got a deal on a new 7mm-08....Bullet suggestions?

[Zeus]

Well, I was walking around in a store here around the house Friday morning and noticed a TC box laying on the bottom shelf.  I looked at the box and noted that it was a 15" stainless 7mm-08 barrel.  They had the barrel marked for $54.99, however, the price was actually 60% off of that.  So I got a brand new 7mm-08 stainless encore barrel for $22 +tax.  Not a bad deal but since I didn't own a frame of my own, I had to purchase a new frame and a set of mounts from another store near the house.  So, adding up the parts, barrel $22, frame $349, bushnell 2-6 $52, Leupold Dual DT mounts and rings $40.  So I have a little less than $500 in the whole rig after taxes.  not too bad.  Looking forward to using it some this year.  I'm looking at loading some 120 barnes bullets and would mainly be using them on whitetail and pigs.  Is this a good choice for the  animals that I have mentioned.  What have you all tried and had good accuracy with.  I was thinking that the 120s would be heavy enough due to the design of the barnes bullets.  Thanks.  GS

[Buckskin]

I think they would be heavy enough, but I would feel more comfortable w/ 140s for deer.  But they grow a bit bigger up here in Wisconsin than down south.  There more like Key deer aren't they. ha.  Kidding aside, I found the 140s to be much more accurate that the 120s of any brand.

[Zeus]

Thanks buckskin.  I've got a good many 140 sierras so I'll probably start with them.  I've seen some pretty large bodied deer up on a farm near Kalamoo, MI a few years ago.  The inlaws lived up there at the time and the Pharmacia farm was loaded with deer.  Noone bothered them and they weren't afraid of anything.  Sort of like a large santuary for them it seemed.  We have some pretty good deer here but on average, the mature bucks are running probably in the 220# range.  We've killed a some that get close to the 300# and just over mark but they are not the norm.  I have killed a rather large doe for the area that weighed 192# several years ago.  This is my first TC pistol of my own.  My brother has a 223 and friends have all of them up to and including the 13" 50 Alaskan.  That one is a fun one.  the 650 grain bullets for the BMG shoot really well out of it actually.  I'll probably take it a few more times this year and try to get a kill under its belt.  We've taken it before but never took a shot with it on game.  Some of those "I'll wait until right at dark before I shoot" and they are gone at that time type deals.  Well, after your comment and talking with several buddies, I'll probably just stick with the 140 range bullets and see what happens.  Thanks.  GS

[doc-and]

I've been shooting PMC's 139Gr PSP ammo in mine and get a consistant 1inch grouping @ 100yds with my 7mm-08, Tried Remington Express-Rifle 120Gr Hollow Point and groups opened up some.  Haven't reloaded any ammo yet as I got bout 100rounds with the barrel.  But I'll be looking for bullets in the 139-140Gr range when I get ready to reload



Blue Encore 7mm-08 now wears a 7x Burris Scope, SST Encore 308

docand

[xphunter]

120 or 140 NBT's

[Zeus]

I lightened up the trigger just a bit on the new frame this morning.  shot it for the first time yesterday a few times and the trigger was very heavy.  I know it will probably work in a little over time but I installed a slightly lighter spring and double checked everything.  It is lighter but still plenty heavy for hunting.  Shooting at the 300 meter berm yesterday, I could definetely feel the weight in the trigger, this should help with that some.  Anyway, looks like it will be 140s that I start with.  That is what I was shooting yesterday and they seem to do pretty well and all of you have pretty much settled on that weight also.  Doc-and, I like the 308 that you have.  That is actually the barrel that I have wanted for a while but just never got around to buying.  Too many other things were brought home first   I think that would be pretty awesome in a handgun but with the price I got on the 7-08 barrel, I just couldn't turn it down.  Should do fine for the deer around here.  Thanks again fellas.  gS

[eywflyer]

I have a 12" 7mm-08 Encore barrel.  I've been trying Sierra GameKing #1905 140gr SBT's over 37 to 41 gns of IMR4895 and have not been able to dial it in tighter than about 2.5" at 100yds.  I saw that Doc-and was getting 1 moa with his 139 pmc factory ammo.  Do any of you have suggestions for a good hand load for whitetails?

[jimatcat]

iim tryiing from about 15 yrs worth of memory.... hornady #2845 162 gr... 34 gr 4064... gve about 2600fps in my 7-308 with ann 11" BBL, XP100.....shot ihmsa silhouette... grett load, about 2" groups att 100 meters... had a king tube sight... really miss that 1  !!!!

[xphunter]

40.0 H-4895 with a 140 NBT= 2540 FPS with a 14 inch Shilen tube and it had sub 1/2 MOA @ 100 yds.
IT may or may not work good for yours, but several people have had good success with it.