7mm Rem Mag 139 gr. vs. 160 gr. thoughts for Moose?

[mooster]

So prepping for an AK moose trip in Sept. I'll be on a lake w/possibility of long range shot across such. I have a 7mm Rem Mag dialed in w/139 gr. Barnes VOR-TX LR, LRX Polymer Tipped Boat Tail, proficient and regularly practice at long range.

Thinking of the moose' body mass, I decided to research a large bullet weight. So w/in the Barnes family since I had more consistent accuracy w/their bullets, started comparing the 139 gr. vs. their largest offering for 7mm Rem Mag at 160 gr. TSX Hollow Point Boat Tail Lead-Free.

I assumed the lighter bullet would be faster, but have less energy at impact. The velocity is 12% higher with the 139 gr. @ 2851 f/s with 160 gr. @ 2536, for example at 200 yds. The energy is actually 6% higher with the 139 gr. =2413 ft.#, vs. 160 gr. = 2286 ft. lbs. At 400 yds, the velocity of the 139 gr. is 2520, the 160 gr. 2158. At 400 yds, the energy of the 139 gr. is 1961, vs the 160 gr. at 1655.

Does this mean I'm really not gaining anything by switching to the 160 gr. I'd prefer to stay w/the 139 gr. as I have tons of ammo and confidence in the load. Last year it dropped a caribou and > 300 lb. black bear. What am I missing?

 

[Low_Sky]

Given the high mass retention of the Barnes copper solids, I’d stick with the 139s if you have a load that shoots well and you can put them where they need to go.

More mass isn’t a bad thing, but in this case it isn’t broke and I don’t think I’d fix it. If your load was with a ~140 Core-Lokt it would be a different story.

Your solid 139s are effectively in the same ballpark as a 175 cup and core bullet that only retains 80% mass.

Moose aren’t tough to kill, they’re tough to process and pack out.


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[mooster]

Given the high mass retention of the Barnes copper solids, I’d stick with the 139s if you have a load that shoots well and you can put them where they need to go.

More mass isn’t a bad thing, but in this case it isn’t broke and I don’t think I’d fix it. If your load was with a ~140 Core-Lokt it would be a different story.

Your solid 139s are effectively in the same ballpark as a 175 cup and core bullet that only retains 80% mass.

Moose aren’t tough to kill, they’re tough to process and pack out.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks for the feed back and good info.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

7mm would be my last choice for literally anything, I absolutely hate the 7mm. That being said, I'd use the larger bullet.

 

[jruff002]

"At 400 yds, the velocity of the 139 gr. is 2520, the 160 gr. 2158. At 400 yds, the energy of the 139 gr. is 1961, vs the 160 gr. at 1655" These numbers seem extremely high to me. What is your muzzle velocity you are figuring on each load?

 

[mooster]

Muzzle velocity. 160 gr. 2950, 139 gr. 3210
Muzzle Energy 160 gr. 3093, 139 gr. 3181

 

[Huntr]

I used the 7mm 139gr LRX out of my custom 7X57 on my Alaskan moose last year. Worked perfect.

 

[Krieg Hetzen]

I use the 150gr Barnes TTSX for my hunting applications out of a 7mmRM. 3 moose down so far, 1 last year with the bullet recovered after a spine shot and two this year, 1 bull - bullet recovered from spine shot and one cow -bullet went through and through and she died 20ft later. Both recovered bullets look like a ‘text book’ example of expansion. All shots were 80-150 yards. I believe most instances of failure with the barnes bullets result in impacting too slowly and to be honest I’m not sure where that threshold is. However I am sure a 7mmRM with a barnes bullet is perfectly good with taking down a moose. I’d go with whichever is the higher BC just to help buck the wind, provided it shoots well. Good luck.

 

[Montana Slim]

7mm would be my last choice for literally anything, I absolutely hate the 7mm. That being said, I'd use the larger bullet.

Why no love for the 7mm? There are some great cartridges in the .284... just curious?

As for the original question - the barnes are great, and I use them a lot, but a 160gr partition in 7mmRM could be a great option for moose too. Honestly, unless you are taking some long shots, the moose wont be able to tell the difference - shoot what shoots well and you are comfortable with.

 

[JGRaider]

7mm would be my last choice for literally anything, I absolutely hate the 7mm. That being said, I'd use the larger bullet.

I've killed over 300 big game animals with a 7mm Mag and 7mm08, 140's and 160's......aoudad culls, whitetail culls, loads of muley and whitetail buck, 50+ African plains game.........it is a killing machine in the right hands, with the right bullets.

I'm planning a Newfoundland moose hunt right now. If I go I will tote the Tikka 695 7mag and launch 160 Accubonds running 3000fps at muzzle.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I've killed over 300 big game animals with a 7mm Mag and 7mm08, 140's and 160's......aoudad culls, whitetail culls, loads of muley and whitetail buck, 50+ African plains game.........it is a killing machine in the right hands, with the right bullets.

I'm planning a Newfoundland moose hunt right now. If I go I will tote the Tikka 695 7mag and launch 160 Accubonds running 3000fps at muzzle.

thats cool man.

 

[FLAK]

I'm thinking 175's.

 

[BCsteve]

Here’s a 7mm 160gr TSX shot from a 7mm Rem Mag recovered from a bull moose shot at about 100 yds. Quartering toward shot between the shoulder and the brisket recovered on the off side before the pelvis. No bones hit. I’d go with the 160gr for the penetration.

 

[mooster]

I use the 150gr Barnes TTSX for my hunting applications out of a 7mmRM. 3 moose down so far, 1 last year with the bullet recovered after a spine shot and two this year, 1 bull - bullet recovered from spine shot and one cow -bullet went through and through and she died 20ft later. Both recovered bullets look like a ‘text book’ example of expansion. All shots were 80-150 yards. I believe most instances of failure with the barnes bullets result in impacting too slowly and to be honest I’m not sure where that threshold is. However I am sure a 7mmRM with a barnes bullet is perfectly good with taking down a moose. I’d go with whichever is the higher BC just to help buck the wind, provided it shoots well. Good luck.

Thanks, great to hear.

Here’s a 7mm 160gr TSX shot from a 7mm Rem Mag recovered from a bull moose shot at about 100 yds. Quartering toward shot between the shoulder and the brisket recovers on the off side before the pelvis. No bones hit. I’d go with the 160gr for the penetration.

this is the hollow point? Wouldn’t have imagined it stayed intact. Cool pic thanks!

 

[BCsteve]

this is the hollow point? Wouldn’t have imagined it stayed intact. Cool pic thanks!

The expanded one is the one recovered. The intact one is just for comparison.

 

[jruff002]

Muzzle velocity. 160 gr. 2950, 139 gr. 3210
Muzzle Energy 160 gr. 3093, 139 gr. 3181

you'll be fine with the 139's. The numbers between it and that 160 are pretty much the same, the reason that 139 is shining equivalent with the 160 is due to it being the LRX so it's BC is almost the same as the bigger bullet but pushing it 260fps faster. I would go with the 160 if choosing between the 2 but since you already say you have a lot of the 139's go w/them, the moose aint gonna know the diff between the 2. I have 160 partitions loaded up for my moose hunt next fall and only going 2790 fps cuz my sawed off barrel. As long as you keep shots under 500 thru the lungs you'll be fine.

 

[Runningwater]

Assuming you can get good groups I'd tend towards the heavier options whether mono or lead - it's not like velocity is going to be an issue with your case capacity. But maybe I'm just old school! Good luck!

 

[WCB]

7mm would be my last choice for literally anything, I absolutely hate the 7mm. That being said, I'd use the larger bullet.

Cool story

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Cool story

cooler than shooting a 7mag...

 

[mooster]

cooler than shooting a 7mag...

Sorry a 7mag bothers you so. Was my first rifle bought after college. Been good to me for 30 yrs. I am lusting for another caliber tho, and expect another gun in my future. What else do you hate? so I can make sure I pick the right one!