In my 20 years living in Alaska, I always used a 30-06, 45-70 or .416 RM depending on the hunt/situation but I had a good friend who used a 7mm RM every year to hunt black bears, grizzlies & Moose and that round worked great. He always bagged them with one shot, I was very impressed.
Just jumping to say hey 👋 I had a choice myself between a 416 RM and a 458 WM…. I went with the 416…. Out performs 458 with less recoil and muzzle blast 💥
So much of ballistics comparisons chase a rabbit down a hole. Sure, there are differences …. because there are design differences. It’s about marketing and sales. In reality, you could fire an oil dipstick and, if it’s placed in the heart area, it would do the job.
Lived in Alaska 37 years shot maybe 60 big game animals, these were my 2 favorite calibers. Used strictly the 06 toward the end of my Alaska hunting years..
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog No matter what your hunting in Alaska, you're in Grizzly country, so with the 7mm mag I always used a stout 175 grain bullet, and with the 06 a stout 180 grainer. I've killed about a dozen Bears, many Moose, Caribou, deer, mountain goats, etc. I dropped a B&C Caribou at a lasered 480 yards 30-06 180 grain failsafe through the ribs ( Swede lake near Paxon ) where we would see 5 Grizzlies every day. Indian Valley meats estimated the live weight at 525 pounds...
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog One other piece of info, I started shooting everything in the shoulder ( The hump on a Bear ) Bears, if you shoot them through the heart/lungs they can either run away or charge you before they die. Moose, They will run into the nearest pond/lake/river to die if you don't hit them in the shoulder and break them down on the first shot. Dahl Sheep/Mountain goat if they are near a cliff they will jump off if shot through the heart/lungs, etc...
I LOVE my 7mm Rem Mag!! 30-06 is a great round for sure, I have shot both for over 25 years, but bang for the buck, I can't find anything on planet earth that has the versatility of my muzzle braked Vanguard S1 chambered in 7mm Rem Mag. I hand load and shoot 1/4 MOA groups on a regular basis.
The 7 mag is a fantastic round, but I can think of places the extra magazine capacity, more compact size of the rifle ,particularly with your brake on the end of your already potentially longer barrel, plus the problems of the noise and concerns of where the pressure is blowing out of your brake, would give advantages to the 30-06. I have owned and hunted with both cartridges and personally, I don't think the 7 mag really warrants a brake, not that you can't put one on if you want, but I would not put one on a 7mm rem mag myself. Both are good cartridges and I used them where I felt they would work best.
I almost exclusively use a 30.06 for most everything. You can load it up or down depending on what you are hunting or expecting. I almost exclusively use Nosler Partitions sometimes factory and sometimes hand loads. When I have to up the game for say Brown Bear or large Black Bear I upgrade to a .35 Whelen still using Nosler Partitions in the 225/250 range. This has worked for 50 years or so.
Not sure why the 35 Whelan never really caught on. Remington added it to their model 700 line up back in the early 90s. Great round for game larger than deer in a “non-magnum” cartridge.
I have a good friend that lives in remote alaska He's killed 8 huge coastal brown bears and several black bears with just his 30-06 in over the last 50 yrs living on his homestead .he hamdloads 200 grain swift a frames or partitions .said most were 1 shot kills protecting his property from bear destruction . He Never used anything else nor felt the need for anything bigger .
Superb briefing. Very thorough and fact-filled. No sale-pitch there. Very objective. Offers options with equally balanced pros and cons. Thank you. Very useful if you wish to decide between the two.
Both great rounds. I own a rifle in both calibers. I use them both for deer hunting in northern Michigan. I know they are very close in performance inside 300 yds but I cant imagine not owning either one.
Do you guys ever shoot more than 100 yds in northern Michigan ? I was on the upper west coast of Michigan and it looked like all the trees would be an issue !
As originally loaded by Remington, the 7 mag. offered little improvement over a handloaded .280, .270 or 30-06. Jack O'Connor wrote a insightful article comparing the factory 7 mag., .280, and 7x57 while on safari in Africa. His conclusion was there was little difference in performance on game when hit in a critical area. He also felt the cartridge would prove verypopular.
Very good review. Nicely done. I don’t think you can go very wrong with either. I live in western Canada and I have had both and used them on deer, moose, elk and bear with no problems using good bullets and rifles. One thing not mentioned when talking about rifles was magazine capacity. Sako, Winchester and Sauer rifles all will hold 5 rounds in the 30-06 magazine. They will hold 4 in the 7Rem. Not a big deal I don’t think but in griz country where I hunt and see them every year, I opt to use my 06 in which I can pop in handloaded 220gr Nosler Part at +2500fps for camp defence or close encounters. It’s more psychological than anything but there is some comfort in a full magazine of those 220s and 5 rounds of firepower.
Having shot deer with both, I can say that the deer don't know the difference. I've never had a deer shot with a 7RM do anything except drop, a few of my 30-06 deer have run 30-40yds. Recoil seems about the same, give or take a bit, stock design is the important thing. The amount of meat loss can be excessive with either. Since I'm only hunting whitetails, I far prefer my 7x57. It'll match the '06 and 7RM at under 300yds and I never need anything past 250yds anyways so I'm set. Great review of two American favorites!
After reloading for my 6.5 prc 7 prc , 7 rem mag, my 338 win 270 Win I finally got to my 30-06. 178 Eldx going 2932 fps. It’s a beast. Way more than I thought. It’s has terminal ballistics past 1000 yards.
I have hunted most African game up to Eland with my 30 06. Had very good performance with Hornady 165 gr SST Superfomance on plains game at 150 plus meters and PMP 220gr for Bush hunting at less than 150 meters...
Well for Americans the 30/06 is kinda the first modern case designed for spritzer bullet that was designed by request of the US military they basically copied the German Mauser case exactly due to the Germans getting it right.
Good job. I thought that was one of the most factual, unbiased, professional videos I have ever seen on utube. Keep up the good work. 🖒🖒🖒 Oh, one thing you didn't mention, unless I missed it, the 30-06, in most rifles it is chambered in, has a larger magazine capacity, so if you are in a bind with a grizzly, I don't know if that will actually help you or not, but I know it would make me feel better to know I had an extra round or two, at the ready in the magazine, over the magnum cartridge, just in case I should need it.
I hunt with and like both. Forced to pick one I prefer the 06 here’s why… the 06 cost about $ .15 - $ .30 less to reload per round. The 06 kicks a little less. I fit one more 06 in the magazine. The 06 is a little less destructive, I have been hunting with the 06 for 46 years and the 7mm for 32 years. I don’t take game beyond 300 yards ( eyes are getting older) so terminal performance is not as important in fact both are a bit heavy for white tail. It has often been said, the 30/06 works for everting from moose to mouse.
I failed to mention in my comment 2 weeks prayer. I have taken my share of elk ( perhaps 12 -15) and Three brown’s with my 06 ..Two, one shot trophy kills and one angry sow intent on eating me and my elk. The errant sow absorbed three rounds. As a young hunter my grandfather taught me to load my first two rounds (180g partition) for elk and the rest (220g round nose) for fore more dangerous encounters. Fore rounds fired on this the most exciting hunt of my life.The first round cleanly took the elk, she dropped less than 30 feet from were she was hit. The second 180g (about 1/2 hr. Later) into the center of the sows chest a little low she spun around and resumed her charge. The next round is the first 220g it hit at the base of the neck destroying the top of one lung existing through the left ribs. The next and last round fired drove threw the right shoulder, right lung,and lodged in the spine finishing her. I often wondered if the lighter 7mm bullets would have been able to get the job done.
@@fdegeorge2000very cool!! It amazes me how you always have that one animal that can take 4-5 shots and still come at ya. Thanks for sharing your story
I own and hunted many times with both. Can't tell the difference in killing power on deer size game . Both are much more powerful than needed for deer hunting. As a shooter and hand loader I much prefer tñe 06. Magnum are a waste of gunpowder.but understand their advantage in long range shooting. The 06 gives a hunter everything he needs but we are Americans and use what we want.
i was reading an online post about an Alaskan guide that actually prefers if the hunters use 7mm rem mag or 3006 spring if they are more accurate with it over a 338 win mag or 375 h &h because they are more accurate and can get a better shot rather than flinching with the higher caliber bullets , i cant remember the article name at the moment ....
Great video and information.... I'm just getting caught up with yr videos.... And I'm enjoying them greatly.... Thank you. I Highly recommend Both. But the 30 06 has been with me for over 30 years. Has always done a great job with Remington Corlock and Federal Ammo...
I've shot those 22 accelerator rounds in the 30-06 and the results at the range were impressive, but I've never hunted with them. Have you actually used them on game?
I keep trying to replace my 1944 03-A4 but I can't bring myself to like anything else. Numerous whitetail, coyote , hog and a bobcat. ( I figured I didn't have to elaborate on the caliber or anything about the rifle) Has an old Redfield 1" tube 4x . My uncle bought it around 1960 NRA military surplus civilian sale , lightly sporterized , new stock and scope. Still shoots straight.
You missed the minor point that 3006 usually has 5 rounds in the magazine vs 3 for the 7mm. Probably only meaningful hunting grizzle or moose. The 06 is cheaper as far as ammo goes. I reccomend you have both, and use one as a backup.
I have both .30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag. In my experience and research the 7mm Rem Mag has the advantage. Better ballistics all around in terms of energy, better wind drift and trajectory, faster speeds with same or comparable recoil, and better SD meaning better penetration in theory.
Your right about paper ballistics and aerodynamics but can't forget the most important things that kill. Bullet size and weight sectional density which the 30-06 has the advantage in.
@@rockie307 You’re so wrong bro. The 7mm does way more damage then the 30-06. Look at the ballistics on real meat targets. The 7mm just pack so much energy! Shot both. I save a lot of meat with the 30-06. The 7mm just destroys a lot of meat
I love how you presented this with more fact than bias. I actually have both of these calibers. Hunting with them for me is more situational/rotational, than it is about which is the best. Two legendary calibers in their own right. I guess it's just preference. Two shoulder surgeries have put me into the softer kicking rounds for whitetail hunts, more often than these two. I put these two calibers on two huge hogs last year though. #Knockdowns Thanks for sharing the overlooked details of these calibers.
I really wish that they would start making a 30/06+P the 06 tends to not shine as well as it should against others based off the same case because of the lower pressure than the newer cartridges based off the same case. It also is often a bit underloaded. The one thing that often gets missed is that larger bore diameter does offer more power than a small bore if pressure is kept the same. The common trend of necking a cartridge down for a flatter shooting gun is often not understood well. This tends to lead to actual larger drops in power than is realized since unless the barrel is long enough to fully use the powder volume the speed often comes from just large drops in bullet weight. If loaded to the same pressure and loaded with 130 grain bullets with both shot out of 24" barrels or even 22" the results might be surprising. That said I am a fan of 7mm over .30 cal. I feel that 7mm performs best ballistically for a cartridge in these classes. If heavier bullets are needed then it is probably best to move further up bore diameter to give better stopping power.
I had a Remington 700 LSS in 7mm rem mag. When I was looking at it there was an identical rifle in 30-06. I opted for the 7 for the possibility of heading out for elk and wanted the better range. As far as recoil goes my cousin had a 30-06 and said that the 7 was easier to shoot than his was.
I myself lean to the 06, but the 7mm rem mag is a very good cartridge also. The 280 AI ranks pretty much right with it though, or close enough, and has the added advantage of extra magazine capacity!! 😉😆
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog That depends. If I lived or hunted consistently in Alaska, it would be a 338 Win Mag. Otherwise I would get a 280 Remington or a 25-06 and shoot 140 Accubonds or 115/120 Partitions respectively. My preference would be the 280 since I killed my first mule deer buck and antelope buck with a 280.
Maybe I'm stupid but, when you compare the 7mm vs the .06 with similar bullet weights (ie.7mm 175 vs 178 for .06) the 30-06 out performed the 7mm by a fair amount.Plus the less recoil for the 30-06 seems like someone is trying to sell 7mm due to an agenda versus being neutral . Very good info, it solidified my preference for the 30-06.
You're not stupid and there's nothing wrong with the 30-06. You do need to watch this other video I made about the specific 175gr vs 178gr comparison though: www.patreon.com/posts/right-way-to-69551196
Les Bowman necked down a 338 case to 280, first dies were called 280-338. Les guide 2 people from Remington and they shot this round (Mike Walker) and presented it to Remington and in 1962 Remington sold it as the 7MM Rem Mag.
There is a significant cost to the improved performance of 7mm REM. Mag vs. 30-06: amount of powder used. A quick look at my Hornady manual shows 50-55 grains for a max load of 175-180 bullets but 60-70 grains for 7mm REM Mag. The more I look at cartridge comparisons, the more I ask myself “is the incremental performance worth the cost?” Often the amount of powder used and/or recoil is the cost. A few of the newer cartridges really seem to shine. 7mm PRC hits a sweet spot. So does 6.8 Western. However, for 300 yards and in 270 Winchester and 308 Winchester are real contenders. Rifles and ammo are available, handloads can enhance performance, and improved projectiles make them more effective than ever.
You ask a great question: are the gains in speed/ballistic coefficient/bullet weight worth it? 280 Ackley Improved is a “better” cartridge than 270 Winchester or 7mm-08, but are the incremental gains worth switching to a quasi-wildcat cartridge? Is 7 Rem Mag worth the higher cost of ammunition and barrel life?
It's all about ammo availability. Here in Australia there are 20 different factory loads available off the shelf up to 225gn for the 30-06, but only 10 stopping at 150gn for the 7mm RM. So to get the best hunting load for the 7RM which is a 175gn soft point, you have to hand load. And thats just a pain in the arse here with our gun laws. Heck, there are only a couple of ranges down here that permit magnum cartridges to be fired at all.
A dozen or so years ago I was looking for a basic hunting rifle for use anywhere in North America, and I narrowed it down to a handful: 30-06, 270, 280, 284, & 7mm Rem Mag. I came upon a previously babied A-Bolt Medallion in 7mm Rem Mag, and I bought it. With that in hand, I have no real need for the others. If I had found any of the others first, they would have also rendered the others unnecessary. No NA beast is gonna care which one you use.
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog Ammo selection depends on the animal and the anticipated range, and every factory load shoots differently, so zero the rifle based on the distance at which you think you'll be taking the shot with the ammo you'll be using. That's general wisdom that applies to any cartridge, not just 7mm Rem Mag. My use case for the rifle is something other than hunting as we typically know it, something more hypothetical and post-apocalyptic, but the principles involved are comparable.
I have both, I prefer the 30-06. Although I feel like the 7mm would be better for long range, where I'm from long range of 300 yards so nah,30-06 winner
I have no knowledge regarding long range shooting/ targetshooting but i am fortunate enough to have about 40 + years of hunting experience and i have hunted basically everything in afrika exept for elephant , lion and leopard and some antilope that does occur in my part of the world. I dont readily get into conversations about what is the best hunting round because at the end of the day they all do the exact same thing and that is to bring home the meat but i will say this : i personally think that Americans like velocity way too much , for hunting velocity are not your friend it wastes way to much meat end of story. I also think that there is no such a thing as the perfect calibre but in saying that i think that you can get pretty close. In our bushveld ,hunting ranges usually varys from as close as 25 yards to around 150 yards , if for instance you hunt at this distance with a 300 win mag you will end up with a carcass thats basically shot to shit and you will probably end up with only the hind quarters and the front quarters most definately will become dogfood. Slow and heavy is the trick here and one of the best combinations i have ever found for the bushveld was a 308win shooting 200 gr bullets at around 2050 fps. Having said that in our open areas like the karoo or kalahari where shooting distance usually range from 250 yards to maybe 450 yards with 300 yards being probably the average, the fast magnum type calibres are mostly still to fast and still waste to much meat. At the moment my preferred rifle is in 30 -06 loaded at 2650 fps with 180 gr bullets , in the bushveld it does have a tendency to waste a bit of extra meat but i can also go hunt the karoo or kalahari with that same rifle and here it realy shines as a meat preserver. All in all amerikans created a almost perfect cartridge for hunting over 100 years ago in the 30-06 springfield and the germans did the same with the 7x57 mauser even longer back than that. Trajectory is the reason why most people favour fast calibres but i just dont buy it because at the end of the day what does 2 or 3 inches more bullet drop at 300 to 400 yards really matter? I would rather aim that 2 or 3 inches higher and have more edible meat to fill my freezer.
Americans tend to shoot at longer ranges on game than in Africa. So it's no surprise they bring magnums to Africa. Also most aren't hunting as way of solely provided meat for the table but rather a way to supplement the meat they buy at a grocery store. I can say personally if I had a rifle chambered in something faster than my .308 shooting 180gr bullets I'd would've had a 8pt buck on the ground at 220 yards in 2006. At that distance the bullet grazed the lower chest taking some fur with it on a frontal shot. So sure we all say we'd aim a few inches higher with bigger slower bullets but a bad judgement call on distance or a bad reading on a range finder (or in my case the crosshairs were too low on the chest) could prove to be crucial and a faster bullet gives more room for error and in turn more meat in the freezer.
You have hit the nail squarely on the head. Even the original 130 grain 270 Winchester at 3100 fps was known as a meat destroyer. Load the 150 grain in either 270 or 30-06 down to around 2800 and they shoot almost as flat, they're just as deadly at any ethical shooting distance and if you take that shoulder shot you're going to have more meat left. Better yet, try to get that heart/lung shot and have a lot more meat left.
I always have trouble finding 7 mag… Academies in the Dallas area are always out- but recently I was in a Walmart of all places, thought I’d check their selection while I was there, and they just happened to have one box left 😂
I’m in Dallas also and noticed that 7mm is not always available but 30.06 is and I think we use the .06 more here in Texas so that might be why we don’t see much 7mm
I have a Ruger 77 mark 2 7mm rifle. It is incredibly accurate but it kicks like a mule!!! It’s hard to shoot more than 15 rounds in one sit… That being said I wouldn’t trade it for the world!!! A beautiful shooting rifle!!!
The 175 gn Rem Mag and the 178 gn 30-06 both have a MV of 2750, yet the bullet drop after 500 yards is less for the 30-06 than for the 7mm Rem Mag? Then surely like-for-like bullets weren’t used. The bullet drop should be more for the 30-06, due to lower BC?
As I state in the video, I compared loads using light for caliber bullets (140gr and 150gr Winchester Extreme Points), heavy for caliber bullets (175gr and 200gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claws), and heavy for caliber, exceptionally aerodynamic bullets (162gr and 178gr ELD-X) bullets for each cartridge. So yes, the 30-06 load using a 178gr ELD-X has less bullet drop than the 175gr TBBC because it uses a completely different bullet type with a much higher BC (.552 vs .407). When comparing the same bullet types, the 7mm 175gr TBBC has a higher BC than the 200gr TBBC (.407 vs .395), the 7mm 162gr ELD-X has a higher BC than the 178gr ELD-X (.602 vs .552) and the 7mm Extreme Point has a higher BC than the 150gr Extreme Point (.484 vs .392).
I am new to rifle hunting and have recently purchased a 6.5 PRC. I intend to hunt mostly in Colorado, too include elk, and I am looking to purchase a second rifle. What would you recommend? I do not think I want a 300 WinMag. I am also considering a 45-70 for a hunting in the timber. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Great video!
There are A LOT of factors that should be taken into consideration for purchasing an ideal hunting rifle depending on the game you're hunting, the conditions you'll be hunting under, your budget, personal preferences, etc. With that in mind, it's really hard for me to go into enough detail in a TH-cam video comment. However, I've created a comprehensive training program that will help you decide EXACTLY what rifle set-up is best for your individual situation. It's called Hunting Guns 101. In that training, I show you my proven method for determining what sort of performance you need from your hunting rifle on a particular hunt, and I show you how to sort through all the confusing techno-babble and marketing jargon out there to prioritize the correct rifle, sighting system, and ammunition characteristics that will work in concert with each other to deliver that performance you’re looking for. This framework will work regardless of whether you're hunting deer and elk in Colorado, traveling to Alaska for moose and bear, or flying to Africa to go on safari. Check it out at huntingguns101.com/order
I think with the great loads we have today for the 45/70 it’s better then ever and would complement your 6.5 PRC. Short to mid range hammer and a long range scalpel. That should meet any big game hunting need you could have. Then get you a good flat shooting round like .223 , 22-250 for varmints and your set good luck
I read your post you would be happy with a thirty-ought-six very easy to get ammo at any store in any country or state manageable recoil yes it does kick but it's not going to hurt your shoulder to where you're uncomfortable 30 ought 6 is very versatile been around a long time not going anywhere either
Hey everyone, my name’s Christian, 22 in NJ but will be hunting w/a center fire rifle in PA eventually. Although I’ve been target shooting all my life, I wanted to start hunting therefore searching for a bolt action hunting rifle that I can pass down to my future generations. I’ve narrowed down my preferences to 1. Ruger American (100% USA made) 2. Winchester Model 70 3. Mauser M18 Reason for these 3 is (budget; sub $1,000) but also heard all three are fairly reliable for the money. As for chamberings, I’ve decided to go with the .270 WSM over 30-06 (even tho can’t go wrong with either, I’m primarily just hunting deer for now). My Question is this: I want a reliable, durable hunting rifle I can pass down each generation that isn’t ridiculously overpriced and chambered in highly available ammo despite the shortage (30-06 might have the .270 beat but I’ve read conflicting reviews) I’ve also heard about this 7mm rem but don’t know much about it compared to the other two cartridges so decided to stick with those. Anyway as for rifles, any suggestions out of the 3 brands I’ve listed above that would be well suited for generational pass downs? As in, would I be better off with old reliable Win Model 70? A more modern Ruger American or Mauser M18? It’s the gun Industry so I e learned everything is a preference but I am curious for anyone’s thoughts on the matter. Thank you for any all suggestions! God Bless
I think those are all good rifles, but I'd go with the Model 70 if you want something a little nicer that will probably last longer. Between the 270 WSM and 30-06, there's absolutely no question on availability: the 30-06 wins hands down, during both normal times and during shortages like we're experiencing now. If you meant the 270 Winchester instead of the 270 WSM, then both the 270 and 30-06 are very similar in availability most of the time (both are probably in the top 5 most popular centerfire rifle cartridges in the USA). If it were me, I'd go with the 30-06 for the most flexibility in use. Both are excellent for deer, but I think the 30-06 is better for bigger game like elk and/or moose if you ever get the opportunity to hunt them. Not to say that the 270 won't cut it, but I just think the 30-06 is better. Like I said though, both are excellent cartridges and will work really well for all sorts of hunting situations. Hope this helps!
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog that helped tremendously, much appreciated! In fact I’ve decided to go with the Model 70! Seen an ongoing dispute b/w pre/post 64 models and push vs controlled feed however heard recent models are as close to pre 64 quality as possible. I’ve watching a bid for a 73 model, but tryna decide if I should bid for that or outright buy a current feather wgt model. Again preferences, preferences! Thanks again for your input, def helped!
@@afloatprune8781 I had about the same decision to make years ago and went with a beautiful wood stocked Reminton 700 CDL in 30-06. Love the wood stocks and didn't want to pass any old plain Jane plastic rifle down to my son someday. Given your list the Winchester 70 was a no brainer, hope you enjoy it for many years to come!
If you haven't made a move yet, for a PA deer hunt, you can't go wrong with a Winchester Model 70, cal. 30-06. The rifle is high quality suitable for an heirloom and the caliber is suitable for everything up to a Maine moose hunt.
The two cartriges are much closer in energy tham mamy people are aware . Shootimg flatter at distamce doent mean a damn thimg if you kmow your bullet hold over drop dope from 400 yds and beyond.that just means at 400,500 and 600 yds a 7 mag shootsrs hold over marks are only a little closer together than a 30-06 . The 30-06 shootimg the 210 grain nosler accubomd LR bullet has over 1900+ ft lbs of energy at 600 yds at my humtimg elebation of 7000 ft . Stick that in yer pipe and smole it .amd all that from a non magmum cartrige It hangs with 7mm mag very closely . It also has a larger fromtal mushroom diaandd makes bigger holes With heavy high bc accubomds it is now a legitimate 700 yd elk rifle . Nothing agaimst 7mm mag But the old warhorse still shimes
Takes up space unnecessarily. The belts are a remnant of a different time and old design. Modern magnum rounds don't use them. Not implying in any way that the popular belted magnums aren't great, just saying they're older technology.
IIHO if you own a 30/06 or 7mm RM the performance of each on game inside 300 yds is equal. To get more performance you need to step up to the 7mm Weatherby Mag or 300 Win Mag. That being said dead isn’t by degrees. A dead Elk from any of the four cartridges are equally dead.
What about to 4-500? I might be moving up to Montana and I definitely need something bigger than a .223 for elk. Talking to some hunters up there it sounds like 4-500 is a longer shot on elk. I’ve shot 30-06 before, no experience with 7mm mag.
It's appropriate to compare bullets of the same weight when you're comparing two cartridges of the same caliber (bullet diameter). However, that's not the best way to do things when comparing two cartridges with different diameter bullets. In that case, it's best to compare "light" bullets for each caliber to each other as well as "heavy" bullets for each caliber to each other. Additionally, care should also be taken to compare bullets of similar construction to each other: ELD-X bullets vs ELD-X bullets, etc (NOT ELD-X vs Trophy Bonded Bear Claw Bullets). You can learn more about this here: www.patreon.com/posts/69551196
Those are pretty standard factory loads. Where are you getting your ammo? I have 4 different reloading manuals and the fastest load they have for a 160gr bullet is right at 3,100fps. I'd need to drop down to a 140gr or a 150gr bullet to get 3,200fps with any of their recommended loads.
7mm magnum is the best all around cartridge for ALL big game properly loaded. Lite loaded factory loads are made for low recoil and less meat destruction. You can hand load bulky filler gun powder for light loads. Or spherical ball powder to fill the case with heavy bullets. Best all around cartridge.
To bad it can't shoot 200 gr. bullets. To light on top end to be all around. Barrel life sucks about 400 rounds. Good long range deer cartridge at best. With 150 and 160 gr. bul.. Not big enough for large bears on the upper end even with 175gr.bullets. not best all around cartridge. Read the reload data don't take my word for it. Good luck and good hunting.
@@wadeparker6091Brown bear using Nosler Partion 175 grain bullets have been dropped. Bob Hagle did a lot of hunting with this and 338 Winchester magnum. Bob Hagel wrote that the 7mm Remington magnum and 338 Winchester magnum showed the deepest penetration of all cartridges he used hunting. Nothing else was even close.
Why are people always comparing the 7mm Remington mag to the 3006 , why not the 300 Winchester mag . Compare the 280 Remington to the 3006 ,you know another standard caliber. 3006 isn't a magnum .
People make that comparison because the 7mm Rem Mag was originally designed as an improved alternative to the 30-06. And yes, I also compared the 7mm Rem Mag to the .300 Win Mag here: th-cam.com/video/tpEBOXR0rEI/w-d-xo.html
@@skyeshore5704 good point. as evidence, compare 280 Ackley Improved to 7mm RM. The former is launched from a 30-06 case with a 40º shoulder. nobody would call the 280 AI a magnum, but it stands toe-to-toe with 7mm RM.
7mm rem mag is the best all around cartridge in the world. It actually shoots flatter and holds energy better than 300 win mag at long ranges. Anyways I own a 30-06 too. I’ve shot 1/2 inch thick plate with the 7mm rem mag and it went straight through it like cutting through butter and came out on the other side. I tried the same thing with the 30-06 and it did not make it through the 1/2 inch thick steel plate. That’s just with regular lead hunting loads. Maybe AP bullets in the 30-06 would have made it through. So there’s the difference. Also if a charging grizzly was coming at me I’d prefer the 7mm magnum because of the deeper penetration. The 7mm magnum would actually do more internal tissue damage on a large bear than what the 30-06 would. Not bashing the 30-06 I like it and it will get the job done. I’m just saying the 7mm rem magnum is ahead of the 30-06. Simple as that.
Don't forget the most important things that kill big animals. Bullet diameter and weight. 7mm will slightly win the paper ballistics aerodynamics contest. 30-06 will always fire bigger heavier higher sectional density bullets. Both max out even with 3200 ft pounds at the muzzle with top loads but remember the bullet is what actually kills. 300 wsm has all the pros of both its got big 30 bullets but 7mm ballistics. Also 300 wsm is a short action. Beating both out of a shorter lighter rifle. If you want the advantages of both 300 wsm great choice.
400 yards in I’m taking 30-06 every time, 180 grain Nosler Partition which retains over 85% of its weight cannot be beat, he also forgets to tell you that 30-06 comes in 24 & 26 inch barrels as well in some brands, 30-06 way more versatile & the big thing is 20% more bullet frontal diameter & yes that’s a big FKN deal when it comes to the “killing part” , over 400 yard shots I’m using 300 Weatherby Magnum anyway, would never consider 7mm mag shooting that far. 7mm Mag is a good rifle but it’s overrated & expensive to shoot, when it came out it was supposed be the end of the 30-06, LOL!!! There are more 30-06 rifles sold than any other caliber, with modern powder & bullet variations it’s only gotten better & better.
For me the best is the 270 not mention here, with a 3006 case and smaller bullet with less recoil and flatter trajectory than the 3006, and a lot less powder than the 7mm Mag , the 270 its the best all around cartridge for the lower 48.
LOL, within 300 yards they are comparable with similar lead...did you listen to the video? Bottom line is the only time 7mm makes a difference is after 400 yards...hardly running rings
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog I believe he has talken big game..rabbits, squirrels and the ever deadly and hard to put down ground hog. Sorry had to be snarky when comments like made after a 30 minute video explaining the pro's and con's. My whole take away is whichever your choice your in good shape as long as you can shoot it well
@@williamrauch4464 that's why i always try to steer newbs away from magnum cartridges. they don't have the skill to take advantage of what you can get from a magnum. further, non premium ammo frequently doesn't hold up well at "magnum" impact velocities. and in actual fact, 300 WM is only about 100 yards "better" than 30-06. nearly all modern, bottle neck cartridges are "flat shooting" out to ~300 yards, some a bit further, some a bit shorter.
I don’t think elk, moose or other game animals would know the difference, especially when their ass hits the ground before any other body part does by a well placed bullet from either one of the cartridges!
10 gr more powder, magnum primers, more felt recoil and shorter barrel life.... had a 7 and unloaded it. Not worth it to me. Made zero difference to deer I hit with them both.
if you can't kill it with a 270 maybe hunting is not your thing! Any doubt get the H&H. lol or machine gun... I use a 12 gauge for everything..My cousin uses arrows....he doesn't worry about recoil no loud noise lots of sneaking around....and the game gets harvested...
That particular 175gr 7mm bullet is not especially aerodynamic (.407 BC), but that 178gr 30-06 load uses one of the most aerodynamic bullets available in the 30-06 (.552 BC). They both have the same muzzle velocity and almost identical weights, so yeah, the 30-06 will definitely outperform the 7mm in this particular case.
As big game hunting blog pointed out, the 178 is a particularly well designed bullet for 30 cal. That 175 grain is probably a round nose hunting bullet with a flat base.
Winchester factory 30-06 190 gr accubond lr starts out with 3200 ft pounds and carrys more energy than the 7mm mag to 300 where the 7mm slowly starts to take over. 30-06 has some good factory loads available the 7mm mag fans always pick the old original weak loads to compare. At hunting ranges 400 yards or less not a significant difference. Both have slight pros and cons but not much difference really.
Why does everybody turn their videos into the same ole song and dance history lesson. So to compare these cartridges we must start when Adam and Eve were created Blah blah
Get my Free E-Book on the best hunting calibers here:
thebiggamehuntingblog.com/ebook
In my 20 years living in Alaska, I always used a 30-06, 45-70 or .416 RM depending on the hunt/situation but I had a good friend who used a 7mm RM every year to hunt black bears, grizzlies & Moose and that round worked great. He always bagged them with one shot, I was very impressed.
What made you choose 416 over 458 win mag?
Did you use 375hh at all
Just jumping to say hey 👋 I had a choice myself between a 416 RM and a 458 WM…. I went with the 416…. Out performs 458 with less recoil and muzzle blast 💥
So much of ballistics comparisons chase a rabbit down a hole. Sure, there are differences …. because there are design differences. It’s about marketing and sales. In reality, you could fire an oil dipstick and, if it’s placed in the heart area, it would do the job.
My old man has had a 7mm rem for as long as i can remember. Its his favorite gun next to his ppk. Both were gifts to himself.
Lived in Alaska 37 years shot maybe 60 big game animals, these were my 2 favorite calibers. Used strictly the 06 toward the end of my Alaska hunting years..
Very interesting. Can you give some more specifics on what all you hunted with each cartridge and what ammo you used?
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog No matter what your hunting in Alaska, you're in Grizzly country, so with the 7mm mag I always used a stout 175 grain bullet, and with the 06 a stout 180 grainer. I've killed about a dozen Bears, many Moose, Caribou, deer, mountain goats, etc. I dropped a B&C Caribou at a lasered 480 yards 30-06 180 grain failsafe through the ribs ( Swede lake near Paxon ) where we would see 5 Grizzlies every day. Indian Valley meats estimated the live weight at 525 pounds...
Very interesting. When you say bears, were they a mix of black and brown/grizzly bears?
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog Yes, All species except Polar Bears..
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog One other piece of info, I started shooting everything in the shoulder ( The hump on a Bear ) Bears, if you shoot them through the heart/lungs they can either run away or charge you before they die. Moose, They will run into the nearest pond/lake/river to die if you don't hit them in the shoulder and break them down on the first shot. Dahl Sheep/Mountain goat if they are near a cliff they will jump off if shot through the heart/lungs, etc...
The .30-06 is legendary. It can do more now with premium ammo, new powders, and bullets than it could WHEN it became legendary. I will stay with it.
I LOVE my 7mm Rem Mag!! 30-06 is a great round for sure, I have shot both for over 25 years, but bang for the buck, I can't find anything on planet earth that has the versatility of my muzzle braked Vanguard S1 chambered in 7mm Rem Mag. I hand load and shoot 1/4 MOA groups on a regular basis.
What all have you hunted with your 7mm Mag?
The 7 mag is a fantastic round, but I can think of places the extra magazine capacity, more compact size of the rifle ,particularly with your brake on the end of your already potentially longer barrel, plus the problems of the noise and concerns of where the pressure is blowing out of your brake, would give advantages to the 30-06. I have owned and hunted with both cartridges and personally, I don't think the 7 mag really warrants a brake, not that you can't put one on if you want, but I would not put one on a 7mm rem mag myself. Both are good cartridges and I used them where I felt they would work best.
I almost exclusively use a 30.06 for most everything. You can load it up or down depending on what you are hunting or expecting. I almost exclusively use Nosler Partitions sometimes factory and sometimes hand loads. When I have to up the game for say Brown Bear or large Black Bear I upgrade to a .35 Whelen still using Nosler Partitions in the 225/250 range. This has worked for 50 years or so.
Not sure why the 35 Whelan never really caught on. Remington added it to their model 700 line up back in the early 90s. Great round for game larger than deer in a “non-magnum” cartridge.
I have a good friend that lives in remote alaska
He's killed 8 huge coastal brown bears and several black bears with just his 30-06 in over the last 50 yrs living on his homestead .he hamdloads 200 grain swift a frames or partitions .said most were 1 shot kills protecting his property from bear destruction .
He Never used anything else nor felt the need for anything bigger .
@@jamiehurtt3530yeah these by the number paper comparisons aren’t all they’re cracked up to be .
Superb briefing. Very thorough and fact-filled. No sale-pitch there. Very objective. Offers options with equally balanced pros and cons. Thank you. Very useful if you wish to decide between the two.
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Which one do you lean towards personally?
Both great rounds. I own a rifle in both calibers. I use them both for deer hunting in northern Michigan. I know they are very close in performance inside 300 yds but I cant imagine not owning either one.
Do you guys ever shoot more than 100 yds in northern Michigan ? I was on the upper west coast of Michigan and it looked like all the trees would be an issue !
This is my thinking as well. I own two .30-06 rifles now I am wanting a 7mm.
Which has more of a recoil?
As originally loaded by Remington, the 7 mag. offered little improvement over a handloaded .280, .270 or 30-06. Jack O'Connor wrote a insightful article comparing the factory 7 mag., .280, and 7x57 while on safari in Africa. His conclusion was there was little difference in performance on game when hit in a critical area. He also felt the cartridge would prove verypopular.
Very good review. Nicely done. I don’t think you can go very wrong with either. I live in western Canada and I have had both and used them on deer, moose, elk and bear with no problems using good bullets and rifles. One thing not mentioned when talking about rifles was magazine capacity. Sako, Winchester and Sauer rifles all will hold 5 rounds in the 30-06 magazine. They will hold 4 in the 7Rem. Not a big deal I don’t think but in griz country where I hunt and see them every year, I opt to use my 06 in which I can pop in handloaded 220gr Nosler Part at +2500fps for camp defence or close encounters. It’s more psychological than anything but there is some comfort in a full magazine of those 220s and 5 rounds of firepower.
My Ruger no1 is 7mm Remington magnum and my Browning blr is 7mm08 and I love them both.
Having shot deer with both, I can say that the deer don't know the difference. I've never had a deer shot with a 7RM do anything except drop, a few of my 30-06 deer have run 30-40yds.
Recoil seems about the same, give or take a bit, stock design is the important thing. The amount of meat loss can be excessive with either.
Since I'm only hunting whitetails, I far prefer my 7x57. It'll match the '06 and 7RM at under 300yds and I never need anything past 250yds anyways so I'm set.
Great review of two American favorites!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
After reloading for my 6.5 prc 7 prc , 7 rem mag, my 338 win 270 Win I finally got to my 30-06.
178 Eldx going 2932 fps. It’s a beast. Way more than I thought. It’s has terminal ballistics past 1000 yards.
I have hunted most African game up to Eland with my 30 06. Had very good performance with Hornady 165 gr SST Superfomance on plains game at 150 plus meters and PMP 220gr for Bush hunting at less than 150 meters...
It just goes to show how successful the 30-06 is when everyone compares other calibers to the 30-06.
Well for Americans the 30/06 is kinda the first modern case designed for spritzer bullet that was designed by request of the US military they basically copied the German Mauser case exactly due to the Germans getting it right.
@@JoeWayne84 not exactly. The German mauser case is noticeably smaller than the 30-06.
Good job. I thought that was one of the most factual, unbiased, professional videos I have ever seen on utube. Keep up the good work. 🖒🖒🖒 Oh, one thing you didn't mention, unless I missed it, the 30-06, in most rifles it is chambered in, has a larger magazine capacity, so if you are in a bind with a grizzly, I don't know if that will actually help you or not, but I know it would make me feel better to know I had an extra round or two, at the ready in the magazine, over the magnum cartridge, just in case I should need it.
I hunt with and like both. Forced to pick one I prefer the 06 here’s why… the 06 cost about $ .15 - $ .30 less to reload per round. The 06 kicks a little less. I fit one more 06 in the magazine. The 06 is a little less destructive, I have been hunting with the 06 for 46 years and the 7mm for 32 years. I don’t take game beyond 300 yards ( eyes are getting older) so terminal performance is not as important in fact both are a bit heavy for white tail. It has often been said, the 30/06 works for everting from moose to mouse.
I failed to mention in my comment 2 weeks prayer. I have taken my share of elk ( perhaps 12 -15) and Three brown’s with my 06 ..Two, one shot trophy kills and one angry sow intent on eating me and my elk. The errant sow absorbed three rounds. As a young hunter my grandfather taught me to load my first two rounds (180g partition) for elk and the rest (220g round nose) for fore more dangerous encounters. Fore rounds fired on this the most exciting hunt of my life.The first round cleanly took the elk, she dropped less than 30 feet from were she was hit. The second 180g (about 1/2 hr. Later) into the center of the sows chest a little low she spun around and resumed her charge. The next round is the first 220g it hit at the base of the neck destroying the top of one lung existing through the left ribs. The next and last round fired drove threw the right shoulder, right lung,and lodged in the spine finishing her. I often wondered if the lighter 7mm bullets would have been able to get the job done.
@@fdegeorge2000very cool!! It amazes me how you always have that one animal that can take 4-5 shots and still come at ya. Thanks for sharing your story
I bought the Sako 85 SS in 7mm rem mag. I love it more than my other Sako, .270!
I own and hunted many times with both. Can't tell the difference in killing power on deer size game . Both are much more powerful than needed for deer hunting. As a shooter and hand loader I much prefer tñe 06. Magnum are a waste of gunpowder.but understand their advantage in long range shooting. The 06 gives a hunter everything he needs but we are Americans and use what we want.
i was reading an online post about an Alaskan guide that actually prefers if the hunters use 7mm rem mag or 3006 spring if they are more accurate with it over a 338 win mag or 375 h &h because they are more accurate and can get a better shot rather than flinching with the higher caliber bullets , i cant remember the article name at the moment ....
for bears that is in Alaska
I would think the recoil of the 7mm and the 06 would be more manageable than the other two cartridges.
.300 wm still my all time favorite
Great video and information.... I'm just getting caught up with yr videos.... And I'm enjoying them greatly.... Thank you. I Highly recommend Both. But the 30 06 has been with me for over 30 years. Has always done a great job with Remington Corlock and Federal Ammo...
Can use a 22 accelerator round in 30-06 and shoots at 4000 FPS muzzle velo. Also handloads 30/06 more options
I've shot those 22 accelerator rounds in the 30-06 and the results at the range were impressive, but I've never hunted with them. Have you actually used them on game?
I keep trying to replace my 1944 03-A4 but I can't bring myself to like anything else. Numerous whitetail, coyote , hog and a bobcat. ( I figured I didn't have to elaborate on the caliber or anything about the rifle) Has an old Redfield 1" tube 4x . My uncle bought it around 1960 NRA military surplus civilian sale , lightly sporterized , new stock and scope. Still shoots straight.
You missed the minor point that 3006 usually has 5 rounds in the magazine vs 3 for the 7mm. Probably only meaningful hunting grizzle or moose. The 06 is cheaper as far as ammo goes. I reccomend you have both, and use one as a backup.
That is indeed a good point about magazine capacity. Thanks for the reminder!
Well you should always pack a good bear gun side arm! A rifle wont do shit in brush anyways
Good point William
I have both .30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag. In my experience and research the 7mm Rem Mag has the advantage. Better ballistics all around in terms of energy, better wind drift and trajectory, faster speeds with same or comparable recoil, and better SD meaning better penetration in theory.
Thankfully you said in theory
Your right about paper ballistics and aerodynamics but can't forget the most important things that kill. Bullet size and weight sectional density which the 30-06 has the advantage in.
@@rockie307 You’re so wrong bro. The 7mm does way more damage then the 30-06. Look at the ballistics on real meat targets. The 7mm just pack so much energy! Shot both. I save a lot of meat with the 30-06. The 7mm just destroys a lot of meat
Not to mention barrel life on 30 aught 6 is almost double to that 7mm
@@SubwooferKing100 what actual bullet you are using in either cartridge, makes a huge difference in terminal effect or tissue damage.
I love how you presented this with more fact than bias. I actually have both of these calibers. Hunting with them for me is more situational/rotational, than it is about which is the best. Two legendary calibers in their own right. I guess it's just preference. Two shoulder surgeries have put me into the softer kicking rounds for whitetail hunts, more often than these two. I put these two calibers on two huge hogs last year though. #Knockdowns Thanks for sharing the overlooked details of these calibers.
I really wish that they would start making a 30/06+P the 06 tends to not shine as well as it should against others based off the same case because of the lower pressure than the newer cartridges based off the same case. It also is often a bit underloaded.
The one thing that often gets missed is that larger bore diameter does offer more power than a small bore if pressure is kept the same. The common trend of necking a cartridge down for a flatter shooting gun is often not understood well. This tends to lead to actual larger drops in power than is realized since unless the barrel is long enough to fully use the powder volume the speed often comes from just large drops in bullet weight. If loaded to the same pressure and loaded with 130 grain bullets with both shot out of 24" barrels or even 22" the results might be surprising.
That said I am a fan of 7mm over .30 cal. I feel that 7mm performs best ballistically for a cartridge in these classes. If heavier bullets are needed then it is probably best to move further up bore diameter to give better stopping power.
I had a Remington 700 LSS in 7mm rem mag. When I was looking at it there was an identical rifle in 30-06. I opted for the 7 for the possibility of heading out for elk and wanted the better range. As far as recoil goes my cousin had a 30-06 and said that the 7 was easier to shoot than his was.
My dad always hunted his hole life till he passed away with the 30-06 and he shot lots of game with it
I myself lean to the 06, but the 7mm rem mag is a very good cartridge also. The 280 AI ranks pretty much right with it though, or close enough, and has the added advantage of extra magazine capacity!! 😉😆
Great video! If I was assembling a two gun big game arsenal these cartridges would be it.
What would you get in addition to these two if you wanted a 3 gun big game arsenal?
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog That depends. If I lived or hunted consistently in Alaska, it would be a 338 Win Mag. Otherwise I would get a 280 Remington or a 25-06 and shoot 140 Accubonds or 115/120 Partitions respectively. My preference would be the 280 since I killed my first mule deer buck and antelope buck with a 280.
Fair enough!
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog either a 338 win mag 7 mag and 06.
Or 375 h and h 7 mag and 06
Or 375 300 win and 06
I'm from ND and I own both calibers and if you can't get it done with one of these two, I'd stay home or grab my .308
Maybe I'm stupid but, when you compare the 7mm vs the .06 with similar bullet weights (ie.7mm 175 vs 178 for .06) the 30-06 out performed the 7mm by a fair amount.Plus the less recoil for the 30-06 seems like someone is trying to sell 7mm due to an agenda versus being neutral . Very good info, it solidified my preference for the 30-06.
You're not stupid and there's nothing wrong with the 30-06. You do need to watch this other video I made about the specific 175gr vs 178gr comparison though: www.patreon.com/posts/right-way-to-69551196
Les Bowman necked down a 338 case to 280, first dies were called 280-338. Les guide 2 people from Remington and they shot this round (Mike Walker) and presented it to Remington and in 1962 Remington sold it as the 7MM Rem Mag.
There is a significant cost to the improved performance of 7mm REM. Mag vs. 30-06: amount of powder used. A quick look at my Hornady manual shows 50-55 grains for a max load of 175-180 bullets but 60-70 grains for 7mm REM Mag.
The more I look at cartridge comparisons, the more I ask myself “is the incremental performance worth the cost?” Often the amount of powder used and/or recoil is the cost. A few of the newer cartridges really seem to shine. 7mm PRC hits a sweet spot. So does 6.8 Western. However, for 300 yards and in 270 Winchester and 308 Winchester are real contenders. Rifles and ammo are available, handloads can enhance performance, and improved projectiles make them more effective than ever.
You ask a great question: are the gains in speed/ballistic coefficient/bullet weight worth it? 280 Ackley Improved is a “better” cartridge than 270 Winchester or 7mm-08, but are the incremental gains worth switching to a quasi-wildcat cartridge? Is 7 Rem Mag worth the higher cost of ammunition and barrel life?
Great video! Lots of good information.
Glad it was helpful!
It's all about ammo availability. Here in Australia there are 20 different factory loads available off the shelf up to 225gn for the 30-06, but only 10 stopping at 150gn for the 7mm RM. So to get the best hunting load for the 7RM which is a 175gn soft point, you have to hand load. And thats just a pain in the arse here with our gun laws. Heck, there are only a couple of ranges down here that permit magnum cartridges to be fired at all.
A dozen or so years ago I was looking for a basic hunting rifle for use anywhere in North America, and I narrowed it down to a handful: 30-06, 270, 280, 284, & 7mm Rem Mag. I came upon a previously babied A-Bolt Medallion in 7mm Rem Mag, and I bought it. With that in hand, I have no real need for the others. If I had found any of the others first, they would have also rendered the others unnecessary. No NA beast is gonna care which one you use.
What ammo do your primarily use in that 7mm Mag for your hunts?
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog Ammo selection depends on the animal and the anticipated range, and every factory load shoots differently, so zero the rifle based on the distance at which you think you'll be taking the shot with the ammo you'll be using. That's general wisdom that applies to any cartridge, not just 7mm Rem Mag.
My use case for the rifle is something other than hunting as we typically know it, something more hypothetical and post-apocalyptic, but the principles involved are comparable.
I have both, I prefer the 30-06. Although I feel like the 7mm would be better for long range, where I'm from long range of 300 yards so nah,30-06 winner
That 175 vs 178 is the most interesting comparison…
www.patreon.com/posts/69551196
I have no knowledge regarding long range shooting/ targetshooting but i am fortunate enough to have about 40 + years of hunting experience and i have hunted basically everything in afrika exept for elephant , lion and leopard and some antilope that does occur in my part of the world.
I dont readily get into conversations about what is the best hunting round because at the end of the day they all do the exact same thing and that is to bring home the meat but i will say this : i personally think that Americans like velocity way too much , for hunting velocity are not your friend it wastes way to much meat end of story. I also think that there is no such a thing as the perfect calibre but in saying that i think that you can get pretty close.
In our bushveld ,hunting ranges usually varys from as close as 25 yards to around 150 yards , if for instance you hunt at this distance with a 300 win mag you will end up with a carcass thats basically shot to shit and you will probably end up with only the hind quarters and the front quarters most definately will become dogfood. Slow and heavy is the trick here and one of the best combinations i have ever found for the bushveld was a 308win shooting 200 gr bullets at around 2050 fps. Having said that in our open areas like the karoo or kalahari where shooting distance usually range from 250 yards to maybe 450 yards with 300 yards being probably the average, the fast magnum type calibres are mostly still to fast and still waste to much meat. At the moment my preferred rifle is in 30 -06 loaded at 2650 fps with 180 gr bullets , in the bushveld it does have a tendency to waste a bit of extra meat but i can also go hunt the karoo or kalahari with that same rifle and here it realy shines as a meat preserver. All in all amerikans created a almost perfect cartridge for hunting over 100 years ago in the 30-06 springfield and the germans did the same with the 7x57 mauser even longer back than that. Trajectory is the reason why most people favour fast calibres but i just dont buy it because at the end of the day what does 2 or 3 inches more bullet drop at 300 to 400 yards really matter? I would rather aim that 2 or 3 inches higher and have more edible meat to fill my freezer.
Americans tend to shoot at longer ranges on game than in Africa. So it's no surprise they bring magnums to Africa. Also most aren't hunting as way of solely provided meat for the table but rather a way to supplement the meat they buy at a grocery store. I can say personally if I had a rifle chambered in something faster than my .308 shooting 180gr bullets I'd would've had a 8pt buck on the ground at 220 yards in 2006. At that distance the bullet grazed the lower chest taking some fur with it on a frontal shot. So sure we all say we'd aim a few inches higher with bigger slower bullets but a bad judgement call on distance or a bad reading on a range finder (or in my case the crosshairs were too low on the chest) could prove to be crucial and a faster bullet gives more room for error and in turn more meat in the freezer.
@@Aaron-mn8gw don't blame a cartridge for your mistake.
You have hit the nail squarely on the head. Even the original 130 grain 270 Winchester at 3100 fps was known as a meat destroyer. Load the 150 grain in either 270 or 30-06 down to around 2800 and they shoot almost as flat, they're just as deadly at any ethical shooting distance and if you take that shoulder shot you're going to have more meat left. Better yet, try to get that heart/lung shot and have a lot more meat left.
I always have trouble finding 7 mag… Academies in the Dallas area are always out- but recently I was in a Walmart of all places, thought I’d check their selection while I was there, and they just happened to have one box left 😂
I’m in Dallas also and noticed that 7mm is not always available but 30.06 is and I think we use the .06 more here in Texas so that might be why we don’t see much 7mm
I have a Ruger 77 mark 2 7mm rifle. It is incredibly accurate but it kicks like a mule!!! It’s hard to shoot more than 15 rounds in one sit… That being said I wouldn’t trade it for the world!!! A beautiful shooting rifle!!!
The 175 gn Rem Mag and the 178 gn 30-06 both have a MV of 2750, yet the bullet drop after 500 yards is less for the 30-06 than for the 7mm Rem Mag? Then surely like-for-like bullets weren’t used. The bullet drop should be more for the 30-06, due to lower BC?
As I state in the video, I compared loads using light for caliber bullets (140gr and 150gr Winchester Extreme Points), heavy for caliber bullets (175gr and 200gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claws), and heavy for caliber, exceptionally aerodynamic bullets (162gr and 178gr ELD-X) bullets for each cartridge. So yes, the 30-06 load using a 178gr ELD-X has less bullet drop than the 175gr TBBC because it uses a completely different bullet type with a much higher BC (.552 vs .407). When comparing the same bullet types, the 7mm 175gr TBBC has a higher BC than the 200gr TBBC (.407 vs .395), the 7mm 162gr ELD-X has a higher BC than the 178gr ELD-X (.602 vs .552) and the 7mm Extreme Point has a higher BC than the 150gr Extreme Point (.484 vs .392).
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog 100% understood. Thank ypu
You're welcome!
what about 175 grain barnes LRX or 180 grain Barnes TTSX for Grizzly?
Awesome video I subscribed it was so good.
Awesome thank you!
I have owned and shot 30-06 for many years. Never had the opportunity to shoot a 7mm mag. Don't know what I'm missing.
I am new to rifle hunting and have recently purchased a 6.5 PRC. I intend to hunt mostly in Colorado, too include elk, and I am looking to purchase a second rifle. What would you recommend? I do not think I want a 300 WinMag. I am also considering a 45-70 for a hunting in the timber. Thanks in advance for your thoughts. Great video!
There are A LOT of factors that should be taken into consideration for purchasing an ideal hunting rifle depending on the game you're hunting, the conditions you'll be hunting under, your budget, personal preferences, etc. With that in mind, it's really hard for me to go into enough detail in a TH-cam video comment. However, I've created a comprehensive training program that will help you decide EXACTLY what rifle set-up is best for your individual situation. It's called Hunting Guns 101. In that training, I show you my proven method for determining what sort of performance you need from your hunting rifle on a particular hunt, and I show you how to sort through all the confusing techno-babble and marketing jargon out there to prioritize the correct rifle, sighting system, and ammunition characteristics that will work in concert with each other to deliver that performance you’re looking for. This framework will work regardless of whether you're hunting deer and elk in Colorado, traveling to Alaska for moose and bear, or flying to Africa to go on safari.
Check it out at huntingguns101.com/order
Thank you very much. 🇺🇸
I think with the great loads we have today for the 45/70 it’s better then ever and would complement your 6.5 PRC.
Short to mid range hammer and a long range scalpel. That should meet any big game hunting need you could have.
Then get you a good flat shooting round like .223 ,
22-250 for varmints and your set good luck
I read your post you would be happy with a thirty-ought-six very easy to get ammo at any store in any country or state manageable recoil yes it does kick but it's not going to hurt your shoulder to where you're uncomfortable 30 ought 6 is very versatile been around a long time not going anywhere either
@@toddhuff6007 4570 4570 no fun to shoot kicks way too hard after three shots you'll put it down plus they're expensive
The 3006 never let me down ay love may 3006
My kinda breakdown... technically sound...hope you can do the same with powders and diversify!
Glad you enjoyed it!
6,5x55 swede, 30-06 and 9,3x62 is my choice
30-06 in stores near you... all that matters
Hey everyone, my name’s Christian, 22 in NJ but will be hunting w/a center fire rifle in PA eventually. Although I’ve been target shooting all my life, I wanted to start hunting therefore searching for a bolt action hunting rifle that I can pass down to my future generations. I’ve narrowed down my preferences to
1. Ruger American (100% USA made)
2. Winchester Model 70
3. Mauser M18
Reason for these 3 is (budget; sub $1,000) but also heard all three are fairly reliable for the money. As for chamberings, I’ve decided to go with the .270 WSM over 30-06 (even tho can’t go wrong with either, I’m primarily just hunting deer for now). My Question is this: I want a reliable, durable hunting rifle I can pass down each generation that isn’t ridiculously overpriced and chambered in highly available ammo despite the shortage (30-06 might have the .270 beat but I’ve read conflicting reviews) I’ve also heard about this 7mm rem but don’t know much about it compared to the other two cartridges so decided to stick with those. Anyway as for rifles, any suggestions out of the 3 brands I’ve listed above that would be well suited for generational pass downs? As in, would I be better off with old reliable Win Model 70? A more modern Ruger American or Mauser M18? It’s the gun Industry so I e learned everything is a preference but I am curious for anyone’s thoughts on the matter. Thank you for any all suggestions! God Bless
I think those are all good rifles, but I'd go with the Model 70 if you want something a little nicer that will probably last longer. Between the 270 WSM and 30-06, there's absolutely no question on availability: the 30-06 wins hands down, during both normal times and during shortages like we're experiencing now. If you meant the 270 Winchester instead of the 270 WSM, then both the 270 and 30-06 are very similar in availability most of the time (both are probably in the top 5 most popular centerfire rifle cartridges in the USA). If it were me, I'd go with the 30-06 for the most flexibility in use. Both are excellent for deer, but I think the 30-06 is better for bigger game like elk and/or moose if you ever get the opportunity to hunt them. Not to say that the 270 won't cut it, but I just think the 30-06 is better. Like I said though, both are excellent cartridges and will work really well for all sorts of hunting situations. Hope this helps!
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog that helped tremendously, much appreciated! In fact I’ve decided to go with the Model 70! Seen an ongoing dispute b/w pre/post 64 models and push vs controlled feed however heard recent models are as close to pre 64 quality as possible. I’ve watching a bid for a 73 model, but tryna decide if I should bid for that or outright buy a current feather wgt model. Again preferences, preferences! Thanks again for your input, def helped!
@@afloatprune8781 I had about the same decision to make years ago and went with a beautiful wood stocked Reminton 700 CDL in 30-06. Love the wood stocks and didn't want to pass any old plain Jane plastic rifle down to my son someday. Given your list the Winchester 70 was a no brainer, hope you enjoy it for many years to come!
If you haven't made a move yet, for a PA deer hunt, you can't go wrong with a Winchester Model 70, cal. 30-06. The rifle is high quality suitable for an heirloom and the caliber is suitable for everything up to a Maine moose hunt.
The two cartriges are much closer in energy tham mamy people are aware . Shootimg flatter at distamce doent mean a damn thimg if you kmow your bullet hold over drop dope from 400 yds and beyond.that just means at 400,500 and 600 yds a 7 mag shootsrs hold over marks are only a little closer together than a 30-06 .
The 30-06 shootimg the 210 grain nosler accubomd LR bullet has over 1900+ ft lbs of energy at 600 yds at my humtimg elebation of 7000 ft .
Stick that in yer pipe and smole it .amd all that from a non magmum cartrige
It hangs with 7mm mag very closely . It also has a larger fromtal mushroom diaandd makes bigger holes
With heavy high bc accubomds it is now a legitimate 700 yd elk rifle .
Nothing agaimst 7mm mag
But the old warhorse still shimes
what does a belt do on a cartridge?
Regular cases are head spaced using the shoulder of the cartridge. Belted cases are head spaced off of the belt.
Takes up space unnecessarily. The belts are a remnant of a different time and old design. Modern magnum rounds don't use them. Not implying in any way that the popular belted magnums aren't great, just saying they're older technology.
Nothing, really. It's a legacy feature from the original 375 H&H ancestor, which used the belt for head spacing due to its very minimal shoulder.
IIHO if you own a 30/06 or 7mm RM the performance of each on game inside 300 yds is equal. To get more performance you need to step up to the 7mm Weatherby Mag or 300 Win Mag. That being said dead isn’t by degrees. A dead Elk from any of the four cartridges are equally dead.
What about to 4-500? I might be moving up to Montana and I definitely need something bigger than a .223 for elk. Talking to some hunters up there it sounds like 4-500 is a longer shot on elk. I’ve shot 30-06 before, no experience with 7mm mag.
From a physics point of view the longer bullets,cars etc. Can travel faster and be more stable than shorter ones.
I don't understand these ballistic comparison charts. Why are the same bullet weights not used?
It's appropriate to compare bullets of the same weight when you're comparing two cartridges of the same caliber (bullet diameter). However, that's not the best way to do things when comparing two cartridges with different diameter bullets. In that case, it's best to compare "light" bullets for each caliber to each other as well as "heavy" bullets for each caliber to each other. Additionally, care should also be taken to compare bullets of similar construction to each other: ELD-X bullets vs ELD-X bullets, etc (NOT ELD-X vs Trophy Bonded Bear Claw Bullets). You can learn more about this here: www.patreon.com/posts/69551196
You want longrange? Look at the Weatherby magnum lineup.
Those 7mm loads are kind of anemic no? My 160s are 3200fps
Those are pretty standard factory loads. Where are you getting your ammo? I have 4 different reloading manuals and the fastest load they have for a 160gr bullet is right at 3,100fps. I'd need to drop down to a 140gr or a 150gr bullet to get 3,200fps with any of their recommended loads.
7mm magnum is the best all around cartridge for ALL big game properly loaded. Lite loaded factory loads are made for low recoil and less meat destruction. You can hand load bulky filler gun powder for light loads. Or spherical ball powder to fill the case with heavy bullets. Best all around cartridge.
To bad it can't shoot 200 gr. bullets. To light on top end to be all around. Barrel life sucks about 400 rounds. Good long range deer cartridge at best. With 150 and 160 gr. bul.. Not big enough for large bears on the upper end even with 175gr.bullets. not best all around cartridge. Read the reload data don't take my word for it. Good luck and good hunting.
@@wadeparker6091Brown bear using Nosler Partion 175 grain bullets have been dropped. Bob Hagle did a lot of hunting with this and 338 Winchester magnum. Bob Hagel wrote that the 7mm Remington magnum and 338 Winchester magnum showed the deepest penetration of all cartridges he used hunting. Nothing else was even close.
Why are people always comparing the 7mm Remington mag to the 3006 , why not the 300 Winchester mag . Compare the 280 Remington to the 3006 ,you know another standard caliber. 3006 isn't a magnum .
People make that comparison because the 7mm Rem Mag was originally designed as an improved alternative to the 30-06. And yes, I also compared the 7mm Rem Mag to the .300 Win Mag here: th-cam.com/video/tpEBOXR0rEI/w-d-xo.html
From what i understand, the term "magnum" isn't a defined metric. It's more of a marketing ploy. The cartridges are similar in many ways.
@@skyeshore5704 good point. as evidence, compare 280 Ackley Improved to 7mm RM. The former is launched from a 30-06 case with a 40º shoulder. nobody would call the 280 AI a magnum, but it stands toe-to-toe with 7mm RM.
Just shows how good a 30-06 is!!! 😄😉😆
But its the standard that magnums are measured against. They are expected to out perform the 30-06
7mm rem mag is the best all around cartridge in the world. It actually shoots flatter and holds energy better than 300 win mag at long ranges. Anyways I own a 30-06 too. I’ve shot 1/2 inch thick plate with the 7mm rem mag and it went straight through it like cutting through butter and came out on the other side. I tried the same thing with the 30-06 and it did not make it through the 1/2 inch thick steel plate. That’s just with regular lead hunting loads. Maybe AP bullets in the 30-06 would have made it through. So there’s the difference. Also if a charging grizzly was coming at me I’d prefer the 7mm magnum because of the deeper penetration. The 7mm magnum would actually do more internal tissue damage on a large bear than what the 30-06 would. Not bashing the 30-06 I like it and it will get the job done. I’m just saying the 7mm rem magnum is ahead of the 30-06. Simple as that.
Browning rifles are accurate just so you guys know
That's been my experience as well.
Don't forget the most important things that kill big animals. Bullet diameter and weight. 7mm will slightly win the paper ballistics aerodynamics contest. 30-06 will always fire bigger heavier higher sectional density bullets. Both max out even with 3200 ft pounds at the muzzle with top loads but remember the bullet is what actually kills. 300 wsm has all the pros of both its got big 30 bullets but 7mm ballistics. Also 300 wsm is a short action. Beating both out of a shorter lighter rifle. If you want the advantages of both 300 wsm great choice.
400 yards in I’m taking 30-06 every time, 180 grain Nosler Partition which retains over 85% of its weight cannot be beat, he also forgets to tell you that 30-06 comes in 24 & 26 inch barrels as well in some brands, 30-06 way more versatile & the big thing is 20% more bullet frontal diameter & yes that’s a big FKN deal when it comes to the “killing part” , over 400 yard shots I’m using 300 Weatherby Magnum anyway, would never consider 7mm mag shooting that far. 7mm Mag is a good rifle but it’s overrated & expensive to shoot, when it came out it was supposed be the end of the 30-06, LOL!!! There are more 30-06 rifles sold than any other caliber, with modern powder & bullet variations it’s only gotten better & better.
Indeed.
Use a 200 gr boatail 30-06
For me the best is the 270 not mention here, with a 3006 case and smaller bullet with less recoil and flatter trajectory than the 3006, and a lot less powder than the 7mm Mag , the 270 its the best all around cartridge for the lower 48.
Threeoeight
7mm remmag
Out to 300 yards, with modern ammo from same maker with 150 grain bullets, a big game animal won't know the difference.
More of a 7mm mag guy
Not a darn thing wrong with that!
There is no comparison the 7 mag will run circles around the 30-06 al day every day
What's your favorite loading for the 7mm Mag and what all have you taken with the cartridge?
LOL, within 300 yards they are comparable with similar lead...did you listen to the video? Bottom line is the only time 7mm makes a difference is after 400 yards...hardly running rings
@@waynestone6462 175gr Partition will drop a grizzly bear for sure. Many people in Canada and Alaska have used it to successfully stop large grizzlys.
@@Thebiggamehuntingblog I believe he has talken big game..rabbits, squirrels and the ever deadly and hard to put down ground hog. Sorry had to be snarky when comments like made after a 30 minute video explaining the pro's and con's. My whole take away is whichever your choice your in good shape as long as you can shoot it well
@@williamrauch4464 that's why i always try to steer newbs away from magnum cartridges. they don't have the skill to take advantage of what you can get from a magnum. further, non premium ammo frequently doesn't hold up well at "magnum" impact velocities.
and in actual fact, 300 WM is only about 100 yards "better" than 30-06.
nearly all modern, bottle neck cartridges are "flat shooting" out to ~300 yards, some a bit further, some a bit shorter.
I don’t think elk, moose or other game animals would know the difference, especially when their ass hits the ground before any other body part does by a well placed bullet from either one of the cartridges!
7 Rem Mag, shoots Flat like a 270, Hits like 06! 2 Different Cartridges here. Compare 7 Mag to 300 Mag. Much Better
I compared the 7mm Rem Mag to the 300 Win Mag here: th-cam.com/video/tpEBOXR0rEI/w-d-xo.html
10 gr more powder, magnum primers, more felt recoil and shorter barrel life.... had a 7 and unloaded it. Not worth it to me.
Made zero difference to deer I hit with them both.
You left out the 270 win as a 3006 child and it’s also a faster flatter better 3006
th-cam.com/video/6rThYLRLb5U/w-d-xo.html
if you can't kill it with a 270 maybe hunting is not your thing! Any doubt get the H&H. lol or machine gun...
I use a 12 gauge for everything..My cousin uses arrows....he doesn't worry about recoil no loud noise lots of sneaking around....and the game gets harvested...
Good for you guys!
Hard to believe that the 178 grain 30-06 out performs the 7mm Rem Mag in 175 grain..
That particular 175gr 7mm bullet is not especially aerodynamic (.407 BC), but that 178gr 30-06 load uses one of the most aerodynamic bullets available in the 30-06 (.552 BC). They both have the same muzzle velocity and almost identical weights, so yeah, the 30-06 will definitely outperform the 7mm in this particular case.
Check other brands of ammo for comparison. Ex: Winchester 175 gr 7mm REM Mag has a -44.9 drop at 500 yards Etc....
It doesn’t. If you use a 175gr ELDX and start it at 2900fps with a 7mag can do easily, it smokes the 30-06
As big game hunting blog pointed out, the 178 is a particularly well designed bullet for 30 cal. That 175 grain is probably a round nose hunting bullet with a flat base.
Winchester factory 30-06 190 gr accubond lr starts out with 3200 ft pounds and carrys more energy than the 7mm mag to 300 where the 7mm slowly starts to take over. 30-06 has some good factory loads available the 7mm mag fans always pick the old original weak loads to compare. At hunting ranges 400 yards or less not a significant difference. Both have slight pros and cons but not much difference really.
Why does everybody turn their videos into the same ole song and dance history lesson. So to compare these cartridges we must start when Adam and Eve were created Blah blah
Thanks for your comment. You can use the chapters listed in the video description to skip to the part most interesting to you.