7mm Rem Mag Antelope - Ballistic Tip?

[338winmag]

I was all set to purchase some 7mm Rem Mag 120 gr ballistic tip bullets to reload for a friend going Colorado antelope hunting. I read some reviews. Some good, some not so good? A number of people commented about the bullets exploding on impact thus no penetration.

These shots will be anywhere from 120 yards out to 300 yards. Any thoughts, hunting or reload experience, suggestions for load recipes? Wrong weight and go with maybe a 140 grain?

Thanks
Steve

 

[FOTIS]

They work like magic. I have used them on many occasions. They are a smaller version of the 140 BT.

 

[SJB358]

Steve, I haven't used the 120's in the RM or any mag cases, but I would think they would do fine on antelope. They are pretty heavily jacketed for such a little bullet. Being as it is a RM case, I would probably opt for the heavier bullet, and probably the 150gr BT to be honest. I just like having a little extra weight, just in case. That 7RM will still push them pretty fast. Plus, you wouldn't have to make up another load for muleys when he wants to hunt them. Scotty

 

[338winmag]

Super
Thanks guys

 

[jmad_81]

I WOULD! They would be like a little red tipped lazer!

 

[Bruce Mc]

I know what 140s at 3300 fps can do, I can imagine that 120s at 3400 would be spectacular bang flops. But I prefer the 160 at around 3050. Not so explosive but plenty deadly. And like Beretzs said, you don't have to change loads for bigger critters.

 

[338winmag]

Since I have never thought of hunting antelope, and after your comments, the 7mm Re Mag is sighted in with 162 gr Hornady Interlock BTs, .625" groups @100.

think that wold be all right then. It would be nice not to have to test another bullet for reloads.

Thanks again
Steve

 

[DrMike]

Steve,

Though the bullet is heavier than necessary for antelope, I would still think that it would work great for that particular game. It sure sounds as if you have it shooting very well. I'd run with it.

 

[Al in SC]

I would go with heavier bullets for better BC and better wind bucking ability. Wind is usually a major concern in the vast open areas of the west. The pronghorn I have shot was with 140 Nosler BT in the 7mag. Worked great.

 

[HeathSexton]

I have never shot any of the 120's but I read a lot of good stuff, very tough.


Shooters Pro Shop has the 7mm 120's on sale right now, they just cost me some money on the 180 NBT's they have.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

The only firsthand experience I have with a 7mm Rem Mag is that I have taken two deer with an old Remington 700 BDL. Each took only one 160 grain AccuBond at 2900 fps or so. DRT. Let me tell you, that is THE bullet for a 7mm Rem Mag, Nosler really got that one right. The 7mm belonged to an old family friend who has since passed away. He killed a cow elk at about 275 yards with a single shot to the ribs. She also went down right there!

I would suggest the 140 grainer myself but Antelope are rarely one of those animals you would sneak up on to have to worry about exploding a bullet at close range. Are you stalking or stand hunting? If a stand I would use the 140 as you may get shots under 100 yards but if not then the 120 will probably be all you need!

Got to get another 7mm one of these days... :twisted:

 

[Ridge_Runner]

word I get on the 120's, same jacket used on the 120/140/and 150, the 120 ends up with a tad thicker jacket because its not drawn as long, so it holds up just as well if not better to high velocity.
RR

 

[JD338]

The 120 gr BT would work for Antelope but I would go with the 140 gr BT or AB because of the higher BC and better wind bucking capabilities.

word I get on the 120's, same jacket used on the 120/140/and 150, the 120 ends up with a tad thicker jacket because its not drawn as long, so it holds up just as well if not better to high velocity.
RR

The 120 gr BT uses the 140 gr BT jacket cut back to the 120 gr profile. This gives it a thicker jacket which makes it a very robust bullet. The 7mm 150 gr BT has its own jacket. In fact, the only BT bullet that does not have its own jacket is the 7mm 120 gr BT.

JD338

 

[GF1]

So long as you're using 120s that have been made relatively recently (last few years), they will do great. They are a well kept secret - they hold together very well, tougher jackets than any in their class, flat trajectory owing to their light weight. I've been told that the reason for the thick jackets was from the silhouette crowd who complained many years ago that the 120s didn't hold together well enough to knock over the rams. Whatever the reason, they are great game bullets even pushed pretty fast.

 

[BeeTee]

I've killed two antelope with the Remington 7mm Mag pushing Nosler's 140gr Ballistic Tip bullets to a velocity of about 3200 fps at the muzzle. One was taken at about 100 yards and the second, a year later, at about 250, each with a behind the shoulder hit. The bullet entrance was about bullet diameter and the exit was about 1 to 1-1/2" in diameter.

The second buck ran about 50-70 yards after the hit (doesn't take them long to cover this distance). This was amazing considering the destruction within. I'm perfectly content with the 7 mag and bullet performance.

 

[R Flowers]

I have to agree with the other guys, I would suggest the 140 grain Ballistic Tip just for the ballistic coefficient.

Listen to JD338, as usual, he is right on. The 120 grain BT has the same jacket as the 140, but since it is cut off shorter, it is pretty thick even at the tip. This bullet will NOT blow up on you.

The biggest question will be (as always) which bullet your friends rifle will shoot the best. Antelope are not particularly hard to kill, though they can carry a LOT of lead when wounded.

And you just do not know at what range the shot will be. Last fall I sneaked to withing 63 yards
(lasered) of four antelope bucks in a group, but they were not the trophy level I wanted. I wound up shooting a great buck right at 300 yards, about the average shot for me on antelope. Two years ago, I watched my dad kill a good buck at a lasered 586 yards. You just don't know.

I would not hesitate to try the 120 if that is what you want to do. I have gone quite light in bullet weight, using the 80 grain Barnes Tipped TSX in my 25-06 as of late. Getting excited, my antelope hunt this year in New Mexico starts August 27th.

 

[cloverleaf]

Dads load for everything 7Mag (Deer/Goats) was a 130 Gr Speer. That load was amazing. Anchored a BIG mulie with a shot through the hinds and absolutely crumpled big deer and antelope with decent shot placement. The idea was, as far as Dad was concerned, was that that bullet would fragment in the vitals. I saw him Drop an antelope with a shot under the spine A 150 yards, below the tenderloin, above the lungs. The lungs were jello and the antelope landed in a pile. An antelope isnt a big critter, and hes not hard to kill IF he sint full of adrenaline. If hes already wound up he will take a lot of lead. If it were me and I had the time I would try and find a load for the 120's. That said, you have an accurate load and you know what it will do. Just be prepared for that 162Gr. to punch through and not give any sign that a you have killed your goat. Ive seen it happen, with a 270. Also just an aside, Ive shot all but one of my antelope under 200 yards, some a lot closer. My unsolicited advice is trust your rifle and "hold on the hair". Drift is a bigger problem than drop, but even that usually isnt as much as people think. My first antelope hunt I emptied the magazine of an iron sighted 6.5 JAP over the back of a standing goat at < 200 yds . He wasnt near as far away as I thought and that old 6.5 didnt drop THAT much. Sorry you didnt ask for a tutorial.....CL

PS Jack O'connnor wrote a nice piece in his "Hunting North American Big Game" including a nice bit on judging big game animals- including antelope. Have a great time. CL