Best factory 7mm cartridge for whitetail?

[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.