7x64 or 30-06?

Question

I am curious which of these calibers has more muzzel velocity. I am buying a rifle with a slightly shoter barrel and am wondering which or these calibers to go for to get more distance out of my bullets. I understand its a complicated question as the rounds a pretty similar. The rifle I am planning on is a Mannlicher classic with the full stock, so any advice on which caliber to go for with this rifle is highly appreciated. Thanks for your time.

Answer 1

'06 has better bullet and load selection. Cheaper too.

Just to confuse things, though, you might want to consider a .308, 7-08, or even a 7x57 mauser instead (or several other calibers, like the 6.5 swede).

Why? With your shorter barrel, you will not get your best velocity results anyhow, and the short cartridges will perform about the same out of that gun, as they will burn all their powder, and reach peak velocity sooner. Out of the usual 20-22 inch mannlicher cardine you will lose several hundred feet per second from youe standards like the '06,or the .270, or your 7x64. And loads like Hornady's light magnum will be a complete waste.

You can find articles about this usually on G&A's website. I have owned several Mannlicher carbines of various makes and models (including a real Mannlicher Schoneaur, which I think I just horribly misspelled), Rugers, and even a nifty little H&R 157, and loved all of them.

The following information was taken from chuchhawks.com

Velocity loss (or gain)

It is worth noting that the velocity figures published in ammunition brochures and reloading manuals are sometimes taken in barrels different in length from those supplied on many rifles. I have seen various estimates of how much velocity is lost (or gained) when a barrel is not the same length as the test barrel in which a cartridge was chronographed. Here are some of them.

The 2001 Edition of the Shooter's Bible states, in the introduction to the Centerfire Rifle Ballistics section, "Barrel length affects velocity, and at various rates depending on the load. As a rule, figure 50 fps per inch of barrel, plus or minus, if your barrel is longer or shorter than 22 inches." But they do not say what category of load to which this 50 fps average pertains.

Jack O'Connor wrote in The Rifle Book that, "The barrel shorter than standard has a velocity loss which averages about 25 foot-seconds for every inch cut off the barrel. Likewise, there is a velocity gain with a longer barrel." He went on to illustrate this using a .30-06 rifle shooting 180 grain bullets as an example, so his estimate was obviously for rifles in that general performance class.

Other authorities have tried to take into account the different velocity ranges within which modern cartridges operate. The Remington Catalog 2003 includes a "Centerfire Rifle Velocity Vs. Barrel Length" table that shows the following velocity changes for barrels shorter or longer than the test barrel length:

MV 2000-2500 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 10 fps.
MV 2500-3000 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 20 fps.
MV 3000-3500 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 30 fps.
MV 3500-4000 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 40 fps.


The 45th Edition of the Lyman Reloading Handbook also has a table showing Center Fire Rifle Velocity Vs. Barrel Length. Their figures apply to barrels between 20 and 26 inches in length and agree with the Remington figures. The Lyman table shows the following approximate velocity changes:

For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 1000-2000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 5 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 2001-2500 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 10 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 2501-3000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 20 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 3001-3500 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 30 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 3501-4000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 40 fps.

The 43rd edition of the Lyman reloading Handbook gave some concrete examples of velocity loss for specific calibers and loads. The Lyman technicians chronographed some high velocity cartridges in rifles with barrels ranging in length from 26" down to 22" with the following results:

The average loss for the .243 Win./100 grain bullet was 29 fps per inch.
The average loss for the .264 Win. Mag./140 grain bullet was 32 fps per inch.
The average loss for the .300 H&H Mag./220 grain bullet was 25 fps per inch.

For standard high intensity cartridges in the same test, the Lyman technicians chronographed the cartridges in barrel lengths ranging in length from 24" down to 20" with the following results:

The average loss for the .270 Win./130 grain bullet was 37 fps per inch.
The average loss for the .270 Win./150 grain bullet was 32 fps per inch.
The average loss for the .300 Sav./180 grain bullet was 17 fps per inch.
The average loss for the .30-06/180 grain bullet was 15 fps per inch.
The average loss for the .35 Rem./200 grain bullet was 11 fps per inch.

After a bunch of disclaimers, the Lyman people concluded, "The rule of thumb is that high speed, high pressure cartridges shed more speed in short barrels than do the low speed, large bore types." It's funny, but that is what I had suspected all along!

Answer 2

Tricky. If you're hunting elk, the 30-06 will be
superior. For smaller deer, the muzzle velocity of the 30-06 is still a little faster, but the ballistic coefficient of the bullets you'd likely choose will be higher with the 7mm, so downrange velocity will be marginally better, and with 150 or 160 grain 7mm compared to 165 grain 30 cal bullets, the former will of course have much nicer sectional density. Muzzle velocity isn't at all the same as striking velocity.

Answer 3

the 7x64 brenneke is almost identical to the 280 Remington also called 7mm-06 both of them & the30-06 shoot a 150gr. at 2900 fps. the .284 7 mm bullet should have better downrange performance than the same weight .308 bullet from the 06. but you will never tell the difference in the field. so just get what you like better, keep in mind you can get 06 ammo anywhere. the 7x64 will be hard to find.

Answer 4

Trust me, a deer being hit by either of these will not know the difference, both are good rounds that will do the job. The '06 is probably easier to find in the shops in a better variety of bullets, but I would also consider the 308, short action, and it's going to be around for a long time yet.

Answer 5

Everything seems to indicate going with the 30-06, depending on the weight bullet being fired. Can't fault your choice of rifle; and as far as that goes either caliber will do the job for you.

Answer 6

Of the two choices the 30-06 is the clear winner, not similar at all to my way of thinking. I actually like the 06 because of the variety of factory loadings and all the wonderful things you can do with it on the reloading bench. Not my favorite round, mind you, but certainly among the most versatile.

Answer 7

The .30-06 is much better at long range. It makes bigger bullets go faster. Good luck with your rifle.
I agree with the person who said you should get a .308 instead. I have 5 rifles that shoot .308 and love them. If you don't reload consider it. You can make better ammo than anything sold in stores.

Answer 8

30-06

Answer 9

Do the math:

.7x64mm: 160 grain bullet @ 100 yards 2,480 fps;

.30-06 : 165 grain bullet @ 100 yards 2,770 fps.

Looks like the .30-06 Springfield is hotter and more versitile.

H

Answer 10

The 7x64 isn't a very good cartridge, I normally wouldn't bother with 30-06 because it isn't exceptional in any way, but it's the better of these two. Better performance, vastly more availability of ammunition, much cheaper ammunition and it makes a bigger hole, which is what really counts for the target. Guns&Ammo have some good ballistic tables so you can check it out.

(I hate answers that are just huge pastes from external articles, just post a link dude!)

Answer 11

7x64 is more better and stronger as 30:06.30:06 is only Ammerican stupid Politic and Commerce. 7x64 have Muzzle Energy about 4600 Joules, more better ballistic for Large distance. From USA never did come good Caliber, only bullshits. 7x64 is knight caliber. 3006 is goog only for stupid Americans, same as all .30 calibers