Author Topic: 7mm bullet advice  (Read 704 times)

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Offline TMAKER

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7mm bullet advice
« on: March 21, 2009, 04:55:41 PM »
I have been shooting 120gr Nosler ballistic tips 100% from my contender 14" 7-30 waters for years with wonderful success. I hunt deer, coyotes and paper. There are a lot of new bullets out there and I want to experiment. Any suggestions based on experience?

Offline Hopalong7

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Re: 7mm bullet advice
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2009, 04:04:41 AM »
     I don't have very many rules....BUT, one that I do try to follow is...."If it ain't broke...don't go fixin' it".
Now that I'm down off my stump, I'll admit that I've broken my "rule" on the same specific situation that you're contemplating more than once.  There are a lot of 7-30 shooters on this forum and most of 'm will give good reviews on exactly what you're already shootin'.  If I was to look for another bullet my first thought would be for something cheaper than the NBT(no offense to the Nosler folks at all, but I just like to smell lots of burnt powder and ain't won the lottery, yet).  Remington bulk bullets are not nearly as cheap as they were :( but i'd look for and try a similiar weight SPCL and see what happens.
GOOD SHOOTIN', Walt  ;)

Offline sweetwyominghome

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Re: 7mm bullet advice
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2009, 05:02:52 AM »
I've pretty much tried them all and have been shooting 7mms in one version or another for a good number of years. In short, the 120 grain BT is still THE bullet for the Waters in a 14-15" barrel.

The Sierra 130 grain SSP was a good one but is long gone. The Hornady 120 grain SSP (the ORIGINAL #2811 and not the tipped version) was OK but did not have the low-velocity threshhold of the BT. The newer version (#22811) and its eventual so-called replacement (120 grain V-Max) both offered decent performance, but neither displayed the consistency in terminal performance that the 120 grain BT is renown for.  The #22811 is history, and only the V-Max version remains.

For Hopalong- The 120 grain BT can be CHEAPER than most common cup and core bullets. Get the 2nds from the Shooter's Pro Shop (accessible through www.Nosler.com; look under the Products heading near the top of the home page). I've used them for years with terrific results.

Offline WolfTrap

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Re: 7mm bullet advice
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2009, 06:27:36 AM »
I have been shooting 120gr Nosler ballistic tips 100% from my contender 14" 7-30 waters for years with wonderful success. I hunt deer, coyotes and paper. There are a lot of new bullets out there and I want to experiment. Any suggestions based on experience?
Are you kidding? Are you mad?
Don't change a thing!
Been one my goto's for the past 20 plus years!
If you need to.....try one of the heavy bullets made for the lever action rifles, since they're of softer jackets and will expand at 14 in. velocities.
WolfTrap
When starting and completing a project, here's something to remember;"I can't" really means "I won't"!
WolfTrap

Offline Steve P

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Re: 7mm bullet advice
« Reply #4 on: March 23, 2009, 08:35:30 AM »
I do have loads for my 7-30 waters with 140 and 150 grain bullets.  Both are using Nosler ballistic tips.  120s work good for coyotes and varmints.  I go up to the Nosler 140s and 150s for deer size game that I will eat.

Steve :)
"Life is a play before an audience of One.  When your play is over, will your audience stand and applaude, or stay seated and cry?"  SP 2002

Offline VARMONTER

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Re: 7mm bullet advice
« Reply #5 on: March 23, 2009, 03:18:05 PM »

Caution!! :o
I looked at the nosler 2nd's  pro shooters website .chose a box of bullets for 14.95.Put them into my cart.
and the shipping was 15.95..No deals there.. You can ship stuff in PO bulk boxes cheaper than that.

Offline Huntz

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Re: 7mm bullet advice
« Reply #6 on: March 23, 2009, 04:05:05 PM »
I have used the 120 Gr. BT in both my 7-30 Waters and 7 TCU.Dont get much better then that!!!!
Politically Incorrect

Offline sweetwyominghome

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Re: 7mm bullet advice
« Reply #7 on: March 25, 2009, 10:49:37 AM »
Varmonter wrote: " looked at the nosler 2nd's  pro shooters website .chose a box of bullets for 14.95.Put them into my cart.
and the shipping was 15.95..No deals there.. You can ship stuff in PO bulk boxes cheaper than that."

Of course, that is HIGH if you are buying just one box or bag of bullets, but that price remains the same or at least has done so on my orders.

If I remember correctly, my last order included 550 bullets, and the shipping was still around $14. Ditto for an order last year for around 800 bullets.

But as to the flat rate boxes the PO provides, check your prices as the postage there, too, has gone up recently.