Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 7mm-08 Upcoming elk hunt

My new kimber 7mm-08 is a sleeper. It shoots sub MOA with all my hand loads using RL15.

I have an upcoming bull elk hunt and I'm basically trying to figure out what bullet to decide on.

Choices are.
140 Accubond
140 TTSX
150 Long Range Accubond
150 Nosler Partition

I've shot out to 400yds with all four bullets, and it's a toss up.

Which would you choose?

140 Ttsx

Accubonds..

I shoot the TSX in both of my ,7-08s, but I think the Accubonds or the partition would be a better choice at 400 yds.

Hands down partition.

My daughter punched three Federal 140gr Partitions through a large cow at 180 yards.

Yes.

And then what? The elk died? Ran away?

That 150gr 7mm Partition is a heck of bullet. I use that slug on big game at STW speeds. It just plain works.

In 2015 my dad killed a big 5x5 with a single 140 AB at 225 yards. 2850 fps muzzle velocity.




P

You didn't list it, so maybe there is a reason, but I wouldn't hesitate to punch an elk with the 120 Gr. TTSX. Plenty accurate in my Montana and gives 3100 + fps. Will shoot through most Elk. I shoot 44.0 gr. of RL 15. My other load if your interested is 49.5 gr. of Big Game at 3165 fps

This would be my first choice. If not a possibility, any of the bullets on the list in the OP would be great, with my preference being the 140 TTSX. The 145 LRX would be pretty sweet, too.

My 7-08 Kimber MT loves 140 Accubonds, but the 150 Partition would be my first choice, hands down. The 140 Accubond would be my second choice.

DRT

Don't be afraid of the 120 ttsx in the 7mm/08. Kills elk and deer very well and have never found a bullet in the animal.

^^^^^This, no doubt.

My vote is for the 150 Partition. The Accubond would make second place. Partitions work, and they work, and they work.

Accubond or Partition.

Becoming more and more a monometal fan.

I would stay around 140 gn for elk I only hunt with a 7-08 and have taken quite a bit of game with one, including elk. 140 IMO is just perfect for that chamber

I’d also throw in bullets such as the 140 Trophy bonded tipped and the 140 E-Tip.

And of course the guy below would tell you a 150 Ballistic Tip kills big bulls absolutely, positively, Dead.

[quote=lastround]You didn't list it, so maybe there is a reason, but I wouldn't hesitate to punch an elk with the 120 Gr. TTSX. Plenty accurate in my Montana and gives 3100 + fps. Will shoot through most Elk. I shoot 44.0 gr. of RL 15. My other load if your interested is 49.5 gr. of Big Game at 3165

My buddies son dropped big old rosie cow with one shot from the 120 TTSX it was around 160 that took one step and dropped like a ton of bricks i was impressed. So I would not hesitate with that caliber and bullet

I'm sure an Elk's lung is quite big. Hit it squarely in the lung with any bullet and it's all over very quickly. While premium bullets are twice the price they don't perform twice as good.

The last elk I killed was with a 150 Partition from my 7x57 giving a little over 2700 fps. Elk may have walked 50 yards after the shot.

what kind of velocities are you getting from RL15 and those projectiles?

I've loaded 4320, 4895 and 4350 in my 7-08 using 150 gr Sierras (for deer, thus far). Those have chrony'ed around 2650-2750.

I'm thinking about changing powders to try and get better velocity. I have no complaints on accuracy with the present combination.

My Nosler book says other powders: RL19, Hunter, RL15 might gain me ~100fps or so.

I've got a year to fiddle with it.

I like the TTSX then the partition, the Barnes allows you to break shoulders on the way in or out if you need to.

Find some Big Game and use a magnum primer. I get 2875 with 140 Partitions, 2850 with 140 Accubonds, and 2800 with 150 ELDX.





P

thanks sir! I'll give it a "shot".

I ran across a can of R19 today at a LGS, so I'll try that too.

Fun to have that many choices ,id flip a coin between that 140 Ttsx and that150 Partition, some bbls like liter bullets some prefer heavier , good luck on your hunt!