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

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.

[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.