Mid to long range black bear load help?

[steelhead55]

Hello everyone I have been lurking on here for sometime. I am spring bear hunting now with some buddies. Everyone but me uses a 30 cal or .338 cal.
.300 win mag
.338 mag
.338 edge
I have a nice 7mm rem mag. Am I going in under gunned?? I really don't see spending the money for a new gun and dies,scope etc....
Planning on building the best gun I can with what I've got. Planning on a good vortex scope. Looking at either 162 hornady bullets to load or some Bergers.
My gun is a savage 110 24" barrel 1-9.5" twist. Right now have loaded up some nosler ballistic 140 gr figure I'm ok to 350ish. Need if possible be deadly to 500-600. Can this be done with what I got or should I bite the bullet and buy a 300 mag? Oregon sized black bears. 200-300 lbs. thanks again

 

[theEMP]

You have plenty of gun for bear in my opinion. I would switch bullet choice. I would switch to the Nossler Accubond. I think the Accubond is better for breaking shoulders and staying together.

 

[Barrelnut]

You have plenty of gun for bear in my opinion. I would switch bullet choice. I would switch to the Nossler Accubond. I think the Accubond is better for breaking shoulders and staying together.

I agree. Maybe step up to the 160 accubond if possible. I just shot my Oregon springer last Tuesday a 5 Ft. sow. Used a Savage 300 WSM at 210 yards with a 210 Berger VLD. A 30 cal was not necessary by any means though. I carry a 7 Rem Mag for a general rifle and it would have been plenty. Just hit the shoulder and break it down. That's what should be done with the 30 or 7mm. Don't want it running into the heavy brush on ya. Good luck!

 

[steelhead55]

I am glad I was thinking it would be enough gun. I just bought some 162 gr interlock bullets to try after the season. Will pick up some accubonds when I can find them. I also just picked up some new glass.. Vortex HS LR viper 4-16 with the bdc . We seen one big bear near oak ridge that was like 2000 yds away.

The 140 gr bullets had kicking around. Kind of last minute this year hope to get a shot at a bear this year. Maybe next year.

 

[Tulie]

Just go with a premium bullet and you have all you need for bear, elk and much more. Personally I'd do a Partition/Accubond first, a Barnes is never bad, the Hornady Interbond is fine. Go at least 160 grains for elk or bear and never look back.

 

[Rogue Hunter]

You have all the gun you need for Oregon black bears. As others have mentioned, go to one of the premium bullets in the 160 gr range. ( I like the 160 AB's) and practice, practice, practice. Good shot placement will be your best friend -Until it's time to pack your bear out .gun)

-Mike

 

[JOHNNIE WALKER]

Bow hunters kill a lot of bear. With that thought in mind, I'm sure your 7mm is plenty of gun. Some people prefer to have more power than actually needed. I was in a deer camp one year (eastern Kentucky) with a guy that thought he needed a 300 win to put down whitetail. I guess the whitetail he was dreaming about were much larger than the ones that were in the woods. I honestly think some people use the size of their rifle to over compensate for something. The 7mm rem mag is a very powerful cartridge, I'm sure you will be more than fine. Just use a good bullet that wont break apart, and post pictures of your bear.

 

[steelhead55]

Thank you everyone for clearing up some stuff I had a feeling I was fine, but all the guys I hunt with are .300-.340 weatherby guys. And look down there big bore guns at my .284 gun. Will post the pics if and when I get a bear. gun)

 

[Timber338]

7mag is a fantastic round for anything in North America!

Personally I would give the 160 Accubond a try. Used them to shoot 1/2 MOA groups out of a 7mm WSM I used to own. Good luck!

 

[Mweaver270]

Couldve built any caliber gun I wanted for my newest bear elk and deer rifle and opted for a regular 7 rem mag. Shooting 180gr smk at 2780 fps it shoots more accurately then my father inlaws 338 edge canyon rifle and it also cost 1/4 the price.

 

[7magcreedmoor]

7Rem Mag with an appropriate bullet will kill anything on this continent. Personally I like Bergers, and shoot the 180VLD in mine. 2905 fps avg out of a 26 inch barrel, just under moa in a lightweight (my one regret) barrel contour. When I burn that one out the next barrel will be a PacNor #6 fluted, but I don't see any need to change bullet choice, and the load will be close to the same (only fine tuned for the new bbl). Kill and grill all the bears you want with your 7mag.

 

[bankbum]

I just put the same viper hs-lr on my 7mm. Man what a difference it has made in my shooting out past 400 yards.

Last year I shot factory hsm ammo loaded with 168gr bergers. And also tried federal ammo loaded 150gr ballistic tips.
This year I'm giving factory hornady 154gr sst's a try. They are really accurate out of my gun. And I have had great success with sst's out of other calibers on deer.

I bought my 7mm specifically for bear hunting out past 400 yards. I haven't gotten a bear yet. And last season I didn't have enough trigger time at extended ranges to be very affective, missed a couple. But this season I'm hoping the odds will be stacked in my favor with a new scope and a years worth of trigger time under my belt.