roysclockgun
Handloader
- Dec 17, 2005
- 736
- 1
On one mule deer, one white tail deer, two wild hogs and one pronghorn, the 140AB performed well in my 280Rem. chambered Browning Stalker. I did, however, want a flatter trajectory, so rather than load the 140AB above my load of 53gr. IMR4350, I decided to go to the 120BT! Last year's pronghorn was shot at 276 yards and my 140AB bullet dropped enough to only sever his fore leg and skin his chest. After chasing the three legged pronhorn, I held higher at about the same range and dispatched him. I dislike not making clean, one shot kills.
I had some Nosler 120BT for my wife's 7mm-08, so I loaded up enough for a good test, along with some 120gr. Sierra SP. With both bullets, I loaded 57gr. IMR4350. The book says hat load should go out the muzzle at over 3200fps, but I will Chrony the load next wee.
Weighing the Nosler against the Sierra out to 300 yards was, as I found out, not really a fair comparison. This, because beyond 200 yards, the boat tail Nosler must fly better than does the flat base Sierra.
For the test, I did not touch the BOSS, which had been dialed in for the 140AB and with that bullet, was consistantly printing four rounds into one small, ragged hole at 100 yards.
The day was overcast, with a mild wind and the temperature was in the high 70s.
I zeroed the 120gr. bullets to print 3" high at 100 yards. Both the Sierra and Nosler kept 3/4" groups in the same spot on the target. Moving out to 200 yards, both printed 1 1/2" high and held well within 2" groups.
It was at 300 that the Nosler really outshown the Sierra, as the Nosler group was 3 1/2" low, while the Sierra printed 6" low. Surprisingly, both held 2 1/2" groups at 300, which may mean that I had settled down more, shooting off the sled, than I was at 200 yards.
Next week I will use the Chrony and report on MV.
Question : Has anyone had experience using the 7mm Nosler 120Ball.Tip. on heavy bucks out to 300 yards? Can I expect good, acceptable penetration at that range, or not?
Best,
Steven in DeLand, FL
I had some Nosler 120BT for my wife's 7mm-08, so I loaded up enough for a good test, along with some 120gr. Sierra SP. With both bullets, I loaded 57gr. IMR4350. The book says hat load should go out the muzzle at over 3200fps, but I will Chrony the load next wee.
Weighing the Nosler against the Sierra out to 300 yards was, as I found out, not really a fair comparison. This, because beyond 200 yards, the boat tail Nosler must fly better than does the flat base Sierra.
For the test, I did not touch the BOSS, which had been dialed in for the 140AB and with that bullet, was consistantly printing four rounds into one small, ragged hole at 100 yards.
The day was overcast, with a mild wind and the temperature was in the high 70s.
I zeroed the 120gr. bullets to print 3" high at 100 yards. Both the Sierra and Nosler kept 3/4" groups in the same spot on the target. Moving out to 200 yards, both printed 1 1/2" high and held well within 2" groups.
It was at 300 that the Nosler really outshown the Sierra, as the Nosler group was 3 1/2" low, while the Sierra printed 6" low. Surprisingly, both held 2 1/2" groups at 300, which may mean that I had settled down more, shooting off the sled, than I was at 200 yards.
Next week I will use the Chrony and report on MV.
Question : Has anyone had experience using the 7mm Nosler 120Ball.Tip. on heavy bucks out to 300 yards? Can I expect good, acceptable penetration at that range, or not?
Best,
Steven in DeLand, FL
