Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Best 7mm-08 handload for deer?

Nbt 140 and imr 4350 has been the ticket for me in 4 different xbolts. The same load has shot moa or better in all them

Right cuz all that ends at Mason-Dixon Line .

I've gone both routes personally; heavy for caliber bone crushers like the 175 gr RN in 7x57, as well as stoutly constructed smaller bullets at fast speed like the 120 NBT in my 280 AI.

The former only puts em down fast with shoulder shots. The latter is great for pure shock & awe. When I look at the quick kills I've had they've all fallen into these 2 categories; heavy for caliber is wasted on anything but shoulder shots.

I shot a large buck in full rut at over 225 yards with the 120 gr. BT. He had his head down and gave me a quartering away shot. I was hunting high in my climber, and due to the angle, the bullet entered behind the shoulder, passed between the shoulders into the neck, and lodged just under the skin about 6" below the jaw. I measured about 18" of penetration...of meat.

Shot a doe at about 175 yards facing me. Shot her off center in the neck. Bullet traveled completly through the body cavity and lodged deep in the hind quarter.

Shot three hogs from a pack of around thirty one afternoon. After the first shot (190 lb hog) they started racing through the pecan grove. The next two hits were not optimal, but neither went more than 40 yards before piling up.

I could go on..but won't.. because I have quit a bit of experiance with the 7-08.

I have had far better results with the 120 BT than the heavier 139 gr Hornady's...and I like the interlocks.

If the 120 BTs shoot well in your rifle, I highly reccomend them. They'll do well with med. burning powders (4064, RL 15, Varget) and you won't have to compress the load to get optimum velocities (if that is your thing).