Hunting Rifle, 7mm, .308, or 30.06?

Question

Okay, I have a .270 rifle now and I love it, but I was thinking of (in the next year or two) getting another rifle just to have (maybe in a synthetic stock so it will be better in harsh weather than my wood stocked .270). I hunt deer, bear, and maybe moose in the future. Which is best for hunting those animals in an area where the max shot distance is 150-200yds, a .308 or a 7mm? I want something with good power (my .270 works great, but Im looking for something with a good kick to it). I would also consider a 30.06. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

Your best choice for your intended purpose is the tried, true, tested, and proven 30-06 since 1906.* It has Harvested more Big Game than any other caliber except for the 30-30 Winchester.* You have a greater variety of bullet weights to choose from with the 30-06.* I prefer using 180 or 220 grain bullet in mine.*  

Answer 2

If you want something with more kick than your .270 try a .300wsm or a .300 ultra mag. A 30-06 has the same size case as a .270 it just has a 30 cal projectile. A freind of mine uses a .300wsm and I have shot with it and it seems to take down anything even at long range so maybe that would be something to consider.

Answer 3

The best all around caliber for close range would more than likely be a .308. Because your not shooting at great distances you do not need anything that shoots flat. so short action cartridges are fine. If you were to be shooting at distances of 500 yds plus you would more than likely want to consider the 30-06 because it is a flat shooting cartridge and bullet drop compensation would be less extreme with it. But like you said you are going for short distance so the short action .308 would be the best choice. It does have the ability to punch a round out to around 800 yds accurately if you need it though.

Answer 4

Of the choices you've listed the grand old '06 is the most versatile.  I'd get that one especially since you might be moose hunting.

Good luck.

H

Answer 5

Stick with NATO rounds, .308, 223,  Anything else is going to be costly down the road.    

Answer 6

Kevin C the ammo man has some good info there.

Choice of the calibers you mentioned: i vote for the 30-06 because of the 180-220 performance levels with the larger game animals.

If you would consider the 300 Win Mag then I would select that rifle for the larger game and the 270 can take care of all the other business.

Answer 7

Of the three choices you list I'd go with the 30.06, as for why it's the only one of those 3 you've listed that you can get a 220 grain factory load in for the big stuff with teeth and claws.

Answer 8

I have a 7mm Savage bolt action.I have taken deer at 20 yards,and at 175 yards with Remington 175 grain core lokt ammo.Wouldn't hunt with another rifle at those ranges.Now,I do hunt with a Marlin .45-70 in thick brush and in short shot wooded areas.

Answer 9

I've got 3 out of the four and I like the 308 the best. Don't have the 7mm - shot my friends many times - kicks like a mule and LOUD, did I say it was VERY LOUD?

Never hard to get 308 ammo either...

I know the 7mm Mauser and 308 have been used as sniper rifles too.

Answer 10

There isn't much difference between 277 and 284. If you handload, you could argue yourself into an advantage of the 7mm RemMag with 175 grain premium bullets, but there still won't be a lot of difference. With maximum shots under 300 yards, I don't see why you'd even bother with that, as a nice little 7mm08 would do as well as the 270. And the little 7 will do as well as 308. So the only way to go from there is up, and I'd suggest 30-06, since you say there's no reason to go bigger still.

Answer 11

I'd definately stick with the .30 calibers, if your'e looking for a good kick, then why not consider a .300 Win. mag?, it'll definately outperform the other calibers you mentioned.  But out of your choices, I'd definately get the -06, much more versatile than the 7mm, huge bullet/ammo selection, and more power than the .308, plus 7mm ammo is going to be considerably more expensive than the .308 or -06, good luck, or if your'e looking for a lot of kick, go with the .300 Remington Ultra mag or .30-378 Weatherby.

Answer 12

The 7mm rem mag as it far superior to any of the other ones you listed. Also it does kick as hard as the 300 win mag. Its performance is excellent for the distances you listed and delivers a lot of energy to the target as well. The 7mm rem mag in Tikka T3 hunter would be an excellent choice for accuracy and hunting performance. If you want an amazing hunting rifle consider the saurer range as they are well built accurate and just amazingly smooth for hunting.

loaded with 150 grain projectiles the 7mm flies at well above 3000fps and will have a lot of energy. Were as the 308 does not.

Read the chuck hawks article on the 7mm. and the remington website has the ballistics

However if you want something that has kick either the 30-378 weatherby magnum or the 300 wby mag as they are hugely superior to any 30 cal and have the flattets trajectories.

I hope ive helped!

Answer 13

308 and 30.06

Answer 14

I am affectionately known as the ammo man...I work at a large sporting goods store in Mich.  

I will give you info on the three calibers you're asking about and then throw a fourth into the mix, just for good measure.

The 30-06 is by far the most popular caliber, lost of ammo available by all the major manufacturers.  150, 165, 180 are the most popular and Remington loads a 220 gr.

A 30-06 will take down a moose, but the 7mm Rem mag packs a lot more punch for the moose and also has a great variety of ammo available.

The .308 to a lot of people is on the fence as far as a caliber for moose, but would work great for deer, bear and other thinner skinned medium sized animals.

Also, a lot of ammo available for the .308.

Here is the fourth, the 300 Win Mag.  This caliber is the "flavor" of choice for a lot of hunters going after moose, elk and even grizzlies.  That is what I am taking to Alaska to hunt moose and caribou.

My brother lives in Alaska and hunts with the 300 Win Mag and occasionally when he knows he will have a greater chance of seeing grizzlies, he prefers the 338 Win.

I've owned and hunted with a .270 for a long long time (the case is adapted from the 30-06), but would not even consider the .270 for moose.  Federal makes great ammo for the 7mm Rem Mag (Trophy Bonded Tip), as well as for the 300 Win Mag and the 30-06.

Really, find a gun that you like, fits well when you shoulder it and you have solved the biggest issues up front.

As far as recoil, the 7 mm Rem Mag and 300 Win Mag kick the most, the 30-06 usually follows and then I've not ever noticed much of a difference between the .270 and the .308.