.223 for bear, deer, elk and moose.

[ThatDUDE]

It's not the mature bull I was hoping to post on here, but another bull elk data point.

Tikka T3X lite .223, SWFA 3-9, and AAC factory 77 grain TMKs

The shot was 90 yards broadside (~2,530 fps on impact), about 1" behind the shoulder.View attachment 613886After the shot, the bull ran straight up a steep, rocky knob. I briefly thought something like, "OH no, that little .22 bullet bounced off the elk!," but he went down after about 45 yards. He was lying on the ground within 10 seconds of the shot and lying still within 1 minute.

View attachment 613887
The bullet did not pass through, but seemed to liquify everything in the vital area. I lost a little meat from the very back of the entrance side shoulder. I was a little worried when I pulled back the shoulder that I was going to lose it all, but the inside of it was just covered with that red jello stuff (TMK soup?) and most of the meat was fine. If my shot had been 3-4" farther back I don't think I would have lost any meat.
View attachment 613889
With the shoulder and hide removed you could see a golf ball sized entry hole.
View attachment 613890
There was no blood trail to follow (unnecessary in this case), but there was TMK soup all over the place around the bull.

Overall, I was happy with the performance of the setup and look forward to using it on other animals. Thanks Roksliders for helping to open my mind to something that no one I know would have thought was a good idea. Let's keep this thread on track with lots of damage pics this hunting season!

Gives me even more confidence in the little 6 ARC I am putting together. Congratulations and thanks for posting this.

 

[Formidilosus]

It's not the mature bull I was hoping to post on here, but another bull elk data point.

That’s a bad ass bull, don’t caveat it.

Overall, I was happy with the performance of the setup and look forward to using it on other animals. Thanks Roksliders for helping to open my mind to something that no one I know would have thought was a good idea. Let's keep this thread on track with lots of damage pics this hunting season!

Good job all the way around.

 

[Formidilosus]

View attachment 613943

100% positive

Velocity was running about 2,710-2,720 during load workup with Alliant 2000MR

Was right around 2,700 when I re-checked zero two days ago (colder weather may account for that, or just normal SD, or both?)

Impact should have been right around 2,000 fps or a bit above per Strelok and drop was right on per Strelok as well. No way it could have been sub-1,600 impact.

Thanks for your input, I appreciate it; you have magnitudes more experience with results than I do. I was wondering if I overestimated what I'd seen in all the pics, or it really was less than typical.

Appreciate the confirmation. While that wound is still certainly effective, I believe you will find that it was an outlier and they tend to be quite a bit more destructive.

 

[Wrangler13]

Got some 69grn tmk loaded up for the Kimber today. Shot pretty close to the point of impact the 62grn ttsx were shooting to. Anyone word on how the 69 compare to the 77?

 

[Pharmseller]

.223 not legal for elk in Oregon.

Deer, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope yes.

No elk, bighorn sheep, or Rocky Mountain goat.

 

[Tmac]

.223 not legal for elk in Oregon.

Deer, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope yes.

No elk, bighorn sheep, or Rocky Mountain goat.

Just get a fast twist .243 bore. I just got a 6ARC in a Howa Mini action.

 

[Pharmseller]

Just get a fast twist .243 bore. I just got a 6ARC in a Howa Mini action.

I hunt with the Mighty 7mm-08.



P

 

[PNWGATOR]

.223 not legal for elk in Oregon.

Deer, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope yes.

No elk, bighorn sheep, or Rocky Mountain goat.

You live in a bad place.

 

[JPeters218]

You guys really have me debating re-barreling my .308 before I even shot anything with it. To pair with my 6 creed

 

[PNWGATOR]

You guys really have me debating re-barreling my .308 before I even shot anything with it. To pair with my 6 creed

Don’t do that.

Everyone needs a .308 too.

Just budget for and buy a .223.

 

[atmat]

You guys really have me debating re-barreling my .308 before I even shot anything with it. To pair with my 6 creed

You’d be re-barreling and looking to trade bolts. That’s a lot of work when a new stainless 223 can be had for $770 new.

 

[Hoosker Doo]

Well done and thank you for sharing your experience!

It’s funny how bullets work.

Had a good friend kill a 6x6 today with a 175 ELDX out of a 7PRC at 228 yards. He shot the bull three times. Twice through the lungs and once through the heart. Not a single projectile exited. Not a single drop of blood.

What did the elk do? I'm just curious because I've had great success with the 162 gr ELD X.

And from what I've seen in this thread, wouldn't you expect similar performance from the TMK of no exit and not much blood trail, but (the possible exception depending on what your friend found) total destruction inside?

(Honest questions - no hostility implied at all)

 

[JPeters218]

You’d be re-barreling and looking to trade bolts. That’s a lot of work when a new stainless 223 can be had for $770 new.

Good point, I would’ve figured that out when the time came. Just meant replace essentially

 

[PNWGATOR]

What did the elk do? I'm just curious because I've had great success with the 162 gr ELD X.

And from what I've seen in this thread, wouldn't you expect similar performance from the TMK of no exit and not much blood trail, but (the possible exception depending on what your friend found) total destruction inside?

(Honest questions - no hostility implied at all)

Elk was dead on it’s feet and he kept shooting.

Similar performance with a 223?

Maybe.

However, if it’d continued to stand there it’d have been shot more than three times.

Guess my only point is that bullets matter.

 

[Hoosker Doo]

Similar performance with a 223?

Maybe.

Obviously size and velocity make a difference but after seeing @sargent 's bull, overall similar performance.

Guess my only point is that bullets matter.

Exactly, that's why I was dreading the ELD-X failure story that went along with it because that's what I've chosen to use for my larger calibers, and have been happy with the performance for the last few years.

 

[xrangerx]

.223 not legal for elk in Oregon.

Deer, bear, cougar, pronghorn antelope yes.

No elk, bighorn sheep, or Rocky Mountain goat.

Not legal for anything other than Cougar in WA I believe

 

[Pharmseller]

Not legal for anything other than Cougar in WA I believe

Dang, you’re right, I just looked it up.



P

 

[DJL2]

The mighty 7mm-08 can still push the 160 TMK… when you need it REALLY dead. ;-)

I might be wrong, but I think 6.5 and the 130 TMK is the smallest you can go and be 50 state legal.

 

[The Guide]

The mighty 7mm-08 can still push the 160 TMK… when you need it REALLY dead. ;-)

I might be wrong, but I think 6.5 and the 130 TMK is the smallest you can go and be 50 state legal.

Some eastern states with "novel" elk herds require .270 caliber minimum.

Jay

 

[Axlrod]

Good point, I would’ve figured that out when the time came. Just meant replace essentially

You could re-barrel to a 22 Bench Rest, and use your existing bolt. The 22 BR should be able to get to 3100 fps with 77 gr. bullets.