7mm MAG vs. 30-06 with 150 gr Ballistic Tips

[Daubs]

I'm a lefty, so rifle options were limited. Purchased Browning A-Bolt 15 years ago in 30-06 (black with stainless), then had opportunity to pick up a Winchester Model 70 in 7mm Rem MAG (wood and stainless, beautiful gun). Won two fantasy football leagues that funded this purchase and Leupold 4-12 power stainless scope.

I'm shooting Federal Vital shock 150 grain Nosler Ballistic tips in both guns...and looking at charts and specs, they are very close ballistic wise.

Zeroed at 200 yards, the 30-06 drops only 7.2 inches @300 yards, 21.1 @ 400 yds.

Zeroed at 200 yards, the 7mm MAG only 6.4 inches @300 yards, 18.4 @ 400 yds.

Both shoot well...about the only difference is the weight of guns. And the fact that I really don't want to ding up the beautiful wood stock on the Winchester

Any reason to take one over the other when it comes time to chase Muley's in November? (I take both guns in the truck, in case one gets damaged).

 

[droptine]

I'd take the one that I'm more comfortable with and more accurate with. Both good muley medicine.

 

[SunnyInCO]

Use the gun that has the cheaper ammo.

 

[6mm Remington]

I like the idea of having a spare should something happen to one of them. Both are equal ballistics wise essentially and are superb for what you are planning. Shoot that one that you shoot the best and like the best and take the other as a backup. Good LUCK!

 

[JimP]

If you like the stock that much on the Model 70 then leave it at home or take a screwdriver and gouge the stock and then you won't have to worry about it. If it was me I would pull the action and barrel out of the wood and put it into a McMillen glass stock and then not worry about it.

As to which one to take hunting, I would just take the one that I can shoot the best. I prefer the 7mm due to the fact that it is throwing that 150 grain bullet about 300-400 fps faster than the 06 and the bullet has a higher ballistic coefficient than the 06. Also your figures for drop are factory ones and you really don't know what they are until you get the actual velocity of the rounds out of your rifle. The 7mm will beat the 06 all day long in this category until you go up above 180 grain bullets then the 06 will do better just for the reason that there are very few 7mm bullets that are over 180 grains.

I would also find a better bullet than the ballistic tip. While it will work quite well on deer size animals if you try and take larger game with them they have a habit of failing at the wrong time.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I would also find a better bullet than the ballistic tip. While it will work quite well on deer size animals if you try and take larger game with them they have a habit of failing at the wrong time.

Good advice on the bt bullet. I really don't care for them. I loaded some in my 25-06 and .257 Wby , both traveling at around 3400 to 3500 fps. I absolutely destroyed a front shoulder on an antelope when it hit bone and blew up. I shoot nothing but reloads and can get my 150 Sierra Game King BT up to 3300 in my 30-06 and it does a fine job.

My best advice is not much different that already given, shoot what your most proficient with.

 

[SansSouci]

Hi Daubs,

I love your choice of scope. I have a Leupold Vari-X II 4 x 12 AO on my 7MM Rem Mag. It's my favorite scope. I like it better than my VX-3's.

I'm assuming you're hunting deer. If that's the case, take the rifle you shoot best.

My Sako AV 7MM Rem Mag still has a beautiful stock, but it has years of big game hunting scratches on it. It's a big game rifle. It'd be useless to me if I didn't hunt with it.

If you shoot your Winchester better than your '06, take it. Don't worry about scratches and nick on your stock. They're memories of days afield.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Daubs]

Thanks for the advice and input!

I have about a box and a half left of the 150 Ballistic Tips left for the -06, and almost two full boxes for the 7MAG. I don't get out much, and these bullets have performed great on deer for me in the past.

I purchased the Winchester 7MAG used off GunBroker.com. Previous owner only used the gun for his trip to Africa to shoot plains game. I thought it was a good deal...think I paid $600 for that gun in 2001. Stainless steel with red-ish wood stock, looks brand new. And it's a lefty gun.

I really need to get the 7MAG in the field....but it's hard to leave my A-bolt in the case. Don't think I've ever missed a deer with that gun.

 

[mcseal2]

I'd use the 7 mag and try some 140gr accubond loads. I have had great results with the 140 accubonds in 264, 270, and 7mm. Hard to find a better deer bullet in my opinion, plenty of penetration for hard angles and they open fast on broadside shots. You could sight the 7mm with those bullets at around 3200fps for a +/- 3" trajectory and be 2.5" high at 100yds, less than 3" low at 300yds, and only 11.5" low at 400yds. That's pretty flat considering your bullet never rises above 3" over line of sight.

 

[JimP]

Just for giggles I plugged the info for a Nosler Accurbond 140 grain 7mm bullet into my ballistic program that I have on my computer and here are the results that I got with a 250 yard zero:

Yards Inches
100 +2.89
200 +2.01
250 00.00
300 -3.14
400 -13.00
450 -19.88
500 -28.05
550 -37.80
600 -49.20
700 -77.19

 

[mcseal2]

I used Hornady's online ballistic calculator for my numbers and a bit longer zero of 270yds. My results were similar but not identical to yours. What velocity did you use?

 

[JimP]

3200 fps but if you used a 270 yard zero that would explain the small differences.

 

[hunter25]

I shoot 160gr Barnes tsx out of my 7mag. They leave the muzzle at 2980 over my chronograph. I use them from Antelope to elk with excellent results.

I've had catastrophic failures with ballistic tips out of my 06. On more than one occasion. I'll only use them on Antelope now.

 

[Daubs]

I've had catastrophic failures with ballistic tips out of my 06. On more than one occasion. I'll only use them on Antelope now.

I've shot deer with my -06 and ballistic tips for years. No problems at all. Every deer has gone right down, no bullet failure. Ranges from 96 to 270 yards. Dead.

 

[shootbrownelk]

I've seen catastrophic failures on elk with the Ballistic tips, Cor-Lokts and Hornady SST's when bone is hit. You can't always pick your shots in heavy timber. I use nothing but solid copper bullets. Try Barnes TTSX, Nosler E-tips or Hornady GMX bullets in your '06.

 

[HuskyMusky]

a ding is character!

I keep my stuff nice and pay attention, but if a nice rifle gets a ding, it's character and a story, I don't think twice about that kind of stuff.

To each their own, but use the tool you want and go hunt with it!