I am on a mission to make up a flat trajectory load for my 7mm-08, to be used on deer max range 300 yards. I am thinking barnes 110 gr. Anyone else go down this road?

I don't have the BC for the Barnes bullet but looking at the Hornady tables the difference between the 120gr bullet at 3000fps and the 139 flat base bullet at 2900 at 300 yds is 0.1 inch in midrange trajectory and the 139gr bullet arrives with almost 400lbs (about 1700 vs 1300 ft lbs) more energy and about 300fps faster. Substitute the 139 SST and it shoots a bit flatter, faster and with a bit more energy.

I think the 110gr bullet would not be a good deer bullet at 300yds and the only advantage I see over a 140gr bullet is a bit less recoil.

My opinion for what it's worth.

Jerry Liles

If you're going to shoot 110 grain just go to a 257 Bob and forget the exercise in ballistic gymnastics.

quote:

Originally posted by Michael b Freeman:
I am on a mission to make up a flat trajectory load for my 7mm-08, to be used on deer max range 300 yards. I am thinking barnes 110 gr. Anyone else go down this road?

I think that you're fine as long as you don't take "3/4 away" shots beyond 100 yards. For those you may want the newer Barnes LRX bullet in 145 grain. It gives up a little velocity, but guarantees better penetration and downrange energy (.480BC). At 300 yards you don't need much velocity anyway. 2700-2750fps will work fine with about an -8" drop sighted in 2" high at 100.

At 300 yards ,
I see no reason to go that light. Good on you shooting at a reasonable distance...tj3006

buying a box of Barnes 120gr that should be big enough for deer, software says if I zero at 250 yards I can hold right on the boiler room all the way to 300 yards it will hit with over 1500 lbs of energy, if I can make that all work, life will be very good.

At 300 the bc starts to show up. I made up a caribou.load in my wife's Ruger M77 mk2 stainless Compact 308 . Using 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip Solid Base BT. I was amazed at how well that bullet penetrated and it does keep the recoil down. . 40.5 gr of Rl7 Seven not Seventeen. I haven't chronied it yet but I think its going around 2800 fps. I'm looking forward to late season. Hopefully I will have pics to post.

I'd look at what a 100 gr bullet is doing at 300 yds as far as retained energy.
you'll be starting it at about 3-k fps, and using a powder like 4895 to get it there.

I'd compare those numbers to a 140 at 2800 fps.
sight the 140 in 2" high at 100 yds and look at the umm 3" drop at 300 and figure out if there is enough difference to warrant a 50.00 box of bullets to save 1/4" of drop versus retained energy.

quote:

Originally posted by tjroberts:
At 300 yards ,
I see no reason to go that light. Good on you shooting at a reasonable distance...tj3006

+1.

Dropping down from a 140 ish grain bullet to 110 you might save an inch or so of drop @ 300. I wouldnt obsess over it. The 7-08 can do deer @ 300 yds easily with a great variety of loads. Just dial it in at about 2" high @ 100 yds, spot on @ 200 and aim just below the spine @ 300. Dead meat every time.

The 110gr TTSX bullet preforms like a 143gr lead core bullet on game. The Barnes bullets like speed to preform better. You can get that with the 110TTSX.

I worked up a super good load for my 7-08 with the 110TTSX bullet.
49.5gr RL15
Average 3329 FPS
SD 5

nothing wrong with any of the loads mentioned here. How ever its plain to see just about any , deer load in 7mm08 will work just fine.
Nothing exceptional is being asked of the cartridge here, so my thought would be a good 140 grain bullet at around 2850 , close to moa.
Dead deer ...tj3006

Generally the faster you push a bullet the flatter the trajectory. But at the max speed will it be accurate enough. Often a bit slower can increase accuracy. Often to about 1/2 the group size.
A very fast 3 inch group VS a 1 inch group going 200 fps slower can increase your ability to hit the vitals at longer ranges.
I might try loading a few different bullet weights to their most accurate, shoot them over a chrony for speed. Use these speed figures to get the ballistics of the loads. Use the one that meets your criteria best.
In my opinion the heavier bullets for the caliber work better at the range you specify. They move a bit slower which helps minimize over expansion. This can minimize the meat damage.
If I had a person a bit recoil sensitive I might load that light bullet at a some what reduced speed. This can minimize recoil somewhat.
Leo

At 300 meters you can get better terminal performance with a high BC heavier bullet in the 140 to 150 gr range.

I have taken deer at that range with a good shot from my 7mm08 Kimber Montana with such heavier bullets.

The 110 gr bullets Barnes / mono metal (do Barnes make a TTSX?) will kill well but might drop velocity rapidly.