I just got a new one, looking for the perfect bullet specifically for whitetail deer. don't need recommendations for elk or moose or elephant, just deer. thanks to all you users of 7-08, looking forward to working up the loads for it.

Welcome to the 7mm-08 brotherhood I absolutely LOVE this round. I shoot it more than all my other rifles combined.

139 grain Hornady flat base has been a winner for me for years. It is cheap, accurate and hammers deer. You sure don't need premium bullets, nor would I use them in the 7mm-08.

I have been killing deer and lots of pigs with the 120 grain Hornady hollow points as well, out to 550 yards. I haven't recovered a single bullet yet. I honestly have no idea how many critters I have killed with this bullet. All have dropped at the shot. Flinch

Shot many a flat base 139 myself, very accurate and solid reputation of clean kills, tad more accurate than the boatail in my experience and a few cents cheaper.

FWIW, it's what Rem loaded in their initial '140 corelokt' loads for years over a powder like W760/H414...48-49gr comes to mind, but check it. Me - I loved Varget and IMR4064.

I killed deer w/120s in SP and HP Hornady's via a 7mmBR rifle, at 2878mv, but prefer 140s typically.

any recommended loads with that bullet..sounds exactly what I am looking for. I have had great success with Hornady cup and core in 270.

139 Horn flat base and R17 is slamo dunk the way I'd go

Dober

The 139 would be a great choice, also might look into the 120gr. Nos. BT as well.

I've got everyone on ignore so,.........did anyone say 139 Hornady SP? Lots of powders will make it sing. Varget, 4064, 414/760, etc. I've probably burned more 414 than anything in the 08.

Remington 140 grain Core-Lokt can't be beat.

Oh ... but it can ...
My 7-08 prefer the 140 Fusions over the "Deadliest Mushroom in the Woods" ... By a long shot

I was gonna mention the NBT 120 too, of course that's not exactly original on my part. I found a good load with Varget, shoots accurate and at 3,000 fps. Lots of guys get more speed but I settled on the accuracy load.

I just got the rifle, so can't say how well it kills deer, but it shouldn't be an issue, and everything I've heard is positive.

Best part was, I got to stretch it out a little this past weekend. I have the 2.5 X 8 VX-3 with CDS turret on the rifle. I zeroed at 200 yds., but hitting a 12-inch target at 450 with the 120 NBTs was a slam dunk, and even at 820 was consistent as long as the wind stayed down.

That's more than I'd ask out of the rifle (a 6-lbder) on game, but it was just good to know that the little 120 worked at distance.

Lots of great bullets for the 7-08 out there. I like the 140grNBT especially for deer sized game.

MtnHtr

Out of the bullets mentioned, are any of them more "meat friendly" on deer than the others in a 7-08? That 139 Hornady flat base sounds interesting, but I've only used their spire points in 25-06 & 270 before.

120 NBT or 120 TSX (or tipped TSX).

Yep...

nosler 120 or 140 gr BT

Forgot:

162 'Max. Nothing trumps its inherently superior BC of .625...


Hint...

Someone has simultaneously been eating Mushrooms and posting if they think the corelockt is any great shakes. I believe the same individual claimed the 7mm-08 was not big enough for deer.

140 Partition or 139 Hornady Interlock.

ok, thanks for all the suggestions. I am going to try 139 gr hornady's and if, for some reason they don't shoot, I will move on from there. willing to spend the summer getting that ONE load that will work. I do have great confidence in Hornady for deer especially.

Add some RL-15 and you're there.

The 7mm-08 does suck but at least the Core-Lokt gives it a fightin' chance. Anything but a Nosler BT.

And you don't ???

Troll doesn't know how to read....

The 7/08 'CORELOKT' 140gr load, WAS the 139 Hornady SP by Hornady for 10-15 yrs or more. The change came about when RP started putting 'new/improved' corelokt.....but having loaded and shot some of their 'new' bulk bullets......they were not up to par w/a 139 IME, accuracy wise.

What do trolls know?

Absolutely correct. Don't think about using anything but Core-Less. Especially not Barnes TSX's, they just pencil through, you know, even in the sucky 7-08........

Forgot to mention, that was the 29 year old 477lb doe that my daughter shot a few years ago...........

Since Barnes is a Remington product they are suitable, but why spend the money for premium bullets on deer?

Pull up your shorts & give your mouth a chance.........

That's a hell of a strain to put on a golf cart..

My old standby that has never let me down in 7x57,280 or 7mag is the Speer 145 SPBT..it don't get any better than this unless a 120/140gr TTSX!!

If you can't find Core-Lokts another good choice is the.

Sierra GameKing 7MM 140 Grain Boat Tail Spitzer

Woody..for whatever reason that 145 Gr. Speer performs all out of proportion in anything Ive seen it put in. Excellent bullet.

Yup,

























dressed weight too..........

Used the Sierra years ago on speed goats,thought they opened up too quickly.Made the switch to the Speer 145 SPBT got better accuracy and penetration.The Core-Least have never been on my radar!! .....although my father-in-law swore by them in his thudy-thudy!!

As do all knowledgeable hunters...

I could tell by the photo that it pushed 600lb's live weight..

Guess when you cherry pick your data sources and edit to your liking, its hard to be wrong very often .....

i agree with the 120 gr. NBT and 120 gr. TSX.

the 7mm 120 gr. NBT is built stouter than most other NBT bullets.

but i still use the TSXs when i'm hunting where bigger stuff might wander by.

Well, I will be the black sheep.

130 Speer BTSP. With top loads of Re-15 or IMR4320, I get 3000 fps with <1 MOA accuracy. Texas deer and hogs dislike this recipe, however.

When you've been at something for nearly 50 years it's hard to be wrong.

140 grain Federal Fusion. great bullet for the 7mm-08

Even if you have to twist facts, present partial truths or just down right lie.

Hah........just wrong for 50 yrs.................you gonad!!!

Deer? Easy...120 TSX.

Another 120TSX fan here.

Next I want to hunt with 150GameKing and 150TTSX. Anyone here use these in their 7-08?

Reckon that makes the Nosler Partition about perfect...

I'd vote 139 Hornady at 7mm-08 velocities...

I shot that bullet lengthwise through a mule deer a year or so ago...

Anyone who says the tsx is expensive and you don't need them is delusional. You shoot at a deer one shot normally and the loaded round costs about .80 if you reload. Try buying ANY factory loaded ammo in 708 for less that $1 per round. You spend anywhere from $400 for a cheapo rifle scope combo to the skies the limit for your rifle/scope. Minimum of $100 for boots, several hundred for camo or orange clothing, my all inclusive license is $165,$100 to fill your $40,000 SUV with gas, $500 for the computer to read Swampy spout his idiocy, $600 for the Leica rangefinder, $500 for that Reconyx trailcam to see what is in the woods, food, beer, and all the other stuff I can't remember. Tell me you can't afford 50 cents extra for a bullet that just plain works. I can identify with the 139 Hornady also as I used that bullet for years and killed quite a few deer with it. You can give a kid a 708 loaded with the 139 H and pushed by 37 gr of Varget and tell him to kill schitt. Don't kick and just plain knocks the deer flat at 100 yards or less which is where most kids operate. However, seeing what the Accubond does to deer in my 6.8 Rem the last couple years has made me a believer in them, too.

No Experience:

I have posted this several times before but it is worth posting here for you again. I've only taken a few deer with the 7-08, but you will love the round -kills really well and the recoil is so mild you can see the impact on the shot.

My brother has been shooting a 7-08 for about ten years now. He takes between 9 - 15 deer a year, all with the 7-08. He switched from the 30-06 and will never go back. Nothing wrong with the 06, but the 7-08 is just as good and much more fun.

He has tried a lot of bullets. He had a really bad experience with the Hornady 139 SST. I was there and witnessed the problem.

He absolutely swears by the 140 Core-lokt. This bullet, though inexpensive, performs exactly as advertised - it doesn't blow up and yet it provides a tremendous amount of energy transfer resulting in very frequent instantaneous kills. I shot a doe head on at about 75 yards with my brothers rifle and still got an exit way back in front of the pelvis. I'd say my brother gets exits about 90 percent of the time, with only the rare head on shot preventing an exit. When he does find a bullet they look picture perfect every time.

I know there are lots of good bullets out there for the 7-08, just wanted to let you know the Core-lokt performs really well. I know it's boring to find something so inexpensive and ordinary to perform so well, but quite simply these bullets are really tough to beat.

Good luck.

And Sierra's, and Speer's, and Hornady's, and Power Points, and Silvertips,...
Yep, being around a long time makes them Core lokts real unique and special.

I really like the 140 Sierra Pro-Hunter. Over Varget.

Probably not the perfect choice but since Colorado elk season runs directly into my Missouri deer season I now shoot 140 grn Accubonds. Switched from 140 grn Sierra GK that worked great for SEMO deer for just about ten years but they do a lot more off shoulder damage than the Accubonds.

Hard to believe Swampy doesnt like the 7-08......it is headstamped REM.

Hard to believe anyone pays attention to, much less comments on what swampy likes or doesn't like.

139 gr Hornady SP or SPBT have worked for me in the 7x57 to 7 mm Rem Mag on Antelope,Mule deer ,Whitetail deer and a Mountain Goat from near to far. Can't even imagine why they won't work in a 7-08 if your rifle likes them. It's a good place to start on the cup and core end of bullet design. Good luck. Magnum Man

Just about any bullet will work on deer when shot from a 7mm-08. I have tried just about all of the factory loads and I've never been disappointed. My personal favorite before it was discontinued was the Hornady Light Magnum 139 grain SP. Since it has been discontinued I have changed over to Hornady Superperformance 139 grain SST. I also really like the Remington 140 grain Corelokt. I prefer the SST over the Corelokt though. It seems to me that the Hornady loads are more consistent. The SST does not have the best penetration in the world and I have recovered a few of them under the offside hide. That doesn't worry me though because it does a lot of damage once it hits the heart and lungs and leaves one heck of a blood trail, IF the deer even makes it out of sight. Good luck and I hope you kill a pile of deer with it.

[quote=Kimber7manReckon that makes the Nosler Partition about perfect... [/quote]

For big game it is. For deer size game it's a waste of money.

Ive loaded this bullet for my bro in law, cept I used 760, that was before i discovered varget and RE15, shot 2 deer with 150NBTs, one buck was shot thru the liver @110 paces, it was DRT, the other was a a nice doe from about 80yds, it ran maybe 90 yds and toppled over, blood trail a blind man could see. Target on right is 150NBTs.

I run 140 accubonds over h4350. Antelope, hate that load. No deer yet.

I like the Nosler 120 Ballistic Tip.

Another vote for the 120 grain Nosler BT and for long shooting the 162 AMax is hard to beat.

Are you calling BTs "resurrection bullets"? 'Cause if you are, I'm going to have to open the freezer and let a bunch of happy occupants go.

Nobody has mentioned Berget Bullets yet..any experience out there on game in the 7-08?

The BTs are like FMJs, they work as long as you shoot them in exactly the right spot. I hate them.

So tell me exactly what that riddle is all about??

Oh, they work, to be sure. Yes, if they are placed poorly, they can, at times, be a bit more destructive than some, but killing with them is not rocket science.

ok swamp tell the deer that hit the ground so hard they bounce from my 284 and 140gr balistic tip that they are no good

How are they like FMJ .... they're polar opposites ...

Just more proof that he's never used them.

I like the 140's unless I'm shooting very long ranges. To me, the perfect bullet for a 7-08 for deer is the 140-gn Accubond.

If you want to mess around out to 600 yards or so the above bullet works well, or the 162 Amax has been performing well for me on steel at least.

Let me add, I ended up a bit underwhelmed by the 150 Partition on deer from my M7. It was about the only thing that rifle would shoot accuratly (sprayed the 140's). They always exited for me but a couple times the damage wasn't real impressive and I had one buck in particular that ran forever after a good hit with that bullet.

Because the pointy plastic end of the bullet sticks out of the case ..you need to get that right

Have used 139 Hornady, 140 Accubond both with h-4350 with good results. Rifle likes the 120 bt's real well with varget but I haven't shot deer with it [yet]. Remington 700 SPS stainless.

nothing works if you can't shoot...

I agree, so maybe you should quit hunting.

maybe you should try hunting before you start giving advice about it...

Yet you manage, over and over. Congratulations?

I can't even count the amount of deer, elk and moose that I have killed with ballistic tips. Never, not even once, have they EVER penciled through anything. Quite the opposite in fact. They are hell on critters and turn them inside out...DRT. The 139 grain Hornady's penetrate a bit more with more controlled expansion and exit. Swampy, you really need to get out and shoot more stuff (not in the butt either). "Ballistic tips pencil through" that is definitely in the top ten most ridiculous statements I have red on this forum. Please please show me the picture of said pencil kill, or did it get away? I bet you just missed and "think" it penciled through. So you have one whole experience with the bullet? Flinch

Bergers? They kill schit dead. But I only got experience on antelope, deer, elk and moose.

Well I shot a few deer with a 7mm-08 back when it came out, I had a Remington 700 so chambered. Sporter barrel around 1982. Remington was loading 139 gr Hornady SP in the factory load back then. Worked fine, just like my 7 x 57. The key is to find a bullet that you like and shoots well enough. Any decent 7mm bullet from 140 gr to 160 or even a 175 gr will do. One of my friends who homesteads in Alaska shoots nothing but a 7mm-08 and 140 gr Nosler Partitions loads from Federal, he may go thru a whole box in a decade. Fills his Black tail and moose tags every year. Told me once that his field shooting gotten much better when he when to that cartridge vs the 375 H+H he use to shoot. He could shoot that too, my guess its easier for a 76 year old to walk all day carrying a 7lb rifle vs one that is near 10 lbs.

He doesn't take pictures of his harvest ... it denigrates the animal .... except for the one on his golf cart.

maybe he doesn't want to likewise denigrate his sub .5" groups

or his 7mm-08

or his gunsmithing equipment

or his 'truckloads of rugers'

or his 'hundreds of elk'

His PB account tells the truth.

Its the same as any other cartridge. A BT or AccuBond if you want a stouter bullet a TSX or Partition. I have had excellent results with the 120 Partition in my 25-06 but for deer hard to beat a Ballistic Tip.

PB??? Putz-bugler????

Photobucket which is surprisingly devoid of game and chock full of gay azz "reenactment".

Absolute Campfire Classic!

Someone save this...

Photobucket???

That can't be it. Pecker buss-er?

The Nosler BTs may as well be stainless steel. Same size in and out.

That settles it.

Penis-blower.

Had to quote that one before he changed it. Holy crap, I knew he's was a dumbphuck, but ...

It don't bother me one bit. I hate Nosler BTs.

And the threads get more retarded........

I have never seen a NBT pencil through game.........come on Swampy.

I've seen them absolutely devastate game but that's about it.... he just doesn't like em cause big green doesn't load em

Swampy, Barnes don't belong to Remington they both belong to the Freedom group an investor fund like Marlin and H&R. Not the same thing...

To come back to 7-08 i use mostly 145 Speer SPBT for hunting , one of my friend get it's best results with Federal Fusion from it's mod Seven. He use them on smallish wild boar in his private property, i use mine on corsican ram, roes and foxes. Must do for deer too.

Hey, by all means shoot what you like. If you choose not to shoot BT's then by all means don't...but it makes you look at best ignorant or at worst a complete idiot to dismiss a make of bullet that THOUSANDS of hunters have used with complete satisfaction or even outright prefer.

An absolute understatement!! Swampy please tell us why a BT is so inadequate?? Enquiring minds would like to know!!

Freedom owns Remington, and Remington bought the rest.

It's just really hard to tell what the Nosler BT is going to do. One day a diamond, one day a stone. I'll take a Core-Lokt or a Sierra Gameking...thanks.

Swampy, I hope Rick never bans you as you are a source of consistently great amusement. Dom(Marseille) was right and again you were wrong. Here is a linky and enjoy it.

Linky Poo for Swampy Poo

BTW as a company that owed 2x as much as it was worth how in the Hell did you expect them to be able to pay people nevermind buy up other companies? ....DUH

You're really the best economy specialist in the world Swampy, as good as with firearms and bullssshit, sorry i was thinking bullets...Go to the Marlin or H&R web site they write they belong to freedom group not Remington....

Dom, Swampy is an expert "Fouteuse de Merde" ..glad to see he is providing entertainment on both sides of the atlantic

Guess the DOD is really ignorant as to what works then..seems to me the boat tail design must just be a fluke!!

Nothing wrong with a boat tail design. It's the plastic nose.

If anything, the plastic nose insert promotes expansion.

Wow. I'd call you a troll, but that'd be unfair to trolls.

I shot a fox once, just after it had pulled a vole out of its tunnel beneath the snow. It was standing about 50 -75 yards away looking straight at me with the vole in its mouth. The 225 NBT I fired was pushed by a compressed load of 748 which broke 2300 fps by the barest of margins near the muzzle. I found the rodent's head 5-10 yards away from the scene to one side. The tail, etc, was the same distance away the other direction. As well, there were greater quantities of fox bits and kibbles in an equally wide arc. There was no mistaking what that bullet did. OTOH, I shot a good-sized bull caribou once, perhaps close to 100 yards away. It was a simple broadside, side-to-side rib/lung shot. The animal immediately did the "dog nap" thing (making a few quick circles before lying down.) The 100 NBT fired from the 25-06 pencilled its way through both sides. The difference between exit and entrance were indiscernable. Perhaps it wasn't surprising however; that animal didn't have lungs. As near as I could tell, it was one of those creatures which does its air exchange via strawberry smoothy.

140 NAB and H-414/W760 O to be about perfect.

Gunner

That was the claim. It's more like sometimes it promotes expansion.

So how many critters did you shoot with NBT's Swampy to come to that determination?

oldelkhunter - you are the voice of wisdom and experience here. Never, ever, load a round with the pointy end backwards...really hard to chamber that way and even harder to fire them! LOL. Regards, Homesteader

I've shot NBTs into a decent variety and quantity of animals, both large and small, and "sometimes" is not how I'd quantify their expansion properties.



I'm still sticking with the plain-jane 139 IL-SP as a perfect choice for the great 7mm-08. If the 7-08 doesn't work for you, "it" is not the reason. (That would kind of be like saying the 7 Mauser can't be trusted.)

Im not sure what size groups youre getting with the H4350, but if you happen to have any Varget or RE15 lying around, Id try one or both of those with the Accubond and 139 Hor. I load anywhere from 40.5-41grs of Varget with the Hornady in a couple of buddies rifles and it plain rocks. Ive loaded H4350 and wasnt impressed.

Same number of 1/2 moa groups he's shot..........none.

This takes 1st place in the dumbphuck awards....

Rick puts Stick on the one post per 24 hour ban and this dumphuck gets to pizz stupidity all over the place....

priceless!

+1000 .. Swampy would be the perennial winner of the dumbphuckitude EMMY award .

Did try Varget with both of the heavier bullets, but I got bet ter groups with the H4350. The Accubonds grouped the best with the 4350 [under one inch,5 shots]. May have to try some re-15 just for fun. Got better groups with the varget and 120 bt's, might have to try those on a deer this year as I hear good things about them and the rifle likes them. Thanks, Stan

120 BT's from a. 280AI kill like lightning.....

If Swampy sez it, it must be true ..... he read it on the Internet!

Runs a close second to " goodiewrench" Karen/bossLady/ OldJerk."

H4350 is what works for me with the 140 NBT/NAB.

Guys... Swampy is playin' youse like fishes...

Jeff, he is accomplishing what few have done here. I hope he never gets banned.

These suckers aren't even keepers.

if you mean lying all the time and bogging down pretty much every thread he posts on (like this one-he has no experience with the 7mm-08, he is parroting something he read on the 'net), then you are correct.


i can't imagine anyone who comes here to exchange information about rifles wanting swamprat to stay.

I thought Swampy played the banjo and flute.

Toad , only kidding I wanted Swampy to feel like he is wanted ...before Rick kicks his azz to the curb that is. He offers nothing except snippets from internet sources that are as poorly informed as he is. He has zero credibility and has had his toes stepped on repeatedly when caught in lies. Pathological Liar and a Retard are his admiring qualities.

He caught the GAY that is for sure.

Guys, DFTFT!

This is what youll get with RE15 & Varget. Course you might need a Remington for groups like this.

Forgot to state that the target on the right is a 150NBT.

Sweet groups!!!! Plenty good enough for any kind of hunting. We've killed several deer with this rifle with the 139 IL. Only one so far with the AB. After i run out of the AB's I would like to try the 120 BT's on at least one deer. They shoot great with the varget.

140 gr PARTITION

I load 139gr Hornady SPs (flat based) with 48.5gr of H-4350 for a buddy and he loves the way that load shoots/kills deer. Dad uses 140gr Core-Lokts and H-4350 and he's pleased with that load as well. There are probably a lot of bullets in the 120-140gr range that wouldn't be a "bad" idea.

Raise it up for the 7-08

+1. And if I forgot to mention it in '11, the 154 Horn RN is skookum in the 7-08. Not gonna win any long distance contests, but killer for the still hunter on the ridges...

My sons rifle shot the 140 CT pretty well and has shot several deer and none ever took a step. 80 to 250 yds..

120 ttsx in my gun at 3275fps.

What's the recipe for that load? Barrel length?
Just about to start reloading and have been shhoting Barnes factory VorTx 120TTSX, rated at 3005fps.
Thanks

I shoot the 120 gr ttsx at 3175 fps with 1 gr under max load of big game from the Nosler book. This is from a rem 700 ss sps with a 24" barrel. Only about .75 moa, but it will do for hunting. I have not pushed it yet, but could get over 3200 I believe. The gun prefers the 120 gr Nosler BT, but at those speeds I want a mono metal bullet.

140 Accubond, 47.5 grains Big Game, WLRM, R-P brass, 2.805". 2843 ft/sec MV.


P

I've used (and like) the 139 IL flat base, 140 Accubond, and 140 Pro Hunter. The Pro Hunter is a little softer than the other two. I cant say I can tell the difference between the IL and the AB as far as performance on game.

Regarding the 120 gr TSX .....do you need to drive it above the 3000 fps mark ? I have loaded up some initial loads for testing which would be around the 2950 fps........

Added to that , anyone use the Sierra Pro Hunter 120 gr SP's in the 7mm-08??
Gus

RL15&17 for me .

WTH are you talking about?

Stick a 140 BT at 2800 fps and believe me no deer will walk away.

What is it with you and core locts anyway?

Here is a 120 BT from a 7mm-08. This one struck a buck at 3000 fps and took out both shoulders







30-06 165 BT's






From another thread.....



Got out with a favorite rifle today, and tested a favorite load & bullet, the same combination I used to take a young whitetail buck a few months ago.

Used the 165 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip from my .308 Win, loaded in a Federal case, with 45 grains of Varget and a CCI 200 BR primer. Muzzle velocity was 2750 fps in 48 degree temps today. Accuracy of the load is terrific from the 24" Krieger on my Rem 700 Green Machine. The water jugs were 20 yards distant:





Expanded diameter is .67" and retained weight is 112 grains. The bullet was recovered from the 5th jug and looks like a real nice mushroom to me. No wonder this bullet does so well on deer sized game. It's hardly the "fragile" bullet some label the Ballistic Tip. The B-Tip exited the young whitetail buck last November with a 2" high, 4" long exit wound through the ribcage after penetrating the on-side shoulder and dropping him instantly. He had been standing, quartering towards me, at about 70 yards.

A favorite bullet of mine for both accuracy and effect on target.

Guy



What else you want?

For big game it is. For deer size game it's a waste of money. [/quote]

But according to you the Barnes are not because it is a Remington product?

OOF why do I bother?

I've zooked both C/L's and NBT's on Venison,ala 7-08.

Hint................

My wife shot her first antelope with that bullet driven to 2900 fps. Three shots in a 6" group in the heart/lung zone with the first shot at 225 yds and the last at 275. All three bullets exploded on contact and failed to penetrate. The six inch entry wound looked like hamburger.

The Sierra 120gr Peo Hunter has been relegated to practice. The next year she switched to the 120 gr. NBT. Two shots side to side at 325. DRT.

I have used quite a few different bullets in the 7mm-08 and my least favorite is the Core-Lokt. I use a 140 AB and raked deer from hind quarter to off side shoulder. I have used the BT hot loaded in a 7RM and shot deer at point blank and with hig hsholder shots and they still blew right through. I am not sure why some have had them blow up and not penetrate but I have never had a problem on deer from NY to NC. I did use a TBBC for Bear in a 7rm and tried it on WT and the bear drop in his tracks. It also did a nice job on whitetail but not a DRT scenario. Although I have shot deer through the heart that still ran 100 yards with a fist hole for a heart. I have shot yearlings with a 250 gr XTP in a 45 cal MZL at PBR and token out both shoulders and they still ran up hill 100 yards. Every deer is different but the only time I had a bullet issue on a deer was with an SST and it blew to shreds but I still found the deer. My son now uses them in a reduced load 120 gr and they exit nicely at 50 yards and at 2600 fps. The Core-Lokt worked as well but just not a nice exit like I wanted and tracking would have been a chore if the deer did not circle back and drop in front of me. I like Partitions, BT, AB, and a variety of others. Usually in my experience with long tracking jobs it is a poor shot placement issue and not a bullet failure. I had a guy send me a pic last year of a full frontal 338 RUM shot at 50 yards and the BT did it's job fine.
I will admit to limited experience with the Speer Hot Core and it dropped the deer but came all apart worse than a varmint bullet. Again shot placement drop the deer in his tracks but I have started to prefer an exit hole especially with the mentoring of youth and adults I do.
This may all be repeated info I did not read the full thread. I also have no experience with Barnes bullets so no good advice there. I have always been happy with Nosler. A friend sponsored by Berger wants me to try some of their stuff this coming season. We get 4 buck tags and unlimited does here so I may give them a go.

120gr btip. I've used that bullet at warp speed in 7mm mag and it's an awesome whitetail zapper.

IMHO




140 Gr. Nosler Accubond.










Best,


GWB

Thanks for that post Scott - I may relegate the sierra's for culling goats and use the TSX for deer - that should be the away to go.

Gus

+1 Geedub.....140 AB.

140 Nosler AB and 145 gr Barnes Long range bullets have both worked wonderfully in my 7mm-08's on deer sized critters. Anything but a Fuggin' Core-Lok!! Worst bullet ever made.

I have been very satisfied with Hornady 139 flat base. Dependable accuracy and dependable performance on Mid size Tennessee deer. Last year I tried Sierra Prohunter in 120gr. On high lung shots the deer all ran farther than with the Hornady I had used. Yes the deer were one shot kills and the shots did not hit the heart area. Very little blood trail and exit holes were pencil size. It is my opinion that the Sierra Prohunter bullet is a harder bullet than is ideal for smaller whitetail deer. The Sierra Prohunter is a good bullet but he GameKing is probably better for deer. I am going back to Hornady interlock soft point because of the supply on hand and previous experience..

Sample of one. .284 with Speer 145 BTSP finished this bear. Excellent accuracy, good BC, and OAL for short action .284.

The 120X has no equal there.

Hint..............

The 120TSX is in a class by itself; the (current) 120 NBT is top drawer as well for most purposes, both over 44.5 gr of RL-15.

MM

44 grains of R15 with 120 TTSXs is getting me 3,000 with a 22" Remington take-off tube. Groups are averaging just over a half-inch with a limited number of range trips.

Dave

What the last two posters said. We've (either wife or I or both) shot either a 7-08 or a 7-08ai for the past decade, and the 120 gr NBT or TTSX absolutely rock in this cartridge. I use CFE-223 for a little more velocity, but RL-15 or Varget are usually a little more accurate.