Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

[eleaf]

Hey all,
I've just purchased a light weight 7mm-08 for hunting and am looking for bullets.

Any recommendations for deer and pronghorn appropriate bullets?

 

[Nortex]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

Knowing the twist could determine bullet, but I like the Nosler Accubonds alot.

 

[chris112]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

From what I have read the various 120 grs are good choices. In fact I might try them in my 7X57 one of these days.

 

[eleaf]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nortex</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Knowing the twist could determine bullet, but I like the Nosler Accubonds alot. </div></div>

I should know better than provide ZERO pertinent info about the firearm!

Rem 700 Mountain Rifle in 7mm-08
22" Mountain Contour barrel 1:9.25" twist

I'm looking to put down deer and pronghorm out to 300 yards or so.

 

[coldbeerchief]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

I have a Browning A-Bolt, 22" barrel.

Nosler Accubonds (140 gr) are very effective.
I've also used Barnes TTSX (120 gr) - excellent results, pricier.

Sierra Gamekings (140gr) shoot well, but I hate the exposed lead tip getting bent out of shape if mishandled.

 

[mwroseberry]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

I'd go with the 150 or 160gr SGK. They both have ok BC and out to 300 yard the 7mm-08 will be pushing them so fast the energy on target will be massive.

Then again the Hornady 139gr SSTs look nasty as well. With a 1 in 9.5 you should have no trouble running the 160s.

JMO

Good luck,
Merritt

 

[elkhuntinguide]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

May want to try the Hornady 139 GMX... I've heard they put down elk...

 

[greentimber]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

For deer-sized game (pronghorns) I can't imagine anything better than the 7mm 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. That bullet kills shit deader, better, and faster than anything I've ever seen including a .338 Lapua.

 

[jambau]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

I'm shooting a Tikka T3 Lite with a 1 in 9 twist. Nosler's 140gr. Accubond and 41.3 gr. of IMR 4060 is giving me 1/2" at 100yds all day long. I don't have a chrono but this load is approaching max. and the BC of the accubond should help you stretch things out.

Tikka09

 

[BK7saum]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

I have your exact rifle and have shot the Hornady 139 SP and BTSP and the 120 VMAX. In my rifle, zero changes about an inch vertically when switching loads. So i don't worry about it at the ranges I shoot my 7mm08. With the Burris 3-9 ballistic plex scope, I've been pleased with it out to 300 and wouldn't hesitate taking it a little further with practice and a confirmed zero.

At 7mm-08 velocities, the VMAX does not explode. I've gotten very good results with exits on large hogs. If your only shooting to 300 yards, you don't necessarily need heavy for caliber high bc bullets. Run the numbers in JBM or other software and see the differences in velocity and BC between the 120s 140s and 160s.

The 700 mountain rifle is one of my favorite hunting rifles, but it doesn't get out to the range much. It sure beats the 10-13 pound rifles though when being carried in rough terrain.

BLK7

 

[jmorris]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

The 139g nosler partition pushed by 748, is like a sore peter...hard to beat.

 

[eleaf]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: greentimber</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For deer-sized game (pronghorns) I can't imagine anything better than the 7mm 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. That bullet kills shit deader, better, and faster than anything I've ever seen including a .338 Lapua. </div></div>

Picked up a box today. Will be loading and testing when the gun arrives and the stock's been changed.

 

[aqualung]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

150g Sierra Matchking for range shooting, 150g Sierra Gameking for deer.
41.1 grn Varget in R-P cases, ahead of CCI 200 primers, or FGMM 210 primers.
Easily getting 1/2 MoA out of my 24" factory varmint barrel.

Don't have my reloading log to hand (it's 5000miles away!) so I can't tell you what other loads I've used.

Think I'm getting about 2600fps, but the accuracy is there.

I like the 150g Ballistic Silvertip and the 154g Interbond, but the Sierra is the most accurate in MY rifle UP TO NOW, still working on load dev. for the other bullits.

Hope this helps.

Neil

 

[aqualung]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: greentimber</div><div class="ubbcode-body">For deer-sized game (pronghorns) I can't imagine anything better than the 7mm 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. That bullet kills shit deader, better, and faster than anything I've ever seen including a .338 Lapua. </div></div>

I only shoot for meat, not trophies, so my question is this; How much meat damage with that bullet?

I'm not keen on using Varmint bullets on deer, I had a 70g Ballistic Tip out of my .243 do waaaaay too much damage to a Roe that I shot @ 120yds. Even @ 240yds with the 90g BT I'm getting quite a bit of meat loss, due to hydraulicing. That's why I prefer to use my 7mm-08 and the 150 SGK.

Neil

 

[kyreloader]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

Another 1+ for the 120g BT. If I were to use a 7-08 for deer/antelope out to 300 yards, that would be the bullet that I would use.

The 120g BT has a beefed up jacket due to it being used alot in silhouette competition in the 7mm hand guns.

Start and end there, IMO.

 

[Powerlock25]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

I tried some old 130gr sierra's and lost 2 deer before I realized they were meant for a 7mm waters pistol. I tried the 139 Hornady's but couldnt get them to shoot well. The 120 nosler BT's will shoot almost 1hole groups out of my cheapy Savage Stevens beater truck gun if I were to keep the charge of varget below max. But I am choosing to sacrifice a little in the accuracy dept to get the velocities over 3100fps. I think I am at 46 -47grs varget with magnum primer. Still holding rougly 1MOA. But the heavy charges are noticeable on the shoulder. I cut a 120 in half and you wouldnt believe, but the copper jacket is almost 3x the thickness of the 139BTSP - 120 is a stout bullet

if I were to try anything else it would be a 120-130 barnes TSX or Berger VLD hunting

I think I am happy right now... good luck

 

[eleaf]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

I picked up 3 boxes yesterday at <span style="text-decoration: line-through">The Man Store</span> Sportsmans Warehouse.

120 Nosler Ballistic Tip
140 Nosler Ballistic Tip
120 Barnes TTSX (Damn these are expensive!!)

I'll be using them in Nosler brass

I also picked up a box of Federal Premium with Nosler 140 Ballistic Tip to get a baseline.

Thanks all!

Gotta love the brain trust!!!!!

 

[perkinsd_theone]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

I have a .308 kimber that I hunt with and have had very good success with the 150gr Speer Grand Slam. It is a flat bottom, but I just like you stated would not be shooting over approx 300 yds. the BC on the GS doesn't cost you too bad out to that distance.
I think you would be looking at the 145gr GS in a .284.

 

[shooter19802003]

Re: Looking for 7mm-08 Hunting Bullets

My wife shoots the tsx and she consistently takes deer, pronghorn and elk with it.