I differ a bit here. I have shot a lot quite a few deer with three different 280's I like the 120 grain Sierra Pru Hunter the best. I usually get pass throughs with about the right amount of damage done ouit to 250 yards with this bullet. I also like the 130 grain Speer Hot Core although meat damage is sometimes on the heavy side with this bullet. For Elk I would go with a sturdy 140 grain. Partition. I like the 175 grain for Moose and bigger Bears.

James what load do you use for the 120gr? I use the 120 gr hornady in my 7/08 with 50 grs of I 4350 and it shoots tiny groups out to 300 yds.
I got my 280 out last week and shot it some using the 139 sst's and 145 gr speers both shot almost to the same poi @100 yds and very good groups ,some less than an inch.Been thinking of trying the 120 hornady's in my 7 mag to see how they would shot also.

I will have to look up my load for the 120. I woulld think that the 120 Sierra would be a little fragil for the 7 Mag. Can't say about the 120 Hornady. I only load the 120 for the 280 to a little under 2900 fps. It performs well at that Velocity. It does not need to much velocity to expand well. I am going to try it in the 7MM-08 this fall as well. I keep all my deer loads to well under 3000 fps. 2700- 2850 is about my prefered velocity.