Best bullet for 1-12" 7mm Rem Mag?

[Savage99]

The 7mm Rem Mag I acquired a year ago turns out to have a 1-12" twisted barrel 24" long on a FN action.

The rifle shot the 120 gr Nosler BT well from the start and 130's and 140s are not accurate and tip.

The 110 gr Barnes TTSX's shoot well in it at 200 yds.

I could just keep the rifle cause I really like it's stock and relegate it to coyote hunting. I have other rifles.

I may be able to get 3400 fps from it and it's advantage over the 120 BT might be that the 110 TTSX FB could work at almost any angle of impact on a big deer but the 120 BT might be best at only broadside shots?

What do you think?

The BC of the 110 TTSX is .319 and the 120 Nosler .417

 

[rule303]

Either of those bullets should be fine for deer. I am personally not a big fan of the Nosler BT if impact velocity is more than 2,500fps, since they have a tendency to blow up rather than penetrate. You didn't say what other bullets you have used in heavier weights. Have you tried any of the flat base 140's like the Sierra Pro-Hunter?

 

[627PCFan]

Thats just unfortunate. 120gn BT going that fast aint so hot for deer, and those Barnes are expensive.......What about a 120gn Sierra Pro Hunter?

 

[Savage99]

The 120 Sierra should shoot but it's just a cup and core bullet going really fast.

When I shoot the Berger VLD's at deer I wait for a broadside shot.

Might not have to wait with the solid copper TTSX!

The TTSX is not that expensive. I ordered a 100 at about $.50 ea

"BARNES .284 / 7MM 110 GR TIPPED TSX FB (50) $28.96"

At the range I shoot a one shot 'group' and note the point of impact and then fire another to confirm.

 

[Savage99]

Here is a picture of a 120 gr 7mm TTSX as expanded.



A gunwriter noticed that the TTSX type solid bullet was a slow killer of deer as it does not fragment like lead cored jacketed bullets!

 

[jmr40]

The problem with the pictured Barnes bullet is a lack of speed. If you cannot start them at the muzzle at 3000 fps or more you are using the wrong bullet. By the time it impacted at 177 yards it was going too slow to expand.

The copper bullets work fine if used right. I shoot 130's @ 3050 fps from my 308 and consider it my bear bullet. Lots of guys are shooting 110's at near 3200 fps from a 308 for deer.

those Barnes are expensive.

Too expensive to plink with, but not for hunting. The cost difference between 200 Barnes bullets and 200 cheaper lead bullets won't pay to fill up my truck with one tank of gas. 200 bullets will last me 4-5 years for load development, zeroing and hunting. As much as tags and everything else costs to hunt it is a very minor expense.

 

[Savage99]

That bullet expanded!

 

[Savage99]

I shot that 110 gr TTSX again today and it did very well.

It put two shots into 2" at 200 yds and was right on, sighted in.

The load was H4831 and 215 primers.

Now I will confirm that the rifle stays sighted in from a cold barrel. Thats how I hunt.