Im going to maine bear hunting this year and want to take the 7mm-08. Do any of you guys have any experience with this cartridge for black bear? I was thinking about reloading a 175grain AccuBond with varget and winchester cases. What do you guys feel about this setup? Im shooting a Savage 114 American Classic. Thanks Again
load for 7mm-08 for blackbear use
- Thread starter savageman
- Start date
- Nov 4, 2004
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Black Bars are not that difficult if you put the bullet where it needs to go. They do have a heavier bone structure than a deer so a good bullet is a wise idea.
Your 7mm-08 with 160 gr AB would work for bait hunting where the range would be close. 140 gr PT and 150 gr PT would also be good choices. Pick the one that shoots the best and go with it.
JD338
Your 7mm-08 with 160 gr AB would work for bait hunting where the range would be close. 140 gr PT and 150 gr PT would also be good choices. Pick the one that shoots the best and go with it.
JD338
- Thread starter
- #4
It is going to be a baited hunt so the range will be close. The rifle is only a back up if i dont get him with my archery research! ahahha Yes i love the savage 114 american classic. This gun outshoots all the guns i have, the sako's, brownings , all of them. I have a 22 hornet in a 40vs and love that too. As long as the caliber is available that i want, i wouldnt consider buying anything other than a savage from now on. It looks really good as well.
Jim
Jim
- Oct 30, 2004
- 24,394
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140-160 Partitions will work great. Try RL19.
Here is some advise from someone who has taken a few bears with a recurve bow and has help track and bring out about 20 bears for bow/gun hunters.
First by all means bring a rifle It only takes a small cut on your string hand to mess a hunt. On one hunt my friend slipped and sprain his wrist his hunt would have been over if I did not take a rifle on that bowhunt.
Second before you leave camp leave either your gun or bow at camp do not bring both to your bait sight you can't use both at the same time and one will screw-up your chance to shot a bear. What I mean is sometimes a bow hunter thinks he will just take his rifle just for safty. Beleive me you will never get a change to trade wapons if a bear took issue with you in fact you will be at a disadvatge. I would rather have a show down with a bear with only a bow than with both gun and bow. So decied if your gun hunting or bow hunting and leave one weapon in camp. On one trip when your guide was to show us our baits we watched a plus 500lbs bear cross a clearcut at some 300 yards the guide said if you wait to shoot him I have a 338 in my truck. I replied we have a 270win and 7mm behide our seat but we are bowhunting not rifle hunting.
I talked to one first time bear hunter in camp and explaned it this way. A bear can cover 15 yards befor you can blink and it can jump 10-15 up a tree before it touches the tree trunk when motivated. So first, you should not be scared most bears if then know your there are gone, lone gone. But you need to respect there abiliyies and be causious. He can back to camp that night and said I glaid you told me that it helped me keep my composer when two 100 bears, like last years cubs came in. I watch them for awhile scaping with each other and then something scarded them. One jump into the tree 6 feet away he was eye level with me and never touched the tree till it lit right there. I am glad it did not choose my tree it would have knock me out and your right I would not have had a chance to shoot if my gun was in hand at the ready. I saw a big bear circul but did not come in later the cubs left.
This hunter got a 175lbs bear a few days later with his bow.
First by all means bring a rifle It only takes a small cut on your string hand to mess a hunt. On one hunt my friend slipped and sprain his wrist his hunt would have been over if I did not take a rifle on that bowhunt.
Second before you leave camp leave either your gun or bow at camp do not bring both to your bait sight you can't use both at the same time and one will screw-up your chance to shot a bear. What I mean is sometimes a bow hunter thinks he will just take his rifle just for safty. Beleive me you will never get a change to trade wapons if a bear took issue with you in fact you will be at a disadvatge. I would rather have a show down with a bear with only a bow than with both gun and bow. So decied if your gun hunting or bow hunting and leave one weapon in camp. On one trip when your guide was to show us our baits we watched a plus 500lbs bear cross a clearcut at some 300 yards the guide said if you wait to shoot him I have a 338 in my truck. I replied we have a 270win and 7mm behide our seat but we are bowhunting not rifle hunting.
I talked to one first time bear hunter in camp and explaned it this way. A bear can cover 15 yards befor you can blink and it can jump 10-15 up a tree before it touches the tree trunk when motivated. So first, you should not be scared most bears if then know your there are gone, lone gone. But you need to respect there abiliyies and be causious. He can back to camp that night and said I glaid you told me that it helped me keep my composer when two 100 bears, like last years cubs came in. I watch them for awhile scaping with each other and then something scarded them. One jump into the tree 6 feet away he was eye level with me and never touched the tree till it lit right there. I am glad it did not choose my tree it would have knock me out and your right I would not have had a chance to shoot if my gun was in hand at the ready. I saw a big bear circul but did not come in later the cubs left.
This hunter got a 175lbs bear a few days later with his bow.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 25,470
- 9,315
Good advice tjen!
JD338
JD338
Powerstroke
Handloader
- Feb 24, 2006
- 1,800
- 71
+1 with JD & POP
140gr to 160gr would work fine!
Deer and Elk both have fallen to the 150gr B-tip out of mine.
140gr to 160gr would work fine!
Deer and Elk both have fallen to the 150gr B-tip out of mine.
YoteSmoker
Handloader
- Oct 3, 2006
- 1,602
- 0
