7mm 160 TMK experiences
- Thread starter JRem257
- Start date
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2014
- Messages
- 11,944
They perform very well.
kevlar88
Lil-Rokslider
It’s what I’ll be shooting out of my 280 this year in NZ. I’ll report back mid April if I’m lucky enough to put one through a stag or thar.
The 160 TMK is one of two bullets I've considered trying in my 280ai (162 ELD-M is the other). I'm assuming both can be quite devastating in deer sized animals. Any experience with either on Elk?
Just FYI, no experience with the TMK but my buddy had no problem killing elks at 7mm-08ai speeds (2700 fps) at 500-600 yards with the 162 amax and eldm. He’s doing the 7-6.5prc now so that he can do the 180 eldm out of a tikka action length but the 162 has been his elk/moose bullet for the longest time.
Personally I prefer the 160s in the 7SAUM because I run short actions, it’s less recoil and more speed and they still have very good BCs and I doubt I’ll take many shots further than 500 yards so might as well take the extra speed and flatter shooting bullet.
I know they kill, just wondering on levels of damage. Form has stated previously on a podcast a 30 cal match bullet almost took the far shoulder off a deer.
I was asking hoping to hear they fragment consistently and aggressively with that relatively large tip/cavity.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2014
- Messages
- 11,944
Yes to both. Both create very good wounds, I prefer the wound shape that TMK’s make and therefore overall behavior in tissue. However, the 162gr ELD-M kills well and I don’t loose sleep over which one.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2014
- Messages
- 11,944
They do.
Thank you - that’s helpful.
For those who load 7SAUM at SA length:
62.5gr N560 3000 FPS out of a 24in barrel.
160 TMK 2.945in
ADG brass
5 shot, 0.25in group SD 4.3 es 12.2
Very forgiving load. 63.0gr was 20 fps faster and same accuracy and poi.
They were also a tad more accurate than the 162 eldm.
62.5gr N560 3000 FPS out of a 24in barrel.
160 TMK 2.945in
ADG brass
5 shot, 0.25in group SD 4.3 es 12.2
Very forgiving load. 63.0gr was 20 fps faster and same accuracy and poi.
They were also a tad more accurate than the 162 eldm.
kevlar88
Lil-Rokslider
Forgot about this but better late then never. Killed my stag this year at 330 yards. I'm shooting a 280 rem with a muzzle velocity averaging 2915 (23" barrel with a healthy dose of magpro). Stag was quartering away and placed the bullet right in the crease with an impact velocity of about 2450fps. The bullet did it's job as the stag was down within 5-10 sec. There was no exit and the off side shoulder was completely intact and not broken so I can only imagine the bullet fragmented rapidly even at that impact velocity. Unfortunately I shot the deer late in the day and was doing all I could to get it packed up before the horrible weather rolled in and didn't do much of a necropsy but you know the internal damage is significant when you can here sloshing around in the chest cavity.
Still on the fence with the rapid expansion bullets. I never expect any animal I shoot to be a bang flop and it's always been easier to track animals bleeding from two holes than just one. These animals can cover some serious ground in a very short time and when they get into the thick stuff the more blood the better.
solarshooter
WKR
Personally I wouldn't pick that bullet, due mostly to it's subpar BC and form factor, poor track record of consistent availability from Sierra, and average to below average precision I've found in past tests of these TMKs (not this exact bullet however).
I personally focus on form factor over outright BC, since that will likely give the best overall trajectory. The 162 ELDM is not just the best 7mm bullet out there in this regard, it's one of the best overall bullets from 22 to 7mm that I've assessed period. Accuracy with the 162 and Hornady in general is not as good as Berger, but likely more than adequate for a hunting rifle. I personally plan on making the switch from the Berger 175 EH to the 162 ELDM once my 284 barrel comes back from getting cut and threaded at 20".
I personally focus on form factor over outright BC, since that will likely give the best overall trajectory. The 162 ELDM is not just the best 7mm bullet out there in this regard, it's one of the best overall bullets from 22 to 7mm that I've assessed period. Accuracy with the 162 and Hornady in general is not as good as Berger, but likely more than adequate for a hunting rifle. I personally plan on making the switch from the Berger 175 EH to the 162 ELDM once my 284 barrel comes back from getting cut and threaded at 20".
solarshooter
WKR
What barrel length? I've been considering trying N560 in my 284 Win with the 162. The temp sensitivity of the powder puts me off a little bit however...The load I settled on for my 280ai is Peterson brass, Fed 210, 59.5gr of N560; averaging 3011 over 15 rounds and 1.5moa at 100yds. Plan to use this on elk in late Oct.
22".
solarshooter
WKR
That's screaming. Maybe I will try it... I'm going to see where I get with H4831SC or H1000 first, since I have those on hand and know they are accurate and temp stable.
Jordan Smith
WKR
That's not quite right. Trajectory depends on the bullet's BC, which depends, in part, on the bullet's form factor, but also on its SD. The proportionality constant for both form factor and SD is 1 (an equal dependence on both).
Similar threads
Featured Video
Latest Articles
- Tcams, Point Creep, Scouting, & The Hunt Source Podcast
- TT#60 Henry Ferguson Killing Big Muley’s with a Bow
- Zeiss SFL 12×50 Review
- Swarovski EL Range 12×42 TA Binocular Review
- Battle of the 2.0s: Seek Outside Cimarron vs Redcliff Floorless Shelters
- Quiet Kat Ranger XR Review
- Shoot2Hunt A Female Perspective
- Goodbye 270 WSM, Hello 6UM
- 2025 Head-to-Head Bow Test
- Sitka Ascent Pants Review