30-06 VS 7MM REMINGTON MAGNUM

I have a question regarding rifle choice. There are several different brands and models of bolt-action rifles that I have looked at recently, and have narrowed the choice down to two that I like very much. I quickly passed on the economy models, because they just didn't measure up in quality. I want something that is worthy of at least some pride of ownership.

My question concerns choice of caliber. I want to include elk capability for the future, but plan on mule deer (with the possibility of whitetail) immediately. Both of the rifles I am interested in are available in 30-06 and 7mm Remington Magnum. I have read the comments on all of the cartridges mentioned on your website, and will be comfortable with whatever advise you can provide.

Jim W., South Dakota

What may seem like a minor question to ask becomes a big responsibility to answer. Both of the cartridges you mentioned have been used by thousands of successful deer and elk hunters for decades. Either of your choices are good. I have to think that what you'd really like to know is what would I choose. It would be the 30-06.

You see, I am a solid believer that frontal area plays a major role in initial impact and shock effect. To illustrate this, imagine a 6-5mm bullet of 160 grains impacting an elk. Such bullets are made, and they do penetrate very well. Now substitute that idea with a 30-caliber bullet of 165 grains impacting the elk. It will immediately expand to a much larger diameter than the 6.5 possibly could, and will still absolutely penetrate well into the vitals. The wound channel with the 30-06 will be much deadlier. I would expect, that in almost all cases, the elk will be down significantly quicker with the 30-caliber bullet, and that is the result you want. Quickly down, quickly field dressed, with the result of much better table fare.

Not too many people shoot the typically heaviest 175-grain bullets in their 7mm magnum rifles. Too bad. They thunk and thud noticeably harder than those that hover around 160 grains. Now take the 30-06. It is capable of around 2800 fps with 180-grain bullets. This is wallop plus penetration. Suppose you'll be hunting in an area where it is very unlikely that any shot will be taken at more than 250 yards. Then you can load up with 220-grain Nosler Partitions. The 7mm is left in the dust at this point.

Fans of the 7mm magnums have a lot to boast about. Among the on-paper advantages are the promises of flatter trajectory and of greater energy at extended distances. What I've found, with 800-plus-yard shots at coyote and in 600-yard match competition, is that the trajectory of the 30-06 is just dandy. Carlos Hathcock, the greatest American sniper of all time, won the 1000-yard Wimbledon with his 30-06, and then went on to Vietnam in a very different kind of competition. All bullets drop from the instant they leave the muzzle. How flat a trajectory do you need to be proficient? The use of the somewhat flatter shooting 7mm Remington Magnum will not make up the difference caused by lack of practice.

As far as energy is concerned, there has to be enough available to expand the bullet as it plows through flesh, muscle, and sometimes bone on its way to the vitals. A good dose of energy also helps to create shock, and helps the critter decide it can't move very far. The 30-06 has plenty of energy to handle the job on moose, and has done in many brown bear. It can handle elk just fine.

Some of the mostly unwritten advantages of the 30-06 over 7mm magnums include the widespread availability and reasonable price of ammunition, longer barrel life, inherent premium accuracy, increased magazine capacity in most rifles, super-slick feeding, and ease in reloading. Also, the efficiency is there, without particularly disturbing muzzle blast, even with a 22-inch barrel. It takes more than 26 inches of barrel to equal 30-06 powder burn-off efficiency with a 7mm Remington Magnum. Take a 24-inch barrel on a 30-06 and compare it to the frequently used 24-inch barrel on a 7mm Remington Magnum, and from a technical viewpoint you'll find the 30-06 has a huge efficiency advantage.

So there you have it. The highly efficient and superbly accurate 30-06 wins with me. In the Woodleigh Bullets Loading Manual (published in 2014), there is even mention of the 30-06 being used on buffalo. Woodleigh makes a 240-grain Protected-Point Soft Nose for the 30-06, which I have tried on a backstop of wet, packed soil and on cardboard boxes filled with tightly packed wet newspapers and magazines. At 2350 fps, it is a monster that leaves onlookers in stunned disbelief.

Whatever you choose, enjoy your rifle. Give us a call if you need any tuning tips, etc.

JDC