77gr .223 for Bear?

Honestly it’s probably a better bear hunting gun than a 12 gauge. But not with a 77gr target bullet, to add my voice to the choir, that bullet has no business hunting. The 70gr GMX or 60gr Partition would be some of the few I’d use. Take the correct shot, perfect broadside, and make sausage.
 
Nosler ! And i wouldnt rely on a just a single shot, but quick followup if the bear has legs. ( due to poor cartridge selection )

Im sure it can be done, if its legal in your area
For black bear..
 
Ardent said:
Honestly it’s probably a better bear hunting gun than a 12 gauge. But not with a 77gr target bullet, to add my voice to the choir, that bullet has no business hunting. The 70gr GMX or 60gr Partition would be some of the few I’d use. Take the correct shot, perfect broadside, and make sausage.
Click to expand...

If you're over bait, I don't think anything is better than a 12 gauge on black bears. Slugs are almost perfectly built for those up-close knockdowns.
 
Seen a lot of slug shot bears go lights out on the spot? The majority I’ve seen run 25-100 yards and die under a tree somewhere after a short death bawl. Slugs are 100% lethal, and effective, but shoot ten bears with a 7mm (or I suspect .223) and ten with slugs and work out the average yards travelled. The rifle will win. ;)
 
Been looking for an acceptable white tail deer cartridge for a .223 with 9" twist. For a 7615 The most common suggestions are (other than use something bigger) is a) Winchester 64gr Power Point b) Nosler 60gr Partition c) Sierra 65gr Gameking d) Federal 62gr Fusion e) Barnes 62gr TSX

there may be others. Incidentally the advice is usually accompanied with 'keep it under 100yds'.
 
Ardent said:
Seen a lot of slug shot bears go lights out on the spot? The majority I’ve seen run 25-100 yards and die under a tree somewhere after a short death bawl. Slugs are 100% lethal, and effective, but shoot ten bears with a 7mm (or I suspect .223) and ten with slugs and work out the average yards travelled. The rifle will win. ;)
Click to expand...

I've shot (not many) bears with rifles and slugs, and the slugs were always preferable, although I never used a 7mm either. From what I saw on my moose this year, I wouldn't care to either, but I think that was just poor bullet performance because I was too close (shot at about 30 yards, bullet shattered).

Guides I know seemed to think highly of slugs on black bears. But our black bears here don't get to the size of the ones you'd see in BC either.

Anything more than 40 yards, I'd prefer a rifle, I think.

I originally hunted bears with rifle but moved to slugs after I lost one. I said that if I didn't get an exit wound, I'd get the biggest entrance wound I could. Was never disappointed in their performance. But, once I switched from hunting over bait to see-and-shoot hunting on CFB Gagetown, I went back to a rifle, and frankly, would like a much bigger rifle for it next year.

All of this is off topic, I fear.
 
You’ve got a hunting guide here too, and believe me a shotgun is only preferable to a rifle where rules require it. The big hole equals stopping power argument is completely misguided in my eyes. Trouble is it’s not about the hole, .720’s not truly a “big” hole anyhow.

It’s about tissue damage and destruction, rifles do that better. Bears are thin skinned animals, and respond readily to velocity / shock, less so to penetration.
 
Ardent said:
You’ve got a hunting guide here too, and believe me a shotgun is only preferable to a rifle where rules require it. The big hole equals stopping power argument is completely misguided in my eyes. Trouble is it’s not about the hole, .720’s not truly a “big” hole anyhow.

It’s about tissue damage and destruction, rifles do that better. Bears are thin skinned animals, and respond readily to velocity / shock, less so to penetration.
Click to expand...

So then, out of curiosity and not being smart, would you recommend a .243 for black bears?
 
Martim said:
77 gr. mk262 mod1 or Hornady Tap is a excellent killer ask the NATO armys of the world put it where it belongs and you'll be eating lots of bear stew!
Click to expand...

Yeah designed to shoot humans. Not bear which will require deeper penetration.

OP

Listen, HPBT or OTM are target rounds. They have a thin jacket and are designed to fragment very early in the wound channel. We're talking about a few inches in humans. Stick to a bonded or solid copper round like TSX or GMX.
 
TrevorF said:
That's cute, my .223 rifle cost $3000+. Never assume sunshine.
Click to expand...

Well I think just about everyone agrees that .223 is not an ideal caliber for bear. So the average person would assume that if you’re choosing that caliber it’s because that’s the biggest caliber you’ve got. It’s a pretty new phenomenon to ask that question because you want to bust the cherry on your fancy new NR poodle shooter.
 
Boomer686 said:
The .223 does not meet that required (close with VERY hot loads) but not legally enough.
Click to expand...

75s at published max loads with Varget got me 3050fps out of a 24" barrel. My experience is the published velocities are highly conservative for Varget with 75 or 77 grain bullets. At 3050 you're at 1549 lbs ft. You couldn't really go much if at all over max unless you had a looooooong throat - 25.0 of Varget goes snap crackle and pop under a 75 grain bullet even seated out 0.2"
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom