I shoot two 7-30 Waters. I have a 14" Contender w/custom break that likes the 120grn Nosler Ballistic Tips the best. I load the 120grn to 2150fps. It shoots the Hornady 139grn SST almost as well. I load this one to 2100fps. I have taken three deer with the 120grn Ballistic Tips and all of them did the job with good expansion and exit hole.
My other barrel is a 12" Contender Hunter barrel with factory break. It shoots the Hornady 139grn SST better. I took a nice 8 pnt with this round in 2002 and knocked him down. He got up and went another 10 yds and fell. The SST from what I have read and heard is a built for a little higher velocities like in rifles but at 50 yds where I shot my buck, they expanded great.
All six of the boxes of Federal ammo I have for the 7-30 Waters is loaded with 120 grn Sierra Game Kings also. I have had these for several years.
I shoot silhouettes with the 120grn Hornady SP and they knock the 200 meter rams down with authourity. I wouldn't hesitate using these for hunting. :grin:
I have never used the 140grn bullets yet. I don't think I need another box of bullets on my bench. The 120's are doing fine. If I go for anything bigger than whitetail, I will use my 309JDJ or something larger. :eek:
Mike