Good Bear Bullet for 7mm that will work on elk.

Either of those should work quite well, as would any other premium bonded core in that weight range. I like the Accubonds in other calibers. I use them in my 8mm Rem Mag, my .350 Rem Mag and my .375 RUM.

Which cartridge?

It is just one of many choices out there but every time this question gets asked, I instinctively think Nosler Partition. That bullet just works. I like expansion and exit wounds and for any medium game it is a winner.

bjs1187 said:

Good evening,

So I’m headed bear hunting in May and need some suggestions. I shot a bear at 50yds a couple years ago with Nosler 168 GR ALBRs. I shot him twice in the chest and neither bullet expanded and left pin holes when recovered which thankfully was only a few yards away. I really like the accuracy from these bullets but am looking for something that behaves better. I’ve thought of the 160 GR accubond and the 175 GR partition. I really want to develop a load that is good from antelope to elk out to 400+ yds. I’ve never taken game past 250, but hey, I’m looking for the dream bullet right? Thanks in advance.

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As asked before, which cartridge and also, I'd be curious which bear? My 7stw loads would obliterate a pronhorn with the 168, but with a 7x57, there may not be enough speed for good expansion, a .280 should have gained you decent expansion but hard to just speculate around, my .223 doesn't necessarily spit the same pills as my .22-250, velocity and rate of twist decide which bullets CAN be used, THEN we can help suggest what SHOULD be used. Generally, prohunters are a safe bet for accuracy and terminal performance, but lack in the b.c. department partitions are equally reliable, bonded bullets (excluding the pseudo-bonded flat base hot-cor) gain b.c. and still expand/penetrate nicely, based on your description of the 168s dissatisfactory performance, I'd also possibly recommend a hot high velocity loaded light for caliber monometal but without knowing the full parameters all the speculation is kind of a toss up.

My best 7mag load was using a 160 Nosler Partition; great bullet.

I like the 175gr Woodleigh Weldcore - good combination of high-enough BC, reliable expansion, and weight retention. I load them in 7mm mag and max load is about 2920 ft/s. Accuracy load will depend on your rifle but should be within 60 ft/s of that.

MachIVshooter said:

Either of those should work quite well, as would any other premium bonded core in that weight range. I like the Accubonds in other calibers. I use them in my 8mm Rem Mag, my .350 Rem Mag and my .375 RUM.

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+1, I've been very happy with regular Accubonds in 6.5, 270 and 30-06.

Deleted.

bjs1187 said:

Also, I’m hunting black bears only.

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And hunting where? Spring bear over bait is a 50 - 75 yards proposition, in which case a very durable, controlled expansion bullet is in order because terminal velocity will be FAST. Nosler, Barnes etc. If you are hunting with dogs, even more important (in fact - way too much rifle). If you are stalking up in Canada where longer ranges are likely and terminal velocities lower, durability is less important but it's unlikely that you will be at distances where a Partition is unlikely to function correctly. Anything from 150 grs will work just fine with good shot placement. Unless you are hunting monster dumpster bears in suburban New Jersey, Spring black bears are likely to be in the 160 - 220 lbs range.

For mule deer and elk, my wife likes 160gr Speer Grand Slams. Neither of us has drawn an antelope tag since my wife has had her 7mm Rem Mag, but 139gr Hdy SPs used to work fine on antelope and mule deer when she was shooting a 7mm-08.
I expect a 160gr Speer Grand Slam from a 7mm Rem Mag will kill an antelope just fine though, and it will probably work on a black bear too. I never did put much stock in "overkill."

In that weight class, I would seriously consider the 162 gr Hornady Interlock and SST. I have had good service from both. The real question is not what appeals to you aesthetically, but how the rifle likes them.

N.B. I tend to be a bit skeptical of premium bullets.

The Noslers are excellent, Partitions or Accubonds, either of those from 150 to 175 gr should do the trick, though I tend to prefer 160 gr and above in my 7mm Rem Mag.

I haven't tried them, but the Hornady Eld-X gets rave reviews and might be another option if you are looking to stretch your legs.

bjs1187 said:

I’m hunting spot and stalk spring bear in Montana.

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That sounds like a great trip! MTM above gives you great advice above. Nosler 150 - 160 and see what works best with your rifle. Best of luck!

A 7mm RM with 160NP's will work great on any elk or blk. bear you will ever run onto...

For bigger big game, like moose and brown bear, the 175NP works REALLY well...

DM

If it was me I'd run the 175 nosler partition. That bullet is perfect for elk, has great flight characteristics, and would still be enough bullet if you get in a tight spot with a griz. Not too much for little blackies, and perfect for elk. But I don't have a 7 rm atm, I'd be using my 35 whelen with the partition.

+ 1 for Nosler partitions. Dug this out of a very large brown bear. Performed perfectly and weighs 284 grains out of an original 300 grains.

Small increase in recoil

The partition is the way to go, a lot of manufacturers just rebox their match bullets as hunting rounds. Thin jacket, peanut butter soft core. Its very common to see the core ejected from the jacket on impact with the jacket making it not very deep at all and the core in a million fragments, boat tail designs are prone to this. The partition or a solid copper bullet, see which shoots best and use it with great success.

Obturation said:

a lot of manufacturers just rebox their match bullets as hunting rounds. Thin jacket, peanut butter soft core. Its very common to see the core ejected from the jacket on impact with the jacket making it not very deep at all and the core in a million fragments, boat tail designs are prone to this. .

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I used 168 grain Berger Hunter Match for white tail. Range was about 60 yards. There wasn’t. a piece left bigger than a grain of sand that I could find. Evidently one of the soft lead, thin jacket boat tail ones.