M-70 Feather.Compact 7mm-08 1st group

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suprane

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Well finally made it to the range. 2-10-15, 0900, 70's SW wind quartering from back left shoulder partially to the right. Already had done initial cleaning from factory. Got set up, shot three slow fire rounds 50 yds. and adjusted scope and cleaned and then 4 slow fires 100 yds., adjusting and cleaned. Then just slowly fired 7 rounds keeping barrel same temp ( warm ) and then fired 5 shots for the group, slow, same temp barrel. Noticed on the seven shot group the circle began to shrink and believe that was due to getting comfortable with the trigger. Didn't have a measuring tool, but it was a bit heavy, guessing in the 4 lbs range. The let off was crisp, just a bit too heavy. I was going to clean again before the 5 shot group, but after the reams of "do it this way" thoughts and articles on how to break in a new barrel and whether needed or not, I just said "let's get er done" and shot the group. The 2nd shot I felt myself pull down the barrel a bit and called "low" the middle three I really relaxed and controlled my breathing and trigger let off. I was using Hornady 139gr. interlocks and those were the cheapest ammo and they should do very nicely for deer and coyotes. I still will group the Federal 140gr. and Nosler 120gr, both B. Tipped. But am very very very pleased and if I do my job, Rose will do hers. Thanks everyone, had a fun time discussing pre-buy and set up and now where "the rubber meets the road." :)
 

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"A Rose by any other name, still shoots the same." ;) You can tell dementia is closing in Doc. Very pleased with looks, feel and performance, just need to lighten the trigger just a little.
 
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Those "Interloks" will do anything you want to do with a 7mm-08.
I've used both Nosler Partitons and BallisticTips.
The Ballistic Tips are accurate but frangible. Don't penetrate well but do kill smallish deer well with heart/lung shots.
IMO the Nosler Partitons are over-rated, Good expansion but in my experience don't penetrate any better than many other controlled expansion bullets.. The Interloks expand and penetrate just as well or even better in my experience. Besides, if you reload, you can buy the Interloks for 1/3 the cost of the Partitions.
The best performance I've ever seen from my 7mm-08 was with 150gr Remington Corlokts. And that was when they were the cheapest bullets you could buy. (before Cerebus/Freedom Group buy-out).

I'd be comfortable with my 7mm08 with either Hornady Interloks or Remington CorLokts.
As a matter of fact, I've killed over 150 deer over the past 30yrs and have found both to be satifactory. (.224-358").

For accuracy, however, the Sierra's are King of the Hill. Though the Hornady's and Speer's are often close. The BallisticTips are great, but too soft.
I suggest that the only thing perhaps as good as the Interloks and Corlokts may be the Nosler Accubonds. But, I've not shot anything with them, though I do have a box of 7mm 140's on my loading bench for "someday"...
But they have to compete with too many others, especially the 500 139gr Boat-Tail Interlok "blems" I bought several years ago at $9/100...
 
Urbanerulalite, appreciate the comment. I enjoyed doing it with the good people here. GG some excellent advice and personal experiences. I already have the Federal and Nosler and will test them out and put more rounds down the barrel and get real comfortable with Rose's trigger. But have heard what you're saying from several sources. The B.T.s just blow up and don't get the penetration. The Remingtons will be the next try, but if I just stayed with the Hornadys, that spread will certainly get the job done. I don't reload, just have the one rifle and shoot about 4-5 times/yr. and put twenty rounds down range. The bullet/brand I select will get some range time under different conditions and distances so I'll be real comfortable with taking different shots out to 300yrds. About 100-120 rounds and then just a tune up before each deer season. Well thanks again and good luck to all on your pursuits. TC everyone.
 
GooseGestapo said:
The Ballistic Tips are accurate but frangible.
Click to expand...

AFAIK, one specific BT bullet, the 7mm 120gr BT has a thicker jacket than normal. Accounts I've read give it great reviews as a whitetail bullet. I haven't taken a deer with it myself yet, but it is accurate from my rifle.

Congrats on a fine rifle, suprane. Looks to be a good shooter. I'm a fan of the 7mm-08 as well.
 
Another accurate hunting/ plinking bullet in 7mm is the Hornady btsp OR the flat based version in 139gr th?id=HN.607989858580892952&pid=15.jpg They both were very accurate and works as any other similarly constructed bullet. At $25/100 its hard to beat.
 
+1 on the interlocks. I went for all the hype on the ballistic tips, and while they are pretty accurate bullets, their construction is not all that great. I had one blow up on a deer's rib once and decided that for deer sized game, I would try the Hornady. The ballistic tip doubles the price if you do reload and I don't think a premium bullet is necessary for hunting deer sized game.

I have also tried Nosler's partition bullet which is a fine penetrating bullet, but I think too much for deer. The front half of the bullet is very soft, maybe pure lead and it does expand well, with the back half encased in the bullet jacket which drives deep. Probably something you might choose for game larger than white tails, such as elk.
 
Appreciate the new posts and the info and thoughts. Man this is good place to educate one's self. I am strickly an OTC bullet shooter. Just not financially feasible to set myself up to reload. But no worries as the group from the first 20 down the barrel with Hornady Interlock is more than good enough. Am going to see how the Remington Corlokts group and then stay with one of them for the shots on deer and coyotes and a rare bobcat. Headed out to AZ end of the month to meet up with long time buddy, from HS days, and see if we can call up a few yodelers. We shoot dove there over a tank and that tank has a bluff overlooking it and many draws, we should be able to lure one in. If not well the beer will be just as cold. YeeeeHaaaaa.
 
Bought the ten year old daughter the same rifle, she better watch out I might steal it. Hornady 139gr American whitetail ammo was the cheapest I found in my area and it just hits what ever you point it at. Now that I have brass we are working up loads, and I am looking at a full size 7-08 for my self. Happy shooting!
 
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