Nosler bullets
 

I am going on a black bear hunt this spring and Im planing to use my Ruger 77/50 .I am going to use a Nosler trophy grade hollow point 300gr. bullet with a magnum sabot .I will also be using a load of 100gr. of clean shot powder .Will this Bullet be enough to handle black bear .

RE: Nosler bullets
 

deercutter,

The Nosler should be able to get the job done, but it wouldn't be my first choice. Most Bear guides suggest using a hard cast solid bullet. A bear's thick tissues & heavy bones can cause a bullet to mushroom & break up before it gets into the organs - and hollow points are much more susceptible to this kind of fragmentation than solids are.

Both Big Bore Express & Precision Rifle make excellent hard cast bullets for such applications.


"Every moving thing that liveth, I give unto you as meat" (Gen 9:3)

Trust God..........but keep your powder dry!

RE: Nosler bullets
 

Mark,

Does the same hold true for hogs? On my lease we have Whitetail and hogs, I was planning on using the same bullet for both, but after reading your post I am wondering in the 260gr lead sabot will penetrate. I am new to BP so how these bullets actually perform on game is something I have not experienced first hand.

A friend shot a Whitetail at 90 yds with a 250gr Barnes Red Hot, the bullet never expanded, the exit hole was the same as the entrance on a double lung shot. That is the only animal I have seen shot with a BP gun so my expericence is obviouly very limited.

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RE: Nosler bullets
 

irish,

Using the hollow points on a hog is no problem. The shoulder shield can be pretty tough on the big Mombo-Jombos, but it doesn't take to much to destroy the underlying tissues past that. On most hogs I've seen taken locally, you can pretty much count on just about any bullet giving you a clean pass-through shot.

FVA, You are probably right about the bear bullets - I've haven't had the chance to take one yet. I was mainly going on what my buddy went through this past year on his hunt and what the guides there had told him. To be honest, when hunting something that can hunt back - I tend to err on the side of heavy-duty rounds and use the Knute Rockne method........hit 'em low, hit 'em hard, & hit 'em fast......and if they get up, hit 'em again!! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>


&quot;Every moving thing that liveth, I give unto you as meat&quot; (Gen 9:3)

Trust God..........but keep your powder dry!

RE: Nosler bullets
 

I have used the Hornady 250 xtp bullet and 100 grs,cleanshot powder in my ruger 77/50 have taken many deer but no bear.should work good on bear.shot a deer at 65yds this past year went through both shoulders dropped in its tracks.

http://www.hunting-pictures.com/memb...owensby/ncdeer

RE: Nosler bullets
 

I'd be surprised if that load didn't go clear through.

RE: Nosler bullets
 

Our use of modern rifles has wedded us to the idea that a bullet has to expand, even those that start out huge. for example, some people even thing a full-bore size 12 Ga. slug has to expand!! Remember, Boone and Crockett both killed a passel o' bear with round balls!!

RE: Nosler bullets
 

Do yourself a favor....forget the Nosler's. In fact you may want to check with your outfitter, they may not allow you to shoot that bullet style. I know a lot of outfitter's in Saskatchewan have banned Noslers, even with High Powers at their camps.

RE: Nosler bullets
 

Thanks for The info ,any suggestions on bullets please let me know . Ive been reading alot and I am going to try Hornadys Great plains bullet in 50cal 385gr hollow point . I will save the nosler bullets for chucks and deer .
Thanks again Deercutter