to possible bigger game later on. This year I used a new 270 and it is also way more than enough. Next year I may go back to the 6.5x55 or my new, old Model 99 in 250 Savage.

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

Flip a coin. Good luck.

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

.30-06 ammunition will be a cheaper, and you can shoot military surplus just for practice...

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

How far is far? If far too you is 300yds then I say flip a coin. If you are concievably going to be shooting at 400-450yds then I say go with the 7mag. A 140grainer in the 7mag is 7" or so flatter at 400yds than a 150grainer from the 30/06 and it has more authority to boot. I have two of each caliber and they both are some of my favorite guns (oh heck who am I kiddin, I love ALL my centerfires! ;)) but if I had to pick only one of the four I would stick with the 7mag. But then again I am a "magnumophile". Both cals have an extensive offering of factory ammo available for them, the 06 being THE most popular big game caliber on the planetand the 7 being THE most popular mag on the planet. For the reloader their is a plethora of both 30s and 28s available, pick your poison.

Like I said, inside of 300 yds all the deer I have killed with either couldn't tell the difference!
RA

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

I couldn't have said it better if I had posted this myself. Up to 300 yards....'06, beyond.....7mag. Great post. Regards, Rick.

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

Get the .30-06 and you will be glad you did. I had this decision last year, and I picked the 06 over all the other calibers that Ruger offered. I have taken 3 shots at game and I have killed 2 deer and 1 hog. All dropped in a pile.I love this rifle eventhoughit fell in the creek after my canoe flipped. Oh yeah, after a good cleaning, I took it out and at 100 yards it was dead on. The Stevens rifleslook like agreat deal, I have not heard about the trigger yet? Bass Pro has them for $249.

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

.30-06

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

The 30-06 is much better than the 7 rem mag in every respect and that is my final statement
Now ask me tommorow when I will probably say the same about the 7 rem mag over the '06
okcmco

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

30-06---cheaper ammo. I bought a savage 30-06 a few years back and I love it. It shoots perfect with a 3-9x40 scope at 150 yards. plus the savage accu-trigger is amazing.(this is personal opinion)

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

The Stevens 200 comes in 25-06, .270, 30-06, 7mm Rem mag, and 300 Win mag.

So the WSM's are out.

Personally I would get the 25-06 or the .270. Both of these cartridges are as flat shooting as the 7mm Rem mag and will kill deer out to ranges far exceding the shooting ability of 99% of hunters. They do it with less recoil (not that recoil is a bad thing) and less muzzle blast.

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

Honestly, I dont think there is a dimes worth of difference between them as far as how well they perform on game. Personally, I chose the 30-06.

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

how about...........BUY BOTH !!!! I mean seriously can you have too many guns? I own two 7rem mags and one 30-06. heck I own alot more than that too! I take peoples advice on here, but I also like to find out for myself. Buy the 06 and see what ammo shoots good in it. Sight it in for 100 yrds and keep it for shots around that range. Then buy a 7mm and sight it in for 1.5" high at 100 yrds. Ya got both covered then, one for closers shots and one for 300 yrd shots. Just my .02 worth :D

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

wish i could! hell, if someone is willing to front me the 600 for a second rifle/scope combo... ...:D

forgot to mention: college kid on a budget ;)

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

If your confused, just buy a 280 Remington. :D

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

To be honest it would be hard to go wrong with any of the calibers they offer in that gun...lol. I like Mossy's answer about buying both. Just pick the one that feels the best in your head because you are gonna be well served with any of them. I'd probably lean 30-06 or 270 because of ammo cost and availability.

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

buy both. one for western hunting, one for woods hunting. But I actually have 3 '06's and no 7 mags. But I plan to buy a savage 110 in 7 mag for elk hunting

RE: .30/06 or 7mm rem?
 

06 ammo is cheaper, has more selections, andis found anywhere in the world. the 7mm mag IS a great all around caliber. However...college kid on a budget...cheap 30-06 ammo would be nice down the road. performance wise its a toss up. Although the 06 can be loaded w/ heavy bullets, which is usefull at times.