120 gr? 140? 150?
- Thread starter Carmike
- Start date
Dont have to have a 150gr to do that. A well placed double lung broadside shot on any deer from north to south with any off the shelf 120-150gr. 7mm08 load will kill em.
I prefer the Barnes X for the pass thru's. Ive never recovered a Barnes X in 120 or 140 gr from a deer. The only 140gr Barnes I recovered was after it went thru about 30 inches of hog.
OP, if you arent doing a lot of shooting I would get a box of Vor-tx 120's and see how they shoot in your gun. Id say that probably 90% chance that it would shoot well and thats the only load you would need.
If you want something at a little less cost the Fusions have worked great in my 7mm08's. I havent stretched them out but with my results in under 100 yard shots they work just fine.
CarJunkieLS1
New member
For factory ammo the Hornady American Whitetail with the 139 Interlock will be a great low priced option. It has been accurate in 3 7-08 rifles I've shot them in. The Remington 140 Core-Lokts are good too but they aren't anymore accurate in my rifles and cost $6 more per box where I live.
For reloads I really really really like the 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip. Assuming accuracy the 120 NBT at 2800fps has been single handedly the best deer dropper I have ever seen. We are in the south and deer aren't as big as northern deer.
I am not a hugely experienced hunter but between myself and friends we have 22 deer harvested with rifles. For DRT (down right there) and "bang flop" performance the 120 has accounted for 7 DRT's and no other caliber or bullet weight has done that for us.
We've used 30-06, .270, 25-06, 7-08, 308, and .243. All were typical bullet weight reloads used for medium game hunting.
All deer have been cleanly harvested and had adequate bullet performance, but we want to DRT and get "bang flops" we all grab out 7-08's with 120 NBT's. Sorry for the long winded post hope my experience has helped you.
For reloads I really really really like the 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip. Assuming accuracy the 120 NBT at 2800fps has been single handedly the best deer dropper I have ever seen. We are in the south and deer aren't as big as northern deer.
I am not a hugely experienced hunter but between myself and friends we have 22 deer harvested with rifles. For DRT (down right there) and "bang flop" performance the 120 has accounted for 7 DRT's and no other caliber or bullet weight has done that for us.
We've used 30-06, .270, 25-06, 7-08, 308, and .243. All were typical bullet weight reloads used for medium game hunting.
All deer have been cleanly harvested and had adequate bullet performance, but we want to DRT and get "bang flops" we all grab out 7-08's with 120 NBT's. Sorry for the long winded post hope my experience has helped you.
Any of the 3 you mentioned, I have used 120 to 150 in my 7-08. It never cared, never recovered a bullet yet. I really like the 140 grain range bullets. I also very seldom got a bang flop scenarion, mostly because I tend to shoot just behind the elbow and take out both lungs. So bang flops were rare, but then so we're blood trails that weren't blatantly obvious or longer than about 50 yards. As for switching bullet weight. Unless you have shot them both and know how different they will shoot, pick one and stay through the season.
Assuming all of the bullets are designed for deer hunting I would use the one that I shot most accurately practicing with the rifle before deer season. After this deer season you can research factory loads for the 7mm-08, buy some, shoot them, and make your choice for the next deer season. (You may eventually choose reloading, another enjoyable and time-consuming hobby that becomes part of hunting.) 
Roadkill2228
New member
140s are kind of bread and butter for that cartridge, it's the right size for them at ordinary ranges. The 7-08 has moderate enough velocity that bullet blow up isn't that likely. The same bullets might be explosive out of the 7 magnums, but at 7-08 velocities they should perform with delightfully boring predictability.
22-rimfire
New member
That would be my choice as well without knowing anything else. I use standard 150 gr jacketed soft points in my 270 win and have for years. Shots are like yours. Deer aren't that hard to kill, but I believe in the traditional "deer rifle" range of calibers generally as being the best choice.
140s.
3000 FPS projectiles cause overly severe meat damage up close.
It isn't the perfect shot you should choose a bullet for.
You should pick a bullet for the time you screw up a and shoot the deer in an iffy spot and at a bad angle and still work.
Copper 140s are the bullet of choice for 7MM for deer.
3000 FPS projectiles cause overly severe meat damage up close.
It isn't the perfect shot you should choose a bullet for.
You should pick a bullet for the time you screw up a and shoot the deer in an iffy spot and at a bad angle and still work.
Copper 140s are the bullet of choice for 7MM for deer.
jackstrawIII
New member
Any of them WILL work, no doubt. As has been said, middle of the road is usually a safe bet, but don't worry about it too much.
Also, at 100 yards, the point of impact shouldn't vary considerably between bullet weights. Obviously it will change some, but you're aiming at a 9" target... so the inch or two of change isn't a big deal.
Also, at 100 yards, the point of impact shouldn't vary considerably between bullet weights. Obviously it will change some, but you're aiming at a 9" target... so the inch or two of change isn't a big deal.
140 gr at 477 yards, bang flip, 4 hooves in the air
Out of a 7mmRemMag i have shot deer with 120, 140, 150, and 162.
The 140 does best in Quickload Quicktarget trajectory.
The 140 does best for me on targets.
The 140 make the deer bang flop for me.
In 458 I go to the range but never hunt
In 35 Whelen I go to the range but never hunt
In 338WM I go to the range but never hunt
In 8x57mm I like the 180 gr Nos Bal tip
In 300WinMag, 30-06, 308, i like the 150 gr Nos Bal tip
In 7mmRM I like 140 gr Nos Bal tip
In 270 I like the 130 gr nos bal tip
in 6.5-06, 6.5x55, 260, I like 120 gr Nos Bal tip
in 257RAI, 25-06 I like the 115 gr Nos Bal tip
In 6mmRem, 243, 6mmBR, I like the 95 gr Nos bal tip
Jack O'Conner
New member
My sister-in-law hunts with a Browning lever gun in 7mm-08 and shoots 140 grain Nosler Partitions for deer, elk, and antelope. It's a sturdy built bullet but not too tough to prevent rapid mushroom performance. She zeros her rifle three inches high at 100 yards which places the bullet dead on at about 225 yards.
Jack
Jack
double bogey
New member
I use 139 gr. hornady interlock in my 7mm mag. When Academy hit the metroplex, there wasn't one near me, so I would drive across the metroplex to get a couple of boxes of the hornady custom ammo. Never could duplicate the speed handloading, but the accuracy part was easy. I have never shot a deer with that bullet that was more than 20' from where I hit him.
Any of the bullets you are discussing will kill deer. shot placement is what matters.
Any of the bullets you are discussing will kill deer. shot placement is what matters.
bamaranger
New member
questions
No shame in "newbie" questions. We all like to read and talk it up, and as a rule, will treat the OP right. I'm quite pleased with the tone and attitude of our forums.
Generally speaking, the low end of traditional cup and core bullet weights on the medium calibers is often intended as a "heavy varminter" load, ie 110/.30, 90/.270, 55/.243 (?), and so forth. They are fast and flatter than heavier slugs by some margin, and will no doubt kill deer sized game, but that is usually not their intended design. As noted, if you have bigger deer, or cannot pick and choose your shots, you may be disappointed in the penetration of the lighter bullet. But many whitetails are not very big critters, running around 150 lbs live in many instances, and can be taken with a wide range of bullet weights. As example, I have a 115/.270 load for my R.O.W rifle, because it is so fast and flat and expansion will occur even at longer ranges. And our southern whitetails are often just not all that big, though once in a while.........
That does not apply to the modern alloy premium space bullets, that can run light for caliber, but are still very tough slugs. Personally, I can't justify the cost of of premium bullet, on smaller whitetails, so don't use them....except for the Partition in .243.
There is much wisdom in the advice of "what shoots best in your rifle". I'd lean towards the 140 range, just because, and shoot a few brands and see.
No shame in "newbie" questions. We all like to read and talk it up, and as a rule, will treat the OP right. I'm quite pleased with the tone and attitude of our forums.
Generally speaking, the low end of traditional cup and core bullet weights on the medium calibers is often intended as a "heavy varminter" load, ie 110/.30, 90/.270, 55/.243 (?), and so forth. They are fast and flatter than heavier slugs by some margin, and will no doubt kill deer sized game, but that is usually not their intended design. As noted, if you have bigger deer, or cannot pick and choose your shots, you may be disappointed in the penetration of the lighter bullet. But many whitetails are not very big critters, running around 150 lbs live in many instances, and can be taken with a wide range of bullet weights. As example, I have a 115/.270 load for my R.O.W rifle, because it is so fast and flat and expansion will occur even at longer ranges. And our southern whitetails are often just not all that big, though once in a while.........
That does not apply to the modern alloy premium space bullets, that can run light for caliber, but are still very tough slugs. Personally, I can't justify the cost of of premium bullet, on smaller whitetails, so don't use them....except for the Partition in .243.
There is much wisdom in the advice of "what shoots best in your rifle". I'd lean towards the 140 range, just because, and shoot a few brands and see.
Thanks for all the helpful info, guys. I do think these forums are among the best I've seen for not "flaming" people who ask newbie (or even "dumb") questions (I've asked them myself, I'll admit it).
The first weekend has come and gone, and I didn't get to pull the trigger. I'm using the 150 gr bullets for now. The rifle is sighted in for 140 gr, so hopefully the extra 10 grains don't make too much of a difference at 50 yards, give or take.
The first weekend has come and gone, and I didn't get to pull the trigger. I'm using the 150 gr bullets for now. The rifle is sighted in for 140 gr, so hopefully the extra 10 grains don't make too much of a difference at 50 yards, give or take.
Bullet construction matters more than anything as to what is suitable.
Big northern deer require a little different construction than the smallish white tail deer in central Texas do.
Do a little homework and then use what you have learned to make a choice. If you pick the wrong one, it won't take long to find out. You either get a DRT or a DRT a quarter mile away. AND, that depends on shot placement.