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

My daughter and I have had really good luck with 62 gr TTSXs on whitetails, but none were much past 100 yards. She used 77 gr TMKs last year with equal success but stretched the range a bit.
Your experience is noteworthy as the 62 TTSX is likely the best Barnes of that caliber and likely one of the best monos in 223 and you have experience with the bullet of this thread. How did the wound channels compare in your experience?
 
Your experience is noteworthy as the 62 TTSX is likely the best Barnes of that caliber and likely one of the best monos in 223 and you have experience with the bullet of this thread. How did the wound channels compare in your experience?
This is from a whitetail I shot with a 62 gr TTSX. I took the photo to show a friend what a bullet should do after he had watched me pencil a 210 gr Berger out of a 300 RUM through another doe.



C1E74A8D-2DA7-42F9-B44F-9B16BE15211E.jpeg
 
Are you guys setting OAL for the 77gr TMKs near the lands or with a jump. I’m shooting a Montana and have a load that’s very near an inch at 100 yards with a .025” jump. Closing it up to about .005” (measured at the ogive) and will try again tomorrow. Curious what’s working for you.
 
Are you guys setting OAL for the 77gr TMKs near the lands or with a jump. I’m shooting a Montana and have a load that’s very near an inch at 100 yards with a .025” jump. Closing it up to about .005” (measured at the ogive) and will try again tomorrow. Curious what’s working for you.

Everything I’ve shot has been AR mag length.
 
BakPakr, Powder?
That group was shot with factory Black Hills.

In my daughter’s Tikka, I am using Tac for the 77 gr TMKs. I haven’t tried those loads in the AR due to the bullet being seated out too far (Mountain Tactical magazine in the Tikka). I am using the Tac because that was what I was able to grab when the powder shortage started. I have been watching for 8208 XBR. My reloads shoot a little better in the Tikka than the factory ammo but the Tikka still doesn’t shoot as well as this particular AR.
 
5.56 chamber 16" 1/7 BBL
LC 1x fired brass, CCI 450 SRM primer
2.260 COAL, no crimp


I've so far loaded some test rounds with the 77tmk starting at 22.3gr of 8208. Up to 23.1 in .2gr increments. 22.3, 22.5, 22.7 all shot well, and the group was all really tight across that powder range. Really just one sub 1" group. Once I got to 22.9 and 23.1 the group opened up. I still don't see pressure signs. In your guys opinion, should I back down and just load at 22.5gr or keep going up and see if the group comes back together? I know I need the speed to keep the bullet doing its job. Realistically I'm not shooting a deer with this past 300, and that would be a stretch for where I hunt with a rifle here.
 
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I don't have a 233 or CM. But has anyone tried a 30cal 175 tmk on elk? I'm wondering if it would do too much meat damage, considering what those 223/deer pictures look like
 
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