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

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Oct 8, 2012
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Yes- not sure if the tmk would enjoy 3500+fps.
I use 88 eld-m around 3300 but just for targets and coyotes. It's pretty explosive on dogs though

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Was thinking the 85gr Berger hybrids! What twist rate are you running?
 

amassi

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My plan for the next rifle was a 6 creed that would eventually be my boys... but this talk has made me want to build a 22 cm for 77 gr LRXs.
I'd stick with the 6mm, better bc if you want to sling lead free barnes

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Jim1187

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How well does Hornady's 60 grain HP work? I have a pile and they shoot fantastic in every .223 and .22-250 I have loaded them in but have not had anything but crows and woodchucks allow me to try them on. I am going to load some for coyotes and the lack of components, in particular my favorite Speer gold dots, up here got me wondering. In the days before we knew better and had better options the SP version worked pretty reliably on game curious if they compare. I suppose if I have to I can slum a 60 grain partition or 75 grain Scirocco since I have some on hand if supplies don't improve by the time I feel the need to go "stunt shooting" again.
 

Lawnboi

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22 cal TMK are on sale at midway and in stock. Just grabbed another 500 of the 60s for 16 cents a pop I figure they will make good prairie dog/coyote and range billets.
 

Blaw

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Oct 9, 2017
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Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Well you SOBs talked me into it! Haha!!

d1387371ece1fd7837e7232dc0febb43.jpg



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yea me too...Cant hunt big game around here with them tho unless something has changed
pumped for the practice...maybe head shot some small game/coyotes

20201220_222257.jpg
 

Formidilosus

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Shoot2HuntU
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Four elk were killed with 77gr TMK’s from 223’s this year.

1st- 258 yards. Onside shoulder was broken and a near a total loss, less than 5yd traveled after hit-
27235D2D-99DD-48AF-83AD-CFF98D745AEF.jpeg

Offside, significant damage to scapula. Excellent damage to lungs, with 3”+ permanent wound channel through chest-
F5EA6B5D-85E2-415E-BAA5-1055496C76FF.jpeg



2nd, 284 yards, onside shoulder with significant damage to meat and scapula, 2”+ permanent wound channels through chest, 50’ish yards traveled-
83361D17-B75C-4114-89DE-E6E5375462FE.jpeg

FAEFF3B4-7B44-476B-A554-16546C0F358C.jpeg



3rd- 195 yards, onside shoulder, traveled 113yards, lots of blood-
E477B94C-1EA9-414B-8137-35E114DD4923.jpeg


Ribs- you could almost fit your fist through the hole into the chest. Lots of damage with 4”+ permanent wound channel-
C2F7F7B6-7B8A-4526-B4B0-BE681094BC3F.jpeg



4th- 427 yards, onside shoulder was broken, flopped for less than 50 yards and stopped with head down and butt in air, second hit broke spine-
7B726FA6-17AB-4F29-B4DA-E90AB50E255C.jpeg

Ribs behind scapula, and around a 1.5” permanent wound channel through the chest-
5D1FF885-E8B3-4C9D-95D2-4FDE4618E5CC.jpeg
 
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Formidilosus

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Shoot2HuntU
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As I’ve stated from the beginning- for me, the 223/77gr TMK combo is completely sufficient for killing quickly and without fuss, any animal in NA save maybe a Bison, to approximately 1,900fps impact speed, which is around 450 yards. From 0-300’ish yards (above 2,200fps impact) wounds are absolutely devastating, and no one has wanted “more”. From about 300 to 450 yards (2,200 to 1,900fps impact) wounds resemble a lot of standard C&C bullets from 308/270/3006/etc.

Penetration will be 18-22” unless major bones are hit, then impact speed comes into play. On deer expect exits unless major bone is hit. On antelopes expect exits on any normal shot. On bear, exits will be about 50/50. On elk, expect bullets to make it through the near side Humerus/scapula, and to the offside ribs.
 

CorbLand

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Mar 16, 2016
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Shit. This is really making me second guess getting the 6.5PRC for my wife...may just have to order a .223...shucks.
 
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Feb 17, 2017
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Four elk were killed with 77gr TMK’s from 223’s this year.

1st- 258 yards. Onside shoulder was broken and a near a total loss, less than 5yd traveled after hit-
View attachment 244994

Offside, significant damage to scapula. Excellent damage to lungs, with 3”+ permanent wound channel through chest-
View attachment 244996



2nd, 284 yards, onside shoulder with significant damage to meat and scapula, 2”+ permanent wound channels through chest, 50’ish yards traveled-
View attachment 244998

View attachment 244999



3rd- 195 yards, onside shoulder, traveled 113yards, lots of blood-
View attachment 245000


Ribs- you could almost fit your fist through the hole into the chest. Lots of damage with 4”+ permanent wound channel-
View attachment 245001



4th- 427 yards, onside shoulder was broken, flopped for less than 50 yards and stopped with head down and butt in air, second shot broke spine-
View attachment 245002

Ribs behind scapula, and around a 1.5” permanent wound channel through the chest-
View attachment 245004

Were these bulls or cows?


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Formidilosus

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Shoot2HuntU
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Were these bulls or cows?


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Those were cows. Though I haven’t seen anything that says it matters. A bull will have an inch or two more muscle on the forelegs, the scapula and humerus aren’t different enough to matter.
 
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Those were cows. Though I haven’t seen anything that says it matters. A bull will have an inch or two more muscle on the forelegs, the scapula and humerus aren’t different enough to matter.
I didn’t figure it mattered either. Just asking for posterity mainly. Great post.
 

Formidilosus

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Shoot2HuntU
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I didn’t figure it mattered either. Just asking for posterity mainly. Great post.

Yeah. It’s stated constantly that “so and so is ok for cows, but for bulls you need....”.
Yet from a physiological perspective I haven’t seen enough difference between them to matter. Any projectile that will make it through the scapula and to the offside ribs on a mature cow, will do so on a bull as well.
 

mmw194287

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As I’ve stated from the beginning- for me, the 223/77gr TMK combo is completely sufficient for killing quickly and without fuss, any animal in NA save maybe a Bison, to approximately 1,900fps impact speed, which is around 450 yards. From 0-300’ish yards (above 2,200fps impact) wounds are absolutely devastating, and no one has wanted “more”. From about 300 to 450 yards (2,200 to 1,900fps impact) wounds resemble a lot of standard C&C bullets from 308/270/3006/etc.

I've been curious about shooting the 77 TMK through a 22 Creedmoor to keep impact velocity high and wounds devastating out to 500 or so with a short barrel (maybe 18"?). Just throwing out rough numbers here, but if I had them leaving the muzzle at 3200 fps, they'd maintain that 2,200+ threshold out to 550-575 yards. They'd also, however, be moving pretty fast if I had a 100-200 yard shot at an animal.

What is the terminal performance like with an impact around 3000 fps? Explosive, I'm sure--but enough so that you'd lose a significant degree of penetration? Any concerns with them being too "splashy" in faster cartridges than the .223?
 

Formidilosus

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I've been curious about shooting the 77 TMK through a 22 Creedmoor to keep impact velocity high and wounds devastating out to 500 or so with a short barrel (maybe 18"?). Just throwing out rough numbers here, but if I had them leaving the muzzle at 3200 fps, they'd maintain that 2,200+ threshold out to 550-575 yards. They'd also, however, be moving pretty fast if I had a 100-200 yard shot at an animal.

What is the terminal performance like with an impact around 3000 fps? Explosive, I'm sure--but enough so that you'd lose a significant degree of penetration? Any concerns with them being too "splashy" in faster cartridges than the .223?

They work. But at 3,000fps and above impact speed, expect 12” or so of penetration. That doesn’t bother me because 12” is enough to break animals down, and at close range, picking a shot isn’t hard.
 
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JBradley500

Lil-Rokslider
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Feb 15, 2020
Messages
296
What factory bolt guns do you guys use to shoot those 77TMKs? This thread is pretty enlightening.
 

amassi

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May 26, 2018
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What factory bolt guns do you guys use to shoot those 77TMKs? This thread is pretty enlightening.
Anything with an 8 twist or faster. Tikka when you can find them tends to be the general consensus

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