Range Report - Custom 7mm-08 & 120 Nosler BT's

[firstshot425]

I finally got to the range today to shoot my new custom 7mm-08 for the first time. The rifle was build by Mark Pharr of Tumbleweeds Custom Rifles in Round Rock, TX.

Today I was shooting 140 Sierra Pro Hunters on top of IMR 4350 and 120 Nosler BT's on top of H414.

I started with the Sierra's and they did "just ok" averaging between 3/4" and 1" CTC. I've always gotten good results with Sierra's and was a little disappointed with these results; however, this was the first 25 rounds shot out of the rifle so maybe they will do a little better when the rifle gets broken a bit more.

I've never shot 120 Nosler BT's before and I must say that I was very impressed. Except for the first couple of groups, they were all 1/2" or better with several "outstanding" groupings considering the rifle is still being broken in. Here are a few pics:



To say I'm quite pleased is an understatement. Thanks for Mark for building me a shooter.

firstshot

 

[ShootDots]

In one of the 7-08's I had in the past, I used Win. 760 (very similar to H414) with the Nosler 120 BT's. It was a death ray on our "smallish" Texas Hill Country Whitetail... I can't even remotely remember what the load was. It was accurate and fast! Placed into the ribs of a deer was like an M80 going off inside them!

 

[firstshot425]

Hey ShootDots... I've read a lot of post praising the effectiveness of the 120 NBT's. I live in Georgetown and can't wait to get out there and put one of these in a pig's ear.

 

[ShootDots]

You do realize it is a VARMINT bullet... NO SHOULDER SHOTS or it will blow up...

 

[firstshot425]

You do realize it is a VARMINT bullet... NO SHOULDER SHOTS or it will blow up...

No prob... I don't do shoulder shots.

 

[jonbearman]

Its obvious that mark did a fine job on your new rifle.I cant wait to rebarrel mine as well.Mine only shoots around a half inch but with the dies I got from shootdots it may be much better.I cant wait to try it using them.Thanks again to shootdots for his advice.

 

[nastynatesfish]

Any idea on velocity? I'm running 140 noslers at about 2870 with varget. Mine shoots great also. It's a fantastic cartridge.
I ran a box of winchester 140s for break in and this was the first 9 reloads out of mine

 

[firstshot425]

Its obvious that mark did a fine job on your new rifle.I cant wait to rebarrel mine as well.Mine only shoots around a half inch but with the dies I got from shootdots it may be much better.I cant wait to try it using them.Thanks again to shootdots for his advice.

jonberman..... What kind of trigger do you have? I've found the trigger to be a key ingredient in shooting those little bitty groups. I put a Kepplinger single set trigger on my build and it is absolutely amazing. It works like a regular trigger until you push the trigger forward and then it acts like a bench rest trigger. My gunsmith said he set the regular trigger at 3lbs. I don't know what the pull weight of the set trigger is but it's only a few Oz. You barely touch it and it fires. So I've got the best of both worlds. A 3lb "hunting" trigger and a "breath on it" trigger for shooting targets.

It was kind of expensive at $166, but worth every penny!!!

 

[firstshot425]

nastynatesfish.... My chronograph was on the fritz so I didn't get to record the velocities; however, the 120 NBT's at book max charge should be in the 3,100 fps range.


Those are some great groups for your "first 9 reloads". As your barrel "broke in" did you find your groups tightening up any? Did you follow any kind of "break in" routine?

 

[Albany Mountain]

I used these for years for 200 yard HP competition and never felt compromised. They shot very well.

 

[firstshot425]

I used these for years for 200 yard HP competition and never felt compromised. They shot very well.

I don't do the competition thing "yet", but I can't wait to put one of these 120 NBT's in a pig's ear

 

[nastynatesfish]

I just did the 5 and clean 5 and clean then after every 2 shots for the last ten rounds. It's gotten tighter since. I only have about 100 rounds through it.
My last 5 at 100yds. I screwed it up by looking at the group. Cannt say it would have been a one joker but it was on that route.

 

[firstshot425]

nastynatesfish....

Man.... that's an incredible 5 shot group! LOL.... yea looking at the group before you finish shooting it ranks right up there with getting mesmerized by that huge, wide, heavy, 12 point rack that's coming your way.
(don't look at the rack, don't look at the rack, don't look at the rack.....but geeze...you just gotta look!)

 

[tonedaddy]

so what is the problem???

 

[BigDMT]

so what is the problem???

There is no problem. It is a "Range Report". He's just showing us how well it turned out. And it is a tack driving machine for sure!

Great shooting firstshot425. You definitely got that puppy dialed in

 

[firstshot425]

so what is the problem???

LOL...For me... no problem at all. Never experienced it myself , but I've heard that some folks get focused on the size of the rack and muff the shot. I guess the same would be true when you know you've put the first 4 shots of a 5 shot group into one hole.

 

[kolar55]

You do realize it is a VARMINT bullet... NO SHOULDER SHOTS or it will blow up...

The Nosler 120 Gn Ballistic tip is not a varmint bullet per Nosler's website. It is listed as a hunting bullet. They do not have a Ballistic tip for varmints.

 

[ShootDots]

You do realize it is a VARMINT bullet... NO SHOULDER SHOTS or it will blow up...

The Nosler 120 Gn Ballistic tip is not a varmint bullet per Nosler's website. It is listed as a hunting bullet. They do not have a Ballistic tip for varmints.

Then you go ahead and place it in the shoulder knuckle of a nice whitetail....

 

[kolar55]

Well I guess it's quite obvious Nosler doesn't know what their 7mm 120 gn ballistic tip bullet was designed for. How would the 140 ballistic tip work on the "shoulder knuckle"? Or what about the 150 ballistic tip? All in 7mm. Neither of those listed as varmint bullets either.