7mm-08 and whitetails

Looking to see if there are any preferences of bullet weights for Encores in 7-08. Been shooting 140 gr factory, and now I have the brass to reload. I thought I saw on the forums where folks were getting better accuracy from their Encores with the 140's, over the 120's. Any preferences? Thanks.

I think the bullet construction would have a bigger influence than the 20 gr deference in-between the two. JMHO

I have had good luck with RL15 and a 139 SPBT... or at least that is what my barrel REALLY likes. LOL

Was thinking along the lines of the 120gr Sierra's. Local dealer also has some Hornady 139gr, I think they are "interlock", if I remember correctly. Are you thinking the 120's might be too light for whitetails? I'm only asking cause I don't know, first go round with loading for 7-08. One thing I know, it sure will be cheaper than buying factory rounds. Can hardly find them as it is around here.

I don't have a 7-08, but I shoot the Nosler 120 B-Tip from my 284 Win XP100 at similar velocity and they do quite well on game as well as target. I've tried the 140 and the only significant difference I have found is recoil.

120 and 140 grain NBT's always worked for me

120's worked in mine very well. im trying some 139/140's this summer. my problem is I always have to try something new. the 120 Nosler BT at 2600 killed one at 100 and one at 296 last year. either will work but heavier bullets make it recoil hard and are not needed for thin skined game. if going 120's try varget. start at 42 grains and work up. good luck

Tyler

I know a lot of people that use the 120's in the 7-30 Waters with wonderful success. I can't see the 708 being any different.

I used H-4895 with the both the 120's and 140's many moons ago

Several years ago I was loading 120 gr Sierras for a friend's 7-30 Waters. They would not expand at the 7-30 velocity. Simply put a 7mm hole through the animal.

I do not know if the construction of that bullet has changed, but I would be careful with it until I found the answer.

I was shooting the 140's last year in both factory's and reloads - just picked up a couple of boxes of 120 gr NBT's to experiment. Will be using IMR 4350 to see what the smaller pills can do on accuracy and ballistics.

I'm with TCMan... with my 7-30 Waters I use the 120 gr. BT's and they are great, the 140 gr BT's I've tried I can't tell no difference except I just got more recoil. I like the 120 gr. BT's better than the interlocks on thin skin they tend to open up better and make bigger wound channels. "For what its Worth"

I don't have a 7-08, but I've got a .308win that I'm shoot'n 125 NBT's in and it's devistating on whitetails. Shouldn't be any different with the 7-08 and 120 NBT's.

^^^^This^^^^

My barrel seems to like the 139 & 140 better
I would go with whatever shoots best