Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 120 Ballistic Tip @ 7mm-08 velocities

I've tried a lot of different 7mm-08 bullets over the years but never the 120 BT.

I've searched and read alot about this bullet with most post being positive; however, some mentioned "pencil through" shots and others talked about excessive meat damage. Some were using 7mm RM or other high velocity calibers.

I am specifically interested in performance on game at various distances and would like to hear from those of you who have actually hunted with the 120 BT in a 7mm08 or at 7mm-08 velocities. (7x57 for example)

Thanks for your input.
firstshot

You are good to go with 120gr BT from a 7mm-08 I run mine at 2950fps (44gr R15) They kill deer dead without a hitch

I don't have vast amounts of experience with the 120 BT in the 7-08, but do have some, and it seems to work very well, with plenty of expansion and penetration, without excessive meat loss.

Typical was a whitetail buck a hunting partner shot at about 125-150 yards. The deer was quartering away and hit in the short ribs. The bullet angled through the chest into the opposite shoulder, and the deer went maybe 30 yards before piling up.

+1 to dvd's comments. I've killed enough whitetails (filled up a pickup bed, literally), and about 15 hogs with the 45g Varget/120BT combo. Great stuff. Wish I could find some more varget or RL15.........

Friend of mine on here just got done playing with my Rem Mtn. 7mm-08 (22") with the instructions to find a 120g BT load.

CFE223 was 3100+, but the accuracy wasn't there

Varget was just under 3000 I believe, with decent accuracy

Big Game produced 3/4" groups just a hair over 3100


No experience on game though at this point


ps: Good luck finding big game, Varget is easier to find in my travels at least.

Thanks for the input guys!

Just FYI, I'll be shooting these out of a 24" barrel and all shots will be less than 300 Yds with the vast majority being under 150 Yds.

Primary game will be central texas deer and hogs with a coyotte thrown in every once and a while.

Work up a load and forget about it,just kill schit

LOL. Well, I like what I've heard so far, so as soon as my custom build is finished, I will be working up a load for these (assuming I can find some). As long as the accuracy is there, I'll be using them to put some hogs on the ground in a month or so.

firstshot

I've taken an antelope, deer, and hogs with them and they do well. I've always used either 120gr TSX/TTSX, 140gr NPT or Accubonds, or 139gr Hornady IL's in my 7mm-08's but decided to try the 120 NBT a few years ago based on several recommendations and the fact, my rifles shoot them well. My longest shot with a 120 NBT has been 400 yds, dropping a WT doe where she stood. I've been surprised by how well they perform.

If your 7mm-08 doesn't shoot 120gr BT's you have a problem with your rifle

When I made my last trip for whitetails this last fall, I loaded some 120's over H414 I believe.. Accuracy was excellent, but I haven't found much that doesn't shoot very well in this rifle.. But when the shots came I was carrying my .270..
We have used this on whitetails, antelope, coyotes, etc. in various 7mm mags.. Outstanding..

Yep.

Load 44-45 grains of RE-15 or Varget, seat a 120 grain Ballistic Tip, and get to work dumping game.

Thanks a lot for the input guys. I'll definitely give them a try.

Anyone know how the 120 BT's compare to the 120 TTSX performance wise?

My 7mm-08 shoots 120 gr. BT's great, but I haven't used it hunting yet. The 120 gr. TTSX shoots just as well and I have used it on several whitetails with excellent results. Not always DRT, but they've never gone far. Never recovered one, but internal damage is pretty evident. And, bloodshot meat has always been minimal.

I use the 120 NBT in a 7-08 Ackley Improved. So far have taken 5 Red Stag, 2 White tails, 1 Sitka buck. All of them 1 shot DRT. Have always been impressed with this bullet.

3250 with moly over '17 in a .284win. They rarely stay in an animal. A bunch of whitetail and hogs have hated them and the only one I've caught was in a bear after taking out a shoulder and a chunk of spine.

Just find something that goes MOA and load up a schit pile of them.


Travis

The 120 NBT is a tough little bullet. It holds together well even at 7mm RM velocities. Not sure why, but Nosler puts thicker jackets on it than on others in this weight class. They are very accurate in my 7x57 and 7mm RM.

To knock over silhouette targets.

What the bullet look like? Nice shroom or a mangled chunk? Thinking of running them in my 7 mag. or the 120 ttsx. Should be able to hit 3450. Curious how the 120 BT would hold up @ those speeds.


Roy