Optimized 7mm Hunting Bullet

[AlaskaRed]

I know and have seen a lot of talk about the best 6mm/6.5 hunting bullets on this forum. My questions is those with 7mm rifles what has been the best and most optimized hunting bullet for quick kills on animals and good penetration?

Planning to use a 7mm BC for a couple hunts this year and choosing between the 170 terminal ascent and 175 fusion tipped. I'm leaning fusion tipped. This got me thinking what else would be better? I'm going to list a few bullets that look good and would like to know of peoples experience. Pictures and descriptions of kills are very much appreciated.

List as follows: 160gr TMK, new 185 gr TMK, 175 smk, 175 mkx, 175 ablr, 175 eldx, 180 eldm (add in other ideas if you have them)

The idea is to discuss great performing bullets like the 108 eldm in 6mm. Bigger wounds and deeper penetration possible?

Thaks for any firsthand experience hope to add some kills of my own to the thread this year.

 

[Jordan Smith]

I'm a fan of the 180 ELD-M.

 

[AlaskaRed]

I'm a fan of the 180 ELD-M.

Have you gotten any kills with them? How did it perform if you did?

 

[magnum]

Both Terminal Ascent and tipped Fusion are great options! I’ve been using 7mm 155 GR Terminal Ascents for 4 seasons now. I’ve taken several deer and elk. The closest shot was 80 yards and furthest was 485. I could not be happier with the performance.

 

[bigunit]

I like the 165 tgk as an all-rounder. Killed a few bears and coyotes with it. Also like the 180 eldm and only killed one deer but it was a headshot. I like the 168lrx for bigger game and it worked well on my last moose.

 

[huntnful]

I’ve killed a decent amount with the 180 ELDM. It does well. The 180 Berger hybrid is a killing MF and will probably be my main choice in 7mm moving forward.

 

[LightFoot]

I’ve had great experience with 180 Bergers.
1x whitetail
1x mules
3x feral pigs
1x Canadian moose

Probably wouldn’t notice a difference between the TA and fusion. Go with whichever sheets more consistently.


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[omicron1792]

I’ve had great experience with 180 Bergers.
1x whitetail
1x mules
3x feral pigs
1x Canadian moose

Probably wouldn’t notice a difference between the TA and fusion. Go with whichever sheets more consistently.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Man I sure did. Fusion caused way more tissue damage.

 

[AlaskaRed]

Both Terminal Ascent and tipped Fusion are great options! I’ve been using 7mm 155 GR Terminal Ascents for 4 seasons now. I’ve taken several deer and elk. The closest shot was 80 yards and furthest was 485. I could not be happier with the performance.

Nice. I’m leaning toward the fusion tipped supposedly will cause more damage.

 

[AlaskaRed]

I’ve killed a decent amount with the 180 ELDM. It does well. The 180 Berger hybrid is a killing MF and will probably be my main choice in 7mm moving forward.

How do they perform different? I’d like whatever bullet I’m using not to have a long neck and upset fairly quickly. Still need good penetration for moose also. Similar to how the new 116 tmk in 6mm.

 

[magnum]

Nice. I’m leaning toward the fusion tipped supposedly will cause more damage.

Fusion tipped is a great bullet! You will be happy with it!

 

[graniteghost]

Made a poor wind call on an antelope this fall and held wayyyy too much much wind and hit far back, dropping it. Could only see from top of shoulders on up to head facing dead away from me on the follow up. This was an entrance from a 175 eldx on the second shot.

 

[nphunter]

IMO the 168VLD should make any 7mm top performer list. We’ve killed 30+ big game animals with them out of a 280AI most have dropped in their tracks. 20-400 yards on deer, elk and antelope, mostly elk. Have killed coyotes out to 800 with them and they did plenty of damage and upset plenty even on a thin skinned dog.

 

[AlaskaRed]

View attachment 1036658Made a poor wind call on an antelope this fall and held wayyyy too much much wind and hit far back, dropping it. Could only see from top of shoulders on up to head facing dead away from me on the follow up. This was an entrance from a 175 eldx on the second shot.

Wow that’s an impressive wound. Have you had it consistently create such a large hole or was this a unique case?

 

[graniteghost]

I’d venture to guess it was more on the unique case side. I hit the spine immediately on the way in, most likely causing the bullet to fragment rapidly. It’s actually the only animal I’ve shot with this particular bullet so far. So far from enough data to come to a conclusion. On the same hunt my brother shot one with a 162 eldx out of a 7 mag and my dad a 143 eldx out of a 6.5 prc. Both of there shot were right around 400, so lower impact velocity. Mine was 200, so extremely high impact velocity

 

[Ishootgunssometimes]

175 Elite Hunter, 180 Berger, 180 ELDm have all left huge holes and lots of damaged meat and 1 shot kills every time. Not sure I like losing so much meat…

I think Bergers have been most accurate for me.

 

[huntnful]

How do they perform different? I’d like whatever bullet I’m using not to have a long neck and upset fairly quickly. Still need good penetration for moose also. Similar to how the new 116 tmk in 6mm.

The 180 hybrid is a more consistent bullet and shoots better most of the time. Also seems to give more exits.

My buddy just killed a coues buck at 800 yards with 180 hybrid and a starting MV of 2880fps. The wound channel was still legit even on that small animal and long distance. And kill bigger game just as well.

This was the exit shoulder. These things are maybe 8-10” wide. So it doesn’t have that long of a neck length. At least not commonly.