Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 7-08 penetration question

Oh I realize that writing something disparaging against a Partition is tantamount to criticizing mothers and apple pie, but all I know is what I've seen. Absolute mush for lung tissue with a Partition, but to many where is the blood trail scenarios at last light or even good light. One of the first ones with a .300 WM 180 grain NP was real typical. About a 60 yard broadside on a 200# dressed 8 point. At the shot off he went like nothing was wrong. I thought that I might have gotten brush deflection and missed the shot completely, but the cross hairs looked perfect when the shot broke. No blood that I could find and rather dejected I fanned out in the direction he had run. About 80 yards up ahead I saw what looked like a branch, but it turned out to be his right antler. Another 10 point scuffed up leaves from a 140 NP 7mm-08, but did all his bleeding inside and that lung tissue strained through my fingers. A NP isn't a bad bullet and I'd use it before I'd use another TSX, all I'm saying is that in my experience regular cup and core Core-Lokt and Interlock bullets have given me a more dependable blood trail with much larger diameter exit wounds.

If I had to bet the farm on the performance of one particular bullet, it would be a partition, followed closely by an accubond. They've been kicking ass for over 65 years.

The question was directed to the comment of the partition being the perfect Deer bullet. Nothing implied it wasn't good or even great.

Years ago started out with the old school Core-lokts, and admittedly they seemed to leave something to be desired in hindsight. Then the NBT's came out and Kenny Jarrett thought they were special. I used them and never found them to be lacking, even with some thinking they blew up too often. I never found them to lack as a Deer bullet. Have probably used all of the upgrades and have yet to find them to fall short.

Then went to TSX and TTSX for 10 or so Deer and a Mountain Goat. Great results again.

Accubonds next. Bunch of Deer and another Mountain Goat. Guess what? No problems.

So this year rifles are loaded with NBT's, TSX, TTSX and Accubonds. I wouldn't say any of them are the perfect Deer bullet, nor would I bet the farm they were. However, I don't think any would have to play second fiddle to a Partition. And after 65 years, I would hope they had something figured out.

Used a bunch of different bullets in the 7-08 and .284 Win. The two bullets I liked most in the 7-08 were the 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip and the 120 TTSX.

The NBT gave quarter to golf ball size exits on deer and Pronghorn while that TTSX gave nickel-size exits on elk.

If I ever get another 7mm-08, these will be the only two bullets I’ll load for it.

Kind of amazed at the trail this one left. Shot in top 3rd of the lungs and the blood trail was instant.

Those pics are all within the first 5 feet from where he was standing when I shot.

Bullet hole shown is entrance. Exit may have been an inch lower, maybe 2".

perfect execution 10gauge. no meat lost there and i bet he didn't run super far either.i'm not surprised that he started leaking blood almost instantly. that snot super high being about half way up and not too far behind the shoulder either. i'd call that almost perfect unless you are trying for drt/hi axle shot...
Big Ed