.223 for bear, deer, elk and moose.

[MEdude]

Any opinions on a 308 projectile with an effective range to 600 on elk? Thanks

E Arthur Brown offers a sabot that allows for a .22 cal projectile in .30 cal round. (Link provided below)
So I’d recommend a 77 TMK in your .308

Accelerator Type Sabots for .30 Caliber Cartridges (100)

accelerator type sabots for .30 caliber cartridges (100) - shoot 223 cal bullets in 30 cal rifles. Sabots, 30 cal sabots, accelerator sabots, 22 to 30 cal sabots, eabco sabots, 077-SAB.

eabco.com

 

[SouthPaw]

79g DRT hpbt tungsten core (lead free).

160ish pound sow, 2380 fps impact. High shoulder hit resulted in a bang flop. To me it looks like the bullet upset almost immediately and achieved good max wound width (maybe 3" or so?) No exit.

Entry:



Underneath onside shoulder:



Cavity entrance, shoulder removed:



Offside shoulder, and recovered jacket:

 

[flyinsquirel]

“There is no 308, only 223. There is no range, only velocity.”
-Dalai Gator

(Try a different thread)

@PNWGATOR - If this doesn't end up as your sig at the bottom of your posts from now on, we're all gonna be disappointed in you.

 

[roosiebull]

79g DRT hpbt tungsten core (lead free).

160ish pound sow, 2380 fps impact. High shoulder hit resulted in a bang flop. To me it looks like the bullet upset almost immediately and achieved good max wound width (maybe 3" or so?) No exit.

Entry:

View attachment 692452

Underneath onside shoulder:

View attachment 692457

Cavity entrance, shoulder removed:

View attachment 692453

Offside shoulder, and recovered jacket:

View attachment 692456

View attachment 692455

How deep did it penetrate? Cool to see some results with this projectile

 

[Pharmseller]

@PNWGATOR - If this doesn't end up as your sig at the bottom of your posts from now on, we're all gonna be disappointed in you.

 

[SouthPaw]

How deep did it penetrate? Cool to see some results with this projectile

10-12" or so. Found more bullet jacket pieces in the offside shoulder while processing.

If you like what Bergers do, you'll like the DRT. Its unlike any other lead-free option I've used/seen.

 

[cowdisciple]

Good information. Nice to have a nonlead alternative that seems to perform pretty well.

 

[roosiebull]

Thanks SouthPaw, look forward to more results from that projectile, it shows potential with the little bit I’ve seen of them

 

[Rolltide]

Wow, I've went through all 342 pages of this thread, reading most and looking at all of the pics.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed!

It's amazing to see what the little .223s can do! I primarily hunt in Virginia, where .243 is the smallest legal caliber for deer and bear.

I'm still going to put together a RSS because it seems like the perfect tool for a lot of the other places I hunt.

Cheers!

 

[PNWGATOR]

Silly to me there are places that specify caliber restrictions.

Even sillier are the places dictating bullet composition.

 

[wowzers]

Wow, I've went through all 342 pages of this thread, reading most and looking at all of the pics.

Thanks to everyone who has contributed!

It's amazing to see what the little .223s can do! I primarily hunt in Virginia, where .243 is the smallest legal caliber for deer and bear.

I'm still going to put together a RSS because it seems like the perfect tool for a lot of the other places I hunt.

Cheers!

I have a friend back there that has written proposals to your fish and game explaining how your pistol hunting regs make zero sense compared to an arbitrary diameter restriction. Did not gain traction.

 

[justinspicher]

Silly to me there are places that specify caliber restrictions.

Even sillier are the places dictating bullet composition.

Here in colorado we divided on where we can use 223/556. On the east side it’s no issue, use it for everything. On the west side, 223/556 can only be used for coyotes.

 

[bluekiss]

That's true, .223 it’ll kill a deer. But why would you use it knowing it’s extremely limited compared to say 270, 7 mag, 308, etc… love my 223 for predator hunting and target shooting though.

 

[LongWayAround]

That's true, .223 it’ll kill a deer. But why would you use it knowing it’s extremely limited compared to say 270, 7 mag, 308, etc… love my 223 for predator hunting and target shooting though.

You haven't read the thread. Have you?

 

[mt terry d]

That's true, .223 it’ll kill a deer. But why would you use it knowing it’s extremely limited compared to say 270, 7 mag, 308, etc… love my 223 for predator hunting and target shooting though.

Because a 223/TMK combo's limit exceeds my personal abilities, as well as that of
probably 90+% of hunters.

 

[LongWayAround]

Here in colorado we divided on where we can use 223/556. On the east side it’s no issue, use it for everything. On the west side, 223/556 can only be used for coyotes.

I believe you are misunderstanding part e.

The 6mm minimum applies statewide, to my knowledge.

 

[Drenalin]

That's true, .223 it’ll kill a deer. But why would you use it knowing it’s extremely limited compared to say 270, 7 mag, 308, etc… love my 223 for predator hunting and target shooting though.

Can you objectively define the limitations?

 

[JBradley500]

 

[Rolltide]

Silly to me there are places that specify caliber restrictions.

Even sillier are the places dictating bullet composition.

When I was a kid going through the Hunter's Education course, I asked a Game Warden who was there "What makes our deer so much tougher than other deer?"

He looked confused and said they weren't any tougher...a whitetail deer is a whitetail deer.

That's when I asked him why states farther south let hunters use any centerfire rifle cartridge and Virginia says it must be a .243 or larger to be legal...

His response: "Because somebody, somewhere, said that's the rules..."

It didn't make sense to me then and it still doesn't make sense today.

 

[mt100gr.]

That's true, .223 it’ll kill a deer. But why would you use it knowing it’s extremely limited compared to say 270, 7 mag, 308, etc… love my 223 for predator hunting and target shooting though.

I can think of a couple hundred pages worth of reasons to use it confidently.

Probably time to read up...

Enjoy!!