Anybody had any experience taking black bear with this load? I've got a bunch of Speer MagTips.

Not exactly. But I have killed a couple of 7' blackies in Galena Bay near Valdez with the .270 Winchester using 150-grain Nosler Partitions from a 20" barrelled .270 Win. carbine. Both 1-shot kills. One at about 40 yardfs, one at 200 + over a salt flat!

The 175's from a 7X57 should do at least as well, or better.

A 175 grain Speer will penetrate thru quite a lot of about anything, with hide or fur.

I have tested and had low velocity 175 grain Remington SPs go thru 12 to 15 inches worth of wood. These were leaving the muzzle at about 2000 fps.

Mag tips are excellent bullets! Not the first sensible choice for BIG bears up in your neighborhood, but a decent 7 x 57 loaded with 175 grainers will take any black bear that ever walked in North America, IMHO.

Good luck with your choice!
Cheers
thunderbolt

I have shot two black bears with the 175 grain RN in the 7x57. One was weighed and went 405# live weight. The other wa sbigger, but I had not help and had to cut it up in the woods, so I never did get to weigh it. COmpared to the 405 bear, I would say around 450# or so.

I use the 175 gr Hawke with 45.5 gr of WW 760 in Winchester or Norma cases, with the WLR primer. This load gives about 2500 fps from a 60 cm barrel. For soem reason it was not written in my reloading log and I did not feel liek digging through the chrono tpae, but it was jus about 2500 even measured at 10' from the muzzle.

I have used these bullets on deer as well. I really like a heavy RN bullet. The Hawkes are not that tough of a bullet, but they open up quickly and hold together like a conventional bullet. They do not have to be as tough when launched at 2500 fps. If you need unltimat epnetration, then go with a Nosler, A frame, Woodliegh or soemthing

The 175 mag tip is an excellent bullet for the 7x57 as is the 175 grain Hornady spire point. I used the latter this year on a deer and two feral hogs. It expanded and penetrated well pushed to just under 2500fps.

Antlers,

You've received alot of great advice from everyone so far.

I shoot 177 grain TIG's (RWS) in my 7x57R and yes, they aren't moving at great speed as measured by today's velocities but they will shoot through about anything you put them up against. You'll notice that most of all the older 6.5 and 7mm catridges used long heavy bullets that will penetrate all manner of game. Plus you're using a real preminum bullet with your Mag Tips, personally I wouldn't hesitate to use that combination on most game.

Cheers,

Gerry

Thanks for all the input! I'll let everyone know how this turns out if I get the opportunity this spring.