120gr TTSX for mulies

Hey all,

I'm in the process of sorting out my deer/elk/combo rifles for next fall. Right now I have:

Savage 111 in 7mm rem mag
Savage 11 in 308win
Savage 11 Lightweight hunter in 7-08

My plan is to use the 7mm rem mag for elk, with the 308 as my back up, and the 7-08 as my deer rifle with the 308 as my back up. So I've been working on loads for the 7-08 using Barnes 120gr TTSX. I figure that if I can get them up past 2900FPS, then they'd make a dead deer for a mulie/blacktail hunt. Any experiences with these bullets on deer at 7-08 velocities? How has the 7-08 worked for anyone in the past?

--SRS

7mm-08 has roughly the same killing power as 308.

No mule deer but I did shoot a 300+# boar hog at about 350 yards and it dropped him 1st shot with a 162 gr amax over RL17.
Blew a hole out the other side about 2" in diameter.

Not a 120 gr TTSX although I have loaded that bullet, just nothing stepped in front of it.

Barnes are tough penetrating bullets, but I think out west I would move up to a 145 LRX over RL17 loaded long and hot for more BC/SD.

Should be able to get 2800 out of it maxed out.

I don't feel under gunned with my 6.8 spc's shooting 100 or 110gr bullets at 2700-2800fps on mulies out to about 200 yards. Wouldn't feel any different about a 120gr at 2900fps from a 7mm.

Look up woodland outdoor ministry's, I load all their bullets for their 7 08's, 120 gr ttsx. They work fine.

The 120's should be just fine. I have shot them quite a bit (noslers). You should have no problem getting 3000fps out them if not a little more. I have since been shooting 140 accubonds with good results. I am able to get 2950 with no signs of pressure with the 140's and Ramshot Big Game powder. I have shot a few barnes bullets since the are right here in my back yard and have had great luck with them.

Believe me I am for getting another gun when you can, but what is wrong with picking a load that your gun likes and you shoot good with, then using it for all. I think you will gain more by more trigger time with one gun when it is time to make a kill shot. The 7mm RM. would be my choice.

What you need to know about Barnes X bullets are how they are constructed. They start as dead-soft copper, then get heat treated for toughness. This means that compared to any other bullet of the same weight, they will have a higher velocity requirement for proper expansion. From my expirences, call and ask what the bottom velocity requirement is, then add about 150 fps. Personally I have seen several partial openings with them. This is one of the reasons that Barnes began the "Hey we are so cool, you can use a lighter bullet!!" campaign, and more recently tipped bullets. It's to ensure the velocity and opening of them.

The "typical" min velocity for Barnes bullets are in the 2100 range, but some definitely open at slower speeds, so email them to make sure. I would imagine the 7-08 would easily cross the 400yd mark meeting that speed. Didn't run any ballistics but my gut tells me you'd still be in the 2500 range, or higher.