Anyone got experience loading 160 or 175 grn TSX for a 7mm-08?

Plan to use on Black Bear

I don't know how big your black bear up there are, but I shot a 6-ft cinammon-colored black bear with my 7mm-08 in the Upper Halfway (in the B.C. Peace Country, if you're familiar with that). Anyway, my load was a 139 gr. Hornady Interlock over 40.0 grains of Win. 748, approximately 2650 fps; one shot through both lungs from roughly 80 yards. He only went about 30 yards, and died fast.

All the above to say, black bear (at least ours) aren't really that hard to kill. If you already have a load using decent big-game 140 or 160 grain bullets, consider just using that instead of working up a new load which may end up being more than you need.

Davis

If I was going to use a tsx in the 7mm-08,it would be a 140gr tsx.

I tried the 175 gr TSX in my Remington 700 7mm-08. The bullets keyholed. I don't think I was giving the bullets enough velocity at my 1-9.25 twist. The Barnes manual recommends at least a 1-9 twist. I agree with the other posters that a lighter bullet might be a better choice.

Suggest 140 gr. However, in response to your post, the 160 for your 7mm-08.

Stubblejumper is right. The tsx is a premium bullet with a controlled mushroom. Barnes bullets seem to hit harder than standard bullets for caliber making the 140 grain similar in effect to the standard 154-160 grainers. (According to John Barsness.)

Don

quote:

Originally posted by stubblejumper:
If I was going to use a tsx in the 7mm-08,it would be a 140gr tsx.

That and the A-Frame in 140 gr. would be the only two I'd use in a 7mm-08.

In a 7-08, I wouldn't run the TSX above a 150gr. The entire pint of the "super premium" is you don't need bullet wt. for penetration. I would consider a std. cup/core 160gr bullet like the Speer or Hornady though. I run 160grNPs in my 280 for an allround hunting bullet.

quote:

Originally posted by duckboat:
I tried the 175 gr TSX in my Remington 700 7mm-08. The bullets keyholed. I don't think I was giving the bullets enough velocity at my 1-9.25 twist. The Barnes manual recommends at least a 1-9 twist. I agree with the other posters that a lighter bullet might be a better choice.

The twist is indeed too slow for such a long bullet with a lower specific gravity than its equivalent lead-core bullet. Only the 7x57mm and 7x64mm, with a 1-in-8.66" twist, can stabilize a copper bullet that long, and even then it should be used only in specific circumstances where the trajectory curve is not an issue.

The 175gr TSX robs a lot of powder space, and hence compromise velocity further. In addition the 7mm-08 has a short throat unlike the very long throated 7 mm Mauser. So the 175 gr TSX it is an absolute no-no in such a rifle having 2 constraints - short throated and twist not being appropriate.

If your application is for deer-size or medium antelope you do not need more than 140/150 grainers in a controlled expansion (bonded lead-core) bullet. I will only pick the TSX if there is a need for deeper penetration on larger sized antelope and angled shots need to be taken.

Warrior

To answer your question, no, because I also use the 140 gr. TSX for black bears in my 7mm-08.

Good Hunting,

Bob