30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

Gotta move fast. Local store has a Savage package for about 300 bucks. they have .270, 30-06 and 7mm Mag. I don't much like the .270 although I respect their deer taking ability. I am tempted toward the 7mm Mag, just because of the awesome balistics this thing can produce, but the cost and variety of ammo for the 30-06 is much more attractive. I will be hunting deer. a local WMA with shots that either could easily be overkill for, and a yearly trip to the Mountains here in VA. tell me what you think please.

David Yeah, I posting this in Firearms reviews too. Just wanted to garner as much oppinion as possible.

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

I prefer the 7mm mag due to the fact it shoots flatter and carries more energy.There is a good variety of loads available but most people that I know use only one load for all their hunting.Unless you are going to do an awful lot of shooting a few dollars extra a box take a long time to add up to any significant costs.

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

7mm mag. My dad has the Savage 7mm mag package and it's a great gun. For 3 years now, it's been flawless. The 7 mag is a flater shooter, more powerful etc. I'd take the 7.

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

Since your Dad has the 7 mm package, how is the accuracy? and also, I hear the scope is kind of cheezy. Did he use it at all, and if he changed it, did he also change the mount and rings?

David

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

Flip a coin.

The 7mag is cooler.
The 30-06 is about the same without the kick and noise.

06 is cheaper to shoot.
7mag is funner to shoot.

At 500 yards you'll have to aim a foot or two over a deers back with anything. I think a 7mag dropps 36" and the 06 dropps 50" or so at 500 yards. Both have enough butt to kill a deer at that range.

I would go with the 06 and get a really good scope to put on it. Or buy that stuff in walmart that stopps glasses from fogging up. And then do alot of practicing.

"Hey ya'll, watch this"

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

Actually most 7mm mags have an extra 2" of barrel over the 30-06.This extra barrel length reduces the muzzle blast to 30-06 levels and the extra weight of the longer barrel and the fact that the magnums re usually equipped with better recpoil pads reduce recoil to where it not much more than a 30-06.

Edited by - stubblejumper on 12/26/2002 23:01:45

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

Go with the 7mm Rem. Mag., and yes the scope and mounting sys. is junk. Good luck.

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

both are good rounds.i think it comes down to personal preference. do you like 30caliber's or .284?

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

The 06 has a greater range of bullet weights from 87 up to 220, less recoil, less muzzle balst. I have had both go with the 06......

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

One more vote for the '06.

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

Well I picked it up this morning. Went with the 30-06. Basicly had my mind made up when I walked in, but still took a last look at the 7mm. Practicality won out. the 30 is just cheaper to shoot, more rounds available. More capable than my marksmanship is likely to make use of, and I have been a big fan of the 06 for many years. Thanks Kmart, for the great deal. 304 bucks. can't beat that. I'll take it out in the woods tomorrow. If I see a deer before 11 am I'm shootin at it. if not, around lunch I'll improvise a target for a couple rounds. In two weeks, after Deer season has ended, I'll take it to the range and run a few different boxes thru it. Got some 150 grain Winchester powerpoints for now. Much thanks to everyone for the input. By the way, the only other New rifle I found even close in price was the Remington 710. I didn't like the bolt....just me, but that was my gut feeling.

David

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

where are you buying your ammo? i shoot both guns and the costs are about the same per box of 20

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

Well I picked it up this morning. Went with the 30-06. Basicly had my mind made up when I walked in, but still took a last look at the 7mm. Practicality won out. the 30 is just cheaper to shoot, more rounds available. More capable than my marksmanship is likely to make use of, and I have been a big fan of the 06 for many years. Thanks Kmart, for the great deal. 304 bucks. can't beat that. I'll take it out in the woods tomorrow. If I see a deer before 11 am I'm shootin at it. if not, around lunch I'll improvise a target for a couple rounds. In two weeks, after Deer season has ended, I'll take it to the range and run a few different boxes thru it. Got some 150 grain Winchester powerpoints for now. Much thanks to everyone for the input. By the way, the only other New rifle I found even close in price was the Remington 710. I didn't like the bolt....just me, but that was my gut feeling.

David

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

At kmart, they had 150 grain remington corelockt soft point for 11.99 regular price. the winchesters I got were 12.99. The 7mm mag winchester cartidges were 14.99 and that was on sale. prices at a local gun shop were averaging about 5 bucks over Kmart's prices the last time I looked. I used to frequent that shop, and bought several guns there, but The last 5-10 times I have gone there, I just didn't get a warm fuzzy from them so I can't see paying the extra 100 bucks it would have cost me to buy there instead of at Kmart.

David

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

Since I got some good input, I thought I would follow up. I enjoyed carrying the 30-06 in the woods yesterday. Missed a really nice buck who was trotting thru the area. got a ton of excuses, but I can't blame it on the rifle. about noon, I took 3 shots with it at an improvised target at about 90 paces (I'm 6'2") shot 3 inches high, and about 4 inches to the right. So I just plain missed the buck. exciting anyway, and with that rifle, I am certain I will more than make up for it in the years to come. Maybe I don't have too much to compare it to, but I didn't think the scope was bad.

David

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

dpv-Are you saying that you only took three shots with the gun before going hunting and that you left it 4" to the right?

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

I took no shots before going hunting, since the weapon was bore sighted, and the area I was hunting in was unlikely to afford me more than a 100 yard shot. Bought the weapon friday. hunted saturday. I fired 4 rounds yesterday. First shot I missed a buck ( my fault ) next three were test shots and grouped high and right. I clicked the windage back in 10 clicks (1/4 " at 100 yds and I was just under that distance) I will invest some time at the range in the weeks to come to get it as tight as I can, but since I was using my mossberg 590 with bead sight and slugs before I bought this rifle I feel like I got a substantial improvement right away. Am I about to be sent to time out?

David

RE: 30-06 or 7 mm Mag ?
 

dpv-Yes it definitely was your fault that you missed the deer.Did you honestly believe that boresighting would be adequate for sighting in a rifle for hunting?Being only four inches out is actually not bad for a boresighted gun as they are often out even more.I find it surprising how many people would actually even consider shooting at an animal without even shooting their gun and hunting load.You got what you deserve and at least no animal had to suffer being wounded as a result of your lack of preparation.