Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Across CONUS load?

Any thoughts on this?

Looking to develop a load for my 7-08. I hunt primarily upper midwest whitetail and should also be drawing a tag for a bear here soon. Bear aren't monsters on average but 400lbs isn't unheard of or uber rare.

Looking to come up with a load that works well for that but should also be ok for elk, muley, antelope or TX exotics as it were.

I'm guessing a TTSX of some sort in a loading that shoots well.

120 vs 140 grain? What do I gain with the 140?

What wouldn't you poke in the ribs (anywhere) with either the 120 or 140 at same ranges?

Your preference? Assume it groups fine in my rifle.

(I had been shooting the AK selection of 162 AMax - exclusively on deer and does a great job, just not sold on it for larger critters or ones with fall fat to go thru)

Randy Newberg swears by the 140 NAB and he shoots some pretty big creatures with it.

Big fan of his. Just watched ep1 of season 7 where he took some good bear in SE AK with one.

I hadn't given the AB much though, open decent enough on deer?

Haven't shot a Nosler in 20 years

Lots of discussion here over the years on best 7-08 loads. Based on what I've read combined with my own experience, I would use a 120 TTSX or a 140 AB for anything in NA other than a brown bear. If TTSX is your choice, I don't think you gain anything with the 140 over the 120. Pick the one that shoots best.

THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Both the 120 & 140 Ballistic tips are a good fit, both have a reputation for thicker jackets but open well at typical ranges. The TTSX would be a good versatile choice especially if anything larger than deer is a possibility. Just about all the mid weight 7mm bullets will be work well for deer as the 7-08 works well with just about anything. I would pick whatever shoots well and is available for a good price then match it with a controlled expansion type bullet for heavier game.

140 grn ttsx and CFE223 will net you muzzle velocities of 2825-2850. It is a great mice to moose load.

41-42g Varget gets you +2800fps with a very deadly and reliable 140 g Nosler Accubond.

How do you turn on notifications in 24hr campfire. Not obvious to me.

^^^^This.

The 150 ELDX has some velocity sacrifice at the muzzle but will outperform the 140 NAB in energy even at 100 yards, but holds 1000 ft-bs out to 650 yards while tha NAB goes below 1000 at 475 yards...
Magical bullet
SnT

I'd also look at that 139gr LRX, but there's no flies on the NAB.

140 NAB has really been shining for my son the past couple years in his 7mm-08. We haven’t tested it up close but white-tails out beyond 100 yards and elk past 500 yards. Penetrating well and producing nice mushrooms. If we had more magazine length, we might try 150 Swift Sciroccos, but the Model Seven requires you stuff the bullet in the case so far that you lose powder capacity but I’ve used it in 7 magnums and been impressed.

Other son has been shooting 150 ELDXs in his 7 RM. shoots really well and has a fair BC but it has come apart on us several times on elk and never at close ranges. Always 300+yards so I’m not completely confident that it would withstand something like a direct shoulder impact at close range. I’m guessing that the 140 NAB will and know that the 150 Scirocco will.

Cross

Animals I’ve killed, or seen killed with my reloads in the 7mm-08:

Elk: 150 Eldx, 140 AB, 140 Partition (5 total, from 70 to 410 yards)

Deer: 120 BT, 140 VLD, 150 Eldx, 140 AB, 140 Partition (lots, from 125 to 550 yards)

Antelope: 140 AB (just one, tags are really hard to get in Oregon, 315 yards)

Most animals didn’t need a second shot.



Find a load for the 140 AB or Partition around 2825-2875 FPS, or the 150 Eldx at 2790 fps and let the rifle decide.






P

We all know that probably 95% of kills are made within 300 yds. That being said, in this example I'd trust a 140 Accubond performing at a 600 yd impact much more than I'd trust a 150 ELDX at under 100 yds.

I would have no problems with the 140 grain Partition in my 7x57.

I loaded my wife's 7-08 with a stiff load of Varget under a 140 NPT and she has killed stuff all over North America (I'm in the Army so we move around a lot), to include moose, black bear, blacktails, and caribou in AK. I built this before the AB came out and thought about switching over but don't see a good reason, this just works for her in her Model 7. If she or the kids draw an elk tag, that's what they'll be shooting.

140-grain Accubomb. No need for anything else.

I might choose 156 Norma Oryx.

Everyone is obsessed with the long ball these days. Even here in Montana most of the animals I have killed have been under 200 yards. For instance the muley I killed this year was well under 100 and all of the elk I have killed have been under 300.