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

I have some boxes of 120 gr Nosler Ballistic tips and would like to load them in my 7mm WSM. I will be deer hunting with this load. I have all sorts of powders and haven't found anything consistent in my 3 manuals for powder charge. So far I have found that RL19 Max loads are consistent in the manuals and have some loads for the range that I haven't shot yet.

Can you guys give me some loads you are using with the 120 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip? My rifle is a Winchester Model 70 Sporter III.

Those little guys are going to get to the deer quickly! I like the 120 BTs in my 7-08. After reading your post and M1s contribution, I may try them in my 280AI. I've never found one of those tough little guys in an antelope, yet. They certainly hit hard and put them down fast.

Not a 120 BT, but I use the 120ttsx and 70.5 of RL-22 for a shade over 3,400 fps.

Here is what QL shows for the 7mm WSM, 120 BT and RL19..

Pretty impressive..

Cartridge : 7 mm WSM
Bullet : .284, 120, Nosler BalTip 28120
Useable Case Capaci: 75.572 grain H2O = 4.907 cm�
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.860 inch = 72.64 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-19

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 82 56.80 2740 2001 32435 10170 88.1 1.415
-18.0 84 58.22 2809 2103 34654 10511 89.5 1.378
-16.0 86 59.64 2879 2208 37025 10843 90.8 1.342
-14.0 88 61.06 2948 2316 39558 11164 92.1 1.300
-12.0 90 62.48 3017 2426 42264 11473 93.3 1.261
-10.0 92 63.90 3087 2539 45165 11769 94.4 1.222
-08.0 94 65.32 3157 2655 48259 12049 95.4 1.185
-06.0 96 66.74 3226 2774 51591 12314 96.3 1.149
-04.0 98 68.16 3296 2894 55124 12561 97.1 1.115
-02.0 100 69.58 3365 3017 58885 12789 97.8 1.082 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 102 71.00 3434 3143 62908 12996 98.4 1.050 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 104 72.42 3503 3270 67215 13182 99.0 1.019 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 106 73.84 3572 3399 71830 13346 99.4 0.989 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 108 75.26 3640 3530 76781 13486 99.7 0.960 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 110 76.68 3708 3663 82098 13600 99.9 0.933 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 112 78.10 3775 3798 87814 13689 100.0 0.906 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by � 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 102 71.00 3592 3437 74814 12757 100.0 0.973 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 102 71.00 3222 2766 51324 12571 92.6 1.149

If I was going to push them at that speed the 120TTSX is your huckleberry! I would not trust the 120 BT over 3,300ft/s. I had two very bad experiences with my .280 and the 120's being pushed to 3,300.
At slower (3,100ft/s) speeds the 120's performed flawlessly!

I've pushed the 120 TTSX to just under 3400, but decided to stick with the 140 NAB for about 3250 instead.

I tried that load from a previous thread that you recommended and it shot really well in my Montana 7 WSM. I was shooting the TSX version though.

Man, I'm set right now for this season with 7828 and 140 gr E-tips, but next season, I might just have to try the 3400+ fps 120 gr TTSX. Wife's 7-08ai with that pill puts the smack down on 'em at 3180ish fps. Not sayin' it ain't a very good bullet, but don't think I'll run the 120 gr NBT in either one at these MVs.