Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Best All-Around 7-08 Choice?

Hey guys,
Whats your choice for a good all-around bullet choice for the 7-08 assuming they all shoot good.

I'd like to choose between the 120TSX, the 140TSX, the 140NP or the 140AB.

I'm thinking 120TSX would do it all, up to and including elk and moose....while keeping trajectory a bit flatter. Either way, the 140NP I think might be hard to beat all-around too...

Any comments on the best 'one-bullet' for the 7-08 for antelope, deer, sheep, elk, moose, bears, etc.....

I would try the 120gr tsx since it can be driven faster which may help provide more consistent expansion at longer distances compared to the 140gr tsx.I have used the 140gr partition in my own 7mm-08s with good results,but I have been extremely impressed with the performance of the tsx on game in several cartridges.

Yea I'm thinking this will be a good opportunity to use the TSX....havent really shot much with them other than 1 doe out of a 260...

I really think the 120 is the key to get a bit more speed outta it too...

You may have answered your own question, 120 TSX.

Anyone shot elk with the 120 TSX out of a 7-08? Any reason to feel any less confident with a 120 TSX vs a 140 NP? I hate switching things up, so I'm lookin for that do-everything load and I really think the 120 TSX should handle it all.....

I have seen the results of elk and moose killed with the 140gr tsx out of the 7mmremmag.Penetration and damage was comparable to a 175gr partition used in the same cartridge.

Pick the one thats most accurate in your gun and you'll have your answer.TMO.

Thats a given....

I don't understand why anyone would actually want to limit themselves to one load in any rifle. This sounds like one of those what if games played by high school kids about cars before they own a car.

But whenever the question arises, I always say go with a heavier bullet. In the 7mms, that would be a 154-gr Hornady Interlock.

I only use one load in every one of my rifles.The reason being that I only have to remember one sight in and learn one trajectory for that gun.



Bullet construction is far more important than bullet weight.The 154gr hornady usually retains about 60% of it's weight for a retained weight of about 92.4gr.The tsx usually retains at least 90% of it's weight for a retained weight of about 108gr.The result is that the 120gr tsx will generally offer even greater penetration than the heavier interlock.

Dont quite understand that analogy, nor do I care to....but I like shooting one load for everything and learning it well. Why change up a good thing? What are you really gaining? For NA game, theres no need and if a guy can find a good load, why not stick to it? I didnt say it was the only load I'd shoot in the gun, but I prefer to run one for all hunting purposes and know it front to back....

Its okay if ya dont understand....

I distrust light bullets, even if they are monolithic, they simply slow down at a much faster rate in flesh and bone. Sure they do have a lot of penetration, but depends on what and where your shooting. I have seen several ocassions wherein the 180 Barnes X in the .338 failed to penetrate as much as I would have liked on a Cape buffalo and again on a bull bison. I have not seen this with the heavier Barnes X bullets. I think we tend to go over board in both directions with monolithics, like in most things, moderation remains the answer. for elk in a 7-08 I would use the 140 myself, then I could take any good angle shot. In a lead core jacketed bullet I would opt for the 160 gr. such as a Nosler.

I wish Nosler would turn-out a 7mm 120gr Accubond or perhaps a 130gr.

The original poster specified which game that he intends to hunt as quoted below from his first post.He specified up to and including elk and moose.I doubt that he cares if this bullet is suitable for bison or cape buffalo.

If your are competing in match shooting then I would shoot the one that shoots the best, If you are going to use for hunting purposes I would use the one that kills the best. I have yet to find a real world big game hunting situation where someone would benefit from having a round that shoots .25 MOA as compared to 1 MOA or even 1.5 MOA for that matter.

I own 2 7-08s, a 7wsm, and a 284 win. There is a good probability that you will get your most accurate load with a 140 gr Accubond. There are several on here with that experience. This bullet is designed to perform in a similar manner as the Partition. Performance I have seen with this bullet on deer, leads me to believe it would not let you down on larger game. I say give these a try. JMO since you're asking.

I know the theory, but my experience tells me to trust the 154-gr bullets in any 7mm rifle.

If you can't get different bullet weights to shoot to the same point of aim or at least in vertical groups, then go with the one that shoots the best for your intended game. In the 7mm-08, I find no problem shooting the 120-gr Nosler BT at 2600 and 3,000 fps, the 139s at 2,800, and the 154s at 2,700 fps, all with the same sight setting of 6 minutes of an angle.

Lee24-in all honesty, if you can't get your head around the one bullet theory then you've less experience than I thought you had...

Mark D

I have been a big proponent of the One Bullet Theory for about 30 years, but he asked about EXPERIENCE. I have also been the practioner of the One Gun Reality, where I had to know how it handled a lot of different loads, from cast bullets at 1,200 fps to 220-gr RN ( .30-06).

The reality for my 7mm-08s is that the 154-gr BTSP or SST is a more dependable long range bullet than any 120-grainer that starts out faster. Inside 200 yards, the 154-gr RN is really accurate and gives up nothing in usable trajectory to any 120, 139, or 154-gr bullet.

No one's making anyone try anything. Maybe we should should rename the thread, "Best 120-gr load for the 7mm08" and delete all other posts. Just go back and look at my posts years ago touting the 120-gr Nosler BT as a tough 7mm bullet. Lots of people doubted it based on theory and preconceptions, but a few tried and became believers.

I haven't read every word of every post here ... so if this has been said, or touched on, I'll apologize for wasting your time ... but seeing that the 120g TSX and Vmax bullets share the same BC, and can both be made to move at about 3,050fps MV, I'd say that's your "one bullet" choice right there ... They should track the same during flight, and basically print to the same POA/POI ... add in the 120g Nosler BT (if you can get it tracking/printing basically the same), and you've got three bullet constructions that you can choose from for whatever you're going after ... and only have to remember one ballistic ribbon ...


Of course, while having only one ribbon to remember, it's not that hard to have a single, heavier bullet/load in case you really feel you need that extra weight. But again, a properly placed 120g TSX moving at 3,050 MV is gonna be good medicine for just about whatever you would want to point a 7-08 at ...