7mm-08 and 120 Barnes TTSX for elk

[roadrunner1]

I have always used 30-06, 7mm RM and 300 WM for elk, but this year due to shoulder injury I was contemplating using 7mm-08 with 120 Barnes TTSX, what other bullet would would you guys advise if not 120 TTSX, I also have 150 NP, 145 Hot Cor and Hornady 154 SP. Thanks

 

[BillLarson]

Put a muzzle brake on your 300wm.

 

[K.E.C.]

Howdy, maybe a little more information will help us to help you. What will be your max distance? As Bill said a muzzle brake will help. Bad land or Hammer bullets.
I have loaded 124 HHunters in my 06 and 300Wm, with a brake the recoil is like a 243 or even a 223.

 

[roadrunner1]

Distance no more than 350 yards.

 

[3chester]

The 120gr Barnes, that'll work.

 

[Calvin45]

You'll be fine with that for sure. Before monos were even a thing Many elk guides for a long time touted the .270 with 130-150 gr soft points as their minimum suggested elk round. The 7-08 with a 120 mono like Barnes is honestly more gun than that as far as reliable penetration with expansion is concerned. Go fill your tags and your freezer and don't overthink it!

 

[Hudge76]

I say you'd be fine with that combo for elk. I have some loads I need to go test out of the same combo, as I may use them for caribou hunting this year.

 

[entoptics]

I ran some somewhat conservative numbers in JBM Ballistics, in case you can't squeeze near maximum speed (e.g. short barrel, limited powder selection, etc), and are hunting at lower altitudes/temperatures...

3050 fps muzzle velocity
25° F
5000' elevation

350 yard stats =

2300 fps impact velocity
1400 ftlbs of energy.

Not exactly overkill, but I'd think it would be sufficient if placed in the boiler.

 

[roadrunner1]

I'm getting just over 3000 fps and am using Leupold CDS.

 

[chav0_12]

I'm doing something similar. I went with 120gr Hammer Hunters for a 7mm-08. Couldn't get 140s fast enough for decent expansion, I tried the TTSX. I could probably get faster if I went with a 139 or 140gr cup and core but I decided to try the 120gr class too. Will likely just be a deer rifle.

 

[dogz]

The 120gr Barnes, that'll work.

What he said, that combo has taken plenty of elk. I say get after it and light the torch! I had my shoulder replaced a hear ago so I hear your pain

 

[akmtnhnt]

I'd go 139 or 145 LRX before the TTSX, as I think it's a better bullet from an expansion point of view. Better BC to.

If you can't find those, go take a look at one of the many hammers from 130-145gr(132HHT maybe?) or the 140gr Bulldozer-2, the latter would be my preference. The increased speed and energy down range is substantial.

7mm-08 is more than enough to kill everything in NA inside 350 yards but might not be my choice on Brown bears, but that's the only exception.

 

[DoneNOut]

120 HH at 3050fps dumps tuff TX boars at 300yds. I've never seen hogs die faster at distance. There is something about the .284 120HH even within the Hammer line that makes it a champ. I can only imagine it will dump an elk no problem. 120TTSX wouldn't bounce off either!

 

[the blur]

7mm-08 is plenty for Elk. I took a few with 140 partitions. No Elk ran more than 30 yards.