.257 wby ammo for black bears

[ChrisK]

I already have one box of 80 grain ttsx, 110 grain accubonds, 115 grain BST and several boxes of 100 grain Spitzers. I was wanting to buy 3 more boxes of ammo to set aside for a black bear hunt next year. Should I buy a couple more boxes of something that I already have or should I go ahead and buy 3 boxes of 120 grain Nosler Partitions?

[fatercat]

nothing but the nosler partitions for deer up to water buff. and grizz. the other stuff is for vermin.

[Lloyd Smale]

I would pass on the 80 barnes bullets. I had some crap luck with them on deer last year. The other two loads you have would cork any blackbear though. Id maybe pick up one box of partitions and take all three to the range and see which shot the best and use that one

[ChrisK]

whats everyones opinion of the 100 grain tsx from barnes. I have googled them and heard of a lot of big critters being shot with them.

[Lloyd Smale]

the problems i had with the 80s was in a 2506. I also loaded the 100s in my 257 and shot two deer with it. Both ran off and i recovered one. I shoot probably 50 deer a year with various guns and have for about the last 10 years. In that time ive never lost a deer. Sure ive had to track a few but always at least found blood. I completely lost two deer last year using tsx bullets and had some serious tracking to do two other times. I know theres guys out there that swear by them but i wouldnt have another shoved up my @@@

[ChrisK]

Right now my set up is going to be .257 WBY Mag., simmons 6.5-20x50, ammo still in question and location unknown.

[yooper77]

I stay away from all Barnes bullets. I witnessed the older Barnes X-bullet fail to expand on a doe antelope out of a 25-06 Remington in Raton, New Mexico. The doe was recovered, but the bullet travelled full length entering the chest and nicked the tail on exit.
 
I hand load 120 grain Nosler Partitions for my friends Weatherby Vanguard in 257 Weatherby Magnum, I cannot think of a better bullet for this cartridge.
 
yooper77

[ChrisK]

I got a press but that is it. Next year  I plan to get into reloading.

[anweis]

Right now my set up is going to be .257 WBY Mag., simmons 6.5-20x50, ammo still in question and location unknown.

You know that you will be shooting the black bear at 50 yards or less, right? In dense brush and low light, where a low powered scope (2x-3x) with a wide field of view, great optics, and heavy reticle is the best? And where heavy, slowish, blunt nosed  bullets are less likely to be deflected by twigs and grass?