Tee Vee

I had to switch from the 7 mm -08 due to trouble with my right shoulder. I had used Hornady 139 gr. bullets with less than MOA consistently. I purchased a Savage Model 11 Light Weight Hunter in 260 Remington and found the 100 gr. Nosler Ballistic tip to be phenomenal with 1/2 gr. under Maximum loading. Grouping was 0.350 MOA consistently.

Don't be afraid of Hornady or Nosler Ballistic Tip and if long range aka open country shooting I suggest a boat-tail bullet.

Biggs300

In my Tikka 7mm-08, I've tried 139 grain Hornady SST's, 140 grain Nosler Partitions and Ballistic Tips along with Speer 145 grain Boat Tails and Grand Slams. Out to 200 yards, I have gotten the best accuracy out of the Speer Boat Tails, with the Grand Slams a close second. Since I mostly use Noslers in my other hunting rifles (elk, deer, and hogs) I'm going to try 150 grain Partitions and Ballistic Tips. If accuracy isn't there, I'm sticking with the Speer bullets. If I had choose just one bullet for accuracy, it would be the Speer Boat Tail but, I understand it is probably not designed for elk whereas the Grand Slams are.

d80hunter

Anyone have experience with Hornady 139 grain interlock boat tail bullets? I just bought a bunch of them reloading.

HatchieLuvr

Are you talking about in a 7-08? If so they'll be a "good" bullet but just realize their limits. They perform very similar to the Nosler Partition, Remington Corelokt, Sierra Gameking etc... Keep the shots reasonable & don't try anything "trick" like TX heart shots, head on/chest shots nor should you expect consistent exit holes nor expect them to penetrate both shoulders! (For that kind of work in a sub 150 weight in the 7-08, you need to step up monolith solids like Barnes, Nosler E-tips, Fed Trophy Copper etc & other "deep waders" like Trophy Bonded Bitteroots, A-Frames etc...)

I've used lots of bullets in 30yrs in my 7mags, 280 & 7-08s. For deer sized game I've settled on 150+ weights in the 7mags for standard cup & cores. And in 280/7-08 I'd stick with 140+ in cup & cores. I only recommend/pick for my guns, lighter than those when you step up to prem bullets, then you can realize higher velocities & flatter trajectories without giving up power & THE most important part IMHO... penetration!

The Interlock is a great ol bullet & you should be fine with it. I wasn't impressed with the SST after a few deer with them in one of my 7mags & my pet, custom 280! (154s in the 7 & 139s in the 280) But I must confess I prefer HEAVY/FULL penetration to lesser performing pills, so I'm biased I know.

d80hunter

Thanks for the info. I will likely try heavier 7mm-08 bullets in the near future.

Bbj270

I use 140 rem corelokt in two 7mm/08 and have never had a deer run more then 40-50 yards and shots up to 225 yards. Have took both frontal and tx heart shots and both dropped the we e in their tracks. My cousin uses 139 sst and never had a problem in his 7/08 he even killed a couple of black bears with it.

Big Uncle

They are good bullets for deer size game. I have taken many deer with a .280 at moderate speeds with this bullet.

One comment that you received compared them to the Nosler Partition. That is not quite right. The NP is a much better bullet for heavier game, but is not necessary for deer. The largest dead elk I have ever seen was killed with a single NP 150 grain bullet fired from a 7-08. Bullets heavier than this fired at 7-08 speeds may not expand reliably at longer ranges - most notably the mono-metal bullets.

d80hunter

Could a 139 boat tail interlock be used on elk, with a tailored handload and a precise shot at reasonable range? I have already taken a coyote with this setup, deer and antelope are also what I purchased a 7mm-08 for. I am not planning any elk hunts just being a curious gun fanatic.

Big Uncle

I have no doubt that a perfect shot with a 139 Hornady fired at 7-08 speeds would take an elk cleanly. However, it would not be my choice. I would use a premium bullet. I have taken a few elk with a .280 using 150 and 160 grain NPs.

You do not need a cannon to kill an elk. I have talked with local guys that use .257 Roberts with normal 100 grain cup and core bullets to fill their freezers with elk meat every year. These guys simply pass up any shot that is less than perfect and try again later. A visiting hunter usually does not have that many opportunities.

wjsmall97

I am also interested in what everyone thinks of a decent bullet for bears and deer in the N.H. and Me. area
Bill