Going on a mule deer hunt in Wyoming next month and can't decide on 140gr ballistic tip or the 140 partition? I will be using a 7mm mag. Any personnel preferance?

quote:

Any personnel preferance?

Heavier bullets.

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Originally posted by impalaslayer:
Going on a mule deer hunt in Wyoming next month and can't decide on 140gr ballistic tip or the 140 partition? I will be using a 7mm mag. Any personnel preferance?

With the 7-Mag, I'd opt for the petitions over the B-Tips.....but in all respects either would do the job.

160gr NP

For Elk sized game I would pick partitions every time if they shoot well in my rifle. Deer sized game it does not matter which one, pick the better shooter. Good shooting.

You can not go wrong with the 160 gr. partitions.

As all others stated, go with the Partition.

Brush country or open range?

If it's the latter then go for the Ballistic Tip, if that's what shoots best, and in the case of the former go for the Partition, again if it shoots well.

My reasoning is mainly based on meat damage concerns if you're taking the good stuff home with you.

If you're not worried about damage then take whichever shoots best.

In either case if it is in brush country it might be worth downloading the bullet to 2800 fps or so if you are worried about meat, still plenty of point-blank trajectory and you might get lucky and keep at least one shoulder!

Don't worry about power, it'll "only" be about as powerful as a .270 downloaded but i'm sure the deer will oblige....

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Originally posted by Moparguy:
You can not go wrong with the 160 gr. partitions.

Ditto.

If you were talking Coues deer in Arizona, I'd go BT. But with the potential of a larger heavier Mulie, I'd go with the 160gr Partition. However, if they don't shoot accurately (which would surprise me), I'd give a look at the Accubonds.

I haven't hunted with ANY factory loaded ammo in over 50 years other than RWS H-Mantles in my 7x65R, so I will probably be struck by lightning, die, and go directly to Hell for saying this, BUT...

For deer I don't think it makes one iota of difference which hunting bullet you use, Nosler or otherwise. I'd be perfectly happy with a store-bought box of non-premium, el cheapo, Winchester assembly-line Power Points for deer.

The only caveat I'd make to that is that whatever they were, they'd have to shoot 2 MOA or better from the rifle I was going to use. MOA or better would be nice, but totally not needed in my hunting.

Federal 160 grain Nosler Partitions

Split the difference and go with the 140 Accubond. Partition performance with ballistic tip long range efficiency.

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Originally posted by scottfromdallas:
Split the difference and go with the 140 Accubond. Partition performance with ballistic tip long range efficiency.

+1

GWB

+1 to Alberta Canuck and if you place bullet properly even a .223 with cheapo Winchester or Remington will do the job. With as much of an overkill rifle as you have cheaper bullet no concern.

Thanks for all the input, I will be in open country and I think will move up to the 160 NP.

I never shot anything but 160's from my 7 mags of yesteryear

Go with the Partitions...

NP for me!

160gr Accubond

I use a 280 Ackley Imp and I do not like to use Balistic tips in that caliber simply because of explosive impact damage at close to medium ranges.

Also as suggested by others, 140 gr is too light for the game & cartridege - I would use minimum 150 gr NP or 160 gr Accubond or NP.

If you get the right powder / load, you will be surprised how flat the 160gr bullets shoot even at 350 meters.

Good luck.

I used to switch back and forth between BT and Part depending on the game. I now use the accubond for everything and love it. Keeps is simple. In my 280PDK (7mag velocity) I use the 160s in my wife's 7x57 we use the 140. Elk, Kudu, Oryx etc have been taken with excellent results.

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Originally posted by impalaslayer:
Going on a mule deer hunt in Wyoming next month and can't decide on 140gr ballistic tip or the 140 partition? I will be using a 7mm mag. Any personnel preferance?

I use the 140-grain partition bullets most of the time in my 7mm magnum, never know whether shots will be short or long. There is probably a small accuracy edge for the ballistic tips, I'd rather have controlled expansion as accuracy is good enough already.

I'd go with the Partitions or the AB's. I have never been happy with the performance of the 140 BT's in my 7mmRM on whitetail. Never liked the BT's in any caliber come to think of it.

I have never had a BT create an exit wound on deer so I quit using them. They fragment horribly and do exsessive meat damage. In my 7mm Mag I went to Barnes TTSX bullets and never looked back.

I agree you should consider 160 grains and go with the NP. The Accubond and Hornady Interbond are also good bullets if you prefer to shoot bonded core over mono metals.

Thanks for all responses. Went to Bass Pro shops yesterday and picked up some 160 Accubonds they were all out of Partitions.

I doubt you will be disappointed. Should you go after elk or something these would serve you better than BTs

You may want to try 140sst by Hornady. They will hold together better than the BT and have a higher BC than the part.

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Originally posted by Mickey D:
You may want to try 140sst by Hornady. They will hold together better than the BT and have a higher BC than the part.

Good choice. I have two 7mm RM's and have never gotten decent accuracy from Partitions. Best accuracy is the 168 Berger, by far, loaded ahead of 7828. Deadly accurate.

Ive taken a bunch of Mulies with a 7mm RM and 145 gn Speer hot cores. Bang, flop every time. I wouldnt bother paying for so called "premium" bullets for deer. Just pop the lungs and watch um drop.

Ive also taken several deer with BT's but Im begining to gravitate away from them on big game. I feel like Ive been pressing my luck with them on deer, accubonds are excellent though.

Ive got a bunch of 154 gn core locks that Ill be using for my next 7mm deer loads.

quote:

Originally posted by impalaslayer:
Going on a mule deer hunt in Wyoming next month and can't decide on 140gr ballistic tip or the 140 partition? I will be using a 7mm mag. Any personnel preferance?

If you are handloading, there are NO bad bullets from Nosler and any would work just fine...

even the lighter 120s and 130 grain bullets will work fine... you don't need a cannon to kill a mule deer...and the 7 Mag is more than enough gun...

plenty of other 7mm bullets from other manufacturers will work well also...

just because you are coming out west, don't think that all mule deer are taken at 500 plus yards...

take what you can manage to put into the right spot at ranges out to 300 or so.. and I think you'll be more than ready for 99% of what you may encounter...

shoot the 140 Partition. Nothing will beat it.

with a 7Mag you will get all the penetration and expansion you need for mule deer..they are not the same as elk. The 140 will shoot flatter and faster than the 160.

I shoot the 140 Partition in my Rem 7mmRM and have had absolutely no issues with it's killing power on deer sized game.

If I was elk hunting I would use the 160 or 175 Partition, but you need neither for mule deer.

troy

Hopefully I will get to try the 160 accubonds today. If they do not perform like I want I will go back to the 140 patitions. On white tails I do use 140 ballistic tips when I use my 7mm mag or other calibers. The ballistic tips have always done well for my wife and I from plains game to white tails.

Interesting comment about the 145 gr Hot core. I agree that they are good game bullets as are the standard Rem corelokt. I found the 145gr Boat tail Speers a bit less reliable on heavier animals - they are NOT hot core.

We shoot a lot (literally hundreds) of feral goats her in NZ and the 140 gr Nosler BTs are explosive on them at closer ranges. Yes they work well but they leave fist size entry wounds and do not fully penetrate even an average 40 lbs goat if hit on the shoulder. The same with 100 lbs fallow deer. I find they damage too much meat at less than 200 meters range.

The Speer hot core or the Rem Corelokt cost a lot less and penetrate better. For the bigger animals I stick to 160 gr Accubonds and barnes TSX 140ge or 150 gr.

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Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:
Ive taken a bunch of Mulies with a 7mm RM and 145 gn Speer hot cores. Bang, flop every time. I wouldnt bother paying for so called "premium" bullets for deer. Just pop the lungs and watch um drop.

Ive also taken several deer with BT's but Im begining to gravitate away from them on big game. I feel like Ive been pressing my luck with them on deer, accubonds are excellent though.

Ive got a bunch of 154 gn core locks that Ill be using for my next 7mm deer loads.

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Ballistic tip or Partition?

one's a varmit bullet, one's a hunting bullet.

a proper question is accubond or part... then "which ever your gun shoots better"

I agree with Jeffeoso. My experience with Ballistic Tips on antelope stink. I've had them open up prematurely and not even exit on a shoulder shot. Penetration was poor. That's an important dynamic when you have a big mule deer quartering away, you'll want a partition. My use of Ballistic Tips is now relegated to shooting coyotes and prarie dogs.

Jeffe hit the nail on the cabeza.

I have personally seen two instances of VERY
un-satisfactory performance with the Ballistic Tips.
(I know Nosler has changed their ad wording for the Ballistic Tips so maybe they have changed the design on the larger than varmint calibers(?????)

I'd go with the Accubonds or Partitions which ever shoot the best. The Accubonds do work as advertised as do the Partitions.

But to each his own.

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Originally posted by Wstrnhuntr:
Ive taken a bunch of Mulies with a 7mm RM and 145 gn Speer hot cores. Bang, flop every time.

I have them loaded up for deer this year in my 7mm-08. I've never used them so it's good to hear.

The partition is the standard that all other bullets are compared to. Why take a chance on anything else?

Not a super bullet, but when driven within their design parameters, they just do what they way they will do, every time! I have also had great success and accuracy with Nosler Accubonds!