Which 139 gr bullet is the one everybody raves about?
The #2820 (FB) or the #2825 (BT)?
I’ve always like the flat base version a lot. I well recall a time when I put about 7 million grains of caribou on the ground in around a minute’s time with 556 grains of Hornady goodness and my 7mm-08. Zero drama at the starting line of work.
Tagging this as I'm wondering the same. Think I've read somewhere that the FB's tend to hold together better?
The 7mm 139gr Hornady flat based SP just may be the perfect deer bullet. They've shot significantly better than the BT version in my 7mm-08/7x57/280's.
JB's "Handloads that Work" recommendation for 50 gr of H4350 or 48 of Ramshot BG is the truth.
Doecamper's 20" M7 spits the H4350 variety out at a dead reliable 2875 over the chrony @15'. Happy equilateral triangles at 100 and impacting at the ideal velocity range.
GE
I took a muley buck at 385 with the 2825 (bt version). It was an uphill shot that busted the rib, bounced off the spine and took a chip out of a rib on the way out...and clipped the lung in between. I have not complaints about it. It grouped at .75" clocking about 2820 pushed by varget.
In the 60's and 70's I shot numerous B. Bears w/a model 93 7X57 w/a case full of milsurp 4831 and the Horn. 139 SPFB. Never lost a one and don't remember shooting very many more than once. At that time there were no license req. or seasons and the Game dept. didn't want to hear about our calves being chewed on in the spring. I don't think they went a whole lot over 2500 fps. Still have 2-3 boxes that are marked $3.95!- Muddy
The 154s are the better bullet. Flat bases are easier to keep their pants on than boattails too.
My Dad killed several truck loads of deer w/the bt version in an old '95 Mauser 7x57 w/the old version of 4831 at around 2850. I agree that the 154gr is probably a better all round bullet...even for deer. powdr
My wife and I have killed several truckloads of deer from Coues to big mule deer, plus antelope and bull caribou with the 139, either flat-base or boattail, and it has worked every time. Muzzle velocities varied from 2800-3100 and ranges from under 100 yards to around 400.
Used the Flat base on several deer and antelope out of a short barreled 7mm08.. Accurate little bullet and worked fine on that game..
I've used the flat based version out of a 7-08 on several hogs and a couple deer. The internal damage and exit holes were indistinguishable from the 140 ABs I've also used. Since both work wonderfully I decided on the cheaper Interlocks.
I have not used them(2825) on deer (Barnes whore here on game) but shot bunches of them for a cheaper silhoutte bullets out to 385M and they shoot much better than many "match" bullets do. This out of a 7-08 and 7BR's
Thanks so far...looks pretty even.
I've used both, the 139 FB or BT based on what I could get at the time. Never had a deer or piece of cardboard complain about either one, and I couldn't tell a difference between the two.