Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Which 7mm-08 bullet for shoulder shot on deer.

I deer hunt mostly with a 280 and 150g Partition. The shoulder shot is my first choice Andy he Partition works great.

Not sure how many hormandy 139 interlocks I have put down range out of various 7mm, and never had a problem with any of them.

Another vote for the 120 BT. Easily over 50 animals with it between my dad and myself. Very good consistent performance. The 139 Horn flat base is a good one as well. I'm sure any on you list would be fine. I just have allot of experience with these two.

Seems the 120 NBT may be the single most mentioned bullet, if not it's in the top tier.

DF

I was just about to make that same comment. In general the BT doesn't get a lot of love for bone bustin'. For it to be so well respected for shoulder shots in a light for caliber bullet is a surprise to me.

140 trophy Bonded Bear Claw

remington 140gr psp coreloks. not that expensive and i have not had to track deer over 40-50yards with them.

It ain't you Daddy's Oldsmobile, remember that old car ad?

Well, this NBT isn't the one we used back in the day that blew up on most anything. The current 120 NBT is a tough bullet, able to bust shoulders on WT's and med sized game. And, I've never heard anyone complaining about accuracy.

When I traded for my 7-08, I didn't have time to work up loads, bought a couple boxes of Nosler factory 120's. They shot sub inch and I never looked back. No meat in the freezer, yet, but they'll do the trick.

Too many good hunters, like JGRaider, swear by them. If they weren't Kosher, JG would say so.

DF

Any decent 154 RN.

I agree with 708 fan agreeing with SAS.

I shoot the Federal Premium 150g Partitions in my 280 and they are great on shoulder shots. Deer rarely get out of sight and usually fall where they are hit.

Hey, if it works for ya....

Partition is never a bad choice, IME.

DF

I've shot none with 7-08 but a bunch with 7x57. 140 TTSX at 2900 and use it on everything from deer on up. It's more penetration than needed on deer, but I like to use the same ammo on everything.

I’ve used the Barnes 120 grain bullets. They will easily break the shoulders

Why do you intentionally shoot deer in the shoulders? Not much meat on a deer to begin with, then to intentionally blow a hole in the front end sure seems a waste of meat to me.

They'll all work nicely for taking out the running gear. I've killed deer with all of them except the Pro Hunter so I'll speak only to the bullets I have experience with.
If the expectation is to have the least waste / blood shod shoulder meat, the BT and AB wouldn't be my # 1 (or 2) choice.

+1 on 120gr BT

I have shot the 7mm08 since 1984, I currently own 3 on them including a tikka t-3 that I purchased the first they were offered.
As stated several times, the hornady 139 interlock is as good as it gets. Plain and simple! Tough and accurate.

The 120 NBT will do for shoulder shots. I usually shoot high shoulder shots--DRT. If my avatar still shows the one and only hog I have shot fell to the 120.

Dean

I’ve killed deer or elk with all those bullets except the Sierra in a couple of different 7-08s. My two favorite by far are the 120 NBT for deer and antelope and the 120 TTSX for elk and combo hunts.

The NBT is accurate, less expensive and a complete hammer on deer. I have no qualms whatsoever about putting a 120 TTSX through the shoulders of the biggest bull elk at any reasonable range, as I know it will work.

Those 120s are perfect in the 7-08, mild recoil and DRT deadly!