I had some time so started to play, I have a Browning micro-medallion in 7mm-08 with a clip magazine so Max Over All Length is 2.790" for reliable feeding , with the Barnes 120gr. 3XBT this means I am 0.080" away from the rifling . Barnes says load 0.030"- 0.070" off the lands,best around 0.050" . Well I get 1" groups so no gripe really. So I thought I would play with the bullet ,it's all copper , I sanded the length down from 1.132" to 1.110" with 120 grit sand paper, I'm now only 0.060" off the lands , my group went down to 3/4" so i'm happy .
Then I was Chating with some other hunters on the topic of 3XBT Barnes bullets on deer size game , some said sometimes if just a pass through chest area , no bones hit ,the bullet came out with a small exit hole, didn't open up . Well I only hunt Blacktail Deer on the coast here in Oregon , so far they have been small deer . I thought lets play again , The bullet has a hollow point with a dia. of aprox. 0.035" so I opened it up to 0.060" with a 1/16" drillbit .
I do belive the bullet will open up now, I am going to shoot some wet newspaper to see how it does. So does anybody else play with your bullets
I know I could load all kinds of other bullets better for small deer but I really Like these Barnes bullets .I guess I have too much time on my hands with all the RAIN out here.
You can Play with those Accubond also , ha , ha ,ha.
