Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Recovered 7mm 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip

My daughter shot a big doe (147lbs dressed) at the very point of the shoulder on a quartering to angle with a 120gr Ballistic Tip out of a 7mm-08 started at 2800fps. It absolutely smashed the near shoulder, blew a nice hole through the heart and ended up just under the skin behind the far shoulder. The range was 70 yards and of course the deer dropped right there. The recovered weight was 71gr and the core was loose in the jacket. I tried this bullet based on the reviews on this forum and I'm happy with the performance.

That's is in better shape than mine from a .284 Win at 3200 fps

Looks like it held together decently.

The 120 gr BT is my most used bullet in 7mm-08. I’ve shot deer from 50 yds out to 225 yds with no problems. Getting around 3100 fps over Big Game. You won’t go wrong using that bullet.

I love that bullet in the 7mm-08. Can’t seem to catch one though

Congrats to your daughter. I’ve slayed quite a few muleys and bears w/ the 120 from a 7RM at 3500fps, don’t recall ever recovering one. Great little bullet!

Surprised it stayed inside

That is one of the tougher BT it acts almost like a premium bullet.

My 12 year old nephew killed his first elk with a 7mm-08 factory Nosler 120BT a few weeks ago. Shot a mature cow in the back of the lungs and then dropped her for good with a neck shot. Both exited. Bullet worked great.

Congrats to your daughter on the deer.

How does the 6.5 120 BT do compared to the excellent 7mm 120 BT?

Rebel,
I load the 6.5 BT over 39.5 gr of Varget in my Creedmoor for 2880 fps. I used it on a nice sized whitetail doe last year. I got complete pass thru, so no bullet recovery. She went about 30 yds and dropped. I hit her just behind the shoulder and exited just behind the off shoulder, which is my normal placement on whitetail. The bullet evidently mushroomed as lung damage was excellent. That is my only experience with the bullet so far, but that load is very accurate in my rifle so I’ll continue using it. I think it is plenty tough for hunting deer.

i've only killed 2 deer with the 6.5mm 120bt behind the shoulder shot on both and they both exited with a 50yd run and blood dropping every hop.
Big Ed

Nearly 60% retention

Accubond performance at a better price

I've killed 4 deer with them and havn't caught a bullet yet

My favorite medium game bullet. Light recoil, too. No one gets it until they try them.

Can't ask for better than that. That is good performance on a close shot.