.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

[Cody_W]

I’ve killed a half dozen white tails with a 223 from 50-400 yards all drt. Not a recommended caliber for anything over 2-300 yards though. Wouldn’t try it on elk.

 

[BjornF16]

I’ve killed a half dozen white tails with a 223 from 50-400 yards all drt. Not a recommended caliber for anything over 2-300 yards though. Wouldn’t try it on elk.

What bullet?

 

[Lawnboi]

Green plastic tips are on the press

 

[Cody_W]

What bullet?

I’ve shot two with a 55gr vmax, and the rest with 69gr smks

 

[Slappy]

I have successfully hunted whitetail with .223 for the past 5 years. All the deer I have taken have been with a 70gr Barnes tsx bullet out of an 11.5” BCM AR Pistol. I have no reason to doubt the round I’m using, however thought I would shoot a few different weighted bullets to see what kind of expansion I’m getting. The results are as followed..

From left to right: 70gr Barnes tsx out of a 20” Noveske, 70gr tsx out of a 11.5” BCM, 62gr ttsx 20”, 62gr ttsx 11.5”, 55gr federal law enforcement soft point 20”, 55gr 11.5”






All bullets were shot through a 1 gallon jug into wet newspaper, at 40 yards.

Barnes 70gr tsx with 24gr Varget
Barnes 62gr ttsx with 25.1gr Varget

Overall I’m not disappointed with the expansion from the little 11.5” BCM. I also think I can load those 62gr a little hotter for more expansion.

Hope you all found this interesting!

 

[TheGDog]

How much does that AR Pistol weigh? That's sounding intriguing!

 

[Slappy]

How much does that AR Pistol weigh? That's sounding intriguing!

Don’t know the weight off the top of my head. I’ll try to get it on the scale and give you an update.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I took my 14.5” 5.56, loaded with BH 77 gr TMKs, out after a bear a couple of weeks ago. Unfortunately, no bear made an appearance. I did not feel undergunned.

 

[Lawnboi]

I’m doing it, 100 77 grain tipped muledeer killers loaded and ready to go. Could only get them around 2750 FPS before they are too compressed with varget but shoot well. First week of November should be putting them to work.

 

[Ndbowhunter]

Don’t worry, they hammer game even at 1900fps impact.


I’m so hesitant to even change a thing. BH loads then hot, but if ya gotta roll ur own a 50fps drop in velocity is no big deal.

 

[Lawnboi]

Don’t worry, they hammer game even at 1900fps impact.


I’m so hesitant to even change a thing. BH loads then hot, but if ya gotta roll ur own a 50fps drop in velocity is no big deal.

I just picked up and 8lber of xbr to try to squeeze some more velocity out but don’t feel like working up a load again. I’m setting my max at 400 yards anyways so it dosnt matter. My throat is fairly short in the tikka, as of yet I havnt been able to cram enough varget in a 223 case to cause significant pressure.

Going to shoot a 10 round group for zero, bang the 8” steel plate at 400 and continue to practice positional shooting with the 223.

We shall see how it goes in Montana first week of November.

 

[PNWGATOR]

400 would be my max on elk...the bullet is capable well beyond that on deer if you are.

 

[260madman]

Don’t tell my daughter they don’t work. First deer for her tonight. Small 8pt but it was meant to be. Dropped like the proverbial sack o’ schitt. AR 15 and 62gr TSX a bit over 100yards

 

[justinspicher]

Im jealous. I wanna use my AR15 in 223/556 for hunting animals I want to eat. Not being able to do it is the only thing I don’t care for in Colorado.

 

[ericwh]

Anybody shooting anything with a heavier berger in .223 remington?

 

[Formidilosus]

Anybody shooting anything with a heavier berger in .223 remington?

Yes, but the 77gr TMK, 75, 80, and 88gr ELD-M’s are better.

 

[Formidilosus]

77gr TMK, 148 yards. This is entrance side. It went through right shoulder blade then these ribs.

 

[draebi]

Obviously the 77 TMK is very effective on game but is the ELD-M considered a step down in overall consistency or effectiveness? Also any differences noted between 75, 80, and 88 eld-m on game? ELD-Ms are easier to find, higher BC, and a little cheaper to boot so if showing similar performance on game they seem to be the way to go.

 

[Formidilosus]

They are quite similar. The 88gr ELD-M is worth building a rifle around.

 

[draebi]

They are quite similar. The 88gr ELD-M is worth building a rifle around.

I have some 88s I'm going to try to stabilize in a Tikka 22-250 8 twist but have read mixed results on this. Will be shooting mostly around 1k' elevation. In your experience do they need more twist with that kind of speed?