Rem. in .06 or 7mm Mag?

[TPW]

With the possibility of going for griz bear, which of the two cartridges would you choose? The 30.06 or the 7mm Mag. Remember, one or the other and why! Don't introduce other more powerful cartridges, just the .06 or 7mm Mag. Which one for griz bear and why.

[stooxie]

With the possibility of going for griz bear, which of the two cartridges would you choose? The 30.06 or the 7mm Mag. Remember, one or the other and why! Don't introduce other more powerful cartridges, just the .06 or 7mm Mag. Which one for griz bear and why.

For brown bear, 7mm mag. There's not a hell of a lot of difference between 30-06 and 7mm mag, but the magnum does have the advantage in killing power. Might be useful for a big old grizzly.

-Stooxie

[1raeb]

7 mag.

[faawrenchbndr]

There is ne substitute for a very well placed shot. Even with this in mind, I like the added spice the 7mm brings to the party.:sniper: over the .30'06.

[stooxie]

TPW, i`ve had two. 7mag`s. the ruger i`ve had for maybe 30 years. used to reload, there are many loads to choose from. went to canada a few years ago for bear. there was one of our guys w/ a 30-06. the outfitter didn`t like the 06. i also took a single shot 06. using the 7 mag., during a storm, i completely rolled a bear, he got up and went maybe 30 yards into the bush. we were asked to shoot the bear if again if it was down to make sure. i didn`t have to shoot the second time. the guy w/ the 06 shot a bear , he was walking up to it and it started to turn in circles, he emptied his rifle and the bear still got away, not found. blood was every where. then a few days later he shot another bear, it was down , he waited, started to walk towards the bear and it also got up and run. he hunted until it was dark the last day, and he wouldn`t take 1 of our rifles. so 3 out of 4 got bears. there is a new 7 mag. remington ultra mag, the ballistics are a little better than the 7 mag. i use the cor-lock/ 185 gr. bullet. it has never failed. bear1

Ok, this is a little bit nuts. The 7mm Remington Magnum is just not THAT much more cartridge than the 30-06. Maybe 10%, and that's not going to be the difference between a one-shot kill on a bear versus 4 shots and only wounding it. Yes, the Big 7 shoots flatter and has a longer range, but we're just not talking a huge amount.

Not knowing the guy or any more about the situation, that guy can't shoot.

-Stooxie

[faawrenchbndr]

.

Not knowing the guy or any more about the situation, that guy can't shoot.



Bullet placement means a lot with big game.:sniper:

[ShootinDave]

30-06 150 grn. Super-X® Power-Point®
Muzzle: 2920
300 yrds: 2265 fps, -3.5"

7mm Mag 150 grn. Super-X® Power-Point®
Muzzle: 3090
300 yrds: 2587 fps, -2.6"


Not a whole lot of difference. If you think you need the round with more power.... then the 7mm mag wins by a hair.... but you probly aleady knew that. I would buy the 30-06, more versitile cartridge, found at any mom and pop general store around you bear territory. Then again, if it were grizzlies I was after I would have a 300 win mag probly, but thats just me. Heck, a lot of us saw Tred Barta take one from 7 yrds away with a long bow and home made arrow! :samurai:

- Dave

[Camera man]

Like I said before. Go with the 30-06. And if you want more hourse power. Buy a box or 2 of the Hornady Lite Mag rounds. They have the same #'s as a 7 mag. You get the best of both worlds. The best deer round that there is....IMHO. and the 7 mag.

[faawrenchbndr]

ShootinDave,

Thanks for that info. I, for one, did not realize they were that close. The 7mm is a much flatter shooting caliber, this is why I chose it over the '06.
IF I were to hunt Grizzlies........I would choose 300 Win Mag at a minimum.

[1raeb]

my 2 cents, 7 mag.

[stooxie]

30-06 180 gr- 100 yds. -2203 energy ft. lbs.
7 mag. 175 gr.- 100 yds.- 2718 energy ft. lbs.

Where are you getting those numbers from? Try these (chuckhawks.com)

Cartridge (Wb + type) MV (fps) V @ 200 yds ME (ft lb) E @ 200 yds
7mm Rem. Mag. (150 SpBT) 3110 2751 3221 2520
7mm Rem. Mag. (175 Sp) 2860 2440 3178 2313
.30-06 Spfd. (165 BTSP) 3015 2575 3330 2428

Like I said, maybe a 10% advantage. I don't see any 500ftlb difference. I think the 165gr load is a better comparison.

-Stooxie

[1raeb]

stooxie, since i stated i shot the the remimgton core-lokt, i probably got the numbers from the remingtom ballistics chart. check remington ballistics chart and maybe you might read the same numbers that i did. 160 gr. will have less drop at 400 yards than a 175 gr. also a pointed spiral will shoot further than a round nose. not sure if it is 10 % or less . but that doesn`t have anything to do with what tpw asked, what we thought of the 30-06 and the 7mag. rich

[ShootinDave]

Where are you getting those numbers from? Try these (chuckhawks.com)

Cartridge (Wb + type) MV (fps) V @ 200 yds ME (ft lb) E @ 200 yds
7mm Rem. Mag. (150 SpBT) 3110 2751 3221 2520
7mm Rem. Mag. (175 Sp) 2860 2440 3178 2313
.30-06 Spfd. (165 BTSP) 3015 2575 3330 2428

Like I said, maybe a 10% advantage. I don't see any 500ftlb difference. I think the 165gr load is a better comparison.

-Stooxie


http://www.winchester.com/

From the maker.... of the ammo I use frequently. :sniper:

EDIT: Just to add a thought, I wouldnt take either of these calibers as a gun to BUY for a bear hunt. I just presented the facts I found on the rounds in question. I would NEVER buy a gun in 7mm mag.... no point, too close 30-06 to make it needed.

TPW, do you have a 06 and a 7mm, and you want to know which to take??? Answer: which ever you shoot with best. Put it in the lungs with either and its dead.

If you are lookin to buy a new gun for a bear hunt, I would vote out both quickly in favor of more powerfull, flatter shooting rounds at the same price.

- Dave

[stooxie]

http://www.winchester.com/

From the maker.... of the ammo I use frequently. :sniper:

TWO, do you have a 06 and a 7mm, and you want to know which to take??? Answer: which ever you shoot with best. Put it in the lungs with either and its dead.

If you are lookin to buy a new gun for a bear hunt, I would vote out both quickly in favor of more powerfull, flatter shooting rounds at the same price.

- Dave

I wasn't questioning your numbers, they looked right.

Wasn't questioning your logic, either! I agree, too close to make a difference.

-Stooxie

[adaman04]

Between the two, its your call. I would probably go with .30-06. To me personally, the 7mm is one of the most over rated cartridges out there. Yes, handloads can be loaded to make it a performance powerhouse, but so can most any other round.

[TPW]

Thanks guys, I have learned quite a bit from all your input. In consideration of everything you posted, I have decided to go with the 30.06 in semi auto for quick follow up shots if needed. I suppose I could go for a larger caliber, but I probably would never really get a chance to use it enough times for griz to make it worth it. I'll go with the 30.06 and use the hottest and heaviest round I can find.

[stooxie]

Thanks guys, I have learned quite a bit from all your input. In consideration of everything you posted, I have decided to go with the 30.06 in semi auto for quick follow up shots if needed. I suppose I could go for a larger caliber, but I probably would never really get a chance to use it enough times for griz to make it worth it. I'll go with the 30.06 and use the hottest and heaviest round I can find.

Cool, man.

Just practice! The heavy bullets (180 - 220) need a lot of power to get them moving and they'll give you some good recoil. Make sure you don't develop a flinch. Honestly, you should be fine.

As others have said, the Hornady Light Magnum loads will easily duplicate 7mm Mag performance.

-Stooxie

[TPW]

I supposed to pick up a Rem. 7400 this week. Any pos. or neg. feedback on that rifle? Perhaps you could suggest another. I was looking at the Browning BAR, but it only comes in the black synthetic stock, I would like wood. Although I'll put a scope on whatever I get, those are the only semi-autos that come with sights that I know of, which I also like.

[stooxie]

I supposed to pick up a Rem. 7400 this week. Any pos. or neg. feedback on that rifle? Perhaps you could suggest another. I was looking at the Browning BAR, but it only comes in the black synthetic stock, I would like wood. Although I'll put a scope on whatever I get, those are the only semi-autos that come with sights that I know of, which I also like.
Dude, the Browning Bar comes in wood in like three different flavors. The Safari, ShortTrac and LongTrac. All available in 30-06.

-Stooxie

[TPW]

I like having rifle sights on my guns. Do they come with sights? Kindly post a picture or web sight that I can go to. I think only the Lightweight Stalker has sights, but also has the synthitic stock which I don't want.

[Son of Thunder]

I would say 7mm Magnum. I am a young guy, but it has been said that I am a pretty accomplished hunter for my age (13). Especially Wild Turkeys.

My Dad taught me to handle the recoil of the 7mm Magnum at a very young age. I asked why he got the 7mm mag and he said he hated tracking deer that had been shot. I have taken three deer with his 700 Remington, and we never had to track any of them. Even with a jumpy eight year old (at the time of my first deer) behind the gun. Even earlier than that, he would allow me to sit in his lap, or beside him while he held the cross hairs on the animals vitals, and he would let me pull the trigger. Those were good times.:)

[treedawg]

Here's my $.02 worth.

I think you are making a couple of poor choices if you do indeed intend on hunting grizzles.

1. The 30-06 and 7mm mag are underpowered for Grizzly. There are countless other round better suited for your intended purpose. If you don't want to purchase a gun for a single hunt then you might consider borrowing one from a friend or the guide if you are using one. Remember your 1st responsibility as a hunter is a clean, humane kill. The 30-06 and 7 mag. will deliver neither consistently on a grizzly.


2. A semi auto, especially a 7400 has no place in the grizzly woods where reliability is of the utmost importance. You need a good bolt gun to fill this role.
A 7400 is a fine gun for the deer woods where your life or another's isn't likely to be on the line if your gun fails to deliver a follow up shot due to a jam.

Call me crazy or just plain stupid if you will but that's my take.
TD

[TPW]

It makes sense, I'm beginning to agree with you. Neither the .06 or the 7mm mag belong in griz country. Elk and moose maybe, but not griz.
Common sense prevails!

[stooxie]

Well, you got me there. If you want open sights your options become severely limited. M1 garand is the only thing I can find (without looking too hard) that has a wood stock AND open sights.

I suppose you could try calling Browning and asking them if they could fit open sights to one of the BARs or see if they can wood-stock the lightweight stalker.

Your best bet, since you say you'll apply a scope it anyway, might be to forgo the open sights.

-Stooxie

[TPW]

I think .06 in Rem. 7400 might be the answer? It's got wood and sights!

[faawrenchbndr]

I know a guy selling a 7400 in .30'06 for $400, he is in Ga

[TPW]

Thanks for the info. With shipping and handling I'd probably be into it for close to $ 500. I can get a new one from my local gun shop for $ 529.