Best bullet weight for 7mm08

Joined
Mar 31, 2009
Messages
7
I am about to start reloading 7mm08 and I am interested in talking with someone who has experience with this caliber in different bullet weights. I have some 140 grain spbt and I am interested in another weight in either 120 grain or 160 grain. I am a big whitetail hunter and I suspect the heavier bullet will do better. My rifle twist rate is 1 in 9.5. can anyone help me decide before I invest in bullets that my rifle won't like.
 
my best results with sierra 1930, (168grs) primers ccibr2, vitha n150:39grs, or sierra 1915(150grs) primers ccibr2,vitha n160 46grs, shoot 300mtrs. 2680 fps; rifle rem 700.
 
Last edited:
I am about to start reloading 7mm08 and I am interested in talking with someone who has experience with this caliber in different bullet weights. I have some 140 grain spbt and I am interested in another weight in either 120 grain or 160 grain. I am a big whitetail hunter and I suspect the heavier bullet will do better. My rifle twist rate is 1 in 9.5. can anyone help me decide before I invest in bullets that my rifle won't like.

The 7mm/08 is one of my favorite deer rifles for many reasons (To many to list) and
I have tried every bullet known to man and even though I love the accubond on most
of my rifles the best deer bullet for the 7mm/08 In "My" opinion is the 120gr balistic
tip !!!!!!!

I use H414 and Varget to get the best velocities (3000 to 3100ft/sec)and the best group
to date is a .053 5 shot group @ 100 yrds.

Even though the 160 gr bullets work well in the big 7mms it doesent in the 7/08 (not enough
velocity).

Try the 120 Blistic tip and you will be amazed.

Do a search for =Any experience with a nosler 120 Ballistic Tip (.284") for more details.

J E CUSTOM
 
Last edited:
You are getting many different opinions so I will add my experience. I have loaded for my hunting buddy's 7-08 for a number of years and he loves it for deer hunting. He has never lost a deer with this load and he has shot seven deer from 40 yards to 300 yards. In 2008 he took his biggest deer at 300 yards with a bullet through the heart. The deer ran less than 50 yards.

We used Hornady's 139 BTSP in RP cases and a full dose of RL-19 for a velocity of just short of 2900 ft/sec.. This load will do a number on deer.
 
The 140 gr BT is an excellent bullet for the 7mm-08. If you want to try a different weight, consider the 120 gr BT. The 120 gr uses the 140 gr BT jacket but is cut back to meet the 120 gr profile, This makes for a thicker jacket on the 120 gr BT. It is a very accurate and robust bullet.
280AI120grBT.jpg

Here is a recovered 120 gr BT recovered from water jugs at 100 yds. MV approx.3400 fps from my 280 AI.
7mm120grBT.jpg

JD338
 
120grain bullets in a 7mm...on deer? although there is plenty of anacdotal evidence here, I think that's a bit light (J E Custom is quite the authority though). I would suggest the 140's. With a 9.5 twist, you've got enough twist to stabilize a 150. Probably would not do well with the 160.
 
120grain bullets in a 7mm...on deer? although there is plenty of anacdotal evidence here, I think that's a bit light (J E Custom is quite the authority though). I would suggest the 140's. With a 9.5 twist, you've got enough twist to stabilize a 150. Probably would not do well with the 160.

Thanks 280 but there are lots of experienced hunters/shooters on this site and I just shared
my experience with the 7/08.

I like bigger bullets like most but in this case the velocity with bigger bullets is just to slow to
perform like they should in the 7/08 .

I know that the larger bullets have better BCs than the 120s but even at 400 yrds the 120
has 300 ft/lbs more energy than the 160, and I consider the 7/08 a 600yrd hunting rifle.

The longest shot I have made with the 120gr BT in 7/08 was 538yrds with a custom XP 100
pistol and the deer fell in his tracts shot just behind the shoulder.

I have killed a lot of deer with the 140s,150s, and 160gr bullets and they all ran from 5 to 50
yrds before dropping.the 120s drop them where they stand.

For target shooting I would use the 150 or 160gr bullets because expansion is not an issue.

There are 3 more 7/08s in my family and they did not believe it ether untill they tried them
and now they all shoot 120 BTs at white tails.

Shoot what you like but try the 120 and you will see what I am talking about.

J E CUSTOM
 
One part of enjoying this site is hearing what everyone else uses. I dont believe in large bullets for deer hunting. I believe high velocity is what kills. In the last 15 years of hunting whitetail in Md. and Pa. the largest bullet i shoot is a 100 gr out of my 257 whby. or 100 grain out of my 260. Now i havent shot anything over 400 yards mainly around 150 and under due to my area. I cant remember the last deer i ever shot twice though. However the most popular caliber in my area is the old 30-06 and i get a few laughs out of guys shooting deer 2-3 times to kill them. I killed my largest buck this past season with a 223 50 grain hornady sp, it didnt even take 2 steps. I have some friends ribbing me about my woodchuck bullets but they have done well for me.
mike
 
J E Custom:
I acquiesce. Thanks for posting your additional anecdotal evidence. I don't have a 7-08. I've got a .280 though and it shoots 150s really well. It seemed to me that a 7-08 and a 280 would pretty much shoot the same diet of bullets. Knowing that a 7-08 will shoot the 120s I'll be giving some serious consideration to this caliber when I rebarrel my .308.
 
When I put together my son's 7mm-08, who was eight at the time, I loaded the 120BT because I thought the recoil might be a little lighter. But like J E Custom said every deer he/I has ever killed with it looked as if they were struck by lightning and they are very accurate.
 
Warning! This thread is more than 9 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.
Top