Help me decide: which Plains Game Bullet for my 7mm-08?

[Bert the Turtle]

When talking about heavy-for-caliber bullets, what matters is heavy after impact. Traditionally that was achieved by using a heavy bullet. Now that can be achieved by having a bullet with 100% weight retention. Barnes excels at that. 150 grains at the muzzle may be heavier than you need.

 

[Daisy]

Agree with this. Zero benefit of heavy for caliber in plains game. You want fast and flat not heavy.

 

[Daisy]

When talking about heavy-for-caliber bullets, what matters is heavy after impact. Traditionally that was achieved by using a heavy bullet. Now that can be achieved by having a bullet with 100% weight retention. Barnes excels at that. 150 grains at the muzzle may be heavier than you need.

Bert. Read the thread from a couple years ago on raptors. I use raptors and Maximus almost exclusively. How did they turn out for you?

 

[dchum]

I'd go 140 AB, I just don't think the 7-08 has the speed for the barnes

With eland and water buck on the menu I would 100% take the Barnes with confidence.

140 accubond on water buck and eland just doesn’t sound like enough.

Barnes will kill the small stuff dead just fine too.

 

[Bert the Turtle]

Bert. Read the thread from a couple years ago on raptors. I use raptors and Maximus almost exclusively. How did they turn out for you?

Life got in the way and I haven’t had the chance to put them to game yet. Planning of trying them on croc this summer. On paper, should be the perfect bullet for maximizing the chance of hitting the brain.

 

[wayne schiavi]

Another thing that is going to dictate on what bullet you use is what you can find in loaded ammo or what components you can find if you plan to load

I own a 7mm-08 and load my own for it. i use Barnes TTSX and when I want heavier I go with their 140 grain, not the 150. The 140s still have the speed needed for proper expansion. I have a load that cloverleafs at 100 yards in my Savage and drops caribou DRT. I'd use it on everything on your list except eland without reservations. With an eland be very picky about the shot with a 7mm-08. Under 150 yards, calm, broadside or quartering away a bit. It's a damned big animal with heavy bones and if it isn't perfect you're going to have a long day of tracking ahead.

Went to sa wit african sun safaris last August and shot everything from impala to sable with 7mmo8. We used 150 barns ttsx and never recovered a bullet ranges from 50 to 200 yards all one shot kills. I think the 150 ttsx is a great performer on most African plains game up to eland.

 

[Dirtdart]

I just checked the Hendershots site and currently A-Frames are not an option in this caliber.
I am a big fan of the Swift A-Frame but their availability has been poor these last few years in many different diameters.

 

[Daisy]

Life got in the way and I haven’t had the chance to put them to game yet. Planning of trying them on croc this summer. On paper, should be the perfect bullet for maximizing the chance of hitting the brain.

I understand that.

Everything Michael says about them is true. Just a game changer in bullet design.

 

[Throwback]

What a nice first world problem to ponder. Fun stuff. +1 on the fact if your ammo does not show up you will not be shooting your rifle as it will be impossible to find ammo pretty much. That said, to answer your question, Id go with Barnes TTSX as I have used it on game with great success and frankly I have not used the Accubond.

From what I know you cannot go wrong with either. This is PG, adequate shot placement with either will get it done all day long.

+1 on asking your PH for their input. They see it every day obviously but they may point stuff out like you may be shooting an animal out of a large herd and pass throughs are unacceptable, or, conversely, blood trails are great as the terrain is full of brush and not real open, etc... things like that.

Fun question to kick around for sure, who on this site doesnt love terminal ballistics? Cheers

 

[Firebird]

You aren’t going for distance shooting so I like the heavy for caliber suggestion a lot. You also don’t need long tapered missles, a well constructed flat base will be lovely. You do have a couple bigger bodies on your list as well-so consider wisely.
This would be my choice and between me and two daughters and a couple younger kids we shoot a lot of 7mm-08 stuff.
I really hate bullet debates and caliber debates so please let your ph help you make the final decision!

 

[Firebird]

One other thought-you have been there once with the same outfit. Do they have a rifle you can borrow in camp IF you are separated from your socks, underwear and ammunition? Most places these days have rifles for loan or rent in camp just to resolve such problems and to accommodate hunters who choose not to travel with their own rifles.

 

[Daisy]

One other thought-you have been there once with the same outfit. Do they have a rifle you can borrow in camp IF you are separated from your socks, underwear and ammunition? Most places these days have rifles for loan or rent in camp just to resolve such problems and to accommodate hunters who choose not to travel with their own rifles.

Sounds like he rented camp rifle first round since he didn’t take his own.

 

[Firebird]

He could have borrowed his buddies rifle. . .
I just checked and Doubletap Ammunition has 140 gr ttsx in stock. I was just checking to see what they had available.
Checked Hendershots for same info and it looks like they had a couple good options in stock also

 

[gillettehunter]

I know that we often think of heavy for caliber bullets as being the best. This is a 7mm-08. Their barrel twist often will not let them shoot well too heavy of a bullet. Plus the limited powder capacity. Not sure it will run a 150 gr TTSX fast enough to really get the most benefit out of it. Likely the 140 AB would be best and then borrow a camp rifle if you decide to hunt for and eland.
Bruce

 

[Firebird]

I was having the same thought as the op offers a 150 ttsx as one of his preferred choices. I’ve not shot that bullet so no opinion.
I have shot the 150 Accubond long range bullet from a Remington 700 quite a bit and it is very accurate in that particular rifle.
I also have the luxury of loading my own so can tweek and experiment constantly.

I also plan to take my REM 700 7mm-08 in 2025 for my plains game rifle but ostrich is the toughest game on that list

 

[JimP]

Another thing about shooting heaver bullets, this is hunting and not target shooting. A 3" group is more than capable of dropping a game animal. We all try for the smallest groups but the smallest group isn't always needed. As long as the bullet is fairly stabilized it will be fine, just as long as it isn't hitting the target sideways.

 

[Daisy]

Why would you want heavier than caliber on plains game?

 

[sgt_zim]

Taking Kudu & eland into consideration, I'd recommend heavy-for-caliber 170-175Gr bullets.

Amongst currently manufactured bullet choices, my recommendation would be for:
- 170Gr Norma Oryx
- 173Gr Prvi Partizan soft nose
- 170Gr Rhino Solid Shank

If Kudu & eland are not on your menu, then your choice of 140Gr Nosler AccuBonds will prove to be perfectly adequate.

P.S: Even though Nosler has been listing them as "Out Of Stock" ever since 2019... I must concur that the 175Gr Nosler Partition used to be the finest all-round 7mm caliber expanding bullet on the market. It worked like lighting on all plains game.

100% agree.

any 7mm is just begging to use the high SD 170+ gr bullets.

if OP is going with the lighter bullets in the 140 gr class, I'd recommended bonded premiums or monos like Hammer or Barnes, if he can find any.

I chrono'd Hornady's 139 gr American White Tail at a skosh over 2900 fps. The probability of a catastrophic bullet failure on a close range shot with a C&C bullet is unacceptably high for my tastes.

Reloading International has North Fork 7mm in 140, 160, and 175 gr in stock.

 

[mdwest]

I'd go 140 AB, I just don't think the 7-08 has the speed for the barnes

Im not following this logic...

a moderate to mildly loaded 7-08 shooting 150gr bullets will easily get 2600-2700 fps (more speed is possible if youre willing to go with a hot load.. but really isnt at all necessary)..

minimum impact velocity for ttsx is 1800 fps (although many will tell you that 2100 is really more optimal and reliable..)..

the same 7-08, 150gr load mentioned above that starts at +/- 2600 will still be cruising along at about 2150fps at 300 yards..

so unless the OP is planning on shooting PG with his 7-08 at distances of 300+, there should be zero concern in using the barnes..

FWIW, I shoot a 308 with 168gr barnes TTSX (exclusively.. I shoot no other loading in 308), that is about 2650fps at the muzzle.. Ive taken game out to about 225 with it, and shot targets beyond 300.. and never once had a performance problem from the bullet.. (taken everything from zebra and wildebeest
to whitetail and hogs with it over many, many years)..

 

[dchum]

Im not following this logic...

a moderate to mildly loaded 7-08 shooting 150gr bullets will easily get 2600-2700 fps (more speed is possible if youre willing to go with a hot load.. but really isnt at all necessary)..

minimum impact velocity for ttsx is 1800 fps (although many will tell you that 2100 is really more optimal and reliable..)..

the same 7-08, 150gr load mentioned above that starts at +/- 2600 will still be cruising along at about 2150fps at 300 yards..

so unless the OP is planning on shooting PG with his 7-08 at distances of 300+, there should be zero concern in using the barnes..

FWIW, I shoot a 308 with 168gr barnes TTSX (exclusively.. I shoot no other loading in 308), that is about 2650fps at the muzzle.. Ive taken game out to about 225 with it, and shot targets beyond 300.. and never once had a performance problem from the bullet.. (taken everything from zebra and wildebeest
to whitetail and hogs with it over many, many years)..

Thank you for clarifying for people.

Shoot any ttsx out of that 7mm-08 and you will have a nice plains game safari.

Have fun