7mm Mag with Monolithics?

[7mmfan]

I've been reloading for my 7 mag for years with the 154 gr Hornady Interbonds, and love the load. However, they appear to be a thing of the past. They are still listed on the Hornady site, and on all the online store sites, but they are all out of stock and production has been temporarily suspended for a couple years now. I have about 60 bullets left that I'll load out this year, but I need to start thinking ahead about what I'm going to transition to.

I know I could jump over to the Accubond, but have been considering going monolithic, either to the Barnes TTSX in 140 or 150, or the Nosler E-Tip in the same size. I understand that there are some differences to consider when loading these in regards to size/speed/bullet performance, so I just wanted to get some guys input that have used them, especially if you have experience with the 7 Mag specifically.

Rory

[Wetwoodshunter]

I'm loading the 168 gr long rang accubonds with 63gr. Reloader 22. My gun is shooting .5 moa with them.

I shot my caribou in the head with it this year bullet performed perfect.

[h20hunter]

Rory....bro in law has a few selections of bullets on hand. I'm sure he would part with ten here and there for testing.

[bobcat]

Try the Etips first, and see if your rifle likes them. They have a higher BC than the Barnes. I like both, but which one to go with just depends on your rifle. My daughter's 7/08 shoots the 120 TTSX really good, and she killed a cow elk with them. I agree with 140 or 150 grain for the 7mm Rem. Mag.

[7mmfan]

Rory....bro in law has a few selections of bullets on hand. I'm sure he would part with ten here and there for testing.

Alright next time we get together to knock some steel around I'll ask about getting some from him.

@Bobcat, I have the 120's test loaded for my 7mm-08 based on some load data that you gave me, but I haven't had an opportunity to shoot them yet. Hoping to get to that this winter. I'd love to turn that gun into a lightweight elk slayer, but the ground we've been hunting more recently is prone to long shots and I like the idea of a bullet with a little more inertia when it gets there. I've read that the 140's are like Thor's hammer out of a 7 mag, wondering if the 150's may even be a little heavy. 

[jasnt]

Check out the hammer hunters if you want to go mono

[kentrek]

Check out the hammer hunters if you want to go mono

  look into the deadblow hammer also

Bc isnt really that important unless you plan on shooting over 700-800 hundred yards

[7mmfan]

I'll check them out, thanks guys.

[WSU]

Not 7mm specific but my has used the tsx and ttsx on elk with her 270 and both performed as advertised.

[Karl Blanchard]

My all time favorite for the 7mag is the 140 accubond pushed at slap yo momma fast! Kills em real good

[yorketransport]

I've shot a lot of TTSX bullets over the years and they've always worked well for me. I've played with a few of the E-Tips too and they've never shot as well and always hit pressure at a lower velocity since the bearing surface on them is ridiculous!

I've switched to the various Hammer bullets for all my hunting lately. I've never personally had a bad experience with the Barnes bullets, but the Hammers shoot better and are much easier to find an accurate load for in my experience. They're designed to perform a little different than the Barnes or E-Tip bullets though. The Barnes and Nosler copper bullets are designed to expand and retain nearly 100% of their weight. The Hammers are designed to shed their petals while the shank penetrates on. Here are examples of the Hammer Hunter, TTSX and E-Tip bullets with similar impact velocities (1850-1950 fps). The Hammer Hunter and the 130 E-Tip are both 270s and the TTSX is a 358.

[The Big Game Hunter]

I prefer the Barnes TTSX bullets myself, but there's nothing wrong with the E-Tips either. May be best to try both out and see which one works better for you.
http://thebiggamehuntingblog.com/7mm-rem-mag-vs-300-win-mag/

[mountainman]

I've shot a lot of TTSX bullets over the years and they've always worked well for me. I've played with a few of the E-Tips too and they've never shot as well and always hit pressure at a lower velocity since the bearing surface on them is ridiculous!

I've switched to the various Hammer bullets for all my hunting lately. I've never personally had a bad experience with the Barnes bullets, but the Hammers shoot better and are much easier to find an accurate load for in my experience. They're designed to perform a little different than the Barnes or E-Tip bullets though. The Barnes and Nosler copper bullets are designed to expand and retain nearly 100% of their weight. The Hammers are designed to shed their petals while the shank penetrates on. Here are examples of the Hammer Hunter, TTSX and E-Tip bullets with similar impact velocities (1850-1950 fps). The Hammer Hunter and the 130 E-Tip are both 270s and the TTSX is a 358.

Are those recovered from actual flesh and bone or test media?

[yorketransport]

I've shot a lot of TTSX bullets over the years and they've always worked well for me. I've played with a few of the E-Tips too and they've never shot as well and always hit pressure at a lower velocity since the bearing surface on them is ridiculous!

I've switched to the various Hammer bullets for all my hunting lately. I've never personally had a bad experience with the Barnes bullets, but the Hammers shoot better and are much easier to find an accurate load for in my experience. They're designed to perform a little different than the Barnes or E-Tip bullets though. The Barnes and Nosler copper bullets are designed to expand and retain nearly 100% of their weight. The Hammers are designed to shed their petals while the shank penetrates on. Here are examples of the Hammer Hunter, TTSX and E-Tip bullets with similar impact velocities (1850-1950 fps). The Hammer Hunter and the 130 E-Tip are both 270s and the TTSX is a 358.

Are those recovered from actual flesh and bone or test media?

Those came from my bullet trap tests a while back. The test media is apron leather suspended in water. I've never recovered a mono-metal bullet from an animal, they just zip right through after tearing stuff up.

[kentrek]

York so far the hammers I've pulled from animals have reacted exactly as your & Steve's tests showed

[JohnVH]

I reload the 140 TTSX for my 7mag, they are going 3360FPS, and Im thinking its too fast, the closer ones I have recovered dont petal out like in your pics, otherwise we love them...  I just have not gotten around to testing anything else.


Pic with pedals below is from 250yd hit

Pic with the case is from about 80yd hit

[7mmfan]

Looks like at that speed at close range, it just blows the petals right off. I have a habit of killing animals inside of about 50' despite all my 500 yard practice, so that's a great visual for me.

[JohnVH]

Looks like at that speed at close range, it just blows the petals right off. I have a habit of killing animals inside of about 50' despite all my 500 yard practice, so that's a great visual for me.

Yeah, close range it just punches holes, not ideal for sure...  I guess they can be slowed down, but I reload for accuracy, and with my load the bullet holes touch. And its flat shooting.

Maybe consider a bigger bullet going slower?

In fact, it does good in every gun it has been run though, some sort of magical combo I guess, weve tried it in 4 different guns and it always groups.

[7mmfan]

You mind sharing that combo? Pm if you feel more comfortable.

[JohnVH]

You mind sharing that combo? Pm if you feel more comfortable.

messaged

[mountainman]

I reload the 140 TTSX for my 7mag, they are going 3360FPS, and Im thinking its too fast, the closer ones I have recovered dont petal out like in your pics, otherwise we love them...  I just have not gotten around to testing anything else.


Pic with pedals below is from 250yd hit

Pic with the case is from about 80yd hit

[/quote

I reload the 140 TTSX for my 7mag, they are going 3360FPS, and Im thinking its too fast, the closer ones I have recovered dont petal out like in your pics, otherwise we love them...  I just have not gotten around to testing anything else.


Pic with pedals below is from 250yd hit

Pic with the case is from about 80yd hit

Looks like they did what they were supposed to do in both pics. Bottom bullet did petal out, shed petals, and continue. First photo slow enough to retain petals..