Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 120 or 140 Ballistic Tip in 7-08?

After using the 30-06, 30-30, and the 257 Roberts the last few years, I am hoping to use the 7-08 this year for whitetail deer. I will be hunting from a stand, with the longest possible shot of 225 yds, with the normal shot being 50-100 yards. Last years buck was taken with the 257 Roberts at about 30 yards, so distance is not a problem.

My rifle shoots well with Hornady 139 gr SSTs and the Nosler 140 gr Ballistic Tip, but I was wondering about the 120 gr Ballistic Tip and its performance on whitetail deer. The first shot is usually taken when the deer presents broadside,and even if hitting ribs, I would like complete penetration for extra blood loss and easy trailing if needed. But I also want something that will get to the vitals if an angling shoulder shot is needed as back-up.

My question then, for those with experience with the Nosler 120 gr Ballistic Tip on whitetail deer with an impact velocity of 2700-2800 fps,is which is the better penetrator, assuming that both will expand, the 120 Ballistic Tip or the 140 gr Ballistic Tip? Or should I just stick with the 139 gr SST? Would like to hear from anyone with experience using these bullets in the 7-08!

The 120 NBT is designed with a thicker than standard jacket. It will do eveything the 140 NBT will do in a 708 (for the application you describe). I have posted several results with it in the past, from 225# hogs to big ol' sheep. Steve Timm has killed moose with it. It will work quite well for what you want to do with it.

Here's the damage a 120 did to a 225# boar hog at 175 yards. Through the shoulder, ribs, vitals, through the far shoulder, and was found under the skin on the off side shoulder (from a 7MM-08).


Hope this gives you the confidence to give them a try. I think you'll like them.

Yudonal - Thanks for the info. Looks like the box of 140 gr Ballistic Tips I have on the shelf may have been a waste of money since the 120 will do all I need with less recoil. Thanks again for the info. Anyone else want to chime in? Please?

45 grains of Varget under a 120 NBT will kill stuff better than you will imagine it could. My experience is limited to whitails and hogs, but others have taken much larger ganme with it. Do a search for multiple threads on the 120 NBT in .284 diameter.

+1 on 45 grains of varget with the 120 NBT it is my goto round for whitetails, kills em quickly and also is a scary accurate load in my 700 CDL remmy.

I personally doubt that I will ever use ballistic tips on game ever again they are just too explosive for my taste

being said the 140 wont carry the velocity that the 120 will so it should not blow up as bad.

If recoil is a concern I would think that at the ranges you mentioned a reduced recoil load may be in order which will again help slow the bullet down making it less destructive. And at the ranges you mention should not require and serious holdover.

Al are you saying that the 120 has a thicker jacket than the 140? If so where did you get this priveleged info?

Again I would shot your 140s remember you didnt get a 7mm-08 to shoot lazer beams it was never meant for that.

Not sure it can get better than 140gr NBTs in a 7mm-08 for Deer. Never used the 120s, but they will work from what others say. I've used the old ones and the newer generation. Other than to try something different, I had no reason to change.

The 120 is a whole different animal, in regards to expansion, than the 140. Like Yukonal said thicker jacket.

I just worked up some loads for my Sako 75 yesterday and the winner was the exact load Sakoluvr recommended. Never had much luck with Varget, but with this load my rife is very happy and I will be going with this load in the fall.

Long

My wife shot a 120 lb. doe this past season at 15 yards with a .284 120gr Ballistic Tip. The impact velocity would have been around 2900 fps. The recovered bullet weighed 78 grains (65% retained weight) and certainly did not blow up, but it did not exit either. The same load will go completely through an antelope at over 300 yards.

If you don't believe that the 120 grain BT has a thicker jacket than the 140 grain, call Nosler and they will confirm it. They toughened them up when silhouette competitors complained about short hang time on target. Now the silhouette shooters have a tougher bullet and the hunters also benefit.

If you want to almost guarantee complete penetration at powder burn ranges, use a 120 gr. Barnes TTSX.

Another vote for the 120 B-Tip. It works wonderfully out my .280 AI at over 3300 fps and should do great in the 7/08 as well.

[quote=nitis.Al are you saying that the 120 has a thicker jacket than the 140? If so where did you get this priveleged info?[/quote]

Yes I am. There have been several posts discussing this. MtnHunter posted some pics of a sectioned 120 NBT beside a sectioned 140 NBT awhile back. The thicker jacket is obvious.

It's not priveledged info. It's been made available to everyone.

We have been using the 120 B-Tips for years in .280 and 7-08. Velocities are 3198 and 3086fps. We have had no blowups on numerous mule deer, antelope, and 1 six pt. bull. The 120 was made with a thicker jacket for the silhouette shooters, if I recall correctly. They needed it to hold together to knock the rams down.
I have seen 30 cal B-Tips make a bloody mess, however, but have no fear of the 7mm 120's.
http://i31.photobucket.com/albums/c369/12970/Hunting%20and%20Shooting/120grBT.jpg

I hope you didnt take offense Al I just have never seen anything written anywhere or any proof but those pictures say quite a bit!

I have heard it said that other calibers in certain weights have this same characteristic I believe one is the 180 gr 308 do you know anything about this? or others?

+Another one on 45 grains of varget with the 120 NBT

Three bucks with that load & none have gone more than 10-12 feet. It is absolutely like lighting.

I should clarify. I've seen 30 cal 125 grn make a mess. I know nothing about the 180's.

What he said.

When I asked Barsness about that a few weeks ago, his list of tougher than normal Ballistic Tips were: 150 grain .277, 150 grain 7mm, 180 grain .308, 180 grain 8mm, 200 grain .338.

I asked a tech at Nosler a couple months ago about the 120gr Ballistic Tip and they told me that bullet is plenty tough for deer hunting.

I've been extremely pleased with the 120 gr BT in my 7mm-08 on white tail. I hunt at woods ranges here in south west Mississippi with most of my shots under 100 yards, many under 60 yards. I've gotten pass throughs on all shots so far and could not be happier. I've laid in enough of the 120 gr BT to last me for quite a while just to have them.

My experience for what ever that is worth to you.

R15 and a 120gr BT works wonders