So to repeat what I said earlier.
A local manufacturer has agreed to make me 160 gr bullets. The company APM bullets will provide a thick jacketed cup and core bullet - just what I want.
Lower velocity, and a easily deformed bullet that holds together - I hope.
When i got Cody the 7mm-08, I was really taken by the weapons + + + in every field, low recoil, no barrel lift, seriously less vicious report when suppressed, just calmer in every way. I am guessing that case life will prove to be very good as well.
When use on game it killed like any other bullet does, but as above, with much less fireworks. The penetration was god to better and even "wow!" on occasion, and that is with plain cup and core bullets. I found premium bullets just a waste of premium, they were 100 % more than needed on penetration, even on smaller non trophy kudu.
This whole 7mm-08 thing got me going in regard to 7x57 fame and the whole slow and heavy bullet thing. I liked the idea of slower and heavier, but not to the point of slow and heavy, just slower.
I started to find fault in the .270 Win that I use, meat damage and even more meat damage, always a lot of meat explosion damage, even with good bullets. I got to wondering if the .270 could be made to shoot more 7mm-08 154 gr like.
Turns out that the .277 bullet in 160 gr form has the same SD as a 7x57 shooting a 168 gr bullet. Walter Bell used 173 gr bullets and a 7x57 to kill elephants. Both bullets 160 and 168 have SD of 298 with the 173 bullet being 310 Sd.
I believe this 160 gr will change the whole .270 Win concept - just a pity the 270 is a 1 in 10 twist.