Quoted directly from the Q and A in Field and Stream

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Q: Beyond the classic argument of "you can get ammunition anywhere," what are the advantages of the .30/06 over newer, more efficient cartridges?
-Pacific Hunter
From the Gun Nuts Blog

A: I don't know of any cartridge as efficient, new or otherwise, as the .30/06, never mind more efficient. When you weigh the range of game it will take, its relatively low level of recoil, a limitless variety of ammo, and comparatively low cost, I can't think of anything that matches the .30/06, much less surpasses it. The only cartridges that come close are the .270 Winchester and the .338 Winchester Magnum, but each has its drawbacks that the '06 lacks.

Answer provided by David Petzal.

I thought it was funny, 'cause it's true.

When I shoot game with a 30-06, the meat is always sweet and good. When I shoot game with a 7MM RM in warm weather, the meat sometimes spoils. It is so far away it spoils before I can get to it and dress it. The seven also makes my shoulder and ears hurt.

I have both and both are great calibers. what one will do so will the other. Flip a coin.


Posted from Huntingnet.com App for Android

i have a 270 and 300 win mag. Think I'lll go with the 06 because of the cheap ammo and availability now adays

Not much difference, but the 30-06 will hold one more round, have a shorter barrel and ammo is alot cheaper and easier to find.

30 06 is easier to find ammo. Any backwoods store has it. It will handle heavier bullets, and will kill anything that you are ever after. I have a friend that sold his 7mm and picked up a 25 06 because of less recoil, and he uses it for moose. He has never lost one. Bang, flop. The 30 06 will do the same, only better.

The two are both obviously among the more popular cartridges chosen for hunting medium game here in the US. There are both recoil and ballistic charts out there from which you can glean comparison information.

My personal preference would be the 30.06 Spr. because of the very wide range of bullets that can be loaded in this 30 cal. cartridge. And unless you are shooting well past 300 yards on a regular basis the difference in muzzle velocity should not matter much.

.30-06 for reasons already mentioned.

if it was me I'd go with the 7 mag, why well because in this crazy world right now we live in, just try to get 308 cal bullets to reload, ain't none, but for some silly reason there is still quite a few places I can get 7 mm bullets