I�ve narrowed my choices for a plains game hunt in Namibia to these two calibers. I know I�m probably splitting hairs on this one but I would like some input from some folks with more experience. It seems the �06 gets a good bit of support for plains game, but I don�t hear of much on the 7 mag.

I would shoot either a 160 tsx or 175 partition in the 7 mm or some type of premium 180 in the �06. Paper says that the 7 mag would fly flatter and penetrate better, but I know that a lot of people think the larger caliber has more effect on game. Shots can be a bit longer in Namibia so the flatter shooting 7 mag would have some advantage there.

My planned bag is Kudu, Gemsbok, Zebra, and smaller stuff. There is an outside chance that I would take an Eland if the opportunity arose. Some people would argue that neither of the calibers are up to Eland, but again I have read about several successful hunts with hunters using the 30-06.

Thanks

It's a coin flip but personally I'd take the old .30-06 and handload some 200 grain Swift A-Frames.

My .30-06 is a featherweight that shoots (with special handloads) as well as a .300 magnum and it's easy to carry weighing about a full pound less than the .300 Magnums.

The 180 Noslers (as Ray mentioned) are also a fine choice for plains game.

Either one of these will be a new purchase. The '06 is a used Model 70 Classic Sporter and the 7 Mag is a NIB Super Grade. I deer hunted for several years with a 7 Mag until I realized I didn't need all that power for 'Bama deer so I traded it off. I have all the reloading gizmos for it so that is another plus for the 7. I have a good place to practice so I figure I'll get comfortable with which ever one I choose.

Right now I'm leaning towards the 7 Mag because of the responses here and because the Super Grades are just so darn pretty.

Wyatt,

I am like Ray here in I recommend the .30-'06 too. You get more cross-sectional area and better killing potential in the .300s over the 7 mms -- about 18% more area before the bullets expand.

I have been using a .308 Win with 180 grain premium bullets, and they work well. The Winchester Fail Safe is great in factory ammunition.

jim

Given the longer ranges typical of Namibia, it seems like the 160gr TSX would be hard to beat. Personally I don't think there's much of a difference between the two in killing power, but the XXXs give a whole new dimension to penetration AND ballisitc coefficient. Which one do YOU feel more comfortable with?...THAT is the one you ought to take. jorge

Ray:
While I have killed several large mule deer bucks, two moose, three elk, a large black bear, and several African animals with the 180 grain Barnes X, it surely is overkill for deer sized animals IMO. The mulie bucks I took were taken on combination hunts for elk and both were one-shot kills. The other caveat is that the Barnes X functions best at higher velocities than you get with the .30-06, again, IMO. I love it in the .300 Weatherby.

For deer-sized animals, I much prefer Sierra Game King boattails, or for the larger deer, perhaps the Speer Grand Slam or Nosler Partition. Most of my deer have been taken with my .257 Roberts using 117 grain Sierra Game Kings. Now, there is a bullet/caliber combination that works on deer!

In Namibia your distances can be long, so I would opt for the 7mag w/ good 160gr or 175gr bullets. The 06 would get the nod w/ 180-200gr bullets if I new Eland were on the list (bigger animals, bigger bullets, bigger holes).

On my exactally one trip to Africa I used a muzzleloader and killed everything up to gemsbock and zebra. So take this for what it's worth. My PH in Zimbabwe and Namibia thought the 318WR was the best pg cartridge avaliable and bemoaned it's demise. His second choice was the 30-06 with 200-220gn bullets. His reasoning is that most shots are under 200yds and those generally always exit. This makes it easier for the excelle nt trackers to do their job if needed. capt david

I'd go with the 30-06 with 180 gr Barnes X, given your choices. We used a 270 Winchester with 150 gr Barnes X on everything from Eland to Springbuck.

It's a tossup for either caliber on any plainsgame. Since you already have reloading equipment for the 7mm, go with that. You will get no consensus here, as they are that close in performance.

I hunted with Joel Slate at Gras Ranch in Namibia two years ago. He loves the Barnes X in his custom 7mm Ruger. I also used his rifle for a couple of animals as my Weatherby Ultra Light in .270 Weatherby Magnum developed a feed problem, effectively making it a single shot. PH Errol Lambrecht also lent me his 7mm for the rest. On the last day, I shot a good warthog with PH Jannie Spangenberg's .308 Win. at 200 yards. From .270 Win on up, they all work.

I have since ordered, and have taken delivery of, a D'Arcy Echols Legend in .300 Win Mag. I will never look back.

Gentlemen



Easy pick I would take the 7mm rem since it provides a flat shooting, lower recoil alternative to .300 Magnum cartridges I'm sure 160 grain bullets of sound construction will be a fine choice.



The fast 7mm Magnums tread close on the heels of the .300 Magnums in performance and 7's are distinctly more pleasant to shoot than a 300 Magnum.



One of the world's finest all-around cartridges



Cheers

/ JOHAN

Ray,

How did the barnes fail?

In my opinion 06 ,7MM with 180's or 175's are basically the same round as far as killing ability. Though I do like the 06 better for several reasons. None of the animals you shoot with either will know the difference.

Wyattd,

Take a look at Joel Slate Safaris for some useful info on the 7mm at

www.slatesafaris.com/7mmhtm

I think that web sight will dispell any doubts you may have about the 7mm Rem Mag. However thats not taking anything away from the 3006 which of course is legendry. These days there is such a choice of different cartridges that it becomes very difficult to make a decision and it may come down to the rifle itself, whats available and what fits you the best etc.

You will not go wrong with either, and I think that the performance of both is so close that for practical purposes its not a big issue. The 7mm with a 175 grain projectile is a class act though and is probably a little flatter shooting than the '06 with 200/220 grains.

Good luck and happy hunting with your choice!

I say take the one that you shoot the best. Both should work, take the one that you have the most confidence in.

Given a choice I would pick the 30-06 with 180 gr. Nolsers..but a 7 Mag. with 175 gr. Noslers would suit me OK...

As to the Barnes Triple W's, I observed a bad experience on a deer at 50 yards with a 308 only yesterday, and I am back in my "bad Barnes" mode!

I have been down this road with myself before. For me I would take the 30-06. I doubt I will ever own another 7mag, they are a waste too me. I see no difference in time to death between the 270, 7mag, and the 300s, and thirty calibers (including the 308/30-06) realy start to open up into leaky holes.

I choose the 7 MM Mag, but my wife uses a 30-06 for everything. last year she took several animals in RSA with 30-06, and used my 7 Rem for Waterbuck because of a problem with her rifle.

My experiance between the two cartridges is the same as the others however the rifles can be different.

There are not many carbine or featherweight rifles in 7mm RM and the rifle is more interesting to me than similar cartridges.

When the M70 came out in the Featherweight a half centry ago it was an improvement. We got a lighter, handier rifle and the old 06 performed just as well.

Excuse me if I seem stuck on lighter rifles these days but that's what I have been reaching for. I have a nice looking M70 Supergrade Classic in 300 WM and it will never see the field unless a gunbearer carries it for me.

The 30-06 will hold more rounds than a magnum also. In Africa that could matter. Most 06's will hold six and most 7mm RM's will hold four.

I've never been able to see any diffeence in performance between these two cartridges. If you already have 7mm dies I would pick a 7mm.

Take the 06. 180gr Barnes X. Trust me on this one.

Since you mention Namibia and all things being equal (which never are)the Rem Mag with 175gr bullets may give you a little edge. I have a great deal of affection for the great old 30-06 with 180gr nosler partition. If it were me I'd take the one that I shoot the best in the field under hunting conditions and forget the bench. In the field is where it counts. Most importantly I'd take whichever one I owned at the time and wouldn't think twice about it.