7mm mag for deer

[stratosrider62]

Has anyone used Sierra's 120gr spt 7mm for deer?

 

[Husker_Fan]

I have not. I load 140gr accubonds for deer. Honestly, though, any decent bullet weighing 120gr out of a 7mm Rem Mag will do. (I assume you mean a Rem Mag).

 

[MCgunner]

I get enough meat damage as it is from a 150 Sierra Game King. My gun likes these bullets and 160 Nosler partitions, so that's sorta what I stick to for accuracy. The 150 GKs are quite good, though, and can take big deer way out there. I haven't hunted with that gun in years, though, just sort of overkill on game around here. Last deer I took with it was a nice 8 point out in the trans pecos of Texas. That was a thread the needle shot at 200 yards. I can't see 200 yards around here, most shots being well inside 100 and that cannon just tears up meat, bullet is WAY explosive, at those short ranges. I wouldn't think a LIGHTER bullet would work better. I'm pushing the 150 at 3200 fps. My God, a 120 would be pushing 220 swift territory.

 

[oneounceload]

tried the 120's - accuracy was decent, but as mentioned, EXPLOSIVE results - I prefer 160 Noslers, 140 on the smaller side

 

[stratosrider62]

Thanks for the info. I may just stick with 139gr Hornady Interlok for deer and the 120's for coyote n such.

 

[dakotasin]

i run sierra 120's in a 7-08 and even at that pedestrian velocity they have penetration issues. i certainly wouldn't run 'em in my 7 mags.

for 7 rem mag and hotter i stick pretty close to 162 hornadys.

 

[Arkel23]

Like McGunner, I would think that a 120 gr bullet would do alot of meat damage. If I were you I would use atleast a 140 gr bullet, unless there is a recoil problem.

 

[stratosrider62]

What's recoil?

 

[oneounceload]

"recoil" is that thing that when you get to my age, your ortho doc is grinning realizing how his kids are going to Harvard and he's buying that second home in the Caribbean...........

 

[MCgunner]

I used to think that 7 mag had a little recoil....until I bought this new 6 and a quarter pound .50 cal black powder rifle. That thing loosens fillings and I'm only shooting 80 grains 777 with a 385 grain bullet. The manual says it's rated to shoot up to 150 grains of BP. Not with me behind it, it ain't.

 

[stratosrider62]

With a 385gr bullet it's no wonder,MCgunner,the thought of that makes MY shoulder hurt.

 

[jbkebert]

I have a 7mm shooting times westerner and I shoot 139 interbonds pushed by 86.2 grains of Retumbo. So far the rounds hold up very well even to a couple solid shoulder hits. Now only if my shoulder held up very long to this gun. The sucker I think kicks 3 times harder than my .300 win magnum shooting a 180 grain accubond in front of 72.3 grains of RL-22. But it also is running 425 fps faster. For me the big 7's are not real fun to shoot.

 

[stratosrider62]

That's why I like my Ruger M77 so well,good-n-heavy.

 

[jbkebert]

Heck my 7stw is a remington 700 Senderio with a 28" fluted bull barrel pretty heavy gun but it kicks something stupid. Most of the time its me it kicks stupid. For some reason the recoil curve is much sharper on a 7mm than on a .30 cal. The 7mm is a fast sharp recoil the .300 is longer and more of a push than a punch if that makes any sense.

 

[Arkel23]

What's recoil?

Well, why not use 150-190 grains? You definitely won't get as much meat damage with a 150-175 grain, depending you choose the right bullet.