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7x57 & 120 TTSX for black bear
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<blockquote data-quote="Alibiiv" data-source="post: 1507487" data-attributes="member: 69192"><p>I've been hunting Maine black bear for about eight years now, have shot seven bear over that time period; and, by no means do I consider myself to be an expert bear hunter. I have been to almost as many outfitters over these years as well. <u><em>Will</em></u> the 7 X 57, 120 grain TTSX take a bear, <u><em>"probably"</em></u> it will "<em>if" the right shot</em>, and "if" the <u>right bear presents</u> itself. But......with that stated, I firmly believe that a larger caliber would make a much better caliber to hunt bear with. I hunt with 225 grain TSXs in my 35 Whelen and my .358 Winchester; every bear that I have shot with either caliber either dropped right there, or they've gone about 25 feet and died. The last two outfitters who I went with,<u><em> would not have let you hunt</em></u> with the 7X57 with "120" grain bullets! And....I consider taking a shot at a bear at 300 yards with a 243 and 87gr bullets to be <u><em>highly unethical hunting</em></u>! And you read that it was killed with the .243; however, how does the rest of the story go?? How far did the bear go before it was recovered? Unless the bear was struck directly in the head with the shot, I will guarantee you that it was no DRT!! There's a big difference between a 7X57 and a 7mm Rem Mag equally as well (like 400-500fps with equal weight bullets). If you are set on the 7X57 caliber I strongly recommend something in the 150-160 grain bullet; Barnes makes a 150gr TSX BT, and a 160TSX. I like Barnes bullets and hunt strictly with them due to how they perform. This year's bear weighed in at 234 pounds, I shot it from 75 yards, frontal shot quartering a little to the left. She dropped in her tracks. I consider the shot to have been a good shot, came out behind the front-left shoulder. This bear had eight inches of fat on her back side, and almost as much on her hind quarters. A 120 grain bullet at 2800fps or thereabouts (7X57) is just not going to cut it going through this much tissue and probably will explode upon impact in that much fat! I think that the caliber (7X57) is "okay" with the right bullet, however the 120 grain bullet is too light for bear hunting. What happens if the bear of a lifetime (400-500lb) comes out, presents itself, you shoot the bear and it gets away due to bullet failure? A couple of years ago I saw a 200lb black bear that was shot with a 300WSM, 165 Federal Premium bullet. The entry wound was just in front of the left hind leg, it hit some thick fat tissue and stopped just inside of the lungs; it was a slight quartering away shot! The guides had to look for a few hours before they found the bear. I could go on here forever with light bullets on heavy game, and for me a large black bear fits into that category of heavy game animal.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Alibiiv, post: 1507487, member: 69192"] I've been hunting Maine black bear for about eight years now, have shot seven bear over that time period; and, by no means do I consider myself to be an expert bear hunter. I have been to almost as many outfitters over these years as well. [U][I]Will[/I][/U] the 7 X 57, 120 grain TTSX take a bear, [U][I]"probably"[/I][/U] it will "[I]if" the right shot[/I], and "if" the [U]right bear presents[/U] itself. But......with that stated, I firmly believe that a larger caliber would make a much better caliber to hunt bear with. I hunt with 225 grain TSXs in my 35 Whelen and my .358 Winchester; every bear that I have shot with either caliber either dropped right there, or they've gone about 25 feet and died. The last two outfitters who I went with,[U][I] would not have let you hunt[/I][/U] with the 7X57 with "120" grain bullets! And....I consider taking a shot at a bear at 300 yards with a 243 and 87gr bullets to be [U][I]highly unethical hunting[/I][/U]! And you read that it was killed with the .243; however, how does the rest of the story go?? How far did the bear go before it was recovered? Unless the bear was struck directly in the head with the shot, I will guarantee you that it was no DRT!! There's a big difference between a 7X57 and a 7mm Rem Mag equally as well (like 400-500fps with equal weight bullets). If you are set on the 7X57 caliber I strongly recommend something in the 150-160 grain bullet; Barnes makes a 150gr TSX BT, and a 160TSX. I like Barnes bullets and hunt strictly with them due to how they perform. This year's bear weighed in at 234 pounds, I shot it from 75 yards, frontal shot quartering a little to the left. She dropped in her tracks. I consider the shot to have been a good shot, came out behind the front-left shoulder. This bear had eight inches of fat on her back side, and almost as much on her hind quarters. A 120 grain bullet at 2800fps or thereabouts (7X57) is just not going to cut it going through this much tissue and probably will explode upon impact in that much fat! I think that the caliber (7X57) is "okay" with the right bullet, however the 120 grain bullet is too light for bear hunting. What happens if the bear of a lifetime (400-500lb) comes out, presents itself, you shoot the bear and it gets away due to bullet failure? A couple of years ago I saw a 200lb black bear that was shot with a 300WSM, 165 Federal Premium bullet. The entry wound was just in front of the left hind leg, it hit some thick fat tissue and stopped just inside of the lungs; it was a slight quartering away shot! The guides had to look for a few hours before they found the bear. I could go on here forever with light bullets on heavy game, and for me a large black bear fits into that category of heavy game animal. [/QUOTE]
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