7mm rem mag vs 30-06

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Here's a age old debate with no right answer.
Reason I ask it is I'm bored at work and who does not enjoy a good vs debate.
As a long time satisfied 30-06 user I am thinking about trying out a 7mm rem mag if for no other reason then why not.
I know there are proponents of each out there so let's hear what you have to say,what you prefer and why.
 
I had a 7mm ReMag. Accurate, flat shooting and easy to reload for. Had a couple of animals run after perfect shot placement. I found it to be finiky with bullets and swore off using anything lighter than 160 grain bullets. Regular cup and core bullets usually came apart unless impact ranges were past 200 yds. Ended up selling it and went back to the good ol.30-06.
 
7mm RM is an excellent cartridge but not up close. I think it's because it's too fast and the bullet doesn't have time to expand.
 
L42A1 said:
7mm RM is an excellent cartridge but not up close. I think it's because it's too fast and the bullet doesn't have time to expand.
Click to expand...

I don't know where this "too fast to expand" concept comes from, but it is absolutely wrong. The faster a bullet is going when it hits, the more violent its expansion will be, to the point where high velocity from "magnums" is well know to require heavily constructed bullets to keep them together long enough to penetrate properly. Up close, unless you have a good bullet, the 7mm Mag will tend to fragment, not fail to expand.

Any move from the .30-06 to the 7mm Rem Mag is a completely sideways move. You will gain almost nothing of any practical value. If the reason is "why not" then I guess ...... why not? But if you believe you will be able to do anything hunting related that you couldn't do before, you're mistaken.
 
The 7RM and 30-06 are similar to lots of other cartridges-270/280/308 etc....Until you start to stretch the distances, then the 7RM really starts to shine. If most of your shooting is done at 150 yards, there isn’t any real benefits unless you just want to play around, which is valid enough.
 
Well we do have a very long shooting range in the area so I could potentially be messing around with some long range shooting.
I am comfortable to about 400yrds on game with my 30-06 but that little extra would be nice when that buck you have spent 25 years looking for walks out at 450 or those s.o.b wolfs that seem to always just be a little to far or fast.
Also looked at stepping down to a 257wby/25-06 class but I hunt in G bear country so kinda apprehensive about that.
 
I found the hornady 139 gmx works well in my 7 mag. holds together at close range and still expands at longer range. doesn't do much differn't than my 30 06 but one does need variety.
 
L42A1 said:
7mm RM is an excellent cartridge but not up close. I think it's because it's too fast and the bullet doesn't have time to expand.
Click to expand...

Expanding bullets seldom suffer from a lack of expansion when subjected to high velocity impacts on tissue. On the other hand, particularly when used against heavy game, bullets should be chosen carefully to ensure they produce sufficient penetration,without grenadeing at, or soon after impact. Oops, I see rral22 be me to it.
 
30 years ago when I got my first Roosevelt Elk draw it was fairly easy to convince myself there was a need for a 7mm Remington Magnum versus my 30-06.
Try as I might it became impossible to convince me there was any need under 300 yards. The elk fell to the 30-06 but discussion with a LGS owner in December 1986 made the 338 Winchester Magnum look like the answer. The Remington Classic for 1987 turned out to be the .338 so I ordered one. Load development produced some excellent results and with another LEH draw for 1987 the .338 produced a one shot kill.
That rifle over the next 15 years accounted for grouse, gophers, groundhogs, coyotes, deer, black bear and two moose. With the Nosler 250 grain partition and a maximum load of IMR4831 the velocity of 2750 fps produced just over two tons of energy. Many times I said if I could only have one gun it would be the 338. It eventually exceeded my needs and we parted company after securing a 280 Remington which is just a tad under the velocity of the 7mm RM.

Bullets failed to expand and "I lost that buck as the Barnes bullet just penciled right through" . . . use the eraser on that pencil and write in "Missed"!!!
 
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I prefer the 7mm for its higher ballistic coefficient flatter shooting bullets but in the context of hunting either is more than adequate for anything in North America.

The Barnes TSX/TTSX/LRX bullets will always stay together and retain nearly full weight if you're worried about 7mm mag shots up close.
 
On paper there is very little difference. I had two 7mm's & sold both because I could never get them to do any more than the 30-06 could do. To me it is marketing. For whatever reason they call the 7mm a magnum and it sounds cool. May be an advantage to 7mm beyond 500 yds. If you don't shoot that far just pick what you like. To me it makes little difference.
 
I know I have seen a very small buck shot at less than 50 yards in the lungs with 7mm RM run into the bush over 100 ft before it finally stopped. The exit wound was only slightly bigger than the entry. What would have caused this? I just assumed it was too fast. 162 grain hornady SST. I haven't ever taken the time to look it up. I love 7 mag.
 
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