Light 7mm. Bullets in 7 Mags.

[South Pender]

Are any of the 7 mm. 120-gr. bullets sufficiently tough for clean kills on smaller big game--like pronghorn and deer--at 7 mag. velocities? I see, from the Nosler manual, that the 7 Rem. Mag. can get 3450 fps or so with the Nosler 120-gr. Ballistic Tip bullet. I don't think that this would be my choice of 120-gr. 7mm. bullets for hunting, but presumably there are some other 120-gr. bullets out there that are a little tougher. With a BC of >.40, this combination would produce a very flat trajectory and would seem ideal for those really long pronghorn shots.

Or should the 7 mm. 120s be seen as primarily varmint bullets?

 

[MrMajestic]

Slow'um down and the BT or V-Max will be fine. I wouldn't be placing it on the shoulder or the south bound end of of north bound bambi but slip it in behind the shoulder and you will be eating sweet bread for dinner. Restraint and patience are your friend...

 

[billshehane]

Barnes 120 TSX No need to slow em down, Very hard hitting and explosive at high speed. And will break shoulders if ya happen to get to far forward.

 

[AckleymanII]

We have killed a LOT of white tails with Rem 700's in 7 mag over the years with 72g of R#22, cci 250, 120g Nosler ballistic tip, very tough bullet with Impressive accuracy. TTSX were very impressive in accuracy with the same load, jumping .050.

 

[ihmsakiwi]

Shot plenty of Chamois & Fallow & Red deer with the 120gr Sierra flat base ( 1970's & 80's) with as I recall 72gr H4831. This was bulk ex military powder designated 4831 based I am sure just on its burning rate. I remember buying 10 or so 2 litre plastic bottles of the stuff for what we would now think was "stuff all".
I usually moved up to the Hornady 139gr for Red deer if I wasn't already loaded with the 120grainers and also used the 139ers for Thar.

Those 120gr Sierra's were super-accurate.

 

[Zero333]

I don't think bullet manufacturers are making anymore any 120 gr 7mm bullets for hunting deer with 7mm magnums.

The only one's I can guarantee will kill deer with out blowing up are the 110 TTX and 120 TTSX. And I wouldn't hesitate using either of them on deer.

I used 130 ttsx in a 300winmag for deer. Point blank range was stupendous. And within 300 yards they'll drop on the spot.

 

[Clark]

I am low skill and test out to 600 yards.

95 gr NBT for 6mmBR
100 NBT or 115 NBT for 25-06
120 NBT for 6.5-06
140 NBT for 280AI and 7mmRM [I have tried plenty lighter and plenty heavier]

 

[std7mag]

Ahh, your using the engineered fiction known as the Nosler Reloading Manual...

I use & love their products, but feel their manual is best left in the outhouse, if you get my drift.
And yes, for some unknown reason i have 2 of their manuals.
But i don't use them anymore.

If your looking to stretch your distance, but want it to hold together at closer range, then i'd strongly reccomend the 150gr ABLR.
Especially with a G1BC of 0.611.
And from experience, extremely accurate out to 600 yards.

 

[AckleymanII]

120g 7mm Nosler ballistic tips never blow up on the surface in a 7 mag at the 3500 fps.

120g nosler ballistic tips are tough, but you do not get the penetration of the 150g ballistic tips.

 

[Preacher]

120 BT's sure make a mess on a groundhog out of my 7MM SAUM IMP..
Would not hesitate using them on deer sized critters...

 

[Loudenboomer]

The 120 BT comes unglued in a hurry. That being said it's my go to deer hunting bullet for the 14" 7-30 Waters Thompson Contender. Starting out at a 2400 fps I've experienced fast expansion at very close range and excellent expansion at 200 yds. My 2 cents? I'd not hunt deer with a Big Seven and a 120 BT.