Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting 7mm rem mag - 150 ttsx or 160 tsx

Opinions on which round is better for Elk.
Assuming both shoot same accuracy out of the rifle.

Barnes
150 TTSX or 160 TSX

Flip a coin. Both will kick the stuffing out of a elk.

I'd go with the tipped variety. The 160 TSX out of a 7 STW was the one I saw that didn't expand in elk. I don't think it was a bullet flaw after looking back, I think it was a recoil problem like MD mentions about recoil closing the tips a bit. The 150 TTSX has a wicked reputation.

The 150 TTSX in the 7mm Rem Mag is what I use for elk. I don't regret choosing it over a 160 TSX/TTSX. In fact, if I were to do it again I'd likely even go 140g TTSX. A monometal bullet favors fast velocities.

The 140 TTSX in 7mm Rem Mag is very popular here in Utah. I loaded it in the 7mm RUM and it was one flat shooter! Good luck to you, whichever you choose!

If you haven't purchased any bullets yet, consider the 140Gr. TTSX! The faster velocity will aid in expansion and may be a little flatter shooting. With nearly 100% weight retention, a lighter for caliber bullet is nothing to worry about for killing stuff!

Elk Country

I'm no expert but I've hunted a good bit with Barnes bullets in .277 and my experience says: go fast, go light, go tipped.

Below are loads that proved safe and accurate in my 7 Mag, they should be considered illustrations of what might be safe in your rifle.

150g ttsx
69-73g of R#25
Rem case
Winchester mag primer, very important
seat the bullet .050 off the lands
3200 fps
single digit ES
150g ttsx
This load also works with 154g Hornady Sp extremely well, which is an elk bullet

140g ttsx
67-68g of R#22
fed 215 or cci 250
seated .050 off the lands
3200 fps

65.5-66g of IMR4350-3200 fps
Rem case
Rem 9 1/2
tiny groups, if the rifle does not shoot this load, sell the rifle
Seat the bullet .050 off the lands

67g of R#19
fed 215
Win case
3200 fps
Seat the bullet .050 off the lands
start at 65g and work up

120g ttsx
72-73g of R#22
cci 250
Rem case
seat the bullet .050 off the lands
3400-3500 depending on the barrel
tuned rifles will shoot this load 1/3" or better with a muzzle break

I shot a load in my custom 7 stw at 3850 into groups that measured .287 and below using IMR 7828 and R#22 with 215's

These are examples of what my Rem 700's do, your results may vary

A buddy in Flagstaff shoots his 7 mag, 120g tsx, non tipped on deer, elk, and bear. He says he has never found a 120g in an elk or deer. I would bet my house that a 140g ttsx will out penetrate a 175g partition, and that is saying a mouth full.

Bullets as light as the 270 caliber, 110g ttsx at 3350 has not stopped in 200 lb plus deer.

I shoot the 150 gr TTSX out of my 7mm Weatherby with 100% confidence on deer and elk at any range you can hit ‘em. I have not bothered with the 160 or 140 TTSX / TSX since I get great results with the 150 on game. I don’t see why the 140 or 160 won’t work just as well. Happy Trails

Definitely the TTSX for anything I would do. Had very mixed results with the old X bullets and never trusted the TSX enough to use them on big game, even though they were very accurate in every rifle I tried them in.

The tipped bullets (TTSX, LRX and obsolete MRX) have performed very well for my hunting group. Excellent accuracy and we have yet to recover one (100g to 180g). I've had them go lengthwise through two mule deer. Half the game we've shot has dropped in its tracks, none have gone more than a few yards. No rodeos.

145 LRX

There was a guy in the classifieds selling 100 150 e tip modeled for 47 or best offer.

Haven't tried the 7mm 145g LRX, but based on the 175g LRX in my .300WM, I wouldn't hesitate to use it. Unfortunately, or fortunately, I have a lot of very good 7mm hunting bullets (think lifetime supply) to go through before I would need them.

I shot 6 Hartman Mountain Zebra last year (MUCH TOUGHER than an ELK) using a 7mm RM with 140 Barns TTSX. Killed them all dead. Ranges were 50 yards to 327yds.

Assuming they are both same accuracy wise. Since these work better the faster they go, I'd go with which ever one is going fastest at you maximum comfortable shooting distance.
400, 500? yards. Or if one that has lower speed for expansion. AS in. If 150 gr needs 2000 fps minimum and 160 needs 1800fps for expansion. Thats the one I'd go with.

I have shot through and had exits with 270 Winchesters many times shooting good lead core 150 and 160 grain bullets and never had a problem Not even one.
So going to a Barnes X bullet that retains even more weight then my 270s did, how could it possible be bad?

My 270 shoots bullet of the same weights as those you are talking about at speeds about 100-150 FPS slower (maybe about 80 FPS slower at impact out at 500 yards) and the performance have been 100%

So if both of them shoot well, and I can make a good guess that both would go clear through and expand at every velocity down to an impact of about 1900 FPS, I can't think of any reason to agonize over either one.

Flip a coin.

Shoot the heaviest bullet you and your gun shoot well.