Hunter98

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but I've been getting serious about hunting. What bullet should I use for whitetail up to 300 yards? I use core lokt 140 grain now.

nchawkeye

What you are using will do just fine, it's what my brother has used in his since 1980...

Hunter98

I took a nice 6 point last year at 25 yards and ran a good 50 yards. Just didn't know if it was the animals amazing ability to run after being hit in the heart or the bullet?

Bbj270

That's what I been using for about 6 years in both my 7/08. One with a 22" barrel the other with 18" barrel. Longest shot was about 250-275 yards no problem. My cousin uses 139 hornady sst.

Hunter98

Thanks guys. I guess what I'm using isn't all that bad after all.

Bbj270

Took 3 with mine last year two does and a big body 7 point chasing a doe. Shots where from 50-75 yards only one doe for ran about 20 yards. Buck dropped. Shot a doe this year about 225 yards ran 10 yards. Dad uses the model seven with 18" barrel most deer drop some run but do not make it past 50 yards.

Hunter98

I've taken two bucks, one doe, and two wild hogs with my sako a7 stainless synthetic. Man do I love that rifle.

Lunkerdog

These days there are several good bullet choices for that cartridge.

Whats more important for the distance your talking about is which brand, and bullet combo work best in your rifle... Not all rifles are created equal.

What I mean by that is that some rifles will shoot whatever factory round you feed them well, while others are funny, and tend to like particular rounds.

Just because a cartridge is capable of shooting 300yds doesn't mean that your rifle will shoot any particular factory round well at that distance.

If what you say is true, and you really are "getting serious about hunting" you should learn what factory ammo your rifle likes best... Better yet, look into to reloading... You'll be amazed what you don't know about ballistics if you do.

Just some food for thought if you really are "getting serious".

Bullcamp82834

Since you didn't mention handloading I'll assume factory loads only.
I've used the 140 CoreLokts quite a bit in my 7/08 and found them quite effective on deer and antelope. That particular bullet performs beautifully at 7/08 velocity. Accuracy in my Rem Mod 7 consistently ran MOA and under.

If you are looking for something as an all around 7/08 load for everything from antelope to elk and don't mind paying a few bucks more the Hornady Superformance load with a 139 grain GMX bullet is great. That bullet penetrates plenty for most shots on elk.

My favorite handload is a 145 grain Speer Grand Slam with 49.5 grains of Reloder 19 and a CCI 250 primer. I use that one on everything.

nchawkeye

I'll bet my brother has killed close to 150 with his, this includes Canadian and Texas deer as well...He has tried others but keeps coming back...

He also used the 139 gr Hornady soft point and recently the Federal Fusion...In a 140gr 7mm bullet it would be hard to choose a bad one for the velocities of a 7mm-08...

Heart shot deer can run a ways but 50 yards isn't excessive, more the norm..At 25 yards, drop them with a neck shot...