Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 7mm08 120 grain ttsx for an all around deer to elk load.

I have been tinkering with a Remington model 7 with the 18 inch barrel in 7mm08. Getting 2950 fps with 120 grain bullets and decent accuracy. Anybody try killing any elk size critters with this ttsx. I have only killed a few deer with this load and have not been disappointed. Can't seem to catch one of these bullets in a critter. Tried the 140s. Speed and accuracy not as good. Thanks.
Ct

Though it is probably more than needed for whitetails, it will work for all you mentioned from your 7mm-08.

Plenty on here talk of more than a few elk taken with 120 NBTs in 7-08. Sounds like another alternative.

I shoot the 120 TTSX from my 260 Rem. I've taken two elk with it and a couple deer. I wouldn't hesitate to step up to a 7mm version for elk.

What kind of shot placement are you guys using with this combo for elk? Can you punch shoulders or is it a strictly through the ribs proposition?

the TTSX is my favorite factory round for deer.
( no elk in MS )

7RM, 35 wheeler, and last season 7mm-08.

worked in well in a 180# buck.

I haven't avoided bone. Neither elk took a step at the shot. One in the neck and one high shoulder shot. Bang flop x2

I wonder??? I note that in the Barnes manual #4 that the 120 gr. TSX is not shown as being recommended for elk. I am playing with the 140 gr. TXS in a modern rifle in 7x57 at the 7-08 level regarding velocity as one choice in my rifle for an elk hunt later this year.
Just not all that sure if I want to go that light in a cartridge.
Paul B.

The 140gn TSX in the 7x57 is adequate for just about anything. I would not think twice about using it on elk. Several feet of penetration is normal.
John

PJGunner,

I know that at least one of the Barnes people, pretty high up in the company, used the 130 TTSX .30 caliber on elk. Apparently another 10 grains of bullet weight makes a big difference.

I would have zero hesitation.

Daughter uses 120gr tsx in her 7-08 for moose in Alaska she killed a nice caribou with said load ..,

John, sarcasm or did he not like the performance of the .308 130 on bulls?

I'm really liking the 130TTSX on deer from one of my 300s. Can't see it not getting the job done on a bull.

Thanks,

loder

I crushed a bull moose last fall with a .284 120 grain TSX at something approaching lightspeed. Its penetration was impressive.

Nice. Gradous is building me a STW now and I have a stack of 120TTSXs I'm going to try out. Should be a mid range laser.

Have only used a few 120s in the TSX/TTSX versions. Caught one of the TSXs in a medium sized caribou the first time out; not great expansion either (though the accuracy was stellar. ). I used more than just a few of the old 140 XFB on caribou, and moose a time or two. That bullet, in my Model Seven 7mm-08 sure made quick work of killing things, and I never recovered a copper trophy.

Whew! That'll be fast! 3600-3700 I bet! Like a great big 22-250.

I am running 3170fps in my 7mm-08 with the 120 gr ttsx's. It will shoot well under .75 moa with this load. I would not hesitate to use it if it was all I had, but my elk rig is a 300 win shooting 150 gr ttsx's at 3300 fps. I really like the light for caliber barnes going fast.

Thanks for all the replies. I only get to hunt elk every few years, and my only other test media is whitetails and groundhogs. Ttsx is definitely more than enough for both of those.

John. I just based my comment on what Barnes suggests in their manual. I have a supply of 120 and 140 gr. Barnes TSX bullets and that 120 gr. bullet looks mighty small. I have to wonder how it would do on heavy bone should that be what I hit? I'm handicapped to some degree with one bad knee and the out starting to go. Can't trail an elk too far if it decides to head to another mountain. Probably should stick with the .35 Whelen and go with that.
Paul B.