7mm 120 ttsx

Dedeer11

FNG
Joined
Apr 29, 2024
I shoot a 7mm-08 and have been using Hornady reduced recoil 120 sst rounds. We want to reload using the 120 ttsx to keep recoil down. Does anyone have experience with this bullet? Was it very accurate or did you hunt with it? how did it do?
 
Older article called “MELs, Moderate Effective Loads” in Hogdon 2009 paper manual has four loads for that combination with 4198 and 4895, both H & I, that were running around 2,730fps muzzle velocity. Recoil ftlbs ~8-10lbs. Barnes has the minimum impact velocity at 1700fps, but you should be able to keep it well above that.
 
Myself and friends/ family load that bullet to around 3000fps in the 08 and faster in larger cartridges. We have been using them on whitetails Black bear and moose with equal success.
If I was looking for a mild recoiling load that kills well I'd look at the 120 NBT or Speer's 130 grain offerings. The btsp is very hard on whitetails even when tossed at a sedate 2600fps. Of course I didn't press distance very far with that load, but to 120 or so yards it certainly layed down the deer I saw hit with it.
 
I shoot the factory loaded Barnes in 2 7mm-08’s. Absolutely one of my favorite choices for deer but I don’t think I’d hesitate at something larger with it either.
 
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They work well enough. I messed with them for a few years in one of my 7-08’s. They have limitations that ultimately I didn’t like. I found aiming AT the shoulder provided the bang-flops I liked. The bullet is terrible in the wind and needs speed to perform so range is limited. They were easy to get to shoot. A stiff dose of RL15 is where I settled. MV around 3050fps88C15C47-DA2B-4288-87C8-41FBE2AE68E4.jpeg
 
We run the 120 ttsx in 7mm-08 for newbies till they prove themselves on live targets. With the ttsx, we get exits and blood trails 95% of the time. For proven shooters, we run 120 gr NBT. I wouldn't be scared to use either bullet, but started with the ttsx and stuck with it for newbies, just in case.
I tell folks w 7mm-08, "Barnes = shoot bone at over 250 yards w short barrel".
 
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I want to try some of these lighter bullets out of my 280ai at warp speed. I was eyeing the Barnes or the Nosler BT. I had worries about the nosler grenading. Let us know how they work for you.
 
I shot 3 bucks with the 120 grain NBTs one season. These were whitetails around 180 pounds. All were taken within 100 yards, so impact velocity should’ve still been high. I got pass throughs on all of them and great blood trails on two of them. The first one I shot flipped backwards and died without running. The other two were short 50ish yards or less recoveries.
 
I did some tinkering with the 120gr TTSX out of a Weatherby (How 1500) in 7mm-08. With 43.9gr of Varget and the 120gr TTSX, I got 2909avg velocity. SD and ES weren't great, but that was also with 0.0015" neck tension. With 43.6gr Varget I had 2870avg velocity and 8.5 SD and 23 ES, but only in 5shot groups. At 45gr Varget I got 3003 avg velocity with 9.7 & 22.9 SD/ES. No pressure signs. CBTO 2.225.

Using CFE 223 I achieved an avg velocity of 3111 with SD/ES at 11.5 & 34.3. Groups were not great at all though. Couldn't find any config with CFE 223 that this gun liked, so I abandoned it for Varget. But have had great results in other guns with CFE223. I probably did something wrong.
 
Older article called “MELs, Moderate Effective Loads” in Hogdon 2009 paper manual has four loads for that combination with 4198 and 4895, both H & I, that were running around 2,730fps muzzle velocity. Recoil ftlbs ~8-10lbs. Barnes has the minimum impact velocity at 1700fps, but you should be able to keep it well above that.
Ok we will have to look for that article. Thank you.
 
Ok it looks like we will have to get some 120 NTB and see which my rifle likes better. Both sound like good bullets.
 
You can find info to make reduced recoil loads with H4895. Typically around 60% of max charge. Do your homework first, and make sure it’s reputable info.

IMHO, Barnes do better with speed. I think the 120 ttsx would be great in a full power load, but I would shoot a softer bullet if you want to go the reduced recoil route.

FWIW, I shoot 127 lrx and 120 nbt in hot loads in a 6.5. I only load the nbts in the reduced recoil ones for the kids.
 
Started hunting with it couple of years ago in 7mm-8 and killed few antelope and whitetail deer with it. Powder I use is IMR 4895 and Varget and my groups run between .500 to .750. Just remember that Barnes bullets expand better under higher velocity. I believe 120 TTSX needs about 1700 fps to expand properly.
 
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