Ammo recommendation for black bear with 7mm Mag?

Cheetoh734

My buddy is going for black bear in a couple of weeks. Using a 7mm mag. He's used to archery so he's looking for the right ammo for up to a 300lb black bear. Thanks guys.

Jermanator

Factory or reloads? Personally, I would keep the bullets toward the heavy end of the spectrum.

Cheetoh734

Factory. I have some 150 grain Federal premium with the white tips now. But is there a better option? I have found 170-180gr bullets but they seem to be cheaper and soft point. I don't know the actual effects of a 7mm Mag on black bear. Maybe i'm over thinking this and the 150 are fine...Sorry i don't really have much experience out side of white tail...thanks guys.

Six-Gun

I've killed 600+ lb. African animals with 140 gr. AccuBonds out of a much less stout 7mm-08. Your buddy will be more than fine with 150 gr. of decent construction out of a 7mm mag. Federal Premium ammo falls into that category.

Weatherby

I've shot several black bears.My opinion is your 150's are just fine also that black bears die easier than a whitetail

Jermanator

I am betting those white tipped 150's are Nosler Ballistic Tips. I would save those for deer. I am thinking 160's or bigger. If I were to hunt black bear with a 7 mag and use factory ammo, here are a few that I might try.

For the money, I would try the last two first and see if they shoot acceptably...

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/643742/hornady-superformance-ammunition-7mm-remington-magnum-162-grain-sst-box-of-20
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/549249/federal-premium-vital-shok-ammunition-7mm-remington-magnum-160-grain-nosler-partition-box-of-20
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/118002/federal-premium-ammunition-7mm-remington-magnum-160-grain-trophy-bonded-tip-box-of-20
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/897110/winchester-supreme-ammunition-7mm-remington-magnum-160-grain-nosler-accubond-box-of-20
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/656105/doubletap-ammunition-7mm-remington-magnum-175-grain-nosler-partition-box-of-20
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/352618/federal-fusion-ammunition-7mm-remington-magnum-175-grain-spitzer-boat-tail-box-of-20
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/726429/remington-premier-ammunition-7mm-remington-magnum-160-grain-core-lokt-ultra-bonded-pointed-soft-point-box-of-20

jbp-ohio

Study up on shot placement. Heart/lungs are a bit higher than deer...

wildgene

...I'd try the 175gr. Federal Fusions, meself. I've shot elk w/ the 180gr. , elk & mule deer w/ the 165gr. .300WSM, mule deer w/ the 120gr. .25-06 loads, pretty satisfied w/ both the accuracy & terminal performance of the Fusion loads...

Zee

I am a heavy for caliber kinda guy. Just am. Not saying light won't work, just don't see the point.

I am also a Federal Fusion fan, as mentioned above. If they shoot well in his gun, at normal black bear distance, I go for them.

But, I've never killed a bear. Don't think of the black variety as being overly tough as to be bullet proof, but I'm speculating.

Jermanator

If they are Accubonds, I wouldn't sweat it at all. But if I were to run out and buy some more ammo for a black bear hunt, I would still want a bit more mass to them just because you can.

justin10mm

Any garden variety 150gr. cup and core soft point will get the job done. Don't over think it.

Teach

First impression from someone who has never taken a shot at a bear- - - -since the heart/lung area appears to be right behind the shoulder joint, I'd use a heavy-for-caliber bullet that can penetrate some bone to get to the boiler room. Maybe a controlled-expansion bullet like a Nosler Partition, or one of the other tough ones with bonded-core cosntruction.
Jerry

JerryBobCo

I'm going to sound like a broken record, again, but the one time I actually tried my hand a bear hunting I carried a 7mag loaded with my own handloads. As hard as this is to believe, they featured 175 grain Speer Grand Slams.

I never even saw a bear, though, so I don't have any experiences to share. However, I have taken elk, mule deer and pronghorn with this same load and it was simply a matter of me making the shot.

If you don't reload, and can't find any factory ammo that uses this bullet, I agree with those who like the heavy for caliber, stoutly constructed bullets. For 7 mag, I would go with at least 160 grain bullets, preferrably 175.