Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Shot of a lifetime - 7mm Magnum Bullet

Roy,

Here are the drift numbers I got with the Berger program at 35 degrees F., 8000' above sea level, 500 yards, with a 10-mph wind at right angles to the bore:

160 Partition, 3100 fps: 13.24"
160 AccuBond, 3100 fps: 11.68"
150 ABLR, 3200 fps: 9.59"
168 ABLR, 3000 fps: 9.71"

Just for fun, I also ran these:
175 Partition, 2900 fps: 13.11"
175 ABLR, 2900 fps: 9.83"

Now, we can obviously quibble about muzzle velocities, and rifling twist can also affect BC somewhat.

The guys that can do it, shoot in it and know how....they also intentionally practice in it.

FWIW, 3" more drift can be the difference of putting a bullet in the paunch, instead of the heart/lung cavity....

I've been in on at least 25 wild rams being taken. They are by far least tenacious out of all other big game I've shot, or seen shot. Making a good shot in the correct place is 99% of the battle. Use a bullet that shoots well in your rifle, get out and shoot it as much as possible in all kinds of weather conditions, from field positions, until you know your abilities, then go get your ram.

I again must add that one of the criteria in the OP was "cape damage." I have seen a lot of animals killed with just about all the bullets mentioned so far on this thread, and of them the Barnes TSX and Nosler Partition normally leave the smallest hole on exit, and between those the Partition's is usually smaller, usually about caliber-size.

The bullets that do the most damage are the "target" style bullets, with fist-sized holes common, especially on closer-range shots. AccuBonds are somewhere in between, because their mushroom is typically wider than that of Partitions.

Well, I've about as many pref pts for BH sheep in SD as others have mentioned on this thread and if I ever draw the tag, I still want to hunt the sheep not snipe at him past 400 yds. I'll use the same M700 ADL I've had since 1970 chambered for 7 mm Remington Magnum and a load that has never let me down the 139 gr Hornady BTSP with IMR 4831 in WW brass with Fed 215's sparking it. Probably use some of the same batch of rejects (or factory seconds) that I used on my Rocky Mtn Goat billy at 17 yds. Put the bullets where they belong first then argue technical merits of your bullet choice. Say I suppose the fact that I only paid $6 a hundred would really count the likelihood that they do work Huh? Magnum Man

Think I low how to cut wind drift in half on a 600 yard ram(or anything else).

Get 300 yards closer...

Just saw a 180 scenar from a 7mm go through a nice sized cow elk at 525 yards yesterday. Went in behind the shoulder, screwed up a bunch of stuff and exited with a relatively small hole behind the shoulder.

Doesn't seem like a bad idea to use high bc bullets that work well, but our rigs are built for shooting longer and heavy bullets. In the shot situation yesterday there was a lot of open ground that didn't make sneaking closer an option. No worries, elk steaks in the freezer. And I am sure a lot of other bullets would have been just fine.

Yep...

Bob,

Actually, in the same wind condition, drift will be about 1/4 as much at 300 as at 600.

30338,

Scenars are tougher than some other high-BC bullets, but would you expect the exit hole to be the same "relatively small" size at, say, 175 yards? On an animal half that size?

When I mentioned fist-sized exit holes with high-BC bullets on deer-sized animals, it's because I've seen them on a number of occasions.

Exactly!

I just shot a whitetail deer in the throat patch at 35 yards with a 168 berger going over 3000 at the muzzle. It went in, shattered the neck and left a half dollar sized exit in the back of the neck. Saw a buddy shoot an antelope with a 180 partition and it left a volleyball sized exit in front of the shoulder and ruined the cape. Guess nothing is for sure.

That said I will keep rolling 168 bergers and when they are shot up, will probably switch to 180 scenars. Like I said earlier, lot of bullets will work.

Yes....I've seen it. and not just a few times. I've also seen some big ugly holes from Partitions when large bones are struck.

You're right, nothing is for sure when shooting big game. And a bullet that hits bones adds shattered bone to the damage equation.

But I have sure seen far more Partitions leave small exit holes than Bergers VLD's, and I have seen quite a few animals taken with each. In fact the last animal I shot with a Berger VLD was a pronghorn at about 160 yards with a 140 from a 6.5-06, and on a broadside rib shot it left one of those fist-sized holes.

Wish it was always that easy.

Ok folks, what bullet should he use? (-:

Roger that.

SLM: I know what you mean.

My comment was more TIC; meant to solicit a response. I admit, I was trolling a bit.

I have been in that "try to move in or shoot from here" scenario a time or two.

Put me in this camp.

When you shoot a Mashburn, when you close the door you are in range, right Bob?

The 160 partition

OK, next thread

Shod