appropriate 7mm projectile for rusa (7mm-08)

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appropriate 7mm projectile for rusa (7mm-08)

Post by rossfrb » 31 May 2023, 11:47 am

Hi all
Advice sought from those that know.

I'm hoping to have a crack at some rusa in a few months.
I'm a meat hunter not a trophy hunter. I'll be leaving any big stags alone, hoping to pot spikers/spikas (?) or does.
Unknown at the moment is the likely distance, however I'm comfortable potting fallow at up to ~150m so lets say that'd be the max range.
Understand that rusa can be bigger than fallow.
The nosler 140gr ballistic tip from a 7mm-08 at just over 2800 FPS has been the business for fallow (heart/lung shots).

Am I safe assuming they'll be just as good on the larger rusa for side on heart/lung shots?
Deer being such nervous creatures (in my experience) forever looking around, moving their heads and necks - I'm wary of trying for a head and neck shot.

Lastly just how much meat can one expect to get from say a 90kg deer?

Regards
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Re: appropriate 7mm projectile for rusa (7mm-08)

Post by Oldbloke » 31 May 2023, 11:59 am

I see no reason why they wouldn't work. But no personal experience.

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Re: appropriate 7mm projectile for rusa (7mm-08)

Post by bladeracer » 31 May 2023, 1:54 pm

rossfrb wrote:Hi all
Advice sought from those that know.

I'm hoping to have a crack at some rusa in a few months.
I'm a meat hunter not a trophy hunter. I'll be leaving any big stags alone, hoping to pot spikers/spikas (?) or does.
Unknown at the moment is the likely distance, however I'm comfortable potting fallow at up to ~150m so lets say that'd be the max range.
Understand that rusa can be bigger than fallow.
The nosler 140gr ballistic tip from a 7mm-08 at just over 2800 FPS has been the business for fallow (heart/lung shots).

Am I safe assuming they'll be just as good on the larger rusa for side on heart/lung shots?
Deer being such nervous creatures (in my experience) forever looking around, moving their heads and necks - I'm wary of trying for a head and neck shot.

Lastly just how much meat can one expect to get from say a 90kg deer?

Regards


I'm leaning toward copper bullets (Barnes) for deer. You don't need as much mass as a jacketed bullet as copper tends to stay together rather than blow apart. You can also generally step down a bit on weight for that reason which can give you a little more velocity. Downside is mainly reduced range to achieve the higher terminal velocity required. Very expensive so I wouldn't use copper for other targets.

Meat will depend on how deep you want to go. If you have to carry it a few kilometers out of difficult terrain you might just want to grab the backstraps and perhaps the loins. If you're dropping it on a farm where you can get a vehicle to it and want to butcher it to the max possible you should get close to 50% of the live weight after mincing and sausaging all the smaller stuff.
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Re: appropriate 7mm projectile for rusa (7mm-08)

Post by bigrich » 31 May 2023, 4:19 pm

i used a 150 accubond (2625fps) in my 7-08 tikka on a 14 point red stag and sat it on it's butt . wasn't a fast load , but stupidly accurate, 2209 , fed 210 . i reckon your 140bt's should be fine on a rusa . shot placement is more relevant :thumbsup:
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Re: appropriate 7mm projectile for rusa (7mm-08)

Post by CRF » 01 Jun 2023, 8:11 pm

Dont overthink it. I shoot most of my deer with spheres of lead these days.
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Re: appropriate 7mm projectile for rusa (7mm-08)

Post by 0ld and stupid » 12 Jun 2023, 6:46 pm

In the USA something like 80%+ are killed inside of 200yards. A 7mm08 or 270 are over kill. Even old shaky buggers like me can arrange a heart lung shot with an appropriate 243 w a 115 gn at that range and a 6.5 Creedmoor with a 130g projectile will drop a rusa just as quiickly as a 300WM. I f you cant, forget it.
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Re: appropriate 7mm projectile for rusa (7mm-08)

Post by GeoffCorbett » 27 Jun 2023, 8:35 pm

Mate the 140grains of 7-08 is great medicine for Rusa. The Nosler will do just fine. I use fusions or interlocks depending on how close in I’m getting. Bang. Flop.
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Re: appropriate 7mm projectile for rusa (7mm-08)

Post by JohnV » 01 Jul 2023, 7:30 pm

I agree 140 grain is plenty and a Rusa is not much bigger than a Fallow .
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Re: appropriate 7mm projectile for rusa (7mm-08)

Post by JohnV » 01 Jul 2023, 7:31 pm

double posting
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