duckslayer82

I recently purchased a 7mm08 for deer hunting and have shot several factory loads with OK results but I want to get some hand loads done up for better accuracy and have been looking at the Barnes tsx and nosler accubonds. Thoughts on bullet selection

Ridge Runner

why would you need a bullet of such construction for a 7mm/08? at the velocities of the 7-08 any cup core bullet of appropriate weight that your rifle shoots well would be just as good, probably better
BTW my favorite deer bullet in my 7mm-08 is the nosler 120 gr ballistic tip
RR

Big Uncle

The Accubonds are really good deer bullets. It has been my experience that the TSX needs much higher velocity to expand consistently. The TTSX seems to open better at lower velocities than the TSX. At .280 or 7-08 velocities a softer bullet would probably be a better choice for deer sized game. Most of my current .280 loads are with Accubonds.

Both bullets you mentioned can be very accurate if your rifle likes them. The TSX loads that I have used have been very sensitive as to OAL and needed to be kept further back from the lands than usual to shoot well.

duckslayer82

I'm not saying I need s bullet of that construction, I was stating that I wanna get some opinions on bullets for the 7mm08. I have been reading on several diff forums about those bullets. Haven't decided on any bullet yet. My local gunsmith does a bunch of reloading and his advise was to go with a 120 nosler ballistic tip. I have just been unsure on all this.

Ridge Runner

not sure where your at or how big your deer run in your area, but here where bucks average 120-135 #'s with an odd one hitting 160, the 120 gr NBT, or the hornady 120 gr spire point is hard to beat.
I shoot accubonds in my 7mm Allen Mag, but it sends a 160 downrange at 3575 fps, a cup/core bullet can't take an impact at less than 350 yards from that rifle, I tried a 110 gr accubond in my 25 wssm but it was the exact same performance as the 115 gr NBT so I will buy no more for it.
deer are classified as thin skinned medium game, they are not hard to kill and don't need a premium bullet, its your choice but you don't need it.
RR

bpd1982

I have shot a bunch of deer with 140 gr. TSX bullets with great result. My load is 46 gr. of H4350 Rem case and fed 210 primer. It also shoots 1 1/2" groups at 220 yards. I also have a 150 gr. Nosler BT load I am going to try this year.

Big Z

The 120ttsx would be certainly be worth a shot.

Pawildman

I've killed a whole bunch of deer with the 7-08. I started with 140 gr Accubonds, then switched to the 140 gr Ballistic tips. They both shoot to the same POI and I felt the Ballistic tip was a better choice for white tail. I have since moved on to the 120 gr Nosler and have whacked a couple of deer with it, but they were neck shots at fairly close range and I have not much to compare to with results like that. As far as accuracy goes, I too load those with a healthy charge of IMR 4350. Groups run around 1" @ 100 yds.

Ridge Runner

Do not worry about the 120's performance on deer, nosler uses the same jacket cup on the 120's as they use on the 140's, since its not drawn as far, the jacket on the 120 is a tad thicker than the 140's, it'll hold up well at 7mm-08 velocities.
RR

HatchieLuvr

I haven't hand loaded in nearly 20yrs but my youngest son (14) & his best bud both shoot 7-08s & I have both of them shooting 120TTSXs. I've been IMPRESSED with that bullets performance on our deer here in west TN. I've been shooting Barnes for over 20yrs but was initially suspect of the 120 in their 7-08s. (I shoot 140TTSXs in my 280 & 7mags) But after seeing their success & the performance of the 120s I have NO doubt they'd work equally well in my bigger 7s. In fact my next rifle will likely be a 7-08 compact & I'll certainly put 120TTSXs in it!