7-08 bullet ??
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120's or 140's will work well . I use 140 berger hunting VLD's in my one 7-08 . in another I use 139 hornady BTHP . in my girlfriends I'm using the 120 ballistic tips with a slightly reduced load of H4895 ( no on game results yet ) . all these bullets shoot and work well . I did play with 168 berger hunting VLD's in the rifle I'm now using the 140's in , there just isn't enough case capacity to get decent velocity with the heavier 168 grain bullet .
just my opinion here . I really don't think you need , or want , a bonded bullet at the velocity the 7mm-08 will shoot them . I truly think you will be better served with a regular cup and core bullet .
just my opinion here . I really don't think you need , or want , a bonded bullet at the velocity the 7mm-08 will shoot them . I truly think you will be better served with a regular cup and core bullet .
mmcu
Gold $$ Contributor
My "go-to" hunting bullet in my 7mm-08 is the discontinued Hornady 154 grain round nose. These are very accurate in my gun and absolutely hammer deer and hogs. The downside is that the longer shots get interesting with their trajectory....
Couldn't get the 140 Partition to shoot very well at all, but the 120 Ballistic Tip was wickedly accurate; just had some less than ideal experiences with it as a hunting bullet as it tended to come completely apart at the higher impact velocities.
Couldn't get the 140 Partition to shoot very well at all, but the 120 Ballistic Tip was wickedly accurate; just had some less than ideal experiences with it as a hunting bullet as it tended to come completely apart at the higher impact velocities.
i have shot the 7-08 as a wildcat starting in the 1974, and my sons factory in 1980, all had that twist and all 3 rifles shot the 140 sbt Sierrs in to ..600 or less, they are dynamite on deer, etc. at 2850+/- depending onthe bbl length
we never had one come apart or a deer walk away.
they 120 shoots well, it would depend on the distance you intend to shoot and the weight animal yu are after, i just standardized on the 140 as it will take deer, pig, elk, bear
Bob
we never had one come apart or a deer walk away.
they 120 shoots well, it would depend on the distance you intend to shoot and the weight animal yu are after, i just standardized on the 140 as it will take deer, pig, elk, bear
Bob
mmcu
Gold $$ Contributor
OK, here's my experience with the 120 grain Ballistic Tip.
I'm pushing these just shy of 3,200 fps muzzle velocity in my rifle. If I hit flesh / bone at under 100 yards, they act more like a varmint bullet than a big game bullet. Explosive is the best way to describe it - nothing ever walked away, but the meat damage was absolutely ridiculous.
This is my experience in shooting cull deer and hogs on our ranch. The good thing is that when I figured this out, the accuracy of this bullet easily allowed for head / neck shots when they were close - problem solved and a lot more sausage and burger made it into the freezer.
I don't have any experience with the 120 grains Barnes bullet.
I'm pushing these just shy of 3,200 fps muzzle velocity in my rifle. If I hit flesh / bone at under 100 yards, they act more like a varmint bullet than a big game bullet. Explosive is the best way to describe it - nothing ever walked away, but the meat damage was absolutely ridiculous.
This is my experience in shooting cull deer and hogs on our ranch. The good thing is that when I figured this out, the accuracy of this bullet easily allowed for head / neck shots when they were close - problem solved and a lot more sausage and burger made it into the freezer.
I don't have any experience with the 120 grains Barnes bullet.
Here is my take on Nosler Ballistic Tips: I handload for half of the gang in our deer camp in NE Penna.. I have used them since their introduction in the late 90's, in 6.5, 7mm, .270, .30 and .35 cal's.. We love them because we would rather hunt than spend hours tracking wounded deer. Yes, it destroys meat, but they usually lie dead with-in a few feet from where they were hit. If not, it could take hours of tracking through swamps, marshes, and scrubs that are nearly impenetrable......let alone attempting to drag out a deer.
I put enough faith in that bullet design to use the 100 grain in my new .250 Ackley.
I put enough faith in that bullet design to use the 100 grain in my new .250 Ackley.
To answer the query about 120 TTSXs in the 7-08, you won't be disappointed.
The big trend in New Zealand are Bush Pig rifles, the most common (like mine) is a Tikka T3 with the barrel shortened to 16.5" and a suppressor fitted. It is no longer or heavier than the std rifle. You of course need to be smart about the loading and the go-to load is H335 behind a 120TTSX. Mine cranks them out at ~2940 and puts three touching at 100yds. Those familiar with TTSXs will know a 120gr version is at least equivalent to a 140 lead core bullet.
Two weeks ago, I shot a very large red hind at 306yds side on. Busted the top of the front leg and smashed the far shoulder before exiting. Needless to say, it didn't go far. Its yearling followed mom about 6secs later- poleaxed.
The big trend in New Zealand are Bush Pig rifles, the most common (like mine) is a Tikka T3 with the barrel shortened to 16.5" and a suppressor fitted. It is no longer or heavier than the std rifle. You of course need to be smart about the loading and the go-to load is H335 behind a 120TTSX. Mine cranks them out at ~2940 and puts three touching at 100yds. Those familiar with TTSXs will know a 120gr version is at least equivalent to a 140 lead core bullet.
Two weeks ago, I shot a very large red hind at 306yds side on. Busted the top of the front leg and smashed the far shoulder before exiting. Needless to say, it didn't go far. Its yearling followed mom about 6secs later- poleaxed.
Had a Rem Mod 7 in 7/08 about 20 yrs back that was a pretty good deer slayer. The largest deer that I shot dressed at 185# and was shot broadside through the ribs with a Hornady 139BTSP at 75yds. Nice golfball-sized exit and the deer went 4 strides before going on its chin. Had shot a couple of other 125# deer within 100yds using that exact setup. Both had golfball exits on ribcage shots and neither made it 100yds.
uncle crusty
Gold $$ Contributor
Hey Alf:
This might be the second time you hear a 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip jacket came off.
Shooting them in my 7mm-08 with 48.6 grains of IMR 4007 and jacket was found on same side bullet hit a whitetail buck a few weeks ago. Haven't shot across my time machine yet so don't know actual velocity.
For hunting I think I will look for something else in 120 grain, as I prefer to shoot a lighter bullet and drive them a little harder.
Crusty
This might be the second time you hear a 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip jacket came off.
Shooting them in my 7mm-08 with 48.6 grains of IMR 4007 and jacket was found on same side bullet hit a whitetail buck a few weeks ago. Haven't shot across my time machine yet so don't know actual velocity.
For hunting I think I will look for something else in 120 grain, as I prefer to shoot a lighter bullet and drive them a little harder.
Crusty
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