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

Cool! 3,000-3,100 FPS from 22" barrels. Should be able to get a little bit more velocity from my 14" barrel.

NTG - Thanks... shot was just over 200yds.

I have used the Nosler 120 gr BT in my 7x57 carbine. It has a 19" barrel and I'm getting a very accurate 2800 fps.

I developed this load for my daughter who took her first doe at 250 yds with this bullet. Unfortunately the bullet didn't appear to exit and didn't leave a blood trail. We found the deer the next day in very heavy brush after the coyotes had at it. I found the entry wound by brushing the hair back with a stick and my daughter had a perfect bullseye right behind the shoulder.

I took this rifle and load out the following year and shot a very small doe at 200 yds. It dropped the deer in it's tracks.

In all honesty both shots killed deer but I preferred the performance of the 154 gr Hornady interlock that I used for years in that rifle. I got better exit wounds broadside and have seen that round nearly go through a deer lengthwise at 200yds.

I think the heavier bullet works better for me at those ranges. But certainly shot placement is everything and I imagine if those deer we shot were 100 or more yds closer I may have been more impressed with the performance of the 120 BT.

Dan

Well, I just stumbled across this thread and realized that I had never responded once I got my custom 7mm-08 build completed.

Here are the final specs:

• Remington 700 donor receiver
• Bartlein #3B R5 24" 1-9 Twist Stainless Barrel
• Glass bedded and free floated
• Boyds Laminated Stock
• Kepplinger Single Set Trigger 3.2 Lbs / 12Oz
• Zeiss Conquest HD5 5-25x50 Locking Turrets
• Burris Signature Z Rings High

I worked up a 120BT load over a max charge of H414 which is averaging about 2,900 FPS and .25" CTC groups.

Took a two doe and an 8PT this pass season. All were at about 100 Yds. One doe neck shot DRT. The other two were behind the shoulder and complete pass throughs. Both went about 30 yds.

So far I am real pleased with the rifle and am looking forward to working up more loads for it this spring/summer.

Here are some pics:

I would have expected a higher velocity out of a book max charge of H414. Should be well over 3k. Can't argue with the accuracy though!

I'm getting 3086 with 49 gr. 414.

You are both correct. My mistake. The 2,900 fps was for a 140 Gr Accubond on top of IMR 4350. The 120 NBT's are running around 3,100 FPS.

Perfecto....!

That's more like what one should expect.