A few questions on hunting cartridges.

[Redstar]

I'm pretty new to this, so please excuse the newbish questions and I apologize for the novel below...

I'm looking to get my primary hunting rifle soon so I have plenty of time to practice. I've narrowed down my hunting rifle choices to .270, .30-06 and 7mm Rem Mag. I plan to hunt primarily deer and elk with it, possibly bear at some point, so I'm leaning towards the .30-06 or 7mm. I've been reading up on them and asking friends that hunt what they use. I’m trying to get as much info as I can before I buy, please chime in with your experiences, suggestions and maybe even your opinions  .

My take on the three:
I like the .270, light, low recoil, lots of ammo options and flat shooting. If I only intended to hunt deer this would be the rifle for me. But, it seems a little small for bear and elk. Yes I know lots of people use it with great success on elk, but I'm a new hunter and not totally confident in my shot placement ability yet. I can hit paper targets fine, but have little field experience.
-Maybe I should start with one and work up to a larger caliber if I feel I need it once I get more experienced?

.30-06 - Very capable, should be able to hunt anything in North America with it. Manageable recoil, ammo is common and there seems to be an overwhelming choice of different bullets available. Good all around rifle, maybe the most cost effective of the bunch too.  Everyone who hunts seems to have, or have had, a rifle chambered in .30-06. Not too many questions, this guy should do any job I ask it to as long as I do my part.

7mm – (I've shot the other two already and I found someone who will let me shoot their 7mm sometime soon) Just from reading and asking questions it seems to be a good compromise between the .30-06 and the .270. Flatter shooting than the -06 and a larger bullet than the .270. Ammo seems to be pretty common with a fair amount of choices in bullet weight and design. 
-I do have a specific question about this cartridge:  A friend said that he would never hunt deer with a 7mm because it destroys too much meat. From my reading it seems like this would be more of a bullet (weak bullet, fragments too easily) problem than an overall cartridge problem. Is there more to it that I'm missing?


All in all, I do realize that as long as any of these go bang, and I’m not trying to make a stupid shot, any of the three should work fine. But, I’m a curious person, and it’s fun to compare. I like to “bench race” with a few of my car buddies, what’s the term for “bench hunting?”

Thanks!

[catwithboost]

Out of those 3 I would go 7mm mag. I own 2 of them and a 270 for the wife. I have taken 2 deer the past 2 years with the 7mm mag with no damage to meat. I shoot Barnes Tipped TSX. 140gr and that is all you need. In my opinion. 

[JoshT]

Ahhhhh... the holy trinity... .270, naught'6, and 7 Mag... I believe Rifle magazine had an article on this a few years back. If'n it were me... 7 mag... hands down. BUT I will say this... the .270 is a more than capable round... on anything that can't stomp you into a fine paste. Learing to shoot the .270 should be easier... all things being equal.

Yes I know lots of people use it with great success on elk, but I'm a new hunter and not totally confident in my shot placement ability yet.

Take this to heart... because all the horsepower in the world ain't gonna help if that bullet doesn't make a non-stop trip through the pumproom.

At the end of the day... the 7mm is by far the most versitile of the three you mentioned. All three are nearly equal in recoil... factory ammo is readily available... and relitively inexpensive. Just make sure you buy the RIFLE that's right for you... this is far more important than the caliber... buy at least a couple boxes of rounds, and spend some time shooting in the field off sticks, backpacks, sitting, prone, etc. You'll be much better prepared when that time comes to point the rifle with bad intentions... at that point it won't matter much what caliber you chose.

[Redstar]

Out of those 3 I would go 7mm mag. I own 2 of them and a 270 for the wife. I have taken 2 deer the past 2 years with the 7mm mag with no damage to meat. I shoot Barnes Tipped TSX. 140gr and that is all you need. In my opinion. 

Thanks, real input on damaged meat is apperciated.

At the end of the day... the 7mm is by far the most versitile of the three you mentioned. All three are nearly equal in recoil... factory ammo is readily available... and relitively inexpensive. Just make sure you buy the RIFLE that's right for you... this is far more important than the caliber... buy at least a couple boxes of rounds, and spend some time shooting in the field off sticks, backpacks, sitting, prone, etc. You'll be much better prepared when that time comes to point the rifle with bad intentions... at that point it won't matter much what caliber you chose.

What makes the 7mm more versitile in your opinion?
I agree, getting out and actually shooting somewhere other than a range is important. I'm planning to be out in the field this weekend with my .223 doing some shooting at different distances. Know any good areas to practice near Bellingham?

[huntnphool]

I use the 7mm with 140gr. as well, fast, flat round with loads of energy.

[JoshT]

What makes the 7mm more versitile... glad you asked:

120 Nosler Ballistic tips at 3600fps... smokin' fast, super flat, and hit like a ton of bricks... neither of the other two can come anywhere close to that number with a reputable hunting bullet (if you don't like the NBT... substitute the TSX here).

162 Amax with a BC of .625 at 3000+... if you become inclined to huck bullets at stuff in the 500-1000 yard range (animals or rocks/steel) then neither of the other two can match that kind of performance either. Might not want it now... but you may later.

140s of your choosing at 3350 are the meat and potatoes... the .270'll run a 130 in the 3100 neighborhood... a '06 will run a 165 in the 2900ish range... flatter, bucks the wind better, etc.

The ability to step up to a 175 in the 7mm for very heavy lifting... and still be able to shoot it as fast (or faster) than the 180 in the '06 is also a boon... should you choose to use it.

As far as the "blood shot" issue goes... you shoot something in the shoulder... and you're loosing meat... period. Doesn't matter if it's a .243 or a .300 Roy... bone shots = blood shot. Run one through the lungs and you'll save all the meat... except for a couple ribs... but that's like eating the wrapper off a crayon anyway.

[huntnphool]

but that's like eating the wrapper off a crayon anyway.

LOL, thats a good one Josh

Great info

[GoldTip]

At the end of the day... the 7mm is by far the most versitile of the three you mentioned. All three are nearly equal in recoil... factory ammo is readily available... and relitively inexpensive. Just make sure you buy the RIFLE that's right for you... this is far more important than the caliber... buy at least a couple boxes of rounds, and spend some time shooting in the field off sticks, backpacks, sitting, prone, etc. You'll be much better prepared when that time comes to point the rifle with bad intentions... at that point it won't matter much what caliber you chose.
[/quote]

I would argue this point with you quite heartily.  There is no more versatile round than the 30-06, period.  More available loading options in 30cal both for factory and for handloading by far than there is in 284.    The 7mm rem mag is a very good round and quite possibly easily findable, but you walk into the mercantile in Trego, MT and try to find a box of bullets and I virtually guarantee you that you'll find some 30-06 rounds either in store or quite possibly in every truck you happen to see drive by.  The 30-06 also handles the heavy for caliber bullets much better than does the 7mm rem mag.

[JoshT]

Ohhh... I disagree... other than the slightly better availability of the '06. Dispute the numbers posted above... then we'll talk. The '06 does have the advantage of stepping up to the 200-220 grain bullets... and those might be nice in grizz country... other than that, a 200 grain .30 cal bullet at 2600 won't do anything that a 175 7mm bullet at 2900 can't do.

[huntnphool]

I have to agree GT, the 06 will arguably be a tad easier to come by but the ballistics of the 7mm are better and more versatile

[GoldTip]

Ohhh... I disagree... other than the slightly better availability of the '06. Dispute the numbers posted above... then we'll talk. The '06 does have the advantage of stepping up to the 200-220 grain bullets... and those might be nice in grizz country... other than that, a 200 grain .30 cal bullet at 2600 won't do anything that a 175 7mm bullet at 2900 can't do.

Those numbers come at the abuse of the shoulder of someone who is asking who has never owned a hunting rifle before.  The versatility of the 30-06 is in the ability to find ammunition that can justifiably be used anywhere and everywhere for quite possibly all north american game, and with shootability.  For that case, you'll find me recommending the 30-06 everytime when given these three options of calibers.  I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree.

[huntnphool]

Those are good points too, although my 7mm's dont abuse the shoulder any more than a 06, especially with a muzzle break, about the same recoil as a .243. I understand what you are saying though

[Da stump]

Teacherman and myself have aquired a variety of rifles and to be honest I like a 243 for white tail under 200 yards a 270 would be good too.  A 30-06 Is a versatil round and next to the 30-30 has probably killed more game than any other caliber. My favorites thou are the 7 mm Rem Mag or the 300 win mag. Both calibers have enough ft/ lbs of energy to put down most american large game.  When you start talking bear I like the 300 win mag.  You can get loads for it that match up to almost any large game.  As others have said thou the big thing is place the bullet where you will get minimum meat damage and use enough of a gun to put the animal down fast and not stand the chance of not finding your animal.  Hit im with a big hammer!!!

[jdb]

all 3 are really pea's in a pod I cant argue that the big 7 is the most versatile. big bulls or big bears i think i'd opt for the bigger diammeter but thats just personnel preforance. in all honesty you'll never see the diffrence in any of the 3. oh yea I shoot a .270

[ivarhusa]

I would have never guessed that the recoil of an '06 was about equal to that of a 7mm magnum, but I looked it up and have to agree. Who'd a thunk?

Though I like my '06 well enough, the 7mm mag would come out ahead in a "rematch".

Ivar