I got a tikka 30/06 but have always wanted a 7 mag is the comparison to close to justify the swap? And I don't want peoples opinions on they are too big calumets for Texas I know what calibers I won't in my safe just looking for some different opinions thanks

I own both, I really don't know why I do, but I do. There is no sense in owning both, but whatever makes you happy.

Haha I'm trying to figure out which one will be better I can't really find a major flaw in either caliber to make one rise above the other

My 30-06 is a custom built gun, it's one of the finest I've ever put my paws on. I've been killing deer with it for almost 20 year. It has never failed me and I know the rifle like my dog that I've had for years. I just know what it will do and how it does it. I've used it for the biggest deer I've ever killed and the smallest. It used to belong to my grandfather and he killed deer with it every year from 1963 till his death many years ago. Thats why I own that rifle and caliber.

I own a 7mm rem mag because it's one of the nicest Remington 700's I've ever seen. Wood stock, stainless action and barrel, it's a nice sumbuck.

The only reason I got the 7mag is because I plan to make it my spot and stalk mule deer rifle when I go hunting in west Texas. My tried and true 30-06 is strictly a deer blind type of rifle. I don't want it getting dinged up and scratched to hell because I want to pass it down one day, like it was done to me. And as matter o' fact I am probably going to make it a safe queen this year and use my .270 in place of it.

Other than that, I really don't see why I'd get a 7mag over a 30-06. To me, it came down to what type of rifles they were and I just wanted them.

not to knock the 30-06 but i have always loved the 7mag. i have killed the majority of my deer with that round. really hard to beat the .284 bullet coming out fast. i think recoil is pretty close to the same for me, so i would go 7mag.

Owned both, still have the .30-06. Just ever found where the 7 did anything that the .06 wouldn't. The 7 used more powder to get not much more velocity. For me, the old .30-06 has everything I need.

A properly hand loaded 7 mag will shoot circles around an 06, but don't expect it from factory ammo.

I agree. If you are a reloader, I'd go with the 7Mag. If not, just use an '06.

The .30-06 is a great cartridge and it will always have a special place in my heart because it is a piece of shooting history, it is extremely versatile, and I killed my first elk with it. With that said, if I wanted a new rifle and my two choices were a .30-06 and a 7mm Remington Magnum, I would choose the 7mm. It shoots flatter with the same amount of recoil and as a western big game hunter that means a lot.

I read an article in this months Petersons Hunting called, "The Dirty Dozen" where the author names the 12 worst deer calibers ever made. The 7mm Rem Mag made the list with a rating of 7 deer turds. His reasoning was that due to an ineffecient powder column, it uses too much powder and has too much recoil for the gain in velocity and energy. The guy was a big fan of the 06 and the .270.

I use a 7 mag exclusively and that dude ticked me off. I know it shoundn't have bothered me because it's just one man's opinion, but dang it, he was dissin my baby!

Sounds like the author of that article had already determined his favorite and based his pick from there. I'll always have a 7-mag in my collection. Like I said before to get the performance this round is capable of you must reload, but it's worth it. I've pushed 150's to 3250fps, 140's to 3350fps and 125's to 3500fps. The factory loads are rather anemic and don't do this cartridge justice.

The 7mag is a fine round, and very capable. That being said, I'm not a fan of the magnum rounds, never have been. The 30-06 will do anything the 7mag will do. Maybe not as flatly, but if you're adjusting for elevation, what's the difference in compensating for 8" of drop vs 10" (arbitrary numbers of course)? With the choices of premium bullets out there today, one would be hard pressed to convince me either round had a distinct advantage over the other. It's all personal preference really.

Why not just go middle of the road and get a 280rem?

The .280 Remington was on the articles dirty dozen list as well. I can't remember how many deer turds he gave it.

I have a .270 I'll never get rid of and I ended up with this 30-06 and I'm trying to get a idea for a gun to use for mule deer or elk

Well that just proves the article is complete bull excrement then!

Hmm, I'd just load that '06 up with some 180gr bullets and call it my elk gun then. Unless you just want a 7mag, then swap it off for one. But honestly, I don't think any Elk or Muley will ever know the difference.

Haha na I don't think they will know the difference well how do y'all think a 270 will do on elk or mullie

The .270 Winchester is a great cartridge and I have personally racked up many one shot kills on mule deer, antelope, and whitetail deer. I have not shot an elk with the .270, but it will kill them just fine with the proper bullet and placement. My father-in-law has used a .270 throughout his entire hunting life and has cleanly killed many elk with it. I live in Montana, and I can honestly say that the .270 is probably only second to the .30-06 for popularity amongst elk cartridges.

Yea, thats kinda what I thought. Here's a quote from the article talking about the .280 Rem. "it's still a slow white guy compared to the .270, an energy anorexic compared to the .30-06, and basically a watered down 7mm Rem. Mag on both velocity and energy - at least you can't find ammo for it." He gave it 4 deer turds.

I have no idea why I even give the article a second thought. I guess it's like a car accident, I shouldn't look but I can't help myself.

I think the thread is officially hijacked now. Sorry to the OP. But just what kind of calibers does the "author" say are good? Let me guess. WSM's?

Who is the author, and the name of the article? I'd like to try and dig it up. This guy sounds like he's never hunted a day in his life, nor has he ever reloaded or checked on the external ballistics of these rounds.

The article is in the November issue of Peterson's Hunting magazine. It's called "The Dirty Dozen, Worst Deer Calibers...Ever!" Written by Skip Knowles. I looked on the Peterson's Hunting website but the article hasn't been published online yet.

The calibers he mentioned are:
7mm Rem Mag
Any .22 centerfire
.44 Magnum (in a rifle)
.375 Winchester or .444 Marlin
.280 Remington
.300 RUM
.243 Winchester
.300 Savage
.30-06 Ackly Improved (not the original .30-06)
.32 Winchester and .351 Winchester
8mm Mauser
.303 British (one of my old favorites as well)

He was a fan of the original .30-06 and the .270.

My apologies for the hijack as well. I didn't intend to steer it in this direction.

Article without merit, designed to generate discussion and sell magazines...not to educate or inform.

I regards to the original question, my opinion would be there isn't enough difference to justify the swap. I am partial to the 7mm mag but the .30-06 is a damn fine round that can be used for almost everything in North America. Unless your just itching to get a new rifle though..I'm hip with that!

I agree.

Looks like he drew those calibers out of a hat. So many similarities between several calibers he listed and many not on the list, that it's obvious this article is, like said above, meant to stimulate discussion and NOT inform.