Freedom_fighter_in_IL
Member
- Joined
- Aug 30, 2010
- Messages
- 2,097
jmr40, he expressly stated Nosler Ballistic Tip which in fact has not changed their design in many years. They are designed for Thin Skinned game such as white tail deer. As are 90% of the other ballistic tip bullets. Then you have ballistic tip controlled expansion. Now THOSE would be absolutely fine for black bear. And no Black Bear aren't hard to kill or bullet proof. But you have to take into account the time of year that he is going to be seeing them to hunt. They will have their winter coat, hibernation fat layer working up and all around be just flat out heavier. These all account for the need of a better penetrating bullet than what a NBT would deliver.
Lloyd, I think you know I don't stand with the bonded bullet crowd and if you had actually read what I stated you would have noticed I said that standard cup and core bullets have been killing bears successfully for many years. The NOSLER ballistic tip, at the speeds of a 300wm is a failure waiting to happen. I've personally seen them blow up on DEER which, if you have ever skinned a bear you will know, is MUCH thinner and lighter than a black bear. Never said it wouldn't kill a bear. Just said if you come upon a chance to shoot a black bear and thats what you have, choose your shot carefully and AVOID the shoulder.
I've seen Hornady SST's (much tougher bullet than a Nosler ballistic tip) at 7mm.08 speeds blow up on DEER shoulder at close range so no I would not recommend a Nosler BT for a shoulder shot on a Black Bear. Matter of fact, most of the Black bears I have taken were with Rem Coreloct bullets. I haven't hunted them in several years because quite frankly I don't really care for bear meat. A lot of my Uncles and other kin folk liked it so I took some for them and for the pelts for me. (I like bear skin rugs and wall hangings). Since most of my older generation of family is dead I don't hunt bear anymore.
Lloyd, I think you know I don't stand with the bonded bullet crowd and if you had actually read what I stated you would have noticed I said that standard cup and core bullets have been killing bears successfully for many years. The NOSLER ballistic tip, at the speeds of a 300wm is a failure waiting to happen. I've personally seen them blow up on DEER which, if you have ever skinned a bear you will know, is MUCH thinner and lighter than a black bear. Never said it wouldn't kill a bear. Just said if you come upon a chance to shoot a black bear and thats what you have, choose your shot carefully and AVOID the shoulder.
I've seen Hornady SST's (much tougher bullet than a Nosler ballistic tip) at 7mm.08 speeds blow up on DEER shoulder at close range so no I would not recommend a Nosler BT for a shoulder shot on a Black Bear. Matter of fact, most of the Black bears I have taken were with Rem Coreloct bullets. I haven't hunted them in several years because quite frankly I don't really care for bear meat. A lot of my Uncles and other kin folk liked it so I took some for them and for the pelts for me. (I like bear skin rugs and wall hangings). Since most of my older generation of family is dead I don't hunt bear anymore.