7MM TCU FOR BEAR

[ilv2hnt]

ANYBODY USED THIS CALIBER FOR BEAR?

IF SO WHAT WAS YOUR CHOICE OF BULLETS??

 I have a 7x30 12" w m/b but it has a tc scope set up on it and don't want to mess with it. 
I was going to use my 7 tcu because of the red -dot I use on it, shot within 40 yards, I have used the 175 grainers on hogs,  but i would rather use something in the 140-150 range (PLAN ON TAKING HEAD SHOT IF POSSIBLE)

[rickyp]

I would not use it, you are talking about an animal that can and will eat you if it gets a chance

[Reed1911]

Hopefully you are asking about small black bears? What power scope is set up on your 7-30W? Unless it is high power, I would choose it over the 7mm TCU if nothing else to ensure good expansion of the bullets. Will the 7mm TCU kill one? Yes. but it would not be my first choice of caliber. I'd say if the scope is too high of magnification on the 7-30, go ahead and pull it off and put the red-dot on it. it will not take much to dial it back in once you re-mount it later.

[ilv2hnt]

OK PEOPLE I GET THE PICTURE, I AM GOING WITH A 45-70 FOR BEAR, I STILL THINK THE 7 TCU WOULD DO THE JOB, I SHOT A DEER WITH THIS IN A 120 GR BULLET AND WENT THROUGH BOTH SHOULDERS AT 75 YARDS, I WOULD ONLY BE SHOOTING BEAR AT 30 OR LESS YARDS

[pastorp]

Come on guys, maybe the habutiated bears where you live but the ones in alaska usually run. It is really a little difficult for me to understand some of the coments you make. Are you really that afraid of a little old black bear. And average black bear might weight 200 lbs. If you can kill a deer with your gun you can kill a bear with it.

Now a brown bear is a little different. But most of you arm chair hunters think a 458 is really too light for them. Get real.  ;DRegards, Byron

[rickyp]

think about it this way if you piss off a deer it will  run from you, if you piss off a bear it will run to you. bears eat meat deer do not. 

[Keith L]

My BIL has killed a number of bears with his bow.  I once asked him if that was dangerous, and he feels he is safer with a bow than with a gun.  While it takes time for the bear to die, with a bow it is unlikely that the bear knows where the shot came from.  With a gun they do.

That said, I am sure with good placement nearly anything will do.  I am not so confident to want to go that small.  To each their own.

[PaulS]

Ilv2hnt,
Are you wanting to hunt grizzley, brown or kodiak bear with this caliber or are you talking about local black bear in your neck of the woods?
You might have a enough gun to kill a black bear (as long as you stay away from head shots) if you use heavy bullets at close range. From the discussion you seem to be wanting to hunt Alaska grizzleys with your 7mm. Can you be specific about what bears you plan on hunting?

[pastorp]

I don't think the original poster even mentioned grizzly. I assume he is hunting black bear.

Rickyp, just out of curosity how many bears have ran at you. I had a black run at me across a clear cut once. Off course I was using a deer call and he ran to the call. He got within about 5yds and it took a few minuits to convince him I was not a deer. When he realized his mistake he left pronto. As long as they are not trapped with no excape route they will usually leave. If they don't it is not that hard to kill them even with a handgun. Another time several of us were on the edge of a small clearing, maybe 100 yds across watching a black bear sow with 3 cubs. The ground went uphill to a little knowl and then fell over the ridgetop into a deep canyon. One of my friends tried to sneak around the side of the clearing to get a picture of the cubs who were almost to the knowl. The sow was in the center of the clearing.
When my friend got about half way to the knowl she charged him. Of course his mistake was he was now closer to the cubs than she would tolerate. He ran back the way he had come as he was unarmed. As soon as he was far enought from the cubs she ran past him and took the cubs on over the ridge into the caynon.  Regards, Byron 

[rickyp]

I personally have never had one charge me, I was Deer  hunting in the mountains of western MD and from my stand I saw another hunter confronted by a black bear. He was afraid for his life (or at least that is what he told the game Warden) when he shot it with a 30-06 and the bear came at him at the sound of the gun fire the hunter had to do a very quick follow up shot.

[ilv2hnt]

I would be hunting BLACK bear in MAINE, but I think PASTORP is right, bears do not habitually attack humans,  as for eating meat,  A BEAR (ESPECIALLY A BLACK BEAR IN MY PART OF THE COUNTRY ANYWAY)  eats more plants than it does meat,  they are an OMNIVORE not a CARNIVORE, oh guess what a RACCOON, OPOSSUM, FOX, COYOTE, THEY EAT MEAT, DO YOU USE A 500 NITRO EXPRESS TO KILL THEM!!!!!

And PAULS yes I do plan on taking a head shot, if possible  HOW GRIZZLY'S GOT BROUGHT UP I DON'T KNOW!!!!
MY TC BOOK STATES THESE FIGURES OUT OF A 14" TC BARREL

7 TCU 130 GRAIN BULLET 2100FPS

7X30 130 GR BULLET    2250 FPS

30-30 135 GR BULLET  2100 FPS

NOW WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE AT 30 YARDS BALLISTICALLY BETWEEN THESE CALIBERS?  THERE IS NOT MUCH OF A MARGIN IN MY EYES!!!  I WILL HAVE A 454 RAGING BULL ON MY SIDE IN CASE I NEED SOME FAST FIRING BACKUP!!!

BLACK bears  not GRIZZLY BEARS!!!!!

[Reed1911]

#1 turn off your caps lock, you are shouting.
#2 I realize you are not a long standing member so you may not know, if you ask a question here expect to hear comments from both sides of the fence and take heart from both.
#3 re-read #2. I happen to agree that your 7mm TCU will likely work, It would not be my first choice but neither would a .22LR after a deer (it will work too). My point is, if your post is getting all kinds of traffic with lots of various answers, try not to post a reply to your own post that sounds so much like you are mad or irritated at the answers you are getting, you'll likely not get anymore answers in the future. Lots of advice here, take it as it comes and sort it out in your own head.

[ilv2hnt]

As for a long standing member, No i have only been a member for a year, but I have been shooting for 20 years with CONTENDERS,  When I use caps lock I am not shouting, this is to bring attention to what is said,  and the reason I haven't made many posts in the year that I have been a member is because there is always someone on here downing the other person

SOME people would fuss if you gave them a million dollars in 100 dollar bills, because they would want it in 20's instead.

When I get varied answers (pm from graybeard stating absolutely not the 7 tcu should not be used for bear it is way too small) and then you stating it is probably usable.  Well you tell me who am I supposed to believe, and I have never killed a bear PERIOD!!!!!   I came here for some advice on what to use,  I have a year before I am going so I thought that I would get some advice, get a barrel , IF NECESSARY, and familiarize myself with it, after working up a load for it, I will probably be either using a red-dot (preferrable for the low light possibility of a shot) or open-sights.
If you are not a gunsmith you wouldn't attempt to totally diassemble a gun and start from scratch with a lathe and build a new one (well I guess there would be some that would)  so if I didn't have any experience in what the question is asking, I sure wouldn't T-R-Y- to answer it.
Please people I am asking for some honest personal opinions here, not a guess, or what my sisters boyfriends cousins stepdad said.

[encore3006]

 

[Redhawk1]

As for a long standing member, No i have only been a member for a year, but I have been shooting for 20 years with CONTENDERS,  When I use caps lock I am not shouting, this is to bring attention to what is said,  and the reason I haven't made many posts in the year that I have been a member is because there is always someone on here downing the other person

SOME people would fuss if you gave them a million dollars in 100 dollar bills, because they would want it in 20's instead.

When I get varied answers (pm from graybeard stating absolutely not the 7 tcu should not be used for bear it is way too small) and then you stating it is probably usable.  Well you tell me who am I supposed to believe, and I have never killed a bear PERIOD!!!!!   I came here for some advice on what to use,  I have a year before I am going so I thought that I would get some advice, get a barrel , IF NECESSARY, and familiarize myself with it, after working up a load for it, I will probably be either using a red-dot (preferrable for the low light possibility of a shot) or open-sights.
If you are not a gunsmith you wouldn't attempt to totally diassemble a gun and start from scratch with a lathe and build a new one (well I guess there would be some that would)  so if I didn't have any experience in what the question is asking, I sure wouldn't T-R-Y- to answer it.
Please people I am asking for some honest personal opinions here, not a guess, or what my sisters boyfriends cousins stepdad said.

If you feel your 7 tcu will work, give it a try. If you feel comfortable with your shooting ability, then go for it.  I just like to use more gun myself. Just use a good quality constructed bullet that gives you good penetration. Good luck in your decision and hunt.

[B_Koes]

At least you made the distinction between black & brown bears for your intended quarry.  Obviously there is a significant difference between what is an adequate hunting cartridge for each species of bear.  Instincts of the black bear are not inclined to be real aggressive however I would not be inclined to use a marginal caliber because you just never know what a wounded animal will do.  With that said, I'm pretty confident that a 7 TCU with proper selected bullets would do the trick especially if ranges are kept to a reasonable distance.  By reasonable distance I think that 125 yards would be the measure...shorter for a bigger animal.

I don't have access to my load manuals at the moment, but I'm pretty sure the 7-30 Waters has more than a 150fps advantage over a 7 TCU with similar bullets and similar length barrel.  Given that, I think it would be a much better choice.

[ilv2hnt]

THANKS FOR THE INFO ENCORE 3006

I agree with the CAP LOCK, next thing you know they will be making us do a back ground check on buying a computer, I am trying to figure out whether to register it as a PISTOL OR RIFLE

and thenak to you REDHAWK, by the way, that was a nice bear you took, and the one your buddy took was pretty awesome too.

[Redhawk1]

THANKS FOR THE INFO ENCORE 3006

I agree with the CAP LOCK, next thing you know they will be making us do a back ground check on buying a computer, I am trying to figure out whether to register it as a PISTOL OR RIFLE

and thenak to you REDHAWK, by the way, that was a nice bear you took, and the one your buddy took was pretty awesome too.

I am going back to Maine on Sept 10th and hope to have another successful hunt. I am still deciding weather to use my 460 Mag or my 45-70...

[pastorp]

ilv2hnt, So what did you decide to use? Regards, Byron 

By the way just talked to a friend in Maine this morning. Said his father-in-law missed a shot at a good bear last evening. bow hunting of course.