Which Ammo would you go with?

ShedAntler

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Joined
Jan 24, 2020
Messages
142
Location
West Tn / Lauderdale county
I recently purchased a 7mm-08 for the wife , Bergara B14 Hunter to be exact , We do not reload ..
Ammo selection is limited around my area where I have looked , but I did end up finding a handful of factory loads and bought what they had ..

We purchased the follwing :
Hornady Custom Lite 120g SST - 2675 fps at the muzzle
Federal Fusion 120g bonded soft point - 3000 fps at the muzzle
Hornady American Whitetail 139g Interlock SP - 2840 fps at the muzzle

The Bergara is a tack driver , shoots very consistent . All ammo purchased grouped well with the 120gr bullets being alittle tighter compared to the 139gr .
As far as im concerned, they all shot well enough to take to the woods .
Im sure im overthinking this as I have heard the 7mm-08 is an absolute killer , I just don't want to loose a deer over bad bullet selection , so the question goes ..

All shots will be less than 125 yards , with the majority of them being in the 60 yard range . Which bullet would you guys choose from what I have listed on hand ?
Any experience with these exact rounds on deer would be helpful . Thank you
 

Long walker

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Joined
Mar 6, 2016
Messages
86
I handload but have used Federal Fusion to break in a few barrels and it always had consistent velocities with good accuracy. And I agree, any of those will get the job done.
 

TNBillyEarl

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Joined
Feb 10, 2008
Messages
147
Location
Southeast TN
I have a 700 in 7mm-08. I have shot a few deer w/ both Hornady Whitetail and Fusion under 100 yards. All shots were double lunged just behind the heart with the Fusion doing much more damage than the Whitetail Interlocks. You really can't make a wrong choice.
 

ShedAntler

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2020
Messages
142
Location
West Tn / Lauderdale county
Update ::
Thanks to everyone that has offered their knowledge .
The Bergara shot the 120gr Federals the tightest and was my choice right out of the gate , now that most of y'all have backed that up , the federals will get the nod this year .
Thanks for help guys , great site , great people ! Happy hunting
 

ShedAntler

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 24, 2020
Messages
142
Location
West Tn / Lauderdale county
Update ....
The wife took a decent buck last week at 60 yards with the 120g federal fusion , he went about 20 yards and piled up .
Perfect broadside shot right behind the shoulder , should've double lunged and exited ... But it didn't ..

Upon dressing the deer , it appears the bullet clipped a rib bone on entry and exploded , the lungs were jelly , the whole engine compartment was a mess .
I searched high and low looking for the bullet but wasn't able to recover anything , not even a fragment ...
The far side rib cage didn't have a scratch on it , the bullet never made it that far ..

I'm gonna have to shoot another deer with the fusions before I make a decision to pull the plug on them , they obviously kill , but I was really disappointed with no exit on a behind the shoulder lung shot ..
 

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