First Hunting Rifle

[GreatCanada22]

Hello Everyone,

I am finally turning 15, and now i can carry my own big game rifle with my father. I have saved up my money, and can now buy my first gun. I have already chosen the gun; a Browning X-Bolt Medallion. The only question i now have, is what calibre to choose from. I have narrowed the choices down to the 7mm Remington Magnum, and the 30-06 Springfield. The gun will be used for Moose hunting in Northern Ontario, where shots can range from 75 to 300 yards, and even farther. (But as an amateur, i dont think i will be taking any far shots until my shooting skills increase!) Also, I am not to sure if i should worry about the recoil. I am over 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. I shoot often with a 12 gauge, and my father owns an 30-06, which i shoot quite a bit. Is the recoil of a 7mm THAT much more than the 30-06? Any questions/answers would be very much appreciated.

Thanks,
Josh

 

[Art Eatman]

I've been shooting an '06 since I weighed around 130 pounds or so--and that was sixty years back. The most I've ever weighed was 190. Recoil wasn't a problem...

I don't see much benefit of the 7mmRemMag over an '06. It's a mite flatter, but not enough to care about.

If I wuz a moose-gooser, I'd use an '06 with a decent 180-grain load and never look back...

 

[BrocLuno]

30-06 is prolly a lot cheaper to shoot. With heavy bullets, it should do your moose just fine

 

[A_Matthew]

I'm 6' 1 1/2", 145lb, and I can shoot a '06 just fine. Never have shot a 7mm, but the '06 with 180-220 grain bullet will handle a moose just dandy. (I think) Since a 7mm Rem Mag only has a 200 ft lb increase, (according to the ballistics chart) I wouldn't think that's enough of an increase to make it worthwhile to shoot a rifle with increased recoil and increased ammo cost. So I vote 30-06.
Happy hunting! Matthew

 

[TXiceman]

The .30-06 is tried and proven cartridge that has taken many large animals in North America. With the 180 or 220 grain bullets, it will do well. I use a .30-06 with 150 grains on Texas white tail. It is a good versatale cartridge for a first gun for you use.

Ken

 

[hardluk1]

First do it all rifle the -06 wood be the round with moose in mind. 150 to 165 for deer and heavy stuff for a moose and maybe a nice bear. Thats comeing from a 7mm guy.

 

[45Fan]

The venerable '06 is definatly a great first rifle. The 7mm would shoot a little flatter, but inside 300 yds, not enough to justify the greater cost of ammo, and increase in recoil and muzzle blast. I have been told that reloading the 30-06 is easier too, just one more reason to look at it for a first rifle.
You cant go wrong either way, and the Browning is a fine rifle (my 2nd was an x-bolt hunter) and wichever you decide, it will give you an excuse to save for the one you didnt choose first.

 

[Bearhands]

Well DUH!........ if you get the 06, you can "borrow" your Dads ammo!

 

[Red Tornado]

Well DUH!........ if you get the 06, you can "borrow" your Dads ammo!

Ding ding ding! We have a winner!
RT

 

[unwise11]

7mm magnum is awesome, it's hot, and very flat shooting, and will drop about anything you can hit.
while 30-06 is cheaper, and is more common, has less recoil and is probably easier to load for.

 

[NCsmitty]

I think the price of ammunition is favorable to the 30'06, and the recoil differences are negligible. The 7mm mag is a excellent choice, but the ability to push 180-200gr bullets for the bigger animals gives the edge to the '06.
Some newer loads actually bring the '06 very near the standard 300 magnums in performance, if you're interested in those statistics.
I'm sure whatever you choose, it will serve you well. Good luck.



NCsmitty

 

[WTBguns10kOK]

'06 for ubiquity/cost. Hornady is reintroducting Light Mag ammo in more bullet-types for '06, named Superformance now. That'll fill your magnum desire without wasting the cash.

 

[jpwilly]

Thirty-Aught-Six!

 

[Finprof]

I was born in Northwestern Ontario and killed my first moose there when I was 14. I used a 30/06. It was less than 50 yards away. The farthest I ever took a shot at a moose was 125 yards. You might catch a moose in a firebreak or next to railroad tracks, but most of the time you will be in heavy cover and won't be able to see long distances.

The 180 grain 30/06 loads have a heavier jacket and will get better penetration than a 140 grain 7mm bullet. Even with a 180 grain bullet you can find the bullet on the opposite rib cage and not get full penetration.
Back in the day the 30/06 was about the most powerful gun that anybody used.
My godfather used a 30/30 and most of the neighbors used surplus 303s.

 

[A_Matthew]

One of my friends recently shot a moose at 428yds. It took six shots through the heart to drop 'em. Part of the problem was he was using a .308. Now if he had had a 30-06.....
Just a little interesting tidbit. Matthew

 

[unwise11]

Nor will a 30-06 in that situation, the .308 & 30-06 deliver very similar punch, and an elk won't know the distance.
the 7mm Mag would do better than both in my opinion, long range is not what the OP is asking for though.

 

[A_Matthew]

Now if he had had a 30-06.....

I was just throwing in a little sarcasm.
Obviously, it wouldn't of made a lot of difference. My family is pretty big on sarcasm/humour, and I try to throw it into my writing every once in a while. As you can see, sometimes it doesn't quite work out.
Matthew

 

[VAhuntr]

I would like to commend you for saving money to buy your first rifle! I would also like to say that you have picked a fine rifle to purchase. I have an X-Bolt in 270 Winchester and my 11 year old son shoots it accurately off the bench. The factory Inflex Recoil Pad works very well on these rifles.

 

[Jake1996]

7 mm definitely.

 

[sayak]

.30.06 definitely...
or .308...
or .270 Win.
All will do the job and are easy and cheap to get ammo for.

As someone on another forum says: "If you can't kill it with a .30.06, you should hide." (apologies to you Stranger if you read this).

 

[SmokeySam81]

Nothing is so important as shot placement. You could hit its leg with a .50 bmg and take it down, then shoot it again when you get there, or you could pop it in the head with .243. I would say the .30-06 though, if you know your rifle and the bullet you can shoot long range with even the most lobbed trajectories. Perhaps not mortar trajectories, but people do 1000yd with the 45-70 all the time.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Is the recoil of a 7mm THAT much more than the 30-06?

No.
Your delima is a good one. Obviously you've already put a lot of thought into it because both of the rounds you are considering will do the job splendidly. You are a winner either way.
Welcome aboard sir!

 

[336A]

I'm a bonafide 7mm Rem Mag nut it is by far my favorite high power rifle cartridge. The 7mm Rem Mag will hit harder and shoot flatter than than the 30-06 due to the higher B.C. of the 7mm bullet. With that being said however there are absolutely no flies what so ever on the 30-06. But seriously you need to ask yourself how much are you willing to spend on ammo?, and how far do realisticly think the majority of your shots on game will be.

When it comes to these two cartridges folks like to espouse that the 30-06 has greater flexibility due to it being able to use 220gr bullets. What you aren't being told is that unless you reload those 220gr bullets are rather hard to find these days. Another facet that folks fail to mention is that a 7mm cartridge pushing a 160gr bullet has greater sectional density than a .30 caliber cartridge pushing a 180gr bullet. So the whole flexibility issue flies out the window if you don't reload. Even if you did reload the 30-06 is really at it's best with 200gr bullets and under, a 175gr 7mm bullet still has geater sectional density and B.C. than the 200gr 30 cal bullet. So it is really a moot point at best and this decision comes down to personal preference and bias.

Which ever you do decide on you won't be wrong either way. Just use a good bullet of 180gr in the 30-06 or a 160gr in the 7mm Rem mag and go get your moose.

 

[GreatCanada22]

Thanks Everyone,
I never really expected so many people to help me so quickly. Please now excuse these next questions, as they are very amateurish. How much more is the 7mm ammo compared to the 30-06 ammo? Can anybody please throw out a price comparison for me? Also, which type of round would have more knock-down power? Will a 160 grain 7mm be just as powerful as a 180 grain 30-06 round in regards to stopping power?
Also, i have read in other forums that a 7mm, shot at close range at a big game animal will sometimes fragment and not fully penetrate the organs of it. Is this true? In regards to hitting power, is the 7mm weaker/stronger than the 30-06? I do not think i will be using 220 grain rounds, more like 180 grain if i choose the 30-06. What does anybody think?

Thanks,
Josh

 

[unwise11]

I personally would go with a 7mm mag Remington Sendero, for long range capable shots
What I think would be the best option for moose that you seem to have ignored would be the .300 Mag. The better of both rounds, chunky .30 cal bullet over magnum amounts of powder and is a flat shooter with alot of power.
I'd get that, but look at the Remington 700 sendero too.

Price comparison, good Hornady 30-06 ammo, say 26 bucks a box, and then good 7mm mag ammo is 30-40 dollars a box.
There is no such thing as knock down power, the bullet will most likely fly through the animal, but the terminal ballistics is more up to the type of bullet than the actual round, that's why bullet selection is so important.

Both of the cartridges will kill about anything you hit, as long as you use the right kind of bullet, and place the shot well.

But if you want a powerhouse but can't decide between the .30 cal and 7mm, get a .300wm if you think you can handle the recoil.