.223, 6mm, and 6.5 failures on big game

[roosiebull]

Why I stopped using the terminal ascent bullet. I’m sure it mushroomed, but man the exit looked like the entrance with minimal damage.

What cartridge? I have used and watched used quite a few TA critters in the 6.5creed and have had pretty good results, wound channels somewhere between an accubond and match bullet. The only one that didn’t make an impressive wound was a low shot on a big bear that didn’t hit anything hard. Also the one time I have been charged by a bear in the brush, haha, which turned into the first time I shot a braked rifle with no hearing protection… and the first time I have shot something with a rifle from the hip.

I will be switching bullets now that we are running out of TA’s, but they have performed well the past few years

 

[eric1115]

Is a 22.250 too small for deer. My grandson is going to start hunting and I have one I've used for coyotes.

Too small? Definitely not. However, depending on the twist rate it may or may not be able to stabilize the best .22 cal projectiles for deer.

1) what's the twist rate on your barrel?
2) do you hand load?

You can definitely get factory loaded mono metal bullets like a Barnes to kill deer reliably, but if you hand load and have a fast twist barrel (1:8" ±) a 77TMK, 80ELDX or 88ELDM would be my preferred bullet.

 

[mtnbound]

Updated Failures from this post.

 

[solarshooter]

Updated Failures from this post.

Do you have an excel version of this?

Edit: Never mind I figured it out!

 

[omicron1792]

What cartridge? I have used and watched used quite a few TA critters in the 6.5creed and have had pretty good results, wound channels somewhere between an accubond and match bullet. The only one that didn’t make an impressive wound was a low shot on a big bear that didn’t hit anything hard. Also the one time I have been charged by a bear in the brush, haha, which turned into the first time I shot a braked rifle with no hearing protection… and the first time I have shot something with a rifle from the hip.

I will be switching bullets now that we are running out of TA’s, but they have performed well the past few years

6.5 PRC. Nothing like match bullet. They don’t separate they just expand. They drive deep and exit for sure. Just small wound channels

That bear rodeo sounds crazy! Glad you’re ok.

 

[FredH]

Updated Failures from this post.

Pretty cool.

 

[FCCDerek]

I would expect the small caliber crowd to attack you for saying you have shot hundreds of deer and killed them all and had no bullet failures. Come on Form. Oh wait. This one fits your narrative so it is probably true.

They all died and were recovered within a very reasonable distance. Based on that I'd say the bullets did what they were made to do.

 

[deerhunter628]

They all died and were recovered within a very reasonable distance. Based on that I'd say the bullets did what they were made to do.

So by your conclusion the only way a bullet can fail is by not having a dead animal? If that is the case it would be pretty hard to ever prove a bullet failure. I dont necessarily disagree with that, but if the animal was not found dead it could be said that it was just a bad shot.

 

[FCCDerek]

So by your conclusion the only way a bullet can fail is by not having a dead animal? If that is the case it would be pretty hard to ever prove a bullet failure. I dont necessarily disagree with that, but if the animal was not found dead it could be said that it was just a bad shot.

Thats my point exactly. You will never know if an animal got away due to a bad shot or a bullet failure. If I shoot an animal, and recover said animal the bullet did it's job. I've killed animals with a ton of different calibers, a few weeks ago I killed a cow elk with a 50 cal muzzleloader. A majority of the animals I killed have been cull kills on bases with a 5.56. Mostly with 55gr FMJ's. Ranges from 5 yards to 250ish. Didn't lose any of them. Thats a terrible bullet to use, but it resulted in dead animals. I honestly think bullet failure for the most part is just people making bad shots and blaming the bullet for not doing its job and making up for poor placement.