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Joined: Aug 2011
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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JB, your last post makes me wonder if 3000 to 3100 is too fast for a 50-60 yard lung shot with a 243 and an 80 grain TTSX. That load probably won't be used until next year. This year, the chosen rifle and load is a 7mm-08 and 120 TTSX at about 2880. That's what 42.0 grains of Varget gets from my 22" barrel.
What do you recommend with those two loads?
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Joined: Jul 2001
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,115 |
I wouldn't say that 3000-3100 is too fast for the 80 TTSX. As noted, that mule deer was a real anomaly. Neither one of us have seen anything like that meat damage from a TTSX before or since!
Would probably try IMR or H4350 with the 80-grain in the .243. In the 7mm-08 would try Big Game if you have any.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Aug 2011
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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My loads in the 243 are with H4350. I'm sure I can bump up velocity in the 7mm-08 but do I need too do that? I don't know what to expect from the 120 TTSX at 2880. My normal load in the 7mm-08 with a cup and core runs about 2750 to 2800 and works well with 120s and 140s. Exits and short runs with lung shots are the norm. That's with the same 42.0 grains of Varget and excellent accuracy. I don't have any Big Game. Thanks for the help.
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Joined: Jul 2001
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,115 |
I've used the 140 TTSX in the 7mm-08 at around 2850-2900 and it works fine, and am sure the 120 would work fine as well. One of the virtues of the Tipped TSX is it expands reliably at a wide range of velocities.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Campfire Tracker
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OP
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My experience with monolithic bullets is pretty much what others have suggested so far. They tend to work better at faster muzzle velocities, one reason I don't generally use them unless velocity is up around 2900, and more works fine--though can't remember using any at faster than around 3550 at the muzzle. That being the case, what's about the heaviest you'd use in something like a 7x57? Using Barnes data, it looks like a 145-gr LRX, using 7-08 data, would be about as close to 2900 fps as you can get. Using Nosler's data as I guide, it looks like their E-Tip would max at 140-grains.
"An archer sees how far he can be from a target and still hit it, a bowhunter sees how close he can get before he shoots." It is certainly easy to use that same line of thinking with firearms. -- Unknown
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Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,115
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 60,115 |
The 145 LRX would be about the heaviest I'd use in the 7x57--or 7mm-08. It will penetrate plenty, and the BC works for longer-range shooting.
“Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,303
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,303 |
That 145 LRX is my go to in my 7600 280 Remington. Just a great shooting bullet and while I don’t need the BC at the ranges I’ll use it at, it’ll get through a buck from any angle.
Semper Fi
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Joined: Sep 2017
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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What nobody talks about is a less than perfect shot placement and using too hard a bullet for the animal. We can only shoot one buck a year here, so my bullet testing pool is single numbers, not dozens. Anyway, a couple years back I'd shot some deer with a 7mm-08 140 grain Barnes TSX. A neck shot and lung shot did the job with what I thought were rather narrow wound channels. Then I shot a broadside buck higher in the back because he was in tall grass and that is what I had to shoot at. That deer ran away and hid leaving only 5 drops of blood that I could find. Contrast that to last year's buck also in tall grass and shot high in the back with a 140 grain Ballistic Tip. Down right there. Losing 5 pounds of shoulder meat sure beats wasting an entire deer. Lesson learned.
My other auto is a .45
The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory
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Joined: Apr 2001
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 9,721 |
I read this thread and wondered if anyone has ever consulted with the various bulletmakers and asked for their recommendations?
I defer to the maker, if I am using a bullet for the first time. Often, you will find their suggestions on their websites. I have always relied on the companies because they test and have have others check them as well.
It is nice to get as much pertinent information as possible - including 24 hr Campfire - but don’t forget to check with the various manufacturers!
Safe Shooting! Steve Redgwell www.303british.comGet your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. - Mark Twain Member - Professional Outdoor Media Association of Canada
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2010
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I was hoping someone would chime with results using Lehigh Defense Controlled Chaos bullets. They are supposed to open up at slower speeds. It looks like NY State will be requiring non-lead ammo this year, and I bought some Lehigh Defense bullet to try. Anyone have experience with them?
NRA Endowment Life Member, G.O.A supporter
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Campfire Tracker
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I started getting some good groups with 145 gr LRX and RL 16 in my 7x57. I’m going to pick up where I left off and try to get the best accuracy possible and then check MV.
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
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Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
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in the past i used my 257 Weatherby mag with100gr. bullets i either used Nosler Partition or Swift A-Frame at 3800 FPS never had much damage to meat sure there was bullet damage in rib cage but who eats deer rib cages ,thats bird meat i hang up at our home. the nice thing about a solid fast bullet is bullet elevation with less guess work in a fast situation with a moving deer in thick country when you have seconds not minutes and that 1 shot has to get it done now maybe even out to 100-300 yards ?
LIFE NRA , we vote Red up here, Norseman
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I started getting some good groups with 145 gr LRX and RL 16 in my 7x57. I’m going to pick up where I left off and try to get the best accuracy possible and then check MV. I’d think that should be a really solid combo.
Semper Fi
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Joined: May 2017
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Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
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I started getting some good groups with 145 gr LRX and RL 16 in my 7x57. I’m going to pick up where I left off and try to get the best accuracy possible and then check MV. I’d think that should be a really solid combo. I’m thinking that the LRX would give adequate expansion and penetration at 7x57 velocities out to 250 yards or so, which would be great for 90% of my deer hunting. I’ve got a 150 TTSX load for 7mm magnums that are better suited for 300+ yard chores. I know many folks prefer 160 gr loads for mule deer and elk but that load is the bomb.
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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I started getting some good groups with 145 gr LRX and RL 16 in my 7x57. I’m going to pick up where I left off and try to get the best accuracy possible and then check MV. I’d think that should be a really solid combo. I’m thinking that the LRX would give adequate expansion and penetration at 7x57 velocities out to 250 yards or so, which would be great for 90% of my deer hunting. I’ve got a 150 TTSX load for 7mm magnums that are better suited for 300+ yard chores. I know many folks prefer 160 gr loads for mule deer and elk but that load is the bomb. I’d bet that 145 should get close 2800 and maybe close to 2900 with some of the better powders. I’d never balk a second using it at 2x that distance as long as it is above 2000FPS impact speed. My son has used 150 BTs and PTs in his just under 2900 and he thinks it’s a big gun!
Semper Fi
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Campfire Tracker
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My most accurate load with that bullet in the 7x57 used 51gn H4350 for .252" @ 2870fps
When truth is ignored, it does not change an untruth from remaining a lie.
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Joined: Apr 2011
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Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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My most accurate load with that bullet in the 7x57 used 51gn H4350 for .252" @ 2870fps Damn, I’m going to have to try that one AGW…. Nothing walking too far away with that one. And it’ll hold up well downrange from my Calcs.
Semper Fi
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Campfire Tracker
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Thanks for that info. As I said earlier, I was drinking around with RL 16 but have plenty of H4350 to try also! Cheers
Life Member NRA, RMEF, American Legion, MAGA. Not necessarily in that order.
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