7mm08 120gr vs 140gr nosler bt

With winter apon us and the hunting to a minimum, its time to do some load development for acouple 7mm08s.

I have been using 140gr sierra prohunters which have been a great hunting projectile but I now have the time and components to build a really good load for these rifles.

I have afew boxes of both 120gr and 140gr nosler bts.
I don't really want to burn through a heap of components trying to decide on what projectile to use. Run the 120s up around the 3000fps mark or the 140s around the 2800fps mark

Has anyone been down this route and found the pros and cons of either projectile?

Powder will probably be 2208 but have 2209, 4831 and alittle 2206h

Autumn - Winter my favourite time to hunt :thumbsup:

Possibly @dannyb might have been

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Originally Posted by Happy Jack

Possibly @dannyb might have been

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Nope I was running 150gn eldx over 2208 and it was a brutal effective combo, closest I have been to that would be 125gn accubonds in 308 but in honesty I think the 708 150gn eldx would be a superior load :thumbsup:

120bt is made from the same jacket as the 140bt. Because the 120bt is shorter the jacket at the tip is thicker so it is a slightly “stouter” projectile than the 140bt.
I used the 120bt in my 708 for awhile. Used H335 as the powder though. Didn’t shoot too many animals with it, but it killed them.

either will kill stuff as dead as a dead thing as long as you do your part and put them into the right place....do not over think it.....
the 130grn NBT kills well in .270 the 125grn NBT kills well in .308 or 7.62x39mm
NBTs just kill well full stop...... they were designed to do so and have been doing so ever since
do not overthink it....load up a few of each,see what groups well and go hunting.

if you have a couple of boxes of both...you are a fortunate fella.
PERSONALLY if that was the case,the 140s would be my red/roar load and the 120s everything else.

I've tried from 120-162 in my 7mm08 (I like to tinker) and all the deer and tahr it pointed at all had the same result.

Both will work no worries, I use 2206h on all of the above

140gr BT were my go to projectile for approx 10 years. Absolutely devastating from 0-500+ yards. Ran them at approx 2800 fps as well.

2208 and 140nbt. Job done

I load 140s for a mates 708, has killed many a deer, doing about 2800

If you will be shooting out a bit further go with the 140's, they simply hold more energy out further.

I've run both in my 15" 708 bushpig. At close range the 120 NBT went thru 3 goats standing one behind the other, as Stug mentioned they are a tuff bullet.

Ive shot a lot of big bodied reds out of my 15"708 doing 2580 fps with the 140bt. Ive got 120gns as well to load. The bottom line is I certainly wouldnt stand in front of either ! Dont overthink it.

I used 140s as well and as pop shot said highly effective out to 500 odd, shot a pig at 10m and bull tahr at 450 and other things in between, never had an issue with them

I like the 120bt, run it with a stout load of 2206h to make up for velocity losses of my stubby barrel.

Cheers for the info, think ill stick with the 140s at this stage

I've used both 120 and 140 in mine, I found that the 120's were just not as emphatic and I've had numerous pass-throughs with animals traveling before dropping - even after hitting bone.
The 140's are my choice by far, nothing goes far if it does not drop on the spot.

I use 120grn for my young fella, 50grn 2209 in a model 7 pig and they shoot really well. Nothing has run away.

If you are keen to move the 120’s on, I have a lad who would put them to good use.