30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

I been reading a lot andI cant make a choice. Ill be hunting deer, elk, antelope(soI might get long shots) and blackbear maybe moose and ram. Id like a flat shooter and some knock down powerI have see some big bears here,I guessa guy got a 600 pounder around here.From whatI read it seems like most people hate the WSM, not sure why seems to be a nice round that will reach out long distances with little bullet drop. Also is the 06 or 7mm more powerfull.

Price of ammo is not too big of a dealbecause its not a target gun it wouldprobably take a few years to even shoot 100 rounds.

Does anyone have the numbers(ft lbs.)for recoil on the 3 and on a 12 gauge 3 inch magnum? A friend thinks a 300 hits harder then a 12 gauge.

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

A 12 gauge with 3 inch mags willhit quite a bit harder than a 300 mag. Id say take your pick of any of the 3 and you would be well served. The 7mag is gonna have a slight advantage intrajectory. But they are all pretty close...1 isnt gonna do anything the other 2 wont. Im sure you could find exact recoil #'s at chuckhawks.com


52-54 pounds of recoil for a 3inch 12 gauge and about 24 pounds for a 300wsm. More than twice the kick.

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

i would go with the 7mm mag. they are universal for the game youl be hunting. it has great flat trajectory and has plenty of energy for medium to big game and then some. i own one and they are phenomenal

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

I'd go for the 7mm as well. Shoots flat, and hits hard. Also my 7mm has less recoil than any 30-06 or 300WSM I've ever shot. I load all my 7mm ammo and I shoot it around 200-250 times a year, and have even shot p-dogs with it on more than one occassion. :D

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

I believe the 300WSM would serve you best. There is certainly nothing wrong with the WSM. Like any other gun, they have their strong points and weak points. The only down side of the WSM's was ammo availability. Thats not true any more as even Walmart handles the 300 WSM and 270 WSM ammo. The 300 WSM would be about as versitile as one gun can get. Myself I would be happy with the standard 270/280 as well. 7MM-08 and 308 would also do the job if you don't want the kick and muzzle blast of the bigger guns. Many good choices.

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

I would go with the reg .300 Wmag, itsbetter than any of the others IMHO. altough all would work well, the mags have more velocity and thus more power and flatter traj. the .300 is just a tad better for moose than the 7mm mag due to the heavier bullets, but they are still very close. If you find a good used rifle in any of the cals buy it.If buying a new one I would get the .300 wm.

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

it's a toss up of the three.....but I'll take the 7 MM mag first but only because you mentioned pronghorns.

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

for me it would be the 30.06. Cheap ammo, lots of different grains, but i only say this because cheap ammo will allow you to get real good with your gun so if the situation arises.. you know the rest.

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

I would go with a .300 Wby. Mag. or .300 RUM. Good luck.

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

Since you wont shoot it alot I'd go with the 30-06 because of the selection in ammo. 7mm has alot option but not the heaviest bullets that you'd probably want for elk, bear and moose.

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

The 30.06 is the obvious choice. It is the most versatile big game caliber of North America. It will shoot flat as .270 with smaller grain bullets. For all other shooting on the game you mentioned the 30.06 is the choice. The 30.06 is also easy to get ammo for.:)

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

As someone that has actually used various7mm cartridges to take elk,bear and moose,I can assure you that you don;t even need the heaviest bullets that are available in 7mm.

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

A well constucted bullet from 140 to 160 should work very well for all NA big game in the 284's. They have plenty of SD to do the job.

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

I am a 30-06 man my self, but I will say thatyou will getmore performance (atleast on paper) out of the 7mm or the 300 where flat shooting and trajectory is concerned. But in the feild I dont know if you or your prey will know the difference between the mentioned cartridges. (If you wanna find out just ask em while you are loadin em up on your tailgate;););).)

Being that all the rounds that you have asked about are (plenty-plenty):Dsufficient to kill all the game you have mentioned, from here on I would say its up to you and yourpersonalpreference of thecaliber you want to use. whether it be availibility for ammo or any other factor that suits your needs.

Good luck hunting and I hope you find the right caliber that is best for you. (never under estimate that 06 either) itsa round that has been tried and true for many (successfull) hunters over the years. And it can be for you too.

RE: 30 06 vs. 7mm vs. 300 WSM
 

Its seems that the gun of choice is the 30.06 and rightly so its a great cartridge

But I read a post today on another site and the gentleman said if 100 years ago before the o6 came out theWSM was madesay in 7mm or 30 caliber we would never have seen success of many other cartridges IE; 06,.270.280 and many others and I am pretty sure the Military guys would have choosen it at that time as well I would think it would have been better round than the long 06 cartridge in full automatics. and lighter guns