Best factory 7mm cartridge for whitetail?

[bucktrack7]

I am using a no frills Remington 700 bdl for whitetail and would like to know what (factory) ammo to use to get the best accuracy as well as expansion and pass through.
My shots will all be 200 yds or less.

[skeet]

Is that a 7mm-08, 7mm Mauser or a 7MM Rem Mag? Actually in 7-08 I'd use a 140 gr bullet cause it shoots pretty flat and will knock a whitetail for a loop most of the time with proper bullet placement. Heck almost any load in any of the cartridges mentioned will do the deer to 200 yds or farther. Any 7mm is a good whitetail cartridge

[Purebred Redneck]

All I shoot is winchester super x in the 150gr 7mag.

The smallest wound channel I ever had was the size of a quarter on a gut shot. Otherwise it's like a baseball:eek:

There are some explosion problems when hitting the spine and shoulder. But it's nothing I'm too worried about.

[gregarat]

If I ever had my rifle rebored it would be 7-08.

[bucktrack7]

Sorry. I forgot to include that my gun shoots 7MM Rem Mag.
Thanks for the responses so far!

[Lycanthrope]

I like the 150gr Core Lokt for the 7mag. I've never seen one run when shot in the shoulder with that load.

[gd357]

Well, I've had good luck with the 140 grain Core-lokt factory loads from remington. The bottom line is that you should use whatever ammo your gun likes best. Buy a few boxes of different ammo, and see what groups the best. All factory loads out of a 7mm RM are capable of killing deer (just don't use varmint bullets). Expansion and penetration are inversely related, so you won't get a great amount of either with any particular bullet, although most factory loads will exit with a broadside shot to the ribs. With animals the size of deer, it really doesn't matter with a 7mm. Find a bullet that shoots well, and it'll kill any deer you'll run into.

gd357

[Cal Sibley]

I've used the Speer 160gr. PSP for some years in my 7mm Rem. Mag. It's got good stopping power, is fairly accurate and doesn't cost me an arm and a leg. Just one mans opinion, but they work well for me. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[bucktrack7]

Purebred.

Do they make the winchesters you mentioned with different bullets ie ballistic tips etc... If so, which do you prefer?

Do the ballistic tips or any particular bullet really make a large difference in accuracy or penatration?

Thanks for all of the input. I intend to try several of the rounds mentioned.

[Purebred Redneck]

All I've ever shot in my savage has been super x (with one exception - once I tried remington controled recoil and ended up with 3inch groups at 50 yards).
I get around 1 1/2 - 2 inch groups with them at 100 - which is plenty accurate for up to 300 yards on a deer sized animal.
I'm sure they would shoot better if I had a decent scope and rings on the gun.
I pay around $17 for them.

You can get winchester ballistic tips (I believe they are called supremes). But they go for like 25 a box.

If you are shooting primarily for deer hunting, there is no reason to use anything but the cheapest shells - either corelocks (which I hate remington ammo with a passion burning deep) and Winchester Super X.

If I were doing what you plan to do, I'd try 140grain(I think it's really weird like 139gr), 150, or 170 superx.
Actually, I'd just get the 150 and never look back...

You're only shooting 200 yards - the biggest factor with that is going to be your rest.

[smacarac]

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK ABOUT THE 7X57? MY WIFE WANTS ONE AND I KEEP TRYING TO GIVE HER MY GRAMPS OLD 250-3000 SAVAGE 99 SHE THINKS IT TO SMALL BECAUSE 3 OF MY FRIENDS USE THEM FOR GROUND HOGS AND YOTES.:o

[Jack]

I've shot a buncha deer with a 7x57. I use a handload-Nosler 140 Partition at 2800 fps.
I have never had to shoot twice, or eat vegetables.

[AZZAFOX]

7x57 is a light recoiler and I have one with a 16" barrel. PMC 139 Grainn Proteced Soft Points have proven fine drop on the spot medicine for Sambar Deer( Cervus unicolor) and Red deer(cervus elaphus) over here.:)

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

I used a BSA CF2 rifle chambered in 7x57 for my 2003 Missouri Whitetail hunt and it woked fine. Using handloads consisting of Hornady 139 Grn BTSP bullets I did shoot my Buck twice however the 2nd was not really needed. The 1st shot was broadside and a good upper heart low lung one however the Buck just started and ran at angle behind my stand towards the creek but paused to look back so I at that point shot him the 2nd time as insurance. I certainly didn't want him stepping off the bank into the creek and having to haul him back up the 6 foot shear bank. Oh I recovered the 2nd bullets and it's a nice mushroom, it was under the skin of his left fore shoulder and measures about 0.600".

Later in the week the Large Doe I shot dropped on the spot but that was a neck shot so it's as I would expect. I have no complaints about how the 7x57 takes larger game like Whitetails after all my Buddy shot his Buck with a .330 WM using 180 Grn Nosler Ballistic Tips and that buck also ran a little way before going down. From what I gather Whitetails often run a ways before going down.

[bucktrack7]

purebred,

I tried the the winchester supreme balistic silvertips in 150 grain and my groups were very good. Thanks for the advise.

Thanks to all for the input.

[Hi Ball]

Bucktrack7.........I'll give you my take on the 7mm mag and bullets that suit me for hunting antelope to elk! I like the 160 grain because it has great sectional density, meaning it penetrates very deep into tissue OK. Now after all it is only 20 grains heavier than a 140 but it's trajectory is less than 1 inch lower at 300 yards. If you hit that deer at 100 yards with the 160 grn bullet it will cause far less meat damage as well.

The other thing I like about the 160 grain in a bullet like the Nosler Partion, TBBC or Swift A Frame, is that it stays together and 95% of the time (unless shooting from end to end) give you that pass through shot on your deer. I realize that many may say the need for premium bullets is NOT warranted! However, I have found over the years that such bullets are a cheap insurance policy in your hunt being successful. Federal loads Nosler & TBBC bullets in their ammo.

[bucktrack7]

Hi Ball,
Much appreciated advice. Just exactly what factory load should I try? You may have told me and I just don't understand. I need the manufacturer and style.
I do not mind paying the extra money for a great round. Do the bullets you mentioned come on factory loads from say hornady or winchester?
Thanks again for your response and looking forward to more information.
Wes

[bucktrack7]

Hi Ball,
Sorry, I was tired when I read your post. I see now where you say Federal loads two of the bullets you mentioned. I will try them both.
Thanks,
Wes

[Hi Ball]

Buckshot-7..........Now first off out the chute, a 7mm mag with a 24 inch barrel (like Remington's) has it's hands all tied up in the ability to deliver what the cartridge is really capable of doing.

Simply put ALL Magnum rifles, including the 7mm mags, need at least a 26 inch barrel to attain the velocity they are really capable of in the first place. Secondly to get that extra distance needed for shooting the extra yardage down range etc. This is why over the years, some say the .270 does the same thing a 7mm mag does in the ballistics on paper. NOT SO! because they end up comparing a 24 inch barrel .270 to the 24 inch barrel 7mm mag, instead of a 26 inch barrel 7mm mag understand. I venture to say that all long range big game rifles that are magnum caliber's need a 26 inch barrel to be up to it's purpose. The exception to the rule would be your dangerous (.375H&H up the .700 calibers) game rifles that take "dangerous game" up close with in a 125 yards! Some of these calibers may for the sake of thick heavy thorn bush and vegetation have 21 or 22 inch barrels. They don't need optimum velocity to deliver a bullet long yardage down rang, only travel a 100 yards or less in most cases.

Now what you need to do is find out what factory ammo you rifle likes the best, be it Winchester, Remington, Federal etc. with the bullet weight you wish to shoot OK. Then after finding out which one shoots the tightest groups on paper at 100 yards, go by yourself a dozen boxes out of the same factory LOTT number.

This will assure you of them being alike as possible for your guns sake and it's accuracy down range. I myself like a 150 grain bullet for the .270 Winchester caliber and the 160 grain bullet for the 7mm mag in hunting whitetail, mule deer or elk. I use the 175 grain bullet for moose and blackbear. In grizz country I use the .338 magnum and 250 grain premium bullet called the Swift A Frame.

I load my own 95% of the time and use PREMIUM bullets for my big game hunts always! I target shoot with Sierra bullets as I have over the years found them extremely hard to beat for accuracy sake in punching out holes in paper. I yes, also shoot Hornady bullets for practice and hunting of coyotes and varmints around the place and my farm OK. I hope this clears up matters for you some.:cool: