Hey all... Just wanted to hear what all of you whitetail hunters have to say about this. I have been hunting for years with my Ruger .270win using 150gr bullets and have been very sucessful. It was just a couple of years ago I got myself a 7mm Mag. I have been shooting Federal Premium 140gr Nosler Partitions. I get groups of about 1/2" at 100 yds with this combo, so needless to say I'm very happy about it.

But here's my question... which of you would tell me to stick with what I'm using, and which of you would tell me use the 160gr loads? I'd just love the feedback and experience of any/all of you so that I can finally decide if I want to switch my loads around. Keep in mind I've only fired those 140gr Noslers in my new rifle, but when I saw my group sizes I couldnt bring myself to even try anything else...

thanks.

It Is All In The Placement Of The Shot. I Work As A Coroner And Have Seen The Affects Of Bullets In Many Situations. The Shock Of The Bullet Hit Is What Promotes Cardiac Arrest Along With Blood Loss, Ect. The Best Thing That You Can Do Is:::

First...find What Your Gun Likes And Shoots Well, That In Turn Will Give You The Confidence In Making Shots....

Second... Use A Bullet That Will Open On Impact And Not After It Leaves The Other Side Of The Deer.

Third...hit The Deer In The Lungs/heart. Heart Is The Best But A Small Target And The Lungs Are Bigger And The Loss Of The Lungs Also Brings On Cardiac Arrest But It May Take A Minute Or Two Longer.

If Using Factory Ammo, Go With Something In The Ball Tip Or Power Point Range Even A Sirocco Will Work. You Don't Want A Bullet That Opens Late, Like Something For Brown Bear Or Moose ( Big Heavy Bone)

TAK...

Thanks for the input. I already am a decent shot. Placement isnt really a problem, at least not at short-meduim range. I've killed a few deer with my 7mmMag and they have all dropped dead w/ the 140gr Nosler Partitions. In a way, that makes my question kind of dumb... if it works, use it.

I guess I was asking this more than any other reason because I know the 160gr bullet will do better in wind and for long range shots. More weight = less drift in the wind but more drop over same distance.

My gun seems to really like the 140gr Noslers I shoot, so no problems there either. I just hear so much that people talk about light grain bullets travelling at too high a rate of speed to do what they are supposed to do. From what I gather from these forums, close range shots w/ my rifle-ammo combo is not smart. But then again, I've made 80yd shots w/ this setup and dropped them as dead as anything can be dead.

Once again, I just wanted you more experienced guys opinion on the "proper" bullet weight for hunting whitetail deer w/ a 7mm Mag. Thanks.

well here it what i use.....

300 winchester mag---180gr
45-70---240gr
270---150gr
22-250---55gr ball tips
223----45gr

good luck hunting and be safe

If its accurate, and kills like you want, use it. Personally, i won't use Ballistic Tips, but have read of lots of others that do, and are very happy with them. I hunted North Dakota for a long time with a .25-06 & 100 gr Nosler Solid Bases, even though most said it was not enough bullet. All were one-shot kills, though, and quick. Its like they said about hot rodders.."he doesn't realize its impossible, so he goes ahead and does it." Use what works for you.

I've been using a 7mm Rem Mag for about 15 years now, and I've used most bullet weights in it at one time or another. For hunting upen range mulies, coues deer (no eastern whitetails in Arizona), black bears, and elk I use 145 grain bullets. For the deer I use Speer 145 grain BTSP's, and for elk I switch to 145 gr Speer Grand Slam bullets. They've worked fine at all ranges to about 400 yards, so I see no reason to switch.

The rifle cracks, and the critter hits the ground (well, 'cept for one elk that took another shot; THEN he hit the ground). I haven't lost a critter yet with that rifle.

Drifter

Back when just a bout every bullet was constucted the same way (hunk of lead wrapped in copper) you had to tailor your needs by going up and down in weight . Now a days I don't think bullet weight is as big a factor ,as long as bullet type is suitable for the game in question . Accuracy of a particular weight for your gun is probably the only consideration to be concerned about. Some guns seem to shoot any thing ,and some might favor heavy for , or light for caliber weight bullets.


444fitch

Thanks everyone. You've touched on all bases here for me, and I'm now even happier with my choice of gun/ammo.

When I was much younger, Dad got me the Ruger .270win for my first real hunting rifle. I know that over the lower 48 states, the .30-06 is the staple all-aroun gun... but down here in Louisiana, where most of my hunting is confined to whitetail deer, the .270 seems to be just as popular - and for good reason. I've seen just as many deer fall just as dead w/ that .270 as the old reliable .30-06 springfield. But a couple years ago I just had the itch and had to go out and get a new rifle. I wanted to start taking longer shots since the property I hunt offers quite a few spot with shots of 300-400 yards, and one spot with up to a 700yd shot if you dare.

In come the 7mmRemMag, and i have fallen in love with it! It's a Browning A-BoltII Composite Stalker w/BOSS. Using the muzzle break version of the BOSS its recoil is no different, if not less, than my .270. And using the 140gr bullets, zero for 200yds, I'm only at +1.3" at 100yds and -6.6" at 300yds. So, with my 1/2" goups at 100yds, I seem to have accomplished everything i set out to do w/ my new rifle.

Now ,the only thing I have left to do is to go out and prove it's worth by making that 300yd+ shot I am dreaming about. THAT is why I was starting to worry about my bullet weight. But after hearing from you all, it seems that as long as I can hold over accurately, and call the wind right for my hold off, I'll be just fine in making a one-shot-drop on that unlucky buck or doe. I'm going out Sunday morning for my first hunt of this season - which opens Saturday. Wish me luck... hopefully I'll be posting a pic or two when I get back.

Thanks again everyone. This forum, you guys, are all great to have around.

WGN,
Stick with what works. 1/2" groups with 140gr bullet is awesome. I wish I could find the magic combination like that with the 140gr Accubonds I'm reloading and shooting out of my Laredo. I haven't spent alot of time with that rifle. I'm getting there but still only see 3/4".
I would only go with the 160s if I had Elk arund when I hunt deer. I grew up in Montana and we never went deer hunting, we only hunted Elk, if we saw a nice deer we would take it along the way. At the time I was using 150gr in a 270 Win, worked everytime.

What I preparred for this year.

243 - 90gr Scirocco, big dead doe at 150yds (Awesome!), took 2 steps, piled up, no exit wound.

25-06 - 115gr Ballistic tip, small dead doe (Excellent!), went ten feet (was running), piled up, no exit.

260 - loaned to my cousin 125gr Partition, 1 Buck-2 Does

270 - 140gr Failsafes, dead buck at 70yds-walked 50 yards after I took his lungs out. Switching to Accubonds! Small exit wound-use for Elk!

7mmRemMag - 140gr Accubonds-did not hunt w/this rifle

300 Savage - 150gr Grand Slams - saw no deer w/in range

308 Win - 165gr SGKs. Did not hunt with this rifle

300 WSM - 165gr Sciroccos. Did not hunt with this rifle

350 Rem Mag - 200gr Corlokts factory

44 MAG - 240gr Hornady XTPs - Backyard Rifle


SPAD

Alright.....700 Yard Shot!!!!!!!that Is Nuts..and If You Try It You Are Also Nuts. 300-400 Is A Long Way And You Need Optics And A Super Solid Rest. I Shoot 500 At The Range A Lot And 500 At A Deer Is A Long Way. GOOD LUCK AND SHOOT A BIG ONE. MAKE THE FIRST SHOT COUNT, YOU OWE IT TO THE DEER.

I like long for caliber bullets. So for my 270 I like the 150s.

Alright.....700 Yard Shot!!!!!!!that Is Nuts..and If You Try It You Are Also Nuts.

TAK... I agree. My point wasn't that I intend to take that shot.. just that there is a stand set out in an area that it's a possible shot. Heck... even if I were nuts, I have NO idea what the ballistics on my rifle(s) are out that far.

But, just for entertainment, I have a story for you all... there's a member of our hunting lease that's an ex-military sniper. He shoots one of the Remington rifles that is (from what I understand) their "military sniper style" rifle. It's a .308 bolt action with a bull barrell. He's got some crazy scope on that gun that's made for .308 cartridges w/ the holdover points for each range (100yd increments i think) already set as part of the reticle. Hunting the "airstrip" stand (which is the one I have been talking about with the exceptionally long shot possibilities) he took an 80lb doe two years ago from 325yds... shot her right between the eyes. How? Well, part of it is that he carries a whistle with him so that once he's ready to shoot, he whistles to get them to lift their head up and look at/for him. Then... BAM! it's over for the deer. Better yet, later that year, he took another about the same size from 500+ yards... Funny thing, he was totally embarrassed about that kill! Why? Well, he hit her over the right eye instead of right between the eyes!

I've not yet had the chance to sit and talk with him, but as soon as I do, I am going to bother him until he makes me stop! I want to learn all I can from this guy.

Like the above poster noted, long for caliber is the way to go.
Longer bullets stabilize better, and have better ballistic coefficients for long range shots.
I shoot a .25-06 with 115 Gr Nosler Partition, it makes clean kills. This year I took two does at 150 yards, both head shots, I don't think the second one even had time to look up before it was all over. :D

SPADKARMA...

You speak of the 140gr AccuBond bullets for your 7mm Rem Mag... I've been searching the net for info on what makes this bullet what it "is" .. but cant find all that much. Best I've found is this link to Federal's ammo page: http://www.federalpremium.com/default.asp?pg=18 ... Basically it looks just like the nosler ballistic tip, just with a different color tip. Could you please enlighten me on the true differences between the Nosler ballistic tips and the accubonds? And perhaps how they compare to the Nosler Partition (which I'm using right now) ... If that's too much to ask, could you at least point me to some place I can read/learn for myself? Thanks so much.

Don't mess with a good load! 'Nuff said.... :D

Well Good Luck This Year. I Do Not Take Head Shots But Where I Hunt Here In N.e. Pa I Don't Need To. Most Shots Are Under 100 Yds. I Shot My First Bear At 27yds And My Second At 50 Or So. My Longest At A Deer Was Close To 250.