7m-08 120 HP for deer

sigfla · 10-26-2006, 11:56 PM

I am setting up a rifle for an 11 year old. I would like to keep the recoil down as much as possible. I have some 140 grain loads but would like to shoot the 120's. They are factory remington HP's. Any problem using these to take deer sized game? Bullet weight and energy are plenty but I dunno about the remington hp round retaining enough mass after the hit.

Deleted User · 10-27-2006, 12:15 AM

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shepdogwv · 10-27-2006, 12:21 AM

I don't know about the hollow point rounds. My fiancee's dad has loaded some for her and him for the past couple years (243 for her...257 wby mag for him) and I they've been s**t. The first time I thought maybe it was just her shooting, but after 2 or 3 lost deer I find it hard to believe that it's them that many times. Since it's not really my place right now (he reloads) I haven't said anything, but come next year after we get married, I'm gonna fix her up w/ some corelocs or power points that I know work.

James B · 10-27-2006, 09:34 AM

Most hollow point bullets are made for varmit hunting. There are a few exceptions. Does anything on the box suggest what their intended use is? 120 grain bullet in the 7mm will work if its well constructed and made for big game. The SD of a 243 100 grain bullet is 242 where the SD of a 120 grain 7mm bullet is just 213.

sigfla · 10-27-2006, 12:03 PM

Varmint use on the remington 120's. I went ahead and sighted in with the 140's. The recoil was the same in my perception as the 120's maybe even less. Didn't seem to have the sharpness in recoil as the 120's. More of a "push" than a "kick." Anyway, the gun shoots well and should be just the ticket this year.

onebadf250 · 10-28-2006, 11:14 PM

I personally hate .243's for deer hunting but my wife brought one into the relationship and won't let me trade it off for a 7-08or 270. Sheinsist on taking it if she goes hunting with me. She shoots 80 hp's from it and it does great on does and small bucks but the 8 or 9 deer she has shot that were 160lb-185lbbucks didn't get a passthrough and I ended up doing some indian tracking to find them. Not that they went far but blood doesn't like tocome out a hole the size of a needle. Any bullet that is put in the right spot will do the job.

BrutalAttack · 10-29-2006, 06:31 PM

I don't reccomend hollow points for big game. They are designed for radical expansion and are likely to turn to shrapnel in a deer. I doubt there is much difference in recoil in just 20 grains of bullet weight.

Think about this: if the kid has a bad experience with a wounded animal because of a poorly performing bullet he could be soured on hunting for life. I think the security of a bullet designed for big game is worth a tiny (if any) increase in recoil. We, as hunters, have a moral obligation to higher ethics. It's unethical to hunt with any piece of equipment that might preclude you (or whoever) from providing the animal a quick, clean death. I'm sure you'll want to set the kid down the right path and I"m sure he'll understand if the gun kicks a tiny bit more.

Just take him to the range and get him used to it.

saladin · 10-29-2006, 06:42 PM

barnes make a 120 grain triple-shock boattail projectile in 7mm. that shouldhold together and get the job done.

TFOX · 10-31-2006, 10:14 PM

My daughter(12 years old)is shooting an Encore, synthetic 7mm-08 with a sims pad.She is having NO PROBLEMS shooting the 140 grain Winchester ballistic silvertips.She is also a small framed girl.75#-80#

I highly reccomend them for deer for that gun.She has taken 3 with it and the results have been BETTER than I had hoped for.

She took 1 a couple weeks ago at 140 yards right through the lungs and the deer run about 40 yards.I could see the blood trail 20 yards before I got to where she shot it.

The first one she shot with it last yearwas 20 yards and it was through the lungs and I could see the blood on the tree behind the deer.From the stand.Deer went 15 yards.

The 2nd she shot with it was a small 7 point and her nerves got her and she gut shot this one.The ammo and gun left a beautiful blood trail and I walked straight to it the next morning.If I hadn't pushed it the night before,(thought it was a liver hit)it would only have run 100 yards.As it was it ran about 200 yards,not bad for a gut shot and being pushed.

ranger140892 · 11-01-2006, 03:04 AM

A 7mm 120 Barnes hollow point would be good for deer hunting since it's designed for deer. Most other 120's in 7mm are thin walled varmint bullets and won't hold up to medium/large game. Sure you can kill deer with a light varmint bullet. But sooner or later you'll hit a rib just right, or the shoulder and the bullet will break up on impact and not penetrate.
Yeah, people shoot deer with 100 grain bullets in 243's but remember that bullet is made for medium game.