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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,439
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 7,439 |
I was turned on to this load by another 7/08 shooter and this load has outperformed any other load I've ever tried. It's not the fastest load, but it has turned out to be obscenely accurate and it drops deer like crazy.
In my 7/08 it will stack all shots in one ragged hole every time, if I do my part.
41.0 grains of IMR-4064, Nosler 140 grain Ballistic Tip, 210M primers. It works...
You only live once, but...if you do it right, once is enough.
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Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,749
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,749 |
I have used 120 gr. BT, 139 gr Spire Point, and 140 gr. BT, and 145 gr Speer Hot Core. I settled on the 120 gr. BT. I have had good results with IMR 4064, RL 15 and Varget. I use RL 15 or Varget whichever is available. The 120gr. Ballistic Tip is a very good bullet. I've killed both deer and hogs from several feet away to over 225 yards. I've used the same load in several different rifles with only slight differences in headspace and bullet seating depth. The first 100 yrd cloverleaf I ever shot was with the 120gr. BT and 4064. I look no further now for a bullet for 7mm08.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,933
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,933 |
120 BT over Varget, I get 3100fps in one rifle and 3050 in the other with the same load
Location Western NC, after alot of other places
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Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 519
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 519 |
Ive had good luck with 120gr BT's and the 139gr Hornady Interlock.
If you wanna try the 139gr Hornady and cant find any let me know I have like a 1/2 box I'll make ya a good deal on.
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,225
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,225 |
I will admit up front that I've never actually used a 7mm-08 at all......but I have shot the 7x57mm (same catrdge with a different shape) a lot.
To me, the "secret" to any smaller, light caliber round is penetratin and heavy-for-caliber bullets. I really like the 175 grain bullets, but velosity is cut enough to really limit range. A good compromise is the 154 grain bullets wich allows an easy 300+ yard range with great penetration and hitting power.
The 139-145 a bullets also work great on deer size game, but I shy away from lightweght 120 grain slugs.
I hate change, it's never for the better.... Grumpy Old Men The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,972
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,972 |
I will admit up front that I've never actually used a 7mm-08 at all......but I have shot the 7x57mm (same catrdge with a different shape) a lot.
To me, the "secret" to any smaller, light caliber round is penetratin and heavy-for-caliber bullets. I really like the 175 grain bullets, but velosity is cut enough to really limit range. A good compromise is the 154 grain bullets wich allows an easy 300+ yard range with great penetration and hitting power.
The 139-145 a bullets also work great on deer size game, but I shy away from lightweght 120 grain slugs. Sorry but I don't see the 7mm-08 as a smaller caliber nor the 120 gr bullet as "light" on deer. I would possibly consider a 223 as "light" and even it is quite adequate. The 7mm-08 might be considered as "smaller" if you were hunting brown bears but not for deer size game.
Last edited by R_H_Clark; 10/27/14.
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Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 29,650 Likes: 5
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 29,650 Likes: 5 |
Hey those big bodied Texas deer are real bullet-stoppers !!
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,246
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,246 |
I use the plain old 145gr Speer BT in my 20" 7mm-08 over H4350. Works nicely on deer/hogs.
Now with even more aplomb
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Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,225
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,225 |
Good choice JPro.....yankees just don't inderstand thick brush and blood trails
I hate change, it's never for the better.... Grumpy Old Men The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,246
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 17,246 |
I've only caught one so far. Double shoulder shot on a good-sized buck. Didn't recover the bullet though. Everything else that managed to run did leave heavy blood trails.
Now with even more aplomb
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,863 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,863 Likes: 4 |
Boat tail Speers aren't Hot Cors, and are made on the soft side.
Goes to show how well a regular bullet can perform when used at a reasonable velocity.
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,091
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,091 |
I will admit up front that I've never actually used a 7mm-08 at all......but I have shot the 7x57mm (same catrdge with a different shape) a lot.
To me, the "secret" to any smaller, light caliber round is penetratin and heavy-for-caliber bullets. I really like the 175 grain bullets, but velosity is cut enough to really limit range. A good compromise is the 154 grain bullets wich allows an easy 300+ yard range with great penetration and hitting power.
The 139-145 a bullets also work great on deer size game, but I shy away from lightweght 120 grain slugs. Couldn't agree more. My old 7x57's also worked best with 139 and 154gr bullet's. I wouldn't bet the farm on lighter bullet's.
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,931
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,931 |
I've been using the 120gr NBT out of mine, very accurate and seems to hit hard and I cant complain about penetration but they don't travel in a strait line inside a critter. The last 4 deer I've shot, the entrance and exits have been all kinds of angles, I've even shot one broadside in the shoulder and had a exit on the same side out the rear ham.
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Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,481
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 7,481 |
Used to use 120 TSX's and had very good terminal performance, but so so accuracy. Switched to 162 A-Max's and have great accuracy and they are wicked on deer. Very quick kills and all pass throughs.
To anger a conservative, lie to him. To annoy a liberal, tell him the truth.
Promoted to Turdlike status 03/17/12
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,623
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,623 |
Badger what's your load, velocity if you know it, etc?
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,416
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,416 |
140 gr NBT pushed by 45gr I-4350 is the ticket in my Vanguard S2.
Support your local Friends of NRA - supporting Youth Shooting Sports for more than 20 years.
Neither guns nor Liberals have a brain.
Whatever you do, Pay it Forward. - Kids are the future of the hunting and shooting world.
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,172
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 8,172 |
120 gr TTSX over 43.0 gr of RL-15 shoots very well in my 7-08 NULA and kills stuff to boot.
donsm70
Life Member...Safari Club International Life Member...Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Life Member...Keystone Country Elk Alliance Life Member...National Rifle Association
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Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,319
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 4,319 |
120BT and Big Game powder are the ticket in my 7mm/08. Used the 140BT, AB, and partition with just as good results. The 120BT and Big game is incredibly accurate in mine and performs great on the deer. Lots of viable options for deer in the 7mm-08.
NRA Life Member
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,790 Likes: 1
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 10,790 Likes: 1 |
The secret is out (grin). Great little bullet that kills stuff and mild recoil. Haven't check the speed on my load yet but it will kill deer easily.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,933
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,933 |
Yep,,,, of course now those Texas deer are special,,,,,,
but ever deer and hog I have shot with the 120BT have piled up quickly, usually leaving a blood trail that Stevie Wonder could follow,, if they went far enough to need a trail. I don't think I have ever had one go farther than 50 yards and he was moving on when I shot him
Location Western NC, after alot of other places
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