|
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 284
Campfire Member
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 284 |
Just wanting to hear from peoples experience with the 120 pro hunter vs the 120 nosler ballistic tip. I've got some of the 120 pro hunters that I'm wanting to test in my rifle. I've heard alot about the ballistic tips but lean more towards the pro hunters because I actually have some of them and it seems like they would hold together better.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,863 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
|
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,863 Likes: 4 |
I believe the Ballistic Tip is the stouter bullet in this instance.
I loaded some ancient 120 grain Sierras (50+ years old) for a friend's 7mm08 and they did fine on some mid size pigs last year. I don't believe he recovered any bullets, but if the shot angle had them tracking into the innards he didn't go looking for them either.
Which cartridge will you be loading?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 284
Campfire Member
|
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 284 |
I believe the Ballistic Tip is the stouter bullet in this instance.
I loaded some ancient 120 grain Sierras (50+ years old) for a friend's 7mm08 and they did fine on some mid size pigs last year. I don't believe he recovered any bullets, but if the shot angle had them tracking into the innards he didn't go looking for them either.
Which cartridge will you be loading? Sorry forgot to mention this will be loaded for a model 70 extreme weather in 7mm-08. Also I live and hunt in the southeast where a really big bodied deer is somewhere around 200 pounds.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,746 Likes: 15
Campfire Savant
|
|
Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,746 Likes: 15 |
The 120 Ballistic tip is supposed to be a stout bullet, perfect for the 7mm-08. I use the 120 Barnes in mine, but would use Ballistic tips if I couldn’t get the Barnes.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 23,686 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
|
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 23,686 Likes: 1 |
I’ve used the 140gr Sierra a lot. 15 year old son’s been using it since he was 10 yo in 7-08. Black bear and deer. No issues at all. Don’t remember catching one.
I use 120gr NBT in my 7-08AI and same experience.
I’ve had some wonky experiences with Sierras in .30-06 though. I’d go Nosler personally.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,518
Campfire Tracker
|
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,518 |
The 120 gr. Ballistic Tip is my bullet of choice in my 7mm-08’s. No experience with the 120 gr. Pro Hunter, but I have used the 140 gr. Pro Hunter before I discovered how well the 120 gr. BT worked. I have killed whitetails from 120 to 300 yds. using the 120 gr. BT with no problems. If I ever feel like I need more bullet weight, I’ll go with a 140 gr. Partition or maybe the 140 gr. Pro Hunter. The 120 gr. TTSX shoots well too and would be a good replacement if I run out of Ballistic Tips.
If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.
Doug
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,289 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,289 Likes: 1 |
The 120 Ballistic tip is supposed to be a stout bullet, perfect for the 7mm-08. I use the 120 Barnes in mine, but would use Ballistic tips if I couldn’t get the Barnes. I’m about to load some 120 gr. TTSX over Varget.
You ain't about that life.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 140
Campfire Member
|
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 140 |
I have loaded the 7mm 120 grain Nosler BT for my 7x57 sportified Peruvian (Brno made) M98 rifle. I developed a load using IMR4320 (as listed in the online Nosler Load data) that gave me over 3000 fps, but alas IMR has dropped that powder from their offerings. I got good velocity with Varget, H-4895, and H-4831 as well. That rifle had a deep throat which didn't give you great accuracy with lower weight bullets. The best I got was about 1.75 - 2.0 inch groups. I have a newer Ruger M77 MKII 7x57 that I am hoping will give me better accuracy, but to date have only shot the 160 and 140 grain bullets in it; and they worked fine. Think I will work up some 120 grain Nosler BTs and see how they perform in the Ruger.
The Nosler 7mm 120 grain BTs have received a lot of raved reviews as a stout well performing bullet on deer sized game. At least that is what I have noticed whenever they are referenced on the various web sites.
CJ
Last edited by CascadeJinx; 08/19/21.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 567
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 567 |
I've used both the 120gr Nosler BT and the 120gr ProHunter in my 7x57 for WV whitetail. I'm getting around 2800fps with Varget for the Noslers and around 2700 with Reloader 15 with the ProHunter. I've killed deer with both bullets at ranges from 50 to 200yds. In my experiences I personally feel like the ProHunter is a slightly softer bullet but still perfectly able to kill deer. There's a few pictures floating around the internet of a sectioned 120 Ballistic Tip that shows a very thick base in the jacket. Believe me when I say it's a tough bullet and a fantastic option for your 7mm08. I've never recovered one from a deer. I have the utmost confidence in this bullet and I'm getting ready to load some in my 280AckImp.
Bottom line, load what's available to you and know that both will kill deer just fine. FWIW, I've never recovered a ProHunter from a deer either. It's my 2nd choice in my 7x57.
All that being said, I'm going a different route this fall and will be using the 110gr TTSX loaded over StaBall6.5 @ 3009fps.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 140
Campfire Member
|
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 140 |
I've used both the 120gr Nosler BT and the 120gr ProHunter in my 7x57 for WV whitetail. I'm getting around 2800fps with Varget for the Noslers and around 2700 with Reloader 15 with the ProHunter. I've killed deer with both bullets at ranges from 50 to 200yds. In my experiences I personally feel like the ProHunter is a slightly softer bullet but still perfectly able to kill deer. There's a few pictures floating around the internet of a sectioned 120 Ballistic Tip that shows a very thick base in the jacket. Believe me when I say it's a tough bullet and a fantastic option for your 7mm08. I've never recovered one from a deer. I have the utmost confidence in this bullet and I'm getting ready to load some in my 280AckImp.
Bottom line, load what's available to you and know that both will kill deer just fine. FWIW, I've never recovered a ProHunter from a deer either. It's my 2nd choice in my 7x57.
All that being said, I'm going a different route this fall and will be using the 110gr TTSX loaded over StaBall6.5 @ 3009fps. I concur with 84 Mtn EER ! He just said more better than I did! ! 
Last edited by CascadeJinx; 08/19/21.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,431 Likes: 3
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2021
Posts: 2,431 Likes: 3 |
Useful information about those two bullets [ and many others] in the 7/08 and 7x57 at ballistic studies,com click on knowledgebase and scrowl to desired cartridge, Nathen foster knows his shidt!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 243
Campfire Member
|
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 243 |
I load the 120gr Ballistic tip. The 120 NBT has a thick jacket. It's perfect medicine for whitetail out of a little model seven pushed with ramshot big game.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 437
Campfire Member
|
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 437 |
I have taken 5 Red Deer, 1 Sitka buck, and 2 Whitetail bucks with the 120 NBT out of a 7mm-08 AI. All textbook performance DRT. I would not hesitate to use them again. I can not say about the Pro Hunter as I have no experience with them on game.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,746 Likes: 15
Campfire Savant
|
|
Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,746 Likes: 15 |
I’m gonna try 120 Ballistic tips and 120 Barnes in a 99 in 284 that acquired me recently. I’ll hunt with the one that shoots the best.
Last edited by hanco; 08/22/21.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,845
Campfire Regular
|
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 2,845 |
I normally use a lot of Sierra bullets because they have any outlet store and the seconds are cheap.
I bought a Remington 700 mountain rifle in 7-08 a.few years ago and was anxious to shoot it.
So I went to the LGS and picked up a box of the Nosler 120 gr ballistic tip hunting projectiles
I was impressed with the accuracy so I decided to use them for firearms season.
They performed as well on deer as they did it the range for me
Helen Keller could have found the blood trail from the deer I killed.
I bought 1000 of them after that deer season just so that I would have plenty for the years to come
Just because you're offended doesn't mean your right.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 284
Campfire Member
|
|
OP
Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 284 |
Thanks everyone I appreciate all of the feedback. If I can ever run across some of the 120 ballistic tips I will probably give them a try. For now I guess I will give the 120 and 140 pro hunters a try since it's what I have. For now i am leaning more to the 140 pro hunters due to the added weight.
|
|
|
|
|
115 members (69sportfury, 17CalFan, Akhutr, 450yukon, 375sunrise, 907brass, 13 invisible),
1,542
guests, and
1,043
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,192,503
Posts18,490,526
Members73,972
| |
Most Online11,491
Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|
