Well I finally purchased my reloading equipment for the 7-30 Waters. I see that several people like using the 120 Nosler. Does anyone hunt with a heavier bullet like the 139 Hornady SST? I have a couple of friends that I didn't know hunted with hand guns and they swear by that bullet. I have shot some and I am getting 1 inch groups at 100 yards with them.

Thad

I like 120's because I am confident that my 13" MGM will get them going fast enough to still "work" at 250 yards. That, and I use a rifle scope on it so less kick is not a bad thing.

I have hand loaded the 139 SpBt over 33.3gr H335 and a CCI primer in several 7-30 barrels. Usually obtaining 3 bullets touching at 100 if I do my part right. The first deer I ever shot with a handgun with with that load out of a 14 in barrel. The deer sat down at 25 yards and never got up.

I am not saying that the 120's are not a good match for the 7-30, just always used the 139's

Duane

Hey Duane, have you clocked those 139's? Just curious.

Rod, both the 14in barrels chronyed 2200 to 2225 at 25 yards, depending on the barrel. JBM ballistics suggests MV is 2250 to 2275.

My next step I to see how the 139 SST bullets do.

This has just been my pet load. I really haven't experimented with other loads. What I can say is that the TC book has pet loads listed as does the Lyman book. FWIW.