I have been in the market for a rifle for quite some time now and have pretty much decided on a Remington Model 700 but I am not sure what ammo to go with? I am torn between 7mm and 30-06, I would mostly use it for Deer Hunting up north but I also want to be able to use it for Elk Hunting out west. The other thing I need to decide is which Model 700? 
My vote would be the Sendero in 7mm. In my mind the smallest I would go for elk yet you can get lighter bullets for deer.
i know I’ll get chastized by all the .06 guys and yes this round has taken almost every big game animal in North America, but on an elk you want something that will anchor them down fast.
My brother shoots a 700 LSS in 300 Ultra, great rifle.
My vote would be the Sendero in 7mm. In my mind the smallest I would go for elk yet you can get lighter bullets for deer.
i know I’ll get chastized by all the .06 guys and yes this round has taken almost every big game animal in North America, but on an elk you want something that will anchor them down fast.
My brother shoots a 700 LSS in 300 Ultra, great rifle.
I have owned two 7mm’s, and now I own the 700 Mountain DM in 30-06. I liked my 7mm’s knock-down power, but day in and day out I like my 30-06 better! Both of my 7mm’s had composite stocks…which I hated because they are noisy as heck in the Minnesota deer woods, and they never warm up in your hands like a nice wood stock does. And, let’s face it, where are you going to be using your rifle the majority of the time? Elk hunting or deer hunting? The 700 mountain rifles are amazingly accurate right out of the box just like Remington’s ad states, too! 
I also like the versatility of the 30-06. You can, and I have, shot everything from coons to moose with it depending on which bullet you choose. One last thing, the mountain rifle is a pleasure to carry!
I have owned two 7mm’s, and now I own the 700 Mountain DM in 30-06. I liked my 7mm’s knock-down power, but day in and day out I like my 30-06 better! Both of my 7mm’s had composite stocks…which I hated because they are noisy as heck in the Minnesota deer woods, and they never warm up in your hands like a nice wood stock does. And, let’s face it, where are you going to be using your rifle the majority of the time? Elk hunting or deer hunting? The 700 mountain rifles are amazingly accurate right out of the box just like Remington’s ad states, too! I also like the versatility of the 30-06. You can, and I have, shot everything from coons to moose with it depending on which bullet you choose. One last thing, the mountain rifle is a pleasure to carry!
Steve,
Does the 7mm mag really have anything over the 30-06 in a sporter length barrel? I haven’t looked at a ballistics chart in a while, but they used to spec the mags in a 26 inch barrel. They need more time to burn all that powder up and the bullet would leave a 22 inch barrel too soon. Down range at practical distances I don’t think there’s a lot of difference. I will admit I shoot a 30-06, a Ruger M-77. The few timesI’ve shot a 7mm Mag the recoil seemed worse than my ’06 but that might just be my perception.
Getting a new gun, how exciting is that 
Rootski
Steve,
Does the 7mm mag really have anything over the 30-06 in a sporter length barrel? I haven’t looked at a ballistics chart in a while, but they used to spec the mags in a 26 inch barrel. They need more time to burn all that powder up and the bullet would leave a 22 inch barrel too soon. Down range at practical distances I don’t think there’s a lot of difference. I will admit I shoot a 30-06, a Ruger M-77. The few timesI’ve shot a 7mm Mag the recoil seemed worse than my ’06 but that might just be my perception.
Getting a new gun, how exciting is that
Rootski
Dan I just finished the process of trimming down my arsenal for the same purpose. I have hunted Whitetail/Mule Deer, Bear, Antelope, and Elk for several years. I am a reloader and benchrest shooter.
The 30.06 will fill the bill nicely and IMHO the best all round caliber…
I currently have a 700 Mtn DM .270, 700 CDL 7mm08, and a new 700 CDL SF (30.06 Anniversary model).
The CDLs have 24″ bbls, decellerator recoil pads, easily adjustable triggers. My 7mm08 is a tackdriver; (3 shots 100 yds) 0.22″MOA@! The CDL barrels also have heavier contours than the Mtn Rifle.
The XCR would be a quintessential all weather rifle but costs about $200 more. I paid $600 for my CDL 7mm08…$750 for the Stainless CDL 06 and the XCR would cost about $850.
The ammo for the 06 is also available almost everywhere hunters are.
Dan I just finished the process of trimming down my arsenal for the same purpose. I have hunted Whitetail/Mule Deer, Bear, Antelope, and Elk for several years. I am a reloader and benchrest shooter.
The 30.06 will fill the bill nicely and IMHO the best all round caliber…
I currently have a 700 Mtn DM .270, 700 CDL 7mm08, and a new 700 CDL SF (30.06 Anniversary model).
The CDLs have 24″ bbls, decellerator recoil pads, easily adjustable triggers. My 7mm08 is a tackdriver; (3 shots 100 yds) 0.22″MOA@! The CDL barrels also have heavier contours than the Mtn Rifle.
The XCR would be a quintessential all weather rifle but costs about $200 more. I paid $600 for my CDL 7mm08…$750 for the Stainless CDL 06 and the XCR would cost about $850.
The ammo for the 06 is also available almost everywhere hunters are.
The serando is nice.
Personally go 7mm. You’ll never regret it.
The serando is nice.
Personally go 7mm. You’ll never regret it.
Dumb question for you Tom what is the advantage of 24″ bbls and heavier contours?
Quote:
The CDL barrels also have heavier contours than the Mtn Rifle.
Dumb question for you Tom what is the advantage of 24″ bbls and heavier contours?
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The CDL barrels also have heavier contours than the Mtn Rifle.
Longer the barrel the more velocity you get. And the heavier contours are usually more consistant in accuracy and are less prone to move when you shoot due to the weight. That’s target shooters like long heavy barrels. But hunters like lighter barrels to hunt with because it is easier to drag around in the woods with.
Longer the barrel the more velocity you get. And the heavier contours are usually more consistant in accuracy and are less prone to move when you shoot due to the weight. That’s target shooters like long heavy barrels. But hunters like lighter barrels to hunt with because it is easier to drag around in the woods with.
Another dumb question, I am not sure which order the different calibers are for rifles you could use for deer hunting. Could someone post a list of what order the different calibers go in from smallest to largest.
Another dumb question, I am not sure which order the different calibers are for rifles you could use for deer hunting. Could someone post a list of what order the different calibers go in from smallest to largest.
That’s a little more info than I need 
I am interested in the range of calibers for deer hunting rifles from largest to smallest you can use for deer hunting but still could use for elk hunting.
That’s a little more info than I need
I am interested in the range of calibers for deer hunting rifles from largest to smallest you can use for deer hunting but still could use for elk hunting.
There are going to be more than what I can rattle off but if I was buying a gun for that situation I would stay above .270 with .280 7mm mag, 30.06 would be calibers that are not overkill for deer. I have a .300 win mag for Elk and I have yet to shoot a deer with it that has much meat left on it. I would recommend the .280 or the 7mm mag. My .02
There are going to be more than what I can rattle off but if I was buying a gun for that situation I would stay above .270 with .280 7mm mag, 30.06 would be calibers that are not overkill for deer. I have a .300 win mag for Elk and I have yet to shoot a deer with it that has much meat left on it. I would recommend the .280 or the 7mm mag. My .02
betwen the 7mm and the 3006,get the 06. if you want a mag get a 300 win. with out starting a war,the 7 mag has very little over 270,280,30-06 etc. it burns alot more powder for 100fps. better yet, remington now offers the 300 wsm in alot of its bolt guns. 300 win performance with no belt to deal with.
betwen the 7mm and the 3006,get the 06. if you want a mag get a 300 win. with out starting a war,the 7 mag has very little over 270,280,30-06 etc. it burns alot more powder for 100fps. better yet, remington now offers the 300 wsm in alot of its bolt guns. 300 win performance with no belt to deal with.
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