ccm352

I like my .30-06.. However my 300 win mag is fun too, not necessary, but fun!

BAMABUCKHUNTER03

So i wouldn't go wrong with a 30.06? There is a ton of ppl where i live that hunt with a 30.06. I originally had my mind set on a 7mm rem mag, but after reading up there is a few things that turns me off about the magnums. In the rifle i will be getting (browning a-bolt stainless stalker) the barrell is 4 inches longer and weighs more. I do alot of walking cutovers and stuff during the season i think that gun will get heavy after a while. Does anyone ballistics for your calibers, this way i can do a lil comparison.

Thanks, Bama

firstshot

BAMABUCKHUNTER03

No, you wouldn't go wrong with a 30-06. It is without a doubt one of the most virsitle calibers out there. If you handload, the range of bullets available is mind boggling and the same could be said for the variety of factory loaded ammo available.

With that said, I do a lot of still hunting / stalking and I wanted something in a light short action that had enough power for shots up to 300Yds.So, I sold my Browning BAR 30-06 this past spring and bought a Remington Mountain LSS in 7MM-08. This gun comes in stainless w/ laminated stock so I don't have to worry about bad weather. It is a light, easy carry, shoulders and points very well, has very light recoil, and is very accurate. I can shoot it all day, and have done so on several occasions. I handload and right out of the box this gun has shot everything I've fed it MOA or better at 100Yds. The only thing I've done to it is adjust the trigger weight.

Here is a pic. As far as I'm concerned, you're looking at the most perfect still hunting, stalking, walk-about, whitetail hunting machine on the market. (Some may dissagree...LOL)



Here are a couple of sites where you can do ballistic comparisons of factory loaded ammo. Both sites allow you to compare different caliber / bullet combinations. Just keep in mind that you are looking at factory loads. Even so, these sites will let you get a "feel" for the differences in performance of different caliber / bullet combinations.

Remington
http://www.remington.com/NR/exeres/000014d2dhzaqbajqdgkipen/RemArms+Product+Group.asp?NRMODE=Published&NRO RIGINALURL=%2fammo%2fballistics%2fballistics%2ehtm &NRNODEGUID=%7b4F84126C-5E11-4B1F-89E6-95AB18499B6A%7d&NRQUERYTERMINATOR=1&cookie %5Ftest=1

Federal
http://www.federalcartridge.com/default.asp?pg=27&firearm=1

Good luck with your decision.

firstshot
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Make your first shot count!

BAMABUCKHUNTER03

Does the 7mm 08 still have a good punch at 300 yards? I've heard good things about the 7mm 08 but have personally never shot one. My buddy, his grandpa has one and we are suppose to go and shoot it sometime.How well does it compare to the 30.06

mnbohunter

I shoot a 30-06 and love it. Easy to shoot, great ammo selection and you can't argue with its history. On deer, I don't think there is anything you can do with a 300 mag that you cant do with an 06.

firstshot

BAMABUCKHUNTER03

This year, I'll be hunting with a handloaded 154Grn Hornady Round Nose which starts out with a muzzle velocity of 2,845 FPS and 2,768 FtLbs out of a 22" barrel. At 300 Yds it will still be running 2,247 FPS and pushing 1,727 FtLbs. I would say that is a "good punch at 300Yds".

Looking at the Remington site (see link above), their 30-06 150 Grn Pointed Soft Point load has a muzzle velocity of 2,910 FPS and 2,820 FtLbs.At 300 Yds this load is running 2,083 FPS and pushing 1,445 FtLbs.

With my handload, I'm not giving up much if anything to the 30-06, but it's not really a fair comparison asmy loadis a fairly "Hot" handload.

With the factory comparison sites (see links above) the closest you can come to comparing same bullet weights in both calibers is a 140 Grn 7mm-08 to a 150 Grn 30-06.

At the Federal Site, comparing the 140Grn 7mm-08 Partition and Ballistic Tip to the 150 Grn30-06 Partition and Ballistic Tip, and averaging the velocities and FtLbsfrom muzzle to 300 Yds, the average difference in velocity was 20.75 FPS higher for the 30-06, andthe average difference in FtLbs was 186.25 FtLbs higher for the 30-06. A deer will never know the difference.

Again, you're not comparing apples to apples here with the 140Grn vs 150Gnr bullets. When it is all said and done, the 30-06 has a bigger case that can hold more powder and will therefore push a comparible weight bullet faster than a 7mm-08 can. The 30-06 can also shoot heavier bullets than the 7mm-08. (7mm-08 100Grn to 175Grn). (30-06 100 Grn to 220 Grn)

The 7MM-08 is a .308 case necked down to .284 (7mm). The 308 vs 30-06 discussion has been going on forever and will probably continue to do so. The bottom line is that for hunting up to 300 Yds, any of these calibers aremuch more than adequate for taking whitetails.

I think you're on the right track though. Getting lined up to go shoot your Buddie's Grandpa's 7mm-08 is the best thing you can do. I'm assuming that you've shot an 06 beforesince you know a bunch of folks that shoot them. You will find that the 7mm-08 is a sheer pleasure to shoot.

firstshot
-----------------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

fillae

I use a 7mm mag in the Browning A-Bolt. Great gun, great caliber. The biggest turn off on the mags are the recoil. If recoil is not a problem, the mags shoot flat. There is no doubt a 30-06, or a 270 can kill a deer at 300 yds, but I would prefer a flatter shooter at that distance. It's all about personal preference and practice.

James B

Quicksilver. To follow your reasoning a bit further, the 378 Weatherby would be even better. UMPH!!! Big Time.

NewinAr

I'm very surprised at the lack of love for the .308

Matthew V. (An outdoorsman)

.270