140 gr TTSX in 7mm for all round use?

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canoetrpr

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I'm going to start developing loads for a newly acquired Cooper 280 AI which is on its way in the post.

H4831 is readily available to me (not the SC version) so I thought I'd start with that. I was thinking of starting with a Barnes TTSX projectile to see how it does.

Would 140gr be adequate for Elk, Caribou to Antelope to White tailed deer? or should I start with a 150 or 160 gr bullet? I'd like to find one load that this rifle likes and stick to it regardless of game.
 
The 140 TTSX should work fine for all those animals.

Elk can be tough, but that TTSX should penetrate well.

My choice for 7mm Magnums has always been 160 grain Partitions,
but with your 280AI, you will be giving up a few fps with the heavier pill.

Boils down to what shoots best in your Cooper.

Regards, Dave.
 
I used 140 TSXs in one of my STWs for everything. I found that it was better moose and elk bullet then a deer bullet. There's faster ways to kill deer. I've never managed to recover one of these bullets, from any angle on anything.
 
Myself and my hunting partners, have killed many elk and moose with 140gr monometal bullets. The cartridges used, were the 280AI, the 7mmremmag, and the 7mmSTW. Both of my Coopers in 280AI shot the 140gr TTSX sub 1/2moa.
 
I would doubt he is giving up anything over a 7 mm rem Mag with 280 AI. Probably identical, dont know why he went that way. Somewhat like a 35 Whelen vs a 338 Win, if you have one the other is not needed. Personal choice, perhaps to do away with the useless belt or fit the performance in a more portable rifle.

Anyways, i just ordered some 140 TTSX in 7 mm Rem mag,from Nechako Outdoors in their recent ammo sale. A projectile that i have not used. Just thought it was a cheap way to experiment, rather than reloading a unknown projectile. Terminal Balistics research in new Zealand is a good online source to check projectile performance on game. Personally i have gone a different direction for Moose, and am looking for a good projectile for Deer in my 7 mm Rem mag. Previously i used 150-162 grain projectiles, which is a good all around for the 7 mm mag. I have been a fan of Nozler Partition for years, they have great performance on game.

I too, would be interested in others opinions and experiences for a light 7 mm rem mag load.
 
my cooper 280 loves 120tsx, will shoot any 140's i have tried inc tsx and 160 too. with your cooper i'm sure you can get almost any bullet to shoot well. my 280 likes the tsx loaded short with lots of jump.
 
nowarningshot said:
I would doubt he is giving up anything over a 7 mm rem Mag with 280 AI. Probably identical, dont know why he went that way. Somewhat like a 35 Whelen vs a 338 Win, if you have one the other is not needed. Personal choice, perhaps to do away with the useless belt or fit the performance in a more portable rifle.
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No good reason to be honest. I was looking for a long range cartridge (doubt I'll be shooting anything past 500 if that), preferably non magnum. Started thinking about the 270, 280 and then ended up with the 280 AI. Just seems like a neat choice for a hand loader.

Interestingly enough, I plan on my next rifle being a 35 Whelen for a future moose hunt. Don't need it as my 30-06 and 280AI ought to do it but it too sounds like a neat cartridge.
 
nowarningshot said:
I would doubt he is giving up anything over a 7 mm rem Mag with 280 AI. Probably identical, dont know why he went that way. Somewhat like a 35 Whelen vs a 338 Win, if you have one the other is not needed.
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Well, If you think the 280AI is "identical" in performance to the 7mm Rem Mag, then you do not have much experience with either chambering.
Ditto the 35 Whelen vs 338 Win Mag.
If you have one, you probably don't "need" the other.. However, the 2 Magnums, belt and all, out perform the other two by a fair margin.
Regards, Dave.
 
I was able to attain over 3000 fps with the 140 grain TTSX and IMR7828SSC.
While not listed in the Nosler Book, 59 grains will deliver the 150 grain bullet at 2990.
For the 280AI, the most accurate powder/load was 60 grains of IMR4831 for 3222 fps at 98% load density.
There are 5 powders that will give higher velocities but with over 105% load density and showing a maximum of 3265 fps.
 
Eagleye said:
Well, If you think the 280AI is "identical" in performance to the 7mm Rem Mag, then you do not have much experience with either chambering.
Ditto the 35 Whelen vs 338 Win Mag.
If you have one, you probably don't "need" the other.. However, the 2 Magnums, belt and all, out perform the other two by a fair margin.
Regards, Dave.
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Pretty much what I was thinking. I always get a kick out of the "useless belt" argument. At what point did it actually impede anything and become useless? The added weight?

And to the OP, I've used the 280 AI with 140 TTSX and Accubonds, both performed well on game as large as moose. I used H4831.
 
You must admit that the belt is only useful when there is no shoulder to provide head space. A belt was a nice marketing ploy back in the 50s and 60s when riflemen weren't as sophisticated as they are today, but the only currently used cartridges I can think of that need a belt are the .458 Winchester & Lott, the .450 Marlin, the .500 Wyoming, and the old H&H rounds with a long sloping shoulders. Still, the 7 mag Remington is a game and match proven cartridge that will produce 140 gr .280 Ackley velocities with 160 gr bullets. But even when loaded with a 160 gr bullet, the .280 AI will produce 3000 fps, which would be my choice as general purpose bullet weight in either cartridge.
 
Boomer said:
You must admit that the belt is only useful when there is no shoulder to provide head space.
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Maybe so, but I've never actually encountered a time that made me wish it wasn't there. The belted rounds work just fine, unlike some of the "beltless" short mags that feed like crap or semi-rimmed ones like the 220 Swift that need to be stacked properly in a mag.
 
canoetrpr said:
In a Cooper, as far as I recall the 7mm Rem Magnum is another $500 or so. Didn't think it was worth it for me for what folks with the 280AI seem to be getting.
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The $500.00 is a good enough reason to choose the 280AI.

As for some of the velocities claimed by 280AI users, be careful!!

Some of the claims I have heard could only mean one thing....very high pressures, above the safety margins needed.
Boomer has said 3000 with the 160 in the AI.....that sounds like a max load, but not into the nether world pressure wise.

Most 7mm Rem Mags will do 3150 with the same bullet at safe pressures. Game will not know the difference, to be sure.

Regards, Dave.
 
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