120 ttsx in 7mm08..big game

powder burner

powder burner

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Have been reading up on these. I have a load I’ve chronographed at 3,000 FPS. Would you shoot anything bigger than deer with this?

Elk/moose especially? What distance would you limit yourself to? 250 max? 300 max?

Just looking for real world experience. Mixed game hunts with deer / moose, deer/ elk. Is this a do it all bullet in the 7mm08..
 
Those aren't bouncing off a moose or elk. Very similar to a 130 ttsx out of a 270 Winchester which is suitable for all that you've mentioned.
 
As a pal of mine used to say, "It won't do em any good!" That said, for moose and elk I would prefer a 140/7mm in the 7-08 and a 160 in the larger case 7mms, the heavier bullets may prove advantageous in the event of a quartering away shot if a classic broadside shot is not available.

The maximum range of any load is described by your ability to shoot at those longer ranges, in the conditions that exist at that moment. I would limit my range to the distance that I could place my shots within 4" of my intended point of impact at that moment. How far can you shoot, and keep your shots within 4" of your intended point of impact with that rifle and load? Does you scope's magnification allow you to see your target clearly at longer ranges. Does the POI change as you adjust the power setting of your scope? How are you at estimating range and do you use a laser range finder? If you use a laser range finder, have you tested it in bright sunshine over snow? Can you dope wind? Will you click for wind and range corrections or will you hold off. If you hold off, does your scope's reticle have usable hold off points?

You can get all sorts of reliable and unreliable, honest and dishonest field reports on a public forum. Its left to you to load some ammo and go out and shoot under a variety of conditions to see if your expectations are realistic. Once you've done that, you are in a much better position to assess your ability to use your rifle and load. Whether you use heavy bullets or light, large bores or small, the math is the same, if at the shot, your target doesn't respond the way you think it should, keep the butt in your shoulder, your sight on the target, run the action as fast and as hard as you can, and continue shooting until you achieve the results you're after. Once you begin butchering your game, you will know if that's a bullet you would choose to use again.
 
I have no actual bullet-on-animal experience when it comes to the 120 TTSX, but I would not hesitate to use it on elk or moose within 300 yards. You should be able to get 3000 fps which would give you plenty of velocity and energy at 300 yards to expand properly and do the work its designed to do.
 
No hesitation using the 7mm-08 120 tsx bullet when placed appropriately. Normal ranges under 100 have proven to be excellent on two critters thus far. Take a look at the 7-08 ballistics and your shooting ability in the field to make your call. Inside 200m no worries for normal expansion. 2-300 may be a stretch so look to break bone to initiate expansion better. Past 300 look to more frangible pills, they will perform better. Ill place my bets on the 140 partition for stretching out there. My 2c.
 
It’ll ruin an elk or moose’s life if you put one of those TTSX’s through their lungs, betchya if ya mess up and catch a bit of shoulder on the way in, it still will give them misery for the rest of their lives.

It’s a monolithic bullet that will retain at least 90% or better of its original bullet weight. 90% of 120 grains, equals 108 grains.

While the much flaunted Nosler Partition bullets is designed to maintain about 65% of its original bullet weight. So if you take 65% of 160 grains you get 104 grains!?!?!

Now with the 120’s having a muzzle velocity of 3000 FPS, you get a resultant 200 yard energy of almost 1700 ft lbs. and won’t go below the minimum expansion velocity for decent expansion till around 425 yds.
With a zero set 2” high at 100 yds you’ll have the bullet drop just shy of 6” at 300 yds.

With the 160 Partition leaving at say 2600 FPS, you’ll get a whopping 100 more foot pounds at 200 yds. And by 300 yds you’ve pretty much dropped below the designed minimum expansion velocity for this bullet.
Setting up for the same 2” high at 100 yds your drop at 300 yds would be 10” low.


Run them with confidence.
 
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remington jim said:
I have shot Deer and Black Bears with Accubonds and they work Good- They expand MORE but do NOT penetrate as deep as TTSX doe's ! jme RJ
Click to expand...

I'm of the mindset to leave as much energy in the animal as possible.Not saying the Barnes don't work , just heard enough from folks that use them about poor on game performance/failures.

They do have to be motoring to work effectively and to me the limits that usage based on chambering/speed/distance.

I load them for a few others and they do shoot, not denying that , just not my cup of tea.
 
I have shot mule deer at lasered 300 yards with this recipe. Shot a white tail at 180 yards last year in the same load. But moose and elk and different animals. So with info gathered here, I feel in a mixed bag hunt with deer/ moose, deer/ elk, I’d be okay to 300 yards with a close to 300 yard zero.

And then there’s this:
I have shot cow elk with the 168 moving north of 2850 FPS. I have no concerns should it go into bull elk or bull moose with load. The cow elk hit with this out of 3006 were bang flops at 200 and 250 yards. My thought for deer with that setup was perhaps, not having them open up.


Unless I’m wrong thinking the 168 out of 3006 might not open up on deer?
 
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