Chuckbuster
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Yes, I know...but the cartridge is up to the job, though, as you pointed out.
7x57 with 139 grain Hornady Interlock bullets okay for black bear?
- Thread starter MD
- Start date
Yes, I know...but the cartridge is up to the job, though, as you pointed out.
This statement is one of the most ludicrous things that I have read on CGN! No more lung shots! Did it occur to you that since you did not recover the bear, that you may have missed the lungs? I hunted and guide for bears for 30+ years. All of my personal bears (40+)were taken with bows and pretty much every one was a lung shot. I requested that every sport who hunted with me target the lungs... And I tested their equipment on arrival in camp by shooting a life sized black bear silhouette, to ensure proper placement... Folks talk about shooting for shoulders to "anchor" the animal... Except for rare cases, like a ram or goat standing on a cliff or ledge, this is unnecessary and wasteful, as it is sure to destroy much of the meat, and make a mess of the carcass. I had one fella hit the front shoulder quartering on with a 7RM and 154's and all we were able to salvage was the cape and skull and a few roasts... The bullet fragmented and ploughed furrows EVERYWHERE! In short, you are less likely to loose a lung shot bear than any other shot you could make, with the exception of a CNS shot, which I feel are too risky. I will continue to train all new and young shooters that I mentor to target the lungs. This is the least risky shot, that gives the largest margin for error and cause the least damage to the carcass.
Well, I was involved with Bear "Control" many years ago, and shot many, many Black bears
that were a nuisance in fruit orchards.
Most were taken with the 30-06 and 165/180 Partitions.
Probably 15 with the 7x57 and the 140/150 Partition.
A couple with the 6mm Rem and the old style 100 Partition.
Individual bears were taken with several other chamberings. [303 Brit, 6.5x55, 264 Win Mag, 270 Win, 300 mag, etc]
The lung shot was always the preferred shot.
Never lost a bear shot solidly in the lungs.....they would run, but not far.
Shoot one a bit too far back though, and they would travel quite a way, and the blood trail was sparse in some cases.
I do not consider a Black Bear hard to kill, but the hair, fat and hide conspire to hide blood that might otherwise be visible.
Regards, Dave.
that were a nuisance in fruit orchards.
Most were taken with the 30-06 and 165/180 Partitions.
Probably 15 with the 7x57 and the 140/150 Partition.
A couple with the 6mm Rem and the old style 100 Partition.
Individual bears were taken with several other chamberings. [303 Brit, 6.5x55, 264 Win Mag, 270 Win, 300 mag, etc]
The lung shot was always the preferred shot.
Never lost a bear shot solidly in the lungs.....they would run, but not far.
Shoot one a bit too far back though, and they would travel quite a way, and the blood trail was sparse in some cases.
I do not consider a Black Bear hard to kill, but the hair, fat and hide conspire to hide blood that might otherwise be visible.
Regards, Dave.
The language was not insulting to you... It was directed at the concept which you were presenting... That may be splitting hairs to you, but I believe that circulating info to "aim away from the lungs" flys in the face of everything that experienced hunters "know" to be true... Novice and/or young shooters should be counselled toward maximizing successful one shot kills... It is clear that I won't change your mind, which is fine for you, but I hope anyone reading your statement will also heed this counter viewpoint... I don't believe that your assertion would be supported by the majority of the hunting community... Particularly those with considerable experience.
Me too! 243 with 95 grain NP as well. Also 7mm RM, 338 win mag, 7mm-08, 12 gauge and archery tackle. Lost track of how many, but lots! Never felt the need for a .375, even the .338 seemed a bit much.
P.S - The 139's will do very well for bears... I load the 139 IL's in my 7mm-08's and the 154's in my 7X57's, for all intents and purposes, to equal effect.
I've recently begun loading the 139 GMX in both calibers... but have yet to shoot an animal with them... I would prefer some experience before I flap my trap on their potential.
I've recently begun loading the 139 GMX in both calibers... but have yet to shoot an animal with them... I would prefer some experience before I flap my trap on their potential.
I too always go for the lung shot except for one that was walking head on to me and wouldn't turn to I took him in the head. He dropped in his tracks. The only time I have recovered a bullet from a black bear. It was a 180gr Hornady Interlock boat tail. It went through the skull and piled up under the skin in his shoulder. Perfect mushroom. All the rest have gone completely through the chest and exited sometimes taking out the leg on the other side. None went far as stated before. But all were bled well and the meat was excellent. I too prefer the heart/lung shot over any other and as Hoytcanon has stated encourage others especially new hunters to do the same. But just my opinion, others can ultimately do as they will.
This response is silly. It's about poor shot placement, not the cartridge.
Mount Sweetness
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Ontario
I don't think it's silly at all, calibre does matter with bears and blood and knock down.
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
That's BS any animal can be lost, even with a perfect hit. In fact its the guys that think their animal will always be 50yards away laying dead in the wide open that are most susceptible to calling it a clean miss and walking away. Even when everything goes right things can still go wrong.
True. Dead does not equal found. I guess I was more speaking to the fact that any lung or heart hit animal is dead on its feet. Sometimes they do take a while to realize it, for sure. I've followed hard hit bears into dark thickets, they don't usually run to wide open spaces to die... IME.
To claim a lung shot is a poor, low percentage shot, as an earlier poster did, is bad advice. IMO.
To claim a lung shot is a poor, low percentage shot, as an earlier poster did, is bad advice. IMO.
Good choice but this bullet may not stabilize in a Husqvarna given the slow twist bbl. Well worth a try, but these bullets are getting hard to find as Hornady stopped making them. I was lucky to get 400pcs Hornady 154gr RNs last year for my 7x57R.
Those 154gr RN would be a VG choice as well. I use them for really BIG game as shown below.
