Gun Owning Smokers

[cigarsarge]

It's actually surprising how much difference a light gun with a short barrel makes on recoil, isn't it? If I shoot .38 special through my 6 inch revolver it feels like I'm shooting a pop gun. Practically no recoil to speak of. The magnum rounds are a different matter entirely.

I've got a Colt Lawman 357 with a four inch barrel that I hide out in my patrol car loaded with 38 Special +P. It recoils a bit but nothing like full power 357. I wish my department would allow 357 ammo.

[heftysmokes]

Hey Sarge, just curious, but why no on the .357 ammo?

[cigarsarge]

Hey Sarge, just curious, but why no on the .357 ammo?

My firearms instructor says the word "magnum" that follows 357 could result in excessive force problems. I guess the word magnum seems intimidating. The 357 Sig round is allowed...357 Magnum is not.

[Kenyth]

My firearms instructor says the word "magnum" that follows 357 could result in excessive force problems. I guess the word magnum seems intimidating. The 357 Sig round is allowed...357 Magnum is not.

Sarge, if you ever get a chance, fire the Glock 33 with the mag extension for your pinky. The recoil is a bit heavy, but not nearly as bad as that Para Ordnance P-10 I owned , and you don't seem to mind recoil. The longer I own it, the more I like it. The ratings and reviews are great. My personal experience with it is great. IMHO, it is one of the best, if not THE best, semi-auto, sub-compact, CCW out there. At least as far as firepower in a small package is concerned.

[mrtr33]

Is there any compelling reason to choose a 30.06 over a 7mm, specifically for deer hunting (and maybe larger game in the future?)

The guy I got hunting with now uses a 7mm, and I've been using a 30.06. He swears by the 7mm, but admits it can be painful to sight in. Thought I'd get some advice from you guys....

[Kenyth]

Is there any compelling reason to choose a 30.06 over a 7mm, specifically for deer hunting (and maybe larger game in the future?)

The guy I got hunting with now uses a 7mm, and I've been using a 30.06. He swears by the 7mm, but admits it can be painful to sight in. Thought I'd get some advice from you guys....

I am not familiar with 7mm, but I am with 30-06. 30-06 is a very common round in the US, so ammo is reasonable. It was designed for manual action rifles, such as bolt action. The long cartridge doesn't work the best in semi-auto weapons, although they've been made.

If you load your own ammo, it is one of the most versatile rifles around. You can customize the bullet weight and powder charge a lot depending on what you are hunting. It will reliably take almost all North American game. Moose and Grizzly are the only questionable ones I know of.

[VictorMJR66]

I am not familiar with 7mm, but I am with 30-06. 30-06 is a very common round in the US, so ammo is reasonable. It was designed for manual action rifles, such as bolt action. The long cartridge doesn't work the best in semi-auto weapons, although they've been made.

If you load your own ammo, it is one of the most versatile rifles around. You can customize the bullet weight and powder charge a lot depending on what you are hunting. It will reliably take almost all North American game. Moose and Grizzly are the only questionable ones I know of.

The .30-06 is "the most common round in the world." i have heard of big game hunters flying around the world and were able to by ammo.
I own both, and it is true that the .30-06 is incredibly versatile! From a 55gr, sabot, to 200+ gr projectiles.
I like the 7mm for specific use, and mine too was not very accurate with factory loads. But, with the right load, it has amazing accuracy. It happens to be in the Win M70 platform. It is pillar-bedded with a stock trigger adjustment.

My .30-06 is a 1942 Remington made, Springfield 1903-A3, sporterized. I grab it for any occassion.

[MarineOne]

Is there any compelling reason to choose a 30.06 over a 7mm, specifically for deer hunting (and maybe larger game in the future?)

The guy I got hunting with now uses a 7mm, and I've been using a 30.06. He swears by the 7mm, but admits it can be painful to sight in. Thought I'd get some advice from you guys....

I don't like 7mm for anything smaller than elk or moose, as it damages the meat too much and is really overkill unless you reload and slow them down a bit.

30-'06, .270, .260, and .243 will be better choices for factory loads and deer hunting.


Kris

[heftysmokes]

I have a 30.06 I use for everything--antelope, deer, elk--but am looking at a .243 for antelope and whitetail hunting. It'll be nice to have a smaller caliber when the boy is old enough to start hunting.

[Smoked!]

I don't like 7mm for anything smaller than elk or moose, as it damages the meat too much and is really overkill unless you reload and slow them down a bit.

30-'06, .270, .260, and .243 will be better choices for factory loads and deer hunting.


Kris

+1

I have used the .270 almost exclusively for years. It shoots flat and hits hard. (Here in FL, I can get away with using the trusty, lightweight lever action .30-.30 for both deer and hogs. Most shots are under 75 yards.)