The 7mm-08 Remington shoots well with the entire range of 7mm big-game bullets from 120 to 175 grains. Many years ago I settled on 140-grain bullets as the best balance of trajectory and penetration for game from pronghorn to elk in the 7mm-08. I continued to read various handloading books and eavesdropped on the Internet chatter in hopes of finding the perfect load for when mule deer stand on the far side of a park and pronghorn antelope fidget at the distant end of a basin. That input pointed toward handloading 120-grain bullets in the cartridge. That weight for big game hunting bullets includes the Nosler Ballistic Tip, Sierra Pro-Hunter and Barnes Triple-Shock (TSX) and Tipped Triple-Shock (TTSX). Hornady designates its V-MAX bullet for varmint hunting.

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Various handloading manuals list some impressive velocities for 120-grain bullets fired from the 7mm-08. The Nosler Reloading Guide 8 lists 3,262 fps as the fastest velocity for its Ballistic Tip. Reloaders comparing bullet and powder combinations may also benefit from reviewing Hornady load data when developing accurate and consistent 7mm-08 Remington handloads. That velocity was reached with 52.0 grains of Big Game powder from a 26-inch barrel. Close behind was 52.0 grains of W-760 for a velocity of 3,233 fps. Varget lagged a bit at 3,139 fps. The Hodgdon 2016 Annual Manual Reloading lists the Ballistic Tip at a velocity of 3,151 fps with 49.5 grains of CFE 223, 3,117 fps with 45.0 grains of Varget and 3,023 fps with 49.0 grains of W-760. The Sierra Infinity 7.0 program records a top speed of 3,100 fps for its Pro-Hunter bullet with W-748, IMR-4064 and 4320, VV-N140 and Reloder 15. The Barnes Bullets website (www.barnesbullets.com) data lists TSX and TTSX bullets at 3,196 fps fired by 48.4 grains of CFE 223, 3,158 fps from 47.8 grains of BL-C(2) and 3,143 fps from 48.5 grains of Power Pro 2000-MR.

I loaded seven different powders with Nosler Ballistic Tip, Sierra Pro-Hunter and Barnes TSX bullets. Of those powders, Big Game, CFE 223 and W-760 provided the highest velocities. CFE 223 was the velocity leader with Nosler Ballistic Tip and Sierra Pro-Hunter bullets. In fact, velocities were about 100 fps faster from the 22-inch barrel of my New Ultra Light Arms Model 20 7mm-08 Remington than those listed by Hodgdon from a 24-inch barrel.

Reloaders exploring modern high-performance cartridges can also check our detailed 22 ARC load data and reloading guide.

The New Ultra Light rifle shot well with various powders paired with the three 120-grain bullets. W-760 is a good first choice powder, because it has provided good accuracy from all the 7mm-08 rifles I have shot. Big Game and CFE 223 are also good choices, and velocity is right up there.

Reloaders interested in classic European hunting cartridges can also explore our 8 x 60 load data.

A Winchester Model 70 Classic Featherweight didn’t seem to show a preference for a particular powder. With four different powders, the rifle grouped Barnes TSX bullets on the wide side of an inch. That’s how the rifle performs with about any load it shoots.

Reloaders interested in historic big-game cartridges can also explore our 40/75 Bullard data for additional handloading information.

The 120-grain loads were compared to my standard 140-grain bullet loads to make sure I wasn’t leaving anything on the table, trajectory and energywise. The top velocities for 140s was 2,900 fps at the muzzle of the New Ultra Light rifle. The 120s start out about 300 fps faster. That additional velocity results in both bullets arriving at 400 yards carrying about the same foot-pounds of energy, 120s shoot 5 inches flatter at 400 yards and 8 inches flatter at 500 yards than the 140s.

If you enjoy loading classic rifle cartridges, be sure to explore our 45/60 reloading data for additional handloading insights.

While evaluating figures, let’s compare the 7mm-08 Remington shooting 120s with the same weight bullet fired from the 6.5 Creedmoor, the cartridge everyone is swooning about. The fastest I have been able to fire any 120-grain bullet from a 6.5 Creedmoor is Nosler Ballistic Tips at 2,895 fps with 43.0 grains of Big Game. That was from the 22-inch barrel of a Bergara Premier rifle. In contrast, 8.0 more grains of Big Game loaded in the 7mm-08 pushed Nosler 120-grain Ballistic Tips 3,151 fps from the 22-inch barrel of my New Ultra Light Arms Model 20. The Model 20 fired Ballistic Tips at 3,204 fps with 49.0 grains of CFE 223. The additional 300 fps generated by the 7mm-08 firing 120-grain Ballistic Tips resulted in 9.3 inches less drop at 500 yards and 174 foot-pounds of additional bullet energy compared to the 6.5 shooting the same weight Ballistic Tips. That’s a fair trade for 6.0 additional grains of powder.

Reloaders can also explore our Nosler reloading data for detailed load information, bullet performance, and cartridge development insights.

Last summer I loaded a box of 7mm-08 cartridges with Barnes 120-grain TSX bullets and 50.0 grains of Big Game in anticipation of the fall deer and elk season. My Winchester Model 70 was sighted in with the load, and I anxiously waited for the leaves to turn golden on the quaking aspens. I wiled away my time reading a big game hunting site on the Internet, and what one expert posted there about the 7mm-08 Remington shooting Barnes TSX bullets worried me.