[whackmaster]

I am from northwest Pennsylvania and i am debating on wether to buy a 7mm or a 30.06 and i was looking for someone to help me with what the difference is?

[rcmodel]

There are at least 11 or more 7mm calibers.

Are you asking about the 7mm Mauser, 7mm Remington Magnum, or something else?

If your question concerns a hunting rifle for Pennsylvania whitetail, you would be hard pressed to do better then a 30-06 for all around use.

rc

[SDC]

Ditto; for hunting of the type you're likely to do in PA, a 30-06 will do nearly everything you can be expected to ask of it, and at less cost than most of the various 7mms.

[Arkansas Paul]

If you're talking about a 7-mag, the difference is that the 7mm shoots faster and flatter, thus giving you more range. If you're hunting whitetails from 300 yds in, there's no advantage to a magnum IMO. If you want something a little different, try my favorite 7mm round, the .280 Remington.

[fireside44]

The 30-06 is definitely the more cost effective route.

But I've found the magnum stuff to be worth the few extra dollars for ammunition. Then again, I reload. Those magnums are powder hogs but I just enjoy shooting them more. Family tradition.:)

[rcmodel]

I don't really think we have enough information from the OP as to his intended use.

If he hunts deer from a tree-stand in the Pennsylvania woods, then he most certainly doesn't need or want a 7mm Mag!

Maybe if he hunts powerline cuts at 500 yards a 7mm Mag would be a slight improvement over a 30-06. But maybe not too.
Lots of folks have trouble shooting a mag as well as a standard caliber.

Anyway, he may be talking about 93 Mausers and 1917 Enfields for all we know???

rc

[Arkansas Paul]

This is true. More info is needed about what he's hunting, or if he's target shooting.

[Dr.Rob]

I'll assume you are talking new, commercial rifles:

7mm Magnum is a flat shooting belted cartridge designed in 1962 or so, based on a .375 H&H case. You're talking about a 160 grain bullet at 3000 fps.

.30-06 is a non belted brass case, designed in 1906 based off an ealier 1903 case. You are typically looking at a 150 gr bullet at 2800-2900 fps.

Either one will kill a whitetail.

30-06 is a tad cheaper, 7mm is a little more powerful and flatter shooting. If you haven't shot a LOT I wouldn't try shooting either past 300 yards on your first outing.

Beware that in the 7mm/140 gr. bullets you can end up with a lot of blood-shot meat.

7mm magnum is more expensive ammunition.