Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 280 Remington with 120 gr NBT's

Anybody have experience with this combo on deer?
What are some of your pet loads?
Putting one together now with a 26" Lilja barrel 1-12 twist.
Does to shoulder surgery it will be a little while before I can play with it, but I want to be ready when I am healed up.
Thanks
John

I have loaded and shot them but only at targets so far. I've used Varget and imr4360 with MOA accuracy at 100. I don't have a chrono yet so can't tell you the velocity.

I have .5gr below max book for both powders and recoil is noticibly less than 140gr Fed Fusions.

Why 1:12 twist?

That's my question too. My .280 has a 1 in 9"twist.
Paul B.

John- H4350

12 twist because I got a great deal on it and I never expect to shoot over a 140 gr bullet in this gun. I have a 280AI, 7mm Mag and other bigger guns if heavier is needed.

If you keep the speed around 3,00ft/s you will be fine.

I had a .280 that would push them at 3,250ft/s and shoot one hole groups but I had two very bad experiences with blow ups on contact.

I know some shoot them faster and not had any problems but I switched to the 120gr TTSX.

My $0.02....
I loaded the 120 NBT to ~2050 fps muzzle velocity in my daughter's 7-08 this year and she shot her first with it. Deer ran about 110 yds downhill and then laid down, waiting for me to put a finishing shot in her neck. The doe was quartering to and she hit behind the near shoulder instead of inside of it. Not sure if she pulled it or that was where she was aiming in all the excitement. Anyway, the bullet hit a rib on the way in and blew a 1.5"x2.0" hole in the hide. The bullet turned about 45 degrees right, traveling along the inside of the chest wall taking out the left lung and liver before ending up just in front of the rear leg on the same side. I found most of the jacket and two pieces of the lead core in that general area. I haven't weighed the parts yet but I'm guessing about 50% of the bullet is there. I was very surprised by the violent entry wound and bullet disintegration at the very modest impact velocity which at 60-70 yards would have been 1800-1900fps. I know the BT is a lightly constructed bullet and actually chose it because of the low velocity I'm loading it to, but thought that the new "Hunting" versions would hold up better than this one did. In the end, she got her first deer and we are happy. Yes, better shot placement would/should have lead to a better bullet path and shorter blood trail, but what if she squared up the sternum? Can't imagine what one would do (or not do) it it hit a leg bone square.

Unfortunately there aren't a lot of choices anymore in 120gr 7mm bullets and I don't like the solid copper bullets at low velocity. I think next year I'll be looking at the 130 Speer or just run the Hornady 139 SPBT like I do in my .280 or one of the many 140gr choices. Actually the 140 NPT would probably be best. She can handle more recoil than the current load generates so I am definitely going to a bit tougher bullet.

I had always heard that the 120's were strong as a garlic milkshake, but that is not what TN deer, and gzip are saying.
I know I caught a 140 NBT in a deer this year and it was a mushroom and 93 gr. so about 66% give or take. That was out of a 280AI at 300 yards.
Was hoping to run 120's in this 280 I am building at around 3200-3300 FPS range. Sound like I could have problems based on the above..

For the sake of science, I took a picture of the bullet remnants and weighed them. The total of the parts was about 93gr, so I was off when I guessed 50%. Actually I found 77% of the parts. The two pieces of lead weighed 51gr total and the jacket, which had no lead left in the hollow of the base weighed 41gr. Remember, this was a muzzle velocity of about 2000fps and the bullet traveled 65 yards or so and hit the rib of a two year old doe on the way in and then made a sharp right turn through the working parts.

140gr on the left and 120 on the right.


The 120's are made using the 140 jacket which supposedly makes them more robust but my experience when pushing them over 3,000ft/s was very disappointing.

Below is a 70-80# doe shot at 30yds through both shoulders speed was a little over 2,900ft/s. Worked that time but when I pushed them harder it wasn't good. I'll stick with the 120gr TTSX

This is a 140 fired @3100 FPS from a 280AI caught by a deer at 300 yards. I know we are talking 140's vs 120's but dang the results are way different. May have to look at a solid type bullet if I go light with this project.

Thanks for all the input

I push them at 3200 out of a .284 and have only caught a couple of them out of dozens shot into animals. I do however take lung shots most of the time.

I haven't tried the nosler's, but I did get some of the Aussie Copper Projectiles and put one through a buck a few weeks back with excellent results (i'm guessing barnes would give you same general results). I have also used the 120 v-max bullets.

Both bullets out of my 280ai produce very mild recoil, i have a muzzle brake that reduces it even farther.

So I would personally say go for the copper bullets for strength and readily available, throw on a brake, and you are potentially ready to shoot sooner than expected after the shoulder surgery

How did the V-max preform on deer for you?

I haven't used the vmax on a deer, just use them as a cheap groundhog/target bullet. Sorry if the previous post was misleading on that.

i've shot two deer with the 120gr nbt out of a 7mm mag going 3448fps one deer at 125yards and the other at 200yards both broadside thay both dropped at the shot and both were pass throughs.

Ed

If it doesn't hit a solid bone I don't doubt that it would stay together and pass through, but you can't see the ribs to shoot between them on the fatty's I shoot. ;-)

To be fair to the NBT, I took a great buck last year with a 180 NBT in 300 Win Mag, 220yds and it went all the way through and seemed to work fine. That's why I was so surprised that the anemic load I have in that 7-08 produced such deconstruction on that 7mm 120 version.

Edit to add>>>> I should not condemn with faint praise on a sample of one. I might try them again, but there are tougher bullets available.

both deer i killed with the 7mm 120 nbt had the bullet pass through the scapula on the entrance side of the bullet path. its only a sample of two.

Ed

Boy there are a couple bad stories here but there are an awful lot of guys here on the 'fire who swear by that bullet in the 7-08 and 280 AI. I suppose no matter the projectile you'll find horror stories by casting a wide enough net (world wide ) but situations are diverse enough that's to be expected.

I load for a buddy's 7-08 and he has had great success w/ the 120 NBT over a hot charge of RS-BG. I'd not hesitate to push em hard through my 7x57 or 280 AI. Certainly wouldn't be worried about the TTSX either...