Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting trophy bonded bear claw

Great bullet for Elk, but just from what I read on the ballistics I would want at least 280/284 case capacity for a bullet of that weight. I would go with the 140gr TSX myself in the 7-08. I know the mauser got it done for years, but it has more room to work with than the -08 at higher pressures.
But then again barrels differ greatly. What kind of velocity are you getting?

Not in the ones my buddy has shot.

For what it's worth, my spent bullet shown above busted the front shoulder, quartering on, and was recovered in the dern pelvic canal right next to the bladder! Now thats some kind of penetration!
Straydog, The first time I used TBBC's on an elk hunt, I came home afterward with about 15 rounds left over in my 300 Jarrett. I used them for deer that fall, culling does mostly, with a couple of nice bucks thrown in...basically, they were indeed, a little too tough. I had complete penetration on each deer, with the impression (my impression only..I could be wrong) that the bullet had not began expanding, or had not fully expanded, by the time it exited. I had to blood trail many of them...really just about all of them. One of the bucks was taken through both shoulders and I had to chase him forever. These were 30 cal, 180 grain bullets. Just my opinion, but they were a little stout for whitetails. Friends shooting a light for caliber TBBC in their 7/08's reported great results on whitetails though..so there ya go.

Now now, I wasn't putting down the 7/08 and I'm read of the Haviland family's exploits with the caliber as related in John's article on the cartridge and repeated here numerous times

That's my thought too....excellent bullet, just a tad expensive for me when plain old SP's have worked so well for me at much less cost.

I think they'd work fine on large mule deer and whitetails,but like most premiums, they'll work better the faster you hustle them.

I was at one of the local gun shops recently and think I remember seeing a box of 200 gr 30 cals,old style; I think unopened.Anybody wants them PM me and if I'm up that way,and they are still there, I'll grab them for you.Probably work REAL good for a 300 RUM at 3200 fps!

I agree with you there Bob, no doubts they'll do a great job. It's just hard for me to justify switching to them (and their cost) when SP's have worked so well for me on deer.

As a side note, anyone who doesn't load, Midway is having a clearance on the Federal 140 grn TBBC's in 270 Win:

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=498254&t=11082005

Sportsmans Whorehouse in GJ was selling their last few boxes of Federal HE 165 grain TBBC last fall for $20 a box on a closeout. I bought the last five boxes they had.

Bean

Thanks for the input. I agree with BobinNH comment about fast premiums, the faster 165 Bearclaw may be better for an Elk/Deer combo.

The 165 gr TBBC load in the 30-06 is a good one and then some, shot nothing but in my limited shooting of a 30-06. My guess with the new generation of TBBC Federal is now making in a year or two their will be a new 165 gr TBBC loading for the 30-06. I been thinking about adding a 30-06 barrel to my R-93 Blaser. For the question asked, yep it will be fine in the 7mm-08, then again any good bullet out of that cartridge, from 140 gr on up will work just fine. I think a 140 gr Nosler Partition would be just the ticket in the 7mm 08 / 7mm x 57. Don't over look 160gr Nosler Partitions or Speer SP's if you handload. If Barne's X's shoot for you in your rifle a 120 to 140 gr bullet will be all you need.

Your'e welcome StrayDog....I'll bet the 165's would be a good deer bullet....I will stick with my lifetime supply of old recipie 180's for my elk though. My 7/08 buddy that was having so much luck with his TBBC's on deer was shooting 120 grain bullets if I am not mistaken....all I remember was that they were not the usual 140's...and they were like a stick of dynamite on deer.

Good choice

M1: I understand....no need to go crazy with real expensive bullets for deer hunting.I have alot of premiums and use them,but mostly I just stick in a Partition and stuff just rolls over....

That said.....my order of 130 Swift Aframes for the 270 just arrived....

Recently saw a video on a moose shot with a 7mm-08 and a 160 TBBC

I will look as soon as I post, and send it your way action!

Saw it on a different forum on if the TBBC was a good moose bullet.

Needless to say it was a double shoulder shot and the big racked fellow slumped a bit and tipped over with a single shot.

FMP

FMP, I would love to see that video, cant wait to see you post it.

I love the TBBC for a all-around hunting bullet. I have only used them in a .35 Whelen in the form of factory ammo, but have taken over 10 animals with that bullet and cartridge, ranging from steinbuck to eland and moose with great performance each time. I shoot and load a 7mm-08, and my only thought might be to use the 140 gr. weight, saving the 160 for the .280 case size and upward.

In regards to whether it is too tough for deer--my only experience was on a good sized Mulie a couple of years ago. Initial shot was at 260yds with complete penetration. I had to give him "coup de grace" at about 30yds--penciled right thru him with exit hole same as entrance. Didn't particularly like that, but the initial shot at distance worked well--Bill

I'm not sure which of the Bearclaws you were using. My experiences have been quite different. I have used them in two '06's and my .338. I haven't shot a deer with a 225 TBBC in the 35 Whelen yet. I don't have much doubt it will work though.

With a 165 standard velocity I shot a coyote running away at a quartering angle. He was hit just in front of the LR leg and out the ribs a few inches behind the right shoulder. 4 in exit wound.

With a 180 Bearclaw HE load shooting down on a blacktail buck in a clearcut. It broke the spine and angled out through it's right shoulder. Excellent expansion, No bullet chips to speak of lungs full of blood.

A 225 Bearclaw HE at 240 ranged yards on a Mulie Doe. Through LF shoulder and out mid ribs. Humped up, trotted twenty yards +- and keeled over.

Next to and in some ways,equal to the 130 grain Nosler out of the .270 Winchester,it is a great bullet for Elk and I would not hesitate to use it Elk hunting again in the 270.

Don't get much better than the TBBC on Elk although I am a Nosler guy.

Jayco

The TBBC is an excellent Elk bullet. I used a 165gr TBBC out of my 06 last year on a cow elk. I broke one shoulder,it made soup of everything inside,broke a rib as it exited and was sitting in the bark of a tree on the other side. It was a perfect mushroom and weighed close to 160gr.