BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[yankeehunter]

Okay!!!

Only a little more than a month left until the drawing of pronghorn tags in WY. :thumbsup1: I have decided to take my 7mm mag Browning Abolt custom on this hunt and I am looking for a good handload. I have decided on the 140 gr. Sierra Spitzer BT as my bullet. I have always used Reloader 22 in my 7mm mag loads but that was with the 150 gr Sierra Spitzer BT. What are you guys using in your 7mm mags? YH

[CVC]

What unit did you apply for?

[yankeehunter]

CVC,

1st choice was Area #9, 2nd was area #42 and 3rd was area #47.... Fingers crossed...............

[Don Fischer]

I don't shoot a 7mm Mag anymore so I just shut up. But when I did, my bullet of choice for everything was the 160 gr Speer Hot core. I used the 140 gr Sierra, many years ago, and killed a few deer with it. Didn't like it. Problem was I got massive damage if I nic'd any meat or bone near it. I also used it in 7x57 and had the same experience. I think the 150 gr and up bullet's are just the thing for magnun cases. I also tried the 139 gr Hornady in the 7mm mag and it wasn't a whole lot better, just to much velocity.

Is there a reason you want to change from the 150 gr bullet? According to Sierra, with R-22 and the 150 gr bullet, you can run somewhere around 3100 fps. That should be plenty flat.

[CVC]

yankeehunter wrote: CVC,

1st choice was Area #9, 2nd was area #42 and 3rd was area #47.... Fingers crossed...............

I put in for area 52. Keeping my fingers crossed as well.

I used a 30.06 with 150 grain core lokt to shoot my first antelope. There was no meat damage. Small entrance and exit wound.

[yankeehunter]

CVC,

I wish you the best, I looked long and hard at area 52 and almost chose it as my 1st but my buddy had heard good things about area 9 so I had to make a compromise. Next time area 52 will be our 1st choice. We shall see.......!!!! I just wish that the drawing was a little sooner. It really bites that I have to sit back and wait, while airfairs continue to rise along with rental car prices... :](*,)

[CVC]

I hear you....feel the same way, but they need time for the interest to accrue on our money.

[yankeehunter]

Hey Don,

Sorry for some reason I didn't see your post. The only reason I was thinking about the 140 gr was to gain some extra valocity in case my shot needed to be longer than 300 yrds. I have only shot this rifle and load out to 180 yrds, and even at that range it created a small entrance hole but a fairly large exit hole with meat bruising. I was thinking that with the 140 gr. the termal wound wouldn't be that bad but it sounds like it may be worse.... I will probably stick with the 150 gr. and work with my load a little more....

[7 Mag]

I use handloaded 150gr gamekings in my 7 Mag & 280rem when hunting speed goats. The 150gr will hold its velocity & down range energy better than the 140, besides Wy. winds can be brutal & the heavier bullet will buck the wind a little better. I've hunted 47 before & 71, 47 has lots of public land & good access.

[hunter5325]

The load your using won't matter as much as practicing with it and knowing where it hits at distance.


Brett

[SoCoKHntr]

Good info here. I am trying to find an accurate load for my 243 with handloads for my buck antelope tag this year and even though I've found some that are adequate, I haven't found that elusive under an inch group with it. This led me to consider using my 7mm Mag and I wondered what bullet weight to go with and was thinking the 140, but is sounds like the 150 would be better.

My 7 Mag, a Howa with a custom thumbhole stock that I had glass bedded and free floated is very accurate. It was shooting inch groups at a hundred with Federal Premium factory ammo 175 gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw's. I took an antelope doe with that load two years ago and it nearly blew the front leg clear off.