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[RugerHawg]

I have a 7mm Rem Mag but looking to add another, I am looking at two different Remington 700's one is a 30-06 with a 24" barrel add the other is a .300 Win Mag with a 26" barrel. Just wondering which is better for Arkansas and other big game hunting. Thanks for y'all answers! God Bless!!

[Y Hunt]

Seems like you like a lot of powder. Any of those will do the job. I use a Win 270. I think it is more about getting a rifle you fell comfortable with that groups well.

I always heard fear the man that owns only one rifle.

[sam]

Of the two you mention I'd pick the 30/06 if it was strictly for Arkansas hunting, if a trip west was ever in the plans I'd go with the 300 WM. 300WM adds 100 yards to the 30/06's effective range. What an 06 will do at 300yards the 300WM will do at 400yards, but it do thump the shoulder a little harder.

If I already had a 7MM Mag that will handle a western elk hunt and I was looking for a new deer rifle, I'd go with a 6.5 Creedmoor. I've been really impressed with this round. My SIL has one and between what I've seen with the deer he's killed and the reviews I've read, I'd look hard at it. My go to deer rifle caliber for the last few years has been the 25/06. I've got 3 of them, although my son has laid claim to one of them. As much as I like the 25/06, if (when) I decide to get another rifle, it'll be a 6.5 Creedmoor. Low recoil and flat shooting with 120-147gr bullets, the .264 sized bullets have the highest ballistic coefficients you'll see. I've got a nephew that has taken 2 long range shooting courses in the last year in Arizona, shooting up to 2000 yards. He said the first trip out there they were using .338 and 300 magnums along with some 6.5CM. The second trip he went out 9 months later they had stopped using anything but 6.5 Creedmoors.

I use a 300WM in Colorado for elk and I really like the gun I have that's chambered in it, but the older I get the more recoil shy I get, so I don't deer hunt in Arkansas with it or even mu 30/06, that's where my 25/06s come in.

Just remember there's never a bad reason to buy a new gun, if in doubt, buy two!

[Thunder Gobble]

I would go with the 30/06... It has a lot of advantages. Not only being a proven effective and very versatile caliber but it's easy to find ammo. Stop at any out of the way store that sells rifle cartridges and they will have 30/06.

I don't have a 30/06 and deer hunt with either a 7MM mag or a 308 win...With that being said, if I could only own one rifle it would be a 30/06.

[Hip]

The 303 British has probable killed more game world wide than any other cartridge maybe rivaled only by the 30-06 and 7x57 mauser. I miss my .303, dang thieves.

[SW Bowhunter]

Sound like you would like to go with 300. That 7 mag will handle about everything. If it was me. I would be wanting a flat shooting .243 or 25-06 . I recall just a few years ago in 70's 30-06 was what was happen and that cal. still gets it done.

[twodog]

When buying a rifle for possible western hunting remember you have to carry the thing. Long barrels also mean heavier. Hiking up and down steep high altitude hills and mountains can wear a flatlander down real fast. Non magnum rounds have been killing game out west for a long time and still can. With the premium bullets available these days they are capable of doing even more and at longer ranges.
It is all fun to read about and dream about shooting game at long range but only a very small percentage of hunters practice enough and know their rifles and cartridge well enough to ethically do so. A gut shot elk is just as gut shot with a big magnum as with anything else. Nearly everyone shoots lighter recoil rounds better.

[grubbsi]

What range are most shots in Arkansas ? do you get many over 100 yd ? I heard a story from a cousin about shooting a deer on a powerline ROW that was 300 yd or more. Its hard to find a place in our woods up there where you have a 70 yd line of sight. Most of the little deer in my "yard" in central Texas are less than 70 yd and .243 works fine. I used to have places I could hunt with 150 - 250 yd possibilities and 30-06 always worked real well there. It kicks too much so I got the 243. I can shoot it all day and not get sore. If I get to go out west a bit and hunt 200 -300 lbs exotics I'd take the 30-06 ( or the new 7mm-08) I like less recoil and know I'm much more accurate with the smaller sizes. size of game and range of shot are the main factors to consider, and how much time you get to hunt which places. The right bullets are a factor too. Modern ammo can make a big difference.

Yes the 6.5 creedmore looks real sweet too

[RugerHawg]

Thanks guys for all of the info, I am probably going to go with the .300! Thanks again! God Bless!!!

[pine place]

I have a .308, 30/06, and .243. Mostly use the 308 because it is a lighter to carry rifle. I bring the other two after my freezer is full and I'm just hunting for fun. Have to admit I am getting rifle hungry and the 6.5 CM is calling my name

[lady_hunter]

I have a 30.06 and a 6.5 Creedmoor, the 6.5 Creedmoor won out this past season. Accuracy is great, recoil isn't bad and easy to carry as well. Performed well. Three of us in my family used one this past season.