Anybody harvested a deer or pronghorns using 120 grain Nosler balistic tips in a 7mm Remington Magnum or somewhat same velocity?

I am mostly a meat hunter and I am concerned about meat damage. Most of my deer hunting take place at my uncle farm where shots are between 75 to 200 yards.
I assumed you are wondering why I am interested in a 7mm 120 grain for deer, the reason being is that I've come across a unused Krieger barrel at a garage sale and the barrel has a 1-10 twist rate ratio. I already purchased the barrel this morning for $125.00 and I think I got a good deal.

A 1 in 10" twist will easily stabilize bullets up to at least 150gr or 160gr in most barrelsThat being said,I have seen a few deer killed with the 120gr ballistic tips with good results.

1-10" twist with a 7mm is OK, but as previously mentioned, stick with the medium to smaller bullets. A 120 is a FAST bullet in the 7mag.

I can attest to what a 140 and 150 will do and based on experience, I'd put forth the effort to sway to towards the heavier bullet and SLOW them down.

If you are going to stick with a smaller 120 bullet, I'd recommend you shy away from the Btip for the magnum.

No secret here but for a smaller 7mm bullet, I'd go with:

120 gr TSX BT (SD).213 (BC).411

That is what I'll be loading up in my 7 mag for WY antelope this Sept. My brother and I just bought some 110's for our 270's also. Should be interesting. My experience tells me you'll have minimal meat damage with these bullets.

I found the 120 and 140 Nosler BT to be perfect in my 7mm-08 for WT's and antelope, and 140 and 162 grain original Nosler Solid Bases were fine for mule deer and elk. But when shot thru my 7mm Mag. at much increased velocities, they were explosive and wasted huge amounts of meat! Hits anywhere near a major blood vessel would cause blood shot a long way from the impact point. I am a huge fan of 160 grain Partitions for everything in my Mag.

I gutted a medium sized buck shot with that bullet at 60 yds in the liver from a 7mm-08. The velocity was not very high. Maybe 2900 to start.

The bullet tore up some of the liver but did not exit. The deer ran about 50 yds with no blood trail.

In the 7mm Mag I would use 140 gr bullets for deer. I could not care less about meat damage. I have too much now. The 7mm Mag I had was twisted 1-10" and it shot 160 GameKings for a long time til it got worn.

Used this load on a pronghorn at 75 yards. stopped it in it's tracks. Going to take it to Mexico for Coues deer in January; 300+ yards.

Well let's talk about the meat damage even though some of you used this 120 grain 7mm Nosler Balistic tip's.
I would like field result's!

I shoot all of my NA trophy and African animals low in the center shoulder, with premium bullets from larger calibers, and could care less about meat damage. This is a 100% recovery shot. I would avoid this type placement with a Ballistic Tip at increased velocities, due to rapid expansion and poorer penetration. A shot BEHIND the shoulder would probably be a death ray, and drop an animal in its tracks or very close recovery with this bullet. I have witnessed craters the size of softballs with 300 WM's and BT's.

Norseman, If your a meat hunter stay away from light bullets in the 7mmRM except the Barnes TSX bullets. I have had explosive results with the BT's both in 140 and 150 gr.meat damage was terrible.

Hey Norseman, I’ve got a bit under half a box(old 100 count) of Deer kills with the 120gr B-Tip at impact velocities between 2300-2800fps. All shots were in the forward 1/3 of the Deer. And probably a similar amount on various size Varmints, which was way more Bullet(Energy) than needed for them.

Concerning their use on Deer, I can recommend you are best served by a lung-to-lung shot directly behind both shoulders if you want to keep the Blood-shot meat at a minimum. But, you are going to get Blood-shot meat with these bullets anyhow.

Here are typical results on the last two Deer I killed with them. Both are memorable for different reasons that have nothing to do with “field resultsâ€.

Next to the last was a 160-170# 8-point that was shot just behind the near-side(left) shoulder and the bullet Exited through the off-side(right) shoulder. Impact velocity was near 2800fps. Blood-shot meat extended across the chest and down the right side ribs. The right shoulder was a total loss for meat, but the rest of the Deer, including the majority of the left-side ribs and HUGE neck was fine.

Last kill using this bullet was a 130-140# very old Senior Doe. Bullet entered just behind the near-side(right) shoulder and Exited in the middle of her chest. Impact velocity was near 2700fps. Blood-shot meat extended around both sides of the chest, under and past both shoulders, making the ribs completely worthless on both sides. The shoulders were OK and the rest of the Deer, including the neck was fine. Loosing the left side ribs due to being Blood-shot when the bullet did not touch it was a surprise.

The 7mm 120gr B-Tips I used acted similar to any other relatively Fragile Bullet at high Impact Velocities between 6mm and 30cal, lots of energy transfer and excellent chances for a lot of Blood-shot meat.
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If you are determined to use them in your 7mmRem Mag, I would recommend using "Reduced Loads". DO NOT just use less of a "Slow Powder", because of the potential for a Secondary Explosion Effect. Either use a Reduced Load shown in the Manuals or go to the Hodgdon site and check out their "Reduced H4895 Loads". They will work similar to the above kills inside the 200yds you mentioned at the reduced velocity.

The 120 BT is fine, but I'd back off the velocity in a 7 Mag... to about 2800 fps MV....Otherwise, you will experience a fair amount of meat loss....

Do a load with fast powder, like 4198 , RL 7, 2400, Blue Dot, SR 4759, 5744....

For reduced loads, H 4895 sucks! It will give a lot of muzzle flash, which I don't think is beneficial and also is not that accurate compared to loads with the above powders
cheers
seafire

I think I'll purchase some 120 grain Barnes TSX which I assumed should do the least amount of meat damage in 120 grain but then again Stubblejumper mentioned that a 1-10 twist can easily stablized bullet weights up to 160 grain, that being the case I guess try out the 150 grain Swift scriocco (spelling) or maybe the Nosler accubond or partition in 140 or 160 grain.

Thank you all for responding in the previous post.

My preferences still begin with the 120 TSX. There's a reason why most all if not all factory 7 mags come with either a 1-9 or 1-9.5" twist.

You do not need a bullet heavier than the 150, and I have had excellent success with the 150 Scirocco and IMR4350.

Above are the actual field results! There is a small hole on the left side and none on the other. After fooling around with the liver and trimming it I cut it out and left it. Meat damage??

quote:

from Don: Meat damage??

Hey Don, I don't understand your quote below the flick. Are you asking if "we" think the Deer in the flick has "meat damage"?

quote:

Above are the actual field results! There is a small hole on the left side and none on the other. After fooling around with the liver and trimming it I cut it out and left it. Meat damage??

Are you saying you eat Deer Liver?

Reloader

quote:

Hey Don, I don't understand your quote below the flick. Are you asking if "we" think the Deer in the flick has "meat damage"?

Ah, let me think of how to say this. It's more like "wow here it is, what's meat damage?"

quote:

Are you saying you eat Deer Liver?

Yes I eat deer liver, calfs liver, chicken livers, lamb kidneys and chicken gizzard stew is my favorite. Don't take the hearts with the gizzards as they will not cook tender.

Maybe thats why I am so old.

More Power to ya. I can't say I've ever tried it for anything but, fish bait.

Have a Good one!

Reloader

Savage99 Nice Buck how did you manage to get him to climb into the back of your truck and die?

Was his last words Bullet Failure?

Just kidding but a still a nice Buck I hope I find one this fall.

I shot a large doe while muzzle-loader hunting one year. She was so corporative that she ran through all the thick brush and died within 30ft of the road. If she would have only went the half-mile down the road and died in the back of my truck it would have been ideal.

I used to load for a guy who did not like recoil at all. He had a Remington carbine in 243 and wanted the 75 gr bullet as light as I would load it. He shot a deer with it and it ran across a field and died by the back of his truck. To him that was a perfect load. Oh well.

My kid shot that buck and it seems to be a family tradition that the daddy gets to gut it out.

quote:

Originally posted by Savage99:

quote:

Hey Don, I don't understand your quote below the flick. Are you asking if "we" think the Deer in the flick has "meat damage"?

Ah, let me think of how to say this. It's more like "wow here it is, what's meat damage?"

Hey Don, Just wanted to make sure what you were "implying".

So you believe a person can tell "how much" meat damage there is with the hide still on. I've never been able to do that, but would certainly be interested in learning the technique if you would give me some tips.

Ive had good results with plain vanilla hot cores from the 7mm mag on mulies but if meat damage is a concern then a light for caliber BT would be my last choice. For what you want I would suggest some Hornady interlocks, their fluted tips make nice tight mushrooms. If you insist on a primum bullet for light animals then you would be well served with a partition.

I have used the 120 Nolser BT at 3200 fps out of my 280 to harvest 3 whitetails. It flat puts them down right now. All have been one shot kills. All have exited. Meat damage was no worse than most soft points and was actually less than those that I've shot with 150 Nosler BT. This bullet actually has a jacket that is thicker than the 140/150 Nolser BT. (Cross section them you will be surprised at how much thicker). It will bloodshot some meat, but not to much.

For deer sized animals the 154 Gr. Hornady can't be beat. I've taken deer with a 7 MM Rem using everything from 120 Gr. to 175 Gr., Noslers, X's, Hornadies, Sierras, etc. I've had a lot of bloodshot meat with anything under 150 Gr., especially BT's and Sierras.

I guess I am at loss why you feel a 120 gr bullet is essential for your expected range of 200 or under? When pushed a BT style bullet will cause more blood shot/meat damage based purely on design. I have never tried this offering so maybe as one posted stated they are actually thicker than the 140/150 versions. I still fail to see the need to get the fastest, flatest bullet combo for the 7mm rem mag for the situation you described, especially considering your main concern is meat for the freezer! I have used 140 BT to harvest 2 pronghorn bucks out of the 7mm rem mag, both aniamls were shot at distances greater than 200 yards, bullet provided complete penetration and only a bit of rib meat was effected. Equally I have harvested a number of whitetail and mulie's using 140/150 BT style bullet in 7mm rem mag, the end results were all the dead deer in short fashion. However the meat damage varied greatly, largely dependant on the angle and distance of impact. High velocity (aka short range) or heavy media (heavy bone) caused the most meat damage. If placed in the ribs though never lost enough meat to worry about, as I don't find rib meat to be my bag of tea and I never have a shortage of grind. I care about the meat but also care about putting them on the dirt first and foremost. In this fashion the BT is still one of my favorite bullet for deer/lopers.

I think for the situation you described a loss in velocity & trajectory by going with a heavier gr bullet or different style is not worth sweatiung over. The 7mm rem mag will toss 160 plenty flat/fast enough to 200 yards. The larger gr bullet or better constructed bullet will lend itself to your main objective of take home meat. TSX, Nosler Partition, failsafe, etc would be what I would go with in the lighter grain versions or step up to 140/150 grain of various styles like BT, AB, SP, GS and so forth.

Best of luck

skhunter,

I was under the impression that I had to shoot 120 grain bullets for the newly purchased Kreiger which had a 1-10 twist ratio. Also the fact that Stubblejumper mentioned that the barrel will easily stabilized bullets weight up to 160 grain, I've decided to use Swift's or Nosler Accubond or Partition like I mentioned in the earlier posting of this topic.

I see..that's what happens when you don't read the entire post..me bad.

Good luck in your search and on the hunts themselves!!!!!

As many will know I really like BTs on our smaller deer. I shoot 90gr in 6mm rem and 100gr in 6.5mmx66

Continuing the light BT theme I tried some 120gr BTs out of my 7x57. Accuracy is a repeatable ragged hole but I find that ragged holes are made not just on paper but on the carcasses of game that I shoot.

I'm not greatly concerned with blood shot etc but I don't like ugly big holes in deer. The 120gr BT at MV 3,000fps makes ugly holes!

A clue was a bullet failing to exit a roe deer shot slightly facing away at 200yards. Bullet hit in lungs, broke opposite shoulder but failed to exit - this on a 60lb deer!

Bigger deer seem less affected by this - perhaps the bullet has blown off frontal area and velocity by the time it gets to exit.

I've now moved to 120gr hornadies which are better but still a bit overly expansive. I will next try downloading them to 2,800fps.