What grain for 7mm for antelope?

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kplender

New member
I will be hunting antelope for the first time this fall and was wondering what grain you would use for antelope in a 7mm magnum? I am assuming a fairly light load? Thanks in advance!!
 
Yeah 140gr is more than plenty. Any of the available 7mm selections will be more than adequate for antelope. Just like anything else...style of bullet and shot placement above all else.
 
Hornady 139gr INTERLOCKS BTSP, is what I've been shooting out of my Vanguard and it loves em. I guess if you handload there is always these, and 140gr Ballistic Tips. For sure try the hornady Custom loads.:):)
 
To each his own.I understand you can get really screaming velovities and a very flat trajectory with 140's.The 150 Nos Ballistic Tip is also a screamer,and not a bad choice,except one thing or two.I like to eat antelope.A 160,162,etc may not be as destructive.
I personally prefer to select one bullet weight,one load for a hunting rifle.Then it is always zeroed correctly and I only have one trajectory to learn.
I tend to use a 160 ,162,168 , in a 7 mag for everything.
You don't have to,but it works for me.
 
Antelope a relatively small bodied animals, no need for heavy bullets.

If you hand load the 120 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, or the 130 grain Hornady Spire Point would be a really good light load for Antelope. I've shot one White tail with the 120 grain BT out of my 7 mm Rem Mag Sako and 4, or 5 with the 130 grain SP out of my old 7 MM Mag Ruger No. 1. They work very well. Anyone claiming they cause excessive destruction, has obviously never used them.
 
To each his own.I understand you can get really screaming velovities and a very flat trajectory with 140's.The 150 Nos Ballistic Tip is also a screamer,and not a bad choice,except one thing or two.I like to eat antelope.A 160,162,etc may not be as destructive.
I personally prefer to select one bullet weight,one load for a hunting rifle.Then it is always zeroed correctly and I only have one trajectory to learn.
I tend to use a 160 ,162,168 , in a 7 mag for everything.
You don't have to,but it works for me.
Click to expand...

That's exactly my concept, too; 'cept my experience lead me to use 145 grain Speer bullets. More specifically, the SPBT's and/or Grand Slams.

It's been my experience that they stay together better than most other brands, and I lose very little meat with them.

The last antelope I shot was in 1985, but that's what I used, and I lost only a very few ounces of meat.

I've used the same load to kill a couple of buffalo since then (one neck shot, the other chest shot), and the load works equally well on the bigger stuff. I've killed deer out to nearly 500 yards, bear as close as 15 yards, and a lot of stuff in between.

The fact that it's a very effective killer of varous sized game, with minimal meat loss is the reason I shoot it.

As you said, it's also flat shooting.

Daryl
 
Get a box of each and find out which one your gun shoots the best. 130 or 170 doesn't much matter on that little critter but hitting him where it counts does. My brothers gun prefers 175 grain Federal Premium Power Shok. The 150 grain flavors were all over the place at 100 and barely on paper at 200, it's a gun thing.
 
Nate45,You are absolutely right.I have never loaded 120 or 130 gr bullets in my 7 mag.I also have no doubt they are perfectly adequate for antelope.Actually,I do not take my 7mm antelope hunting anymore.I use 115 gr Ballistic Tips in a .257 Ackley.I cannot think of a better combination.
I think there is more than one way to do things.Your way can be right,and so can mine.
Small shades of grey,a 160 Sierra Boat tail will be less affected by wind if a 400 yd shot happens.But,for me,even that is minor as I try to be closer and closer yet in the wind.
What does matter to me(you can do it differently) is my rifle is a different rifle when I change ammo.If I practice,sight in,and know my trajectory within my duplex withe a 120 gr bullet for antelope late September,then I'd have to load 140's if I went deer hunting.different bullets,load development,etc,learn the holdovers.Oh gosh,I drew a cow tag and I can buy an over the counter bull,so now I'm using 175 partitions another trip to the range,but I have only shot the sight in rounds before I go to hunt.Or,worse,badweather,schedule conflict,I cannot get out and re-sight in.

For me,not for anyone else,for me,I like 115's in my 257,180's in a 30-06,165's in a 308,140s in a 7-08,69's or 75's in a 223,depending on which one,260 accubonds in my .375.
That is what I load,practice with,and they are always zero'd with.
While,once again,I agree the 120 will work great for you,a 160 will also work great for me.Cheers!!!
 
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