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

Jim1187

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 7, 2020
Messages
214
Location
New Brunswick, Canada
I know the larger diameter scenars have a pretty good reputation but what about the .224 versions, 69 grain in particular?
They're readily available unlike just about every other .224 projectile and locally cost less than tmks. Not to mention they shoot very well.
 

Bcleck90

WKR
Joined
Jul 2, 2017
Messages
882
Location
Alabama
@Formidilosus I’ve been shooting shoulders with 75gr gold dots with little blood trails. (20-30 yards max) on deer size animals. Any reason to do anything different with 77gr. TMK? I like breaking shoulders but not a ton of blood from my experience with gold dots. Where are you shooting broadside +/- animals with TMK? Shoulder or behind?
 

260madman

WKR
Joined
Dec 15, 2017
Messages
1,211
Location
WI
I’m getting 3100 fps with this bullet and TAC out of my Tikka .223.




P

I'd love to see a photo of the rifle & chrono reading, because you're beating everyone else by about 400fps.....🤔

I’ll be honest. I can hit 3000fps with a 75gr Amax from a 26” barrel 223. I’ll only be able to prime the brass once because the pockets get extremely loose with that load, but I hit 3000fps. 3100? Umm…
 

Formidilosus

Super Moderator
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Oct 22, 2014
Messages
9,908
I know the larger diameter scenars have a pretty good reputation but what about the .224 versions, 69 grain in particular?
They're readily available unlike just about every other .224 projectile and locally cost less than tmks. Not to mention they shoot very well.


There is a lot of info in this thread about most bullets, but short answer is- they will kill, but are a bit erratic and don’t produce the largest wounds- like most HPBT match bullets. Would not be my choice.



@Formidilosus I’ve been shooting shoulders with 75gr gold dots with little blood trails. (20-30 yards max) on deer size animals. Any reason to do anything different with 77gr. TMK? I like breaking shoulders but not a ton of blood from my experience with gold dots. Where are you shooting broadside +/- animals with TMK? Shoulder or behind?

Generally behind scapula, however they go through bone without issue. Tissue damage and hence meat loss will be on the extreme end however.
 

amassi

WKR
Joined
May 26, 2018
Messages
3,878
I'd love to see a photo of the rifle & chrono reading, because you're beating everyone else by about 400fps.....
Just mix a little true blue with the tac and use an electric toothbrush to settle the load.

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk
 

Rooggvc

WKR
Joined
Aug 8, 2022
Messages
611
223AI and 88 ELD m tally so far for the weekend is one bull moose at 175 yards - both shoulders and bullet caught under the hide, one coyote this morning at 257 yards - bullet in beside the tail and out the neck, and a black bear at 151 yards - both shoulders broken and an exit.
What kind of velocity are you getting out of the 223 AI?
 

chamois

FNG
Joined
Mar 1, 2021
Messages
70
@Formidilosus
Hola Formid…
I am already thinking in my next 22-250 rebarrel… Would you twist it 1:8” or tighter?
I am extremely happy with 1:8” 22-250 shooting 77 TMK both accuracy and performance wise but I admit to be interested in 88gr ELDMs which may shoot in a 1:8” but that would be better served in a 1:7” or at least a 1:7.5”, I think.
Also, one day all this hoarding of supplies shall be over and with your help we might see a 90gr TMK!
So, would you go 1:8” or would you go tighter?
Like I said, cartridge is a 22-250.
Thank You!
Alvaro
 
Joined
Dec 20, 2019
Messages
1,123
@Formidilosus
Hola Formid…
I am already thinking in my next 22-250 rebarrel… Would you twist it 1:8” or tighter?
I am extremely happy with 1:8” 22-250 shooting 77 TMK both accuracy and performance wise but I admit to be interested in 88gr ELDMs which may shoot in a 1:8” but that would be better served in a 1:7” or at least a 1:7.5”, I think.
Also, one day all this hoarding of supplies shall be over and with your help we might see a 90gr TMK!
So, would you go 1:8” or would you go tighter?
Like I said, cartridge is a 22-250.
Thank You!
Alvaro
What kind of on game results are people getting with the 88 ELDM?
 

KHntr

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 24, 2014
Messages
165
Location
Northern British Columbia
What kind of velocity are you getting out of the 223 AI?
I have multiple 223AI’s to be honest, built on Sako/Remington/Kimber rifles.

With the latest one (Remington) and 88’s I’m at 2740 fps. I could probably get more speed but I basically did load “development” by finding pressure and then backing off some and making a handful to confirm. First five shots made one ragged hole so called it good enough and shot the rest at 800 to get an idea of velocity for the dope.

With the Kimber and moly’d 75’s I’m at 2980 fps. Brass life isn’t spectacular though, maybe 5 reloads on average with Lapua brass and no annealing. The 1:9 twist is on the bubble for stability though I think.
 

KHntr

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 24, 2014
Messages
165
Location
Northern British Columbia
What kind of on game results are people getting with the 88 ELDM?
So far seems to be about 20+ inches of penetration with a hole almost the diameter of a pop can bored through the rib cage. Bear and moose rib cages pictured. Exit hole in the bear hide was *maybe* 0.3”. Wouldn’t have left much of a blood trail. Entrance holes on the bigger stuff I don’t think a person could find, but on a coyote where you immediately hit bone under the hide there is definitely a blood trail from the entrance.

88’s are not exactly fur friendly as exits less than 10” from the entrance look to be around 6” or so through hide. (Sample of 4 though. 75% had big exits, the other had 20” of penetration and exited with a 1/2” hole).
 

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Joined
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So far seems to be about 20+ inches of penetration with a hole almost the diameter of a pop can bored through the rib cage. Bear and moose rib cages pictured. Exit hole in the bear hide was *maybe* 0.3”. Wouldn’t have left much of a blood trail. Entrance holes on the bigger stuff I don’t think a person could find, but on a coyote where you immediately hit bone under the hide there is definitely a blood trail from the entrance.

88’s are not exactly fur friendly as exits less than 10” from the entrance look to be around 6” or so through hide. (Sample of 4 though. 75% had big exits, the other had 20” of penetration and exited with a 1/2” hole).
That is nasty!
 
Joined
Nov 12, 2022
Messages
18
Location
Arkansas
I finally made it to the end! Thanks to all for sharing some eye opening info.

I've been contemplating getting a new hunting rifle soon, and am looking something that I could also use for some light long range practice. I was looking at the Sig Cross in 6.5 Creed, but it doesn't look like the accuracy is too great. I think I've settled on a CTR and Bravo stock, but not sure I want a 6.5 with how expensive reloading components are for it. Why doesn't Tikka make a CTR in .223? Maybe I should go with a Howa action in .223 or a lighter Tikka? What do you guys suggest?
 
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