Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 120 gr BT or TSX in 7mm-08 for deer?

Am looking at 120 gr loads for the upcoming 7mm-08. I noticed alot of folks like the ballistic tip in this caliber/weight. Would like opinions on this bullet and the 120 gr TSX. I can get both from conley precision.
Keep in mind that I like to break shoulders if I can. Will either of these do the trick on whitetail, or should I go to 139 gr, in say an IB or partition?
I've always been a heavy bullet guy, but the flat trajectory with the 120's is very attractive. Energy seems to be the same as the 139's out to 300yds. So many choices!!! If the rifle likes one of the 120's , I would like to try them on deer.

SDM--I've killed more Michigan whitetails with the 7-08 than any other caliber. You will find it to be perfect for Wisconsin hunting, I'm sure. If you will be taking many shots at 70yds or less(which in Wisconsin, I think you will be), I would stay away from the ballistic tips. Poor penetration generally, and make a mess of the deer. I shot one at 75yds with 7-08 140gr ballistic silvertip last year, and one the year before with 270 NBT at 40 yds and both were a mess. I have seen first hand many deer shot with them, and have never been impressed unless it was a longer-range shot. I've shot 20 something with 140gr partitions, and have been impressed with them no matter what the range was. Some of the deer I could have spit on. TSX's are very expensive, and premium bullets are not needed for deer hunting. With proper shot placement you will get great results with 145 Speer boat tails or a variety of other "regular bullets". My two 7-08's happen to shoot the NosParts well, so I never really switched, but have tried other loads, and guess what, they all worked well, but the ballistic tips make a mess. 120gr Sierras open quickly and will kill deer like a lightning bolt without all the mess. You may want to have 2 loads, one for short to medium range, and one for long. Me, I just load 140gr partitions at 2800fps, shut up, and go huntin'.--2MG

SDM,

At the modest velocity of the 7-08 I think just about any bullet will do a fine job. Try a few different flavors and pick the one that shoots best. Dogzapper has a bunch of experience with the 120 Ballistic Tip and will probably add some input when he starts healing up from his surgery.

I see you are in NW Wi. I grew up there as you may notice from my handle. Where abouts are ya? The last few years I've been making an Oct. Bowhunting trip as well as the mandatory Nov. rifle season. Good luck with your project and keep us posted on how it progresses. Bruce

The 120 or 138 grain flat base spire point Hornady bullets shoot extremely well in mine and are hell on animals. Premiums are not needed in this round. I have no problems with the 140 grain ballistic tips either. They shoot fabulous and crunch critters. You do lose more meat with them, but nothing ever takes a step. Flinch

I think the lighter TSX in that 7mm-08 will amze you at how well they work and shoot. Try them and then join the club.

You wont think the same about your 7mm-08 ever again.

I've only used my 7mm-08 one season. I used factory 140gr Rem Core-Lokts and it worked great. I load the same bullet now. BTW, I have a Rem 7600 pump and I get good accuracy with them.

sdm,

I have used the 120 BT on white tails and hogs for a couple years now. I think I've taken 5 deer and 3 hogs. No problem with the 120 BT so far.

I have never used to 120 X or tripple shocks. I would be inclined to use them if I were a "shoulder breaker" kind of guy. I'm a lung/neck shooter.

On the other hand the Hornady interlock is a fabulous bullet. I would have no reservations about using the standard interlock on white tails.

My choice would be determined by which ever bullet shoots best in my rifle.

I had one rifle that favored 120 BT's. My current rifle favors the Hornady 139 Spire Point (not boat tail). That is the bullet I will use this year. No hesitation taking shoulder shots with this bullet.

GB

I'm also a neck/lung shooter. Would you have reservations on taking close shoulder shots with ballistic tips? I do. Wastes meat and just plain makes a mess I don't need. I like partitions, good at any distance--2MG

2much,

Yes I do resist taking close up shoulder shots with BTs.

But then, I resist taking close up shoulder shots with any bullet I have used if meat damage is an issue.

I have never used Patitions on deer. I am little on the "cheap" side, and Hornadies perform so well on deer size game, I have never felt the need to spend the extra $$.

One advantage the 120 BT has over the 140 BT is a thicker jacket. I'm not sure why Nosler did this. I think Mountian Hunter actually posted a picture showing the difference in the two cut out sections.

In my experiance the BT give really upredictable performance if impact velocities are 2900fps and above. 130 .277 BT being the worse I have seen (.277, .284, .308).

If velocities are below 2900 as would be the case in 7-08, BT usually give acceptable performance even on shoulder shots.

If I take a shoulder shot it will be on a BIG deer (horn huntin), or something a longer range, in either case meat damage would not be the issue.

GB

Mr dogzapper is our resident authority on this component. He is unequivocal that it is a superior bullet for game even up to the size of elk. His comments are I believe based upon a pile of dead critters. He also says that the 120 gr is a rule unto itself. I don't recall that he mentioned excessive damage.

Personally I agree that close in shooting with most BT's is to be avoided, however my experience is limited to a few instances in 25 and 30 calibers. I also stick to Hornie interlock (flat base) bullets and have had nothing but positive results on medium sized game. Partitions are great, but there seems to me to be no need on deerish game (unless possibly one is shooting a .243 or a .25 with 100's)

The 120/6.5mm Btip is stupidly accurate in my ultralight 6.5x284. I wish that it was built the same as the 120/7mm.

JimF

GeorgiaBoy and JimF--I definitely agree partitions are not needed on deer. Both my 7-08's just happen to shoot them really well. My Sako Finnlight shoots ballistic silvertips ridiculously well, so I shot a doe with one last year offhand at about 75yds. Behind the shoulder heart shot. It ran 20yds. Not too messy as opposed to what I'm used to seeing from these bullets. GeorgiaBoy stated that the 270 130's were the worst. Guess what, this is what my friend and his dad use almost exclusively since the day they came out. I've seen many a deer shot with it, and every one was a mess. I did not know the 120's had thicker jackets, that's good to know. I'm one of those guys who pretty much sticks to one bullet size(weight) in each given caliber, but shoots many different calibers. If I wanted my 7-08 to shoot flatter I would give them a try. But when I want flatter, I just grab a different rifle. My question to Georgia Boy is, if you say the BT's are unpredictable at 2900+fps, how fast do you load them. My 140's go over 2800fps, and I'm sure you could load 120's to 3100fps even in a 7-08. But that would mean you would have to wait for the bullet to travel 75yds or so for it to behave "predictably". It would be even worse in magnum chamberings. Not trying to bust your balls here, just curious--2MG

Your answer is in the reading. So I provided the quote.

270 130gr. BT bullet will leave the muzzel at or around 3100 fps.
7-08 140gr. BT (read the quote), below 2900 fps.
120 BT. Can be loaded to 3100 from a 7-08 (If you beleive Nosler's reloading manual and data from a 26" barrel). But if you beleive this (read the quote) "thicker jacket".

Don't be so sensitive in requards to your dislike for the BT. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

GB

Nosler put a thicker jacket on the 7mm 120 BT IIRC to sastify those shooting the distant metal rams; they wanted more "punch" i.e. a thicker jacket=more solid, this in turn makes it an excellent hunting bullet(many say better than the 140 BT)!!!

Steve(AKA Dogzapper) IIRC not only has taken MANY deer,elk, but one(at least) moose with this round including a .280 AckleyImproved, and has NEVER had one "blow up"!

This seems to be the exception in other calibers one needs to move up in weight to realize the thicker jacket; i.e. a 165-180 .308 but for the 7mm fans seems like the 120 is IT!!

A "search" on here will give up many such posts; so if anyone doubts it; check and see for themselves just how many GREAT posts have been placed here on the 120 7mm BT ; it makes one want to try 'em IMHO YMMV

I didn't know the 120 BT had a thicker jacket--might have to try it. However, I've never had a lick of trouble with the 7-08 and 140 BTs--its all I use in the 7-08. Three bang-flops---three exits through the ribs. Exactly the same result as the 150 in the .30-06 except I've got about two dozen examples there. Only excessive meat damage I've seen (that you wouldn't get with any bullet and similar placement) was a 40 yard shot on a doe with a 140 BT in a 7 mag. Had to throw away maybe 3 or 4 pounds of bloodshot meat. Not a big deal IMHO.

I'm going to get me a box of those 120s ---thanks for the info.

GeorgiaBoy, not being sensitive at all. I couldn't care less what others hunt with. I just figured that if my 140's go 2800+ that the 120's would be moving faster, above the 2900fps you stated. I don't hate ballistic tips, it is just IMHO that they are better used on longer shots, and can get really messy on shorter ones. You have peaked my curiosity about the 120's though. I guess what you are saying is that they will not only shoot flatter, but also hold together better on closer shots, because of the thicker jackets. That sounds like 2 good reasons to try them. Take it easy--2MG

Bingo! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

GB

Don't rule out the Hornady 120 grain HP. I know it doesn't look like much, but I've seen deer shot with it in the 7-08, and I've used it in the .280, and it flat works, big time. It doesn't hurt that it's cheap too.

120 Ballistic Tip or TSX: take your pick as both will work excellent. I'm working up loads for my 7mm-08 with both and both are performing great with Varget.

I've settled on 45.5 grains of Varget for the Ballistic Tip. In 80* weather it leaves the muzzle at 2966 fps (10 shots) in my 22" barrel. In 94* weather it jumps to 3054 fps (8 shots) but with no pressure signes and no change in POI. 100 yard groups are 1/2" or better if I can hold it. 200 yard groups are inside an inch if I can hold it (sometimes yes, sometimes no). 300 yard groups are inside 3" (only one to go on). Hard to improve on that.

Still working on TSX loads but right now 45.8 grains of Varget is giving 2937 fps (5 shots) with 1/2" groups at 100. 46.0 grains jumps to 2967 (5 shots) but tends to throw one shot 3/4 to 1 inch from the other two. No pressure signs, and my experience with TSX is they will take a good grain more powder than conventional bullets to get to the same velosity. I may work that load up a LITTLE bit more (maybe 46.3 grains to see).

Decisions, decisions.........I think I'll just keep shooting <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Winchester Supreme 140-gr. Nosler Ballistic Silvertips work great in a 7mm-08 for deer.

Or

140-gr. Nosler AccuBonds are outstanding for shooting everything.

I called Nosler and asked them if the 120g BT had a thicker jacket than the 140g BT. They told me they were made from the exact same jackets and that this was a myth.

I guess it's possible that they use the rear portion of the 140g jacket. If so, the nose may be thicker as it's shorter so hasn't tapered down quite as thin.

One point is important, it's difficult to compare jacket thickness from a photo. If one bullet is sectioned exactly half way, you will see the true thickness of the jacket. If not sectioned exactly half way......then the jacket will appear thicker than it actually is. This can be deceiving. Also need to be perfectly flat from base to nose to see the true taper in thickness of the jacket.

How many have the tools or take the time to do this precisely?