rusty75

I am torn between a 30-06 and a 7mm rem mag for my next purchase. i currently own a 7mm-08 mountain rifle i use for stalking. i am looking for a new gun to use as my primary whitetail rig, but will still have the capability to hunt hunt elk. It will most likely be a sako 75. please give your experiences with these calibers and any recoil information.

speedgator

Good little software to help you calculate recoil, amongst other things: http://www.winchester.com/marketing/...?promotionid=1

Nice selection on the rifle, I want a Sako, but will most likely get a Tikka Laminated SS in .270 WSM for the exact purpose you mention. Are you only considering those two chamberings?

stubblejumper

I would choose the 7mmrem mag for the slightly flatter trajectory than the 30-06.If elk are on the menu the 7mmremmag does an excellent job.I prefer the 7mmremmag over the 270wsm due to the availability of heavier bullets, but the 7mmwsm would be a fine choice as well.

James B

You may find that the 300 WSM would be a better choice than either of the others you mentioned. That will give you the magnum power and the heavier bullet weights oif the 30-06. The ammo is easy to find now and the 300 WSM is here to stay. There may not be a better all around rifle for North America. They may have more recoil than I like but for a healthy shoulder I think the recoil would not be a factor.

Virginia7

Well, I don't own either one, but I have shot both in various rifles over the years. Personally, I don't find a lot of difference in recoil between the two. As to which to pick, either the 30-06 or 7mm Rem.Mag will do a good job on elk.

NVMIKE

either is a good choice. if you're sure that your going to go elk hunting consider the 300win mag or 300 wsm. the 7mm\08 will do fine for deer, and the bigger 300 would be better for elk, but still ok for deer.

White-tail-deer

I would prefer the 7mm Mag.

handloader1

Since you own a 7mm I would go with the 30-06 Sprg. Good luck.

RedAllison

IMHO its a toss up. Everyone thinks a 7mag is that much better because its a "magnum" but look at your ballistic charts and out too 400yds you will find less than 3"-4" between comparable bullet weights when comparing the two. A quality bullet in 150 weight in the 30/06 will do anything that needs done on deersized game and ditto for 140s in the 7mag. What I have done with my '06 I have done with my 7mag. (I have 1 '06 and 2 7s, but that doesnt mean the 7 is twice as good, it just means I got an extra 7 as a gift lol.)

For elk sized game its the same thing only heavier bullets and reasobable distances (would stay <300yds unless just the perfect quartering away shot was presented). 180s for the '06, 160 for the 7mag. Personally I would stick with the Federal Vital Shok 180 Barnes Triple Shock in the '06 for a "one gun, one load for all" hunting you are likely to be doing on most game. For the 7 I would go with either a Barnes X or a Win. Fail Safe in 160 for the "onesize fits all" category. On game larger than deer I just wouldn't stretch either of these calibers at long distances. They just don't have spectacular velocity, but if you can use a little patience and know your bullet drop they both have great penetration.

Both calibers are slow when loaded too their max (weight wise). The '06 doesn't push a 200 or heavier grain bullet fast enough to merit going with them IMHO. A quality 180 will yield better results. Likewise for 175s in the 7mag. Save the heaviest bullets for faster cartridges.

Good luck,
RA

idahoelkinstructor

I have seen at least 15 elk shot with both the 06 and 7mag combined, and I think there is a big difference between the two. I like the 7 mag much more especially if elk are on the menu. I myself have shot a bull elk with a 7 mag 160Gr nosler partion, and my wife has shot a bull with the same load. Both were one shot kills, my wifes bull was about 50 yards away, my bull was about 300 yards away. Out of the elk killed with an 06, all but one took more than one shot to put them down on the ground. Not trying to say the 06 is a bad elk round, because it is excellent but IMHO the 7 mag is better. Its interesting to note that the elk killed with a single shot from 06 was a cow standing 500 yards away and the bullet, a 150 Remington core lock ([:@] terrible bullet for elk BTW) hit her behind the ear. That shot was a song and a prayer and the elk was dead before it hit the ground. Anyway go with the 7 mag.