Looking for pet loads for Wyoming antelope hunting for my sons 7mm-08

OK, I have taken one antelope with the 7-08. It was with a 115 gr. speer hollow point varmint bullet. It dropped like a rock! I used that bullet in my old Remington 700 for many years as it was a tack driver. My new Kimber will not shoot it however so I don't use it anymore, but would if it shot well. It worked well on deer as well. I think I used about 47 gr, IMR 4350 with it. But what most may tell you is to try a 120 grain Nosler Ballistic tip. . . . . .

Wife and daughter took their goats this year with their 7mm-08 Model Sevens loaded with 120gr. Sierra behind 44.5gr Rl-15 for 2850 and 2900fps. respectively.

The wife hit her's three times in the heart/lung region between 243 and 276 yards in a group about 3" in diameter. The bullets left a gaping entrance hole you could put your fist in with no exit.

The daughter hit hers in the right foreleg angling upward at 226 yards. The bullet grenaded and never penetrated, but broke the right hind leg and openened up the abdominal cavity like a razor blade, requiring a finishing shot. I was watching through the binoculars and saw a cloud of dust under the animal where the fragments impacted the ground.

Next year we will switch to either 120gr. TTSX or Ballistic Tips.

I don't have a 7-08 anymore, but any 140grSP @ 2800fps+ is antelope medicine. H4350, Varget, RL15, all will work well. I'm not big on using varmint wt. bullets, even for amall antelope. I want complete penetration on any reasonable angled shot, but you do not need a premium bullet if you stay w/ 140gr.

Great round
Try Hornandy 140 Spiral Point.
John

Did you mean 139 grn from Hornady? Don't see that they make a 140 grn

im sure the 130 speer B.T. would do a fine job with 44.0 grs. of RL-15 at about 3000 fps with a 24" tube

If I wanted to go pronghorn hunting with a 7-08 then I'd be looking for a 120-130 grain bullet....load it to about 3,000 FPS and go hunting.....

Hornady SST 139gr behind H4350 IIRC.

Will have to look the details up.

I killed my antelope with that load at 302 yds in 03 in WY.

I used 140 NBTs and a Nosler's max load of RL19 with great success. It killed lopes very dead out past 350 yards. Lou

120 Sierra Pro Hunter

Did I mention this load is for my son; here is his 1st big game animal, a nice bull caribou shot near Chicken, AK

I like 3000fps with the 120g Nosler Ballistic Tip, the toughest bullet at that weight, I think. Most cup and core bullets grenade at that velocity when you have to take a close shot, but the BT holds up well, and it's accurate. I don't think I'd want to push the velocity any faster, though.

Another vote for the 120 BT.

We dont have antelope here, but a lot of deer just HATE a Nosler 120 BT over 49 grains of WW760

Abob: Thanks for posting the photo. That's beautiful country and one obviously proud young hunter.

Thanks Bill, sorry for replying so late, been out of the country on business

Yes he was proud, but not as proud as me

Another vote for the 120BT. My sons 7-08 Mountain Rifle accounted for 4 antelope with 3 shooters last year. Worked very well with a stiff load of RL-15

i too would look at the 120 Nosler B.tip. it shoots very well in both my 7-08s. in the 24 in barelled Classic it goes over 3000fps easy. the bullet always gives me exits. i have been loading this bullet to 3450fps in my young friends 7 mag,(shoots 1/2 groups.)he has shot a dozen antelope and almost as many mule deer with it in easter montana and has never had blow up problems and always gets exits. ive tried to bump up the weight for him and he says, no thanks. he has 160s partitions for elk and he is happy.