Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles What's your favorite 7mm-08 bullet/powder for deer hunting?

+1000000 for the 120NBT and Varget.

Except for the one flyer due to driver error, Id say the 120NBT is a perty accurate boolit. And from what I have seen, DOWNRIGHT DEADLY on whitetails. And yeah that says .303.

This exact combination (W-760 and 140 gr AB) worked great for me and my wife back before we AI'd the 7-08. 48.0 gr powder with mag primers and WW brass. Work up to it, but it should be fine.

120gr BT 44gr R15

H4895

139 grain Hornady or 140 NBT
47.5 grains Ramshot BG or 43 grains Varget

Start loading 10% below that and work up.

140 gr. accubond over h4350.

140NAB is a great bullet. I just prefer to use it in higher speed applications. And that 120NBT kills em just as dead with less recoil. One of the plusses of owning a light SA rifle

Haven't hunted with these loads but they are accurate.

130 Speer BT; 45.5 grains IMR 4064; WLR primer; .010 off rifling.

120 NBT; 50 grains Ramshot Big Game; WLR primer.

Both loads = 1 hole groups at 100yrds.

My Model 7 "Purple" shoots 120X's unmollied w' a stout load of
15 into about a 1" group....Lights out for critters.....
Still have about 500 left....






George

145 grain Grand Slam (old type), 140 grain Partition, 140grain Sierra Game King BT, 139 grain Hornady Spire Point, all with 47 grains of H4350. 120 grain NBT with 44 grains VARGET. All these have worked very well at the range and on deer.

145 Gr. Speer SPFB over 47 Gr. W-760 . Work up to it , might not be for your rifle ! My Model 7 Rem. shoots them into little clusters !

+2. Deer and hog killer for sure shoots great in both of mine, 45 grains varget gets me 3050fps in my main use 7mm-08 and less in the other, both shoot the load very well

I recently bought a 7mm-08 and will be working up loads for 120-140 grainers with H414, H4350, H380, and Varget. I'll post results later...

120NBT& VARGET. NUF SAID

160gr Nosler Partition, Ramshot Hunter, 2750fps.

I always liked varget and 4064 under 139 Hornady and 140 NBT. The IMR always seemed a hair more accurate. BOTH same mv.

2900-2960 in 2 700s, chopped to 21"....

280Ak - I ran 47 Varget under some 120s...may have a little more room if you want it, can't argue w/.3s!

If loading today, I'd run 44-45 Varget or 4064 under a 140 AB but nothing wrong with the 120 BT, on deer. Same placement = dead deer no doubt.

I'd be interested in see how a 120 would do w/4064 and 4320, the BT and TTSX being the only ones, the Sierra will work, but not so fond of that one, the vmax is a varmint only IMO.

On the H414s...it is IIRC about the same as W760, meters like water, often gets good speeds, and good accuracy, but I never had the TIGHT groups consistently with the ball powders in the 7/08 IME. Serviceable? Sure, but not been the best for me.

That said, the first factory load Rem 140 CL actually was the Hornady 139, it was used over 48 or 49gr of W760, yet later runs were cut one or two grs. Not sure what the newest 'improved 140 CL' load uses, likely same powder/charge.

The old 139 SP or BTSP will wad up one hole groups in good rifles w/good loads and shooter. Was ALMOST as accurate as the BT, but VERY CLOSE...again, IME. YMMV.

I'd not be surprised if the SST will match the BT for accuracy. I shot 3 into like .4" w/a 7BR rifle a few yrs ago, sweet....esp. w/the 4x I was using!

140gr Corelokts and H4350.

140 gr Sierra GK pushed by RE-15...
120 NBT pushed with Varget or RE-15...