7x57R capercaillie load help needed.

[JPBlaser]

Hello All,

I'm trying to prepare a load for a Blaser BBF97 in 12/70 over 7x57R.
The idea is to be able to shoot the bird without destroying it so the taxidermist can do his job.
I was thinking of 7mm Fox training monolithic bullet with the lowest velocity I can possibly get.
What do you think? Is there any need to reduce the velocity or normal velocity will also work?
Thanks.

Best regards,
Jordan.

[Vaughan]

I've never shot a caper for the taxidermist, so I might be wrong, and excuse me if I say stuff that is obvious,,.... but my guess is the main issue will be to miss the main shoulder joint and wing bones. So if you target a bit lower or further down from the "shoulder" than you might target for meat hunting you should be fine regardless of velocity with that mono bullet. The risk of course is if you drop too low you miss the heart area and loose the bird in the forest. But doubtless you know that already.

We finally have some snow here and I was thinking to go out today to check if there were any birds up in the tops but it's a bit windy. So instead I'm sitting here watching a big eagle out in my field tearing up and eating a fox carcass.

[AWS]

I havent shot large birds to save for a taxidermist but have killed a lot of fox when the pelts were worth $100/ea and used cast lead bullets over shotgun powder in a 300 Savage, Load data is in the Lyman Cast bullet handbook. They have data for the 7x57 also.

Hopefully some of the turkey hunters that can use rifles will chime in as they want to kill them without destroying meat. Rifles are only allowed in a few states here.

[analog_peninsula]

Why not try a Barnes TSX loaded backwards loaded to cast bullet velocities? If it will chamber easily, it should be simple to make work, and you will have a nice flat point solid.