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

[ID_Matt]

If you're wanting light, why go for the X-Ray?

Why not put that into a better scope than an Arken ... or just ditch the Arken, and use the X-Ray for a comp gun build?

Don't necessarily want/need it to be super light. Most of my guns are chassis, so i wanted to stay with that trend and give the x-ray a try. As for the arken, I have heard good things and wanted to test one myself. This gun is likely going to spend more time shooting steel or varmints than it will hiking up a mountain.

 

[Mulyhuntr]

I will have MDT mags that can load to 2.55 COAL, so the mags won't limit me but am afraid the short throat might



I'll admit, I was probably last to the party on the ID handle. I figured before I offended the almighty 223 WKR's, I would try and hide my real name as much as I could before my house got egged or something.

Short throat will limit you with Varget and 75eld. H4895 is 130fps faster with zero pressure signs.

 

[Thisisdenny]

Just got an in stock notification:

MidwayUSA 69gr tmk

 

[id_jon]

Natchez has 100ct 69gr tmk's as well.

 

[Juan_ID]

Natchez has 100ct 69gr tmk's as well.

 

[Tobe_B]

I'm currently on page 86 of this post. And I'm trying to read through the entire thread, but I have a question that may or may not have been covered already. I tried searching and couldn't quite find the answer in here.

.223 isn't legal here in Colorado for big game. I'm looking at getting either a .308 or a 6.5CM only calibers offered in the rifle I'm interested in buying. I can find 168gr TMK in .308 but no TMK offerings in the 6.5CM. Seems like the ELD-M would also be a suitable bullet choice in either caliber. If I go with the 6.5 the barrel has 1:8 and the .308 has a 1:10 twist. Is the 1:10 twist enough to stabilize the TMK in the .308?

 

[BBob]

Is the 1:10 twist enough to stabilize the TMK in the .308?

10 is more than enough for 168 TMK’s. You could easily get away with a 12.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

I'm currently on page 86 of this post. And I'm trying to read through the entire thread, but I have a question that may or may not have been covered already. I tried searching and couldn't quite find the answer in here.

.223 isn't legal here in Colorado for big game. I'm looking at getting either a .308 or a 6.5CM only calibers offered in the rifle I'm interested in buying. I can find 168gr TMK in .308 but no TMK offerings in the 6.5CM. Seems like the ELD-M would also be a suitable bullet choice in either caliber. If I go with the 6.5 the barrel has 1:8 and the .308 has a 1:10 twist. Is the 1:10 twist enough to stabilize the TMK in the .308?

Just get the creedmoor. 130+ elds of all types are proven killers. Tmks are super hard to find in any useful configuration.

 

[clperry]

I'm currently on page 86 of this post. And I'm trying to read through the entire thread, but I have a question that may or may not have been covered already. I tried searching and couldn't quite find the answer in here.

.223 isn't legal here in Colorado for big game. I'm looking at getting either a .308 or a 6.5CM only calibers offered in the rifle I'm interested in buying. I can find 168gr TMK in .308 but no TMK offerings in the 6.5CM. Seems like the ELD-M would also be a suitable bullet choice in either caliber. If I go with the 6.5 the barrel has 1:8 and the .308 has a 1:10 twist. Is the 1:10 twist enough to stabilize the TMK in the .308?

I have both and would suggest the creedmoor and any eld or the berger or the 130 TMK. It shoots much softer than the 308 with 168s and beats it ballistically. While I live my 308 and shoot it often, there is no advantage to it over the 6.5.


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[PNWGATOR]

I'm currently on page 86 of this post. And I'm trying to read through the entire thread, but I have a question that may or may not have been covered already. I tried searching and couldn't quite find the answer in here.

.223 isn't legal here in Colorado for big game. I'm looking at getting either a .308 or a 6.5CM only calibers offered in the rifle I'm interested in buying. I can find 168gr TMK in .308 but no TMK offerings in the 6.5CM. Seems like the ELD-M would also be a suitable bullet choice in either caliber. If I go with the 6.5 the barrel has 1:8 and the .308 has a 1:10 twist. Is the 1:10 twist enough to stabilize the TMK in the .308?

6.5 CM w/143 ELDX or 147 ELDM or 130 TMK.

 

[BjornF16]

6.5 CM w/143 ELDX or 147 ELDM or 130 TMK.

Or 140 ELDM

 

[Tobe_B]

Thanks guys. I greatly appreciate the feedback. I was honestly thinking a .308 is too much rifle on game anyway.

Edit:

I finally finished the entire thread. A huge thank you to all the people that took time to photograph and record their use of the .223, I can’t even find the picture button on my phone.

It annoys me that I can’t utilize my 5.56 for big game here in CO. My brother killed I don’t even know how many deer/hogs with a single shot .223 from the ages of 5-13, with 55 gr cor-lokt ammo to boot. I can’t even imagine how lethal he would’ve been with a TMK. I was raised to think “larger calibers are better”, this thought had been entirely squashed and removed from my mind. Maybe one day CO will see the light and change the caliber restrictions and allow those of us here to remove some more .223 rifles and ammo from the already limited market!


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[MEdude]

OK GANG… working my way through this thread. Currently up to a page in the mid 30’s.…
I was trained from youth up that “30-30 Wounds more deer than anything in woods, 30-06 or better!” This was the starting point.
Mean while another Uncle quietly used a .222 Sako, he harvested his deer each year with zero fuss or fanfare. I bought the “Bigger is ethical Kool-Aid.”.… but with a measure of cognitive dissonance.
Fast forward 45 years.… I read this heresy…. I accept the apostasy…. I just ordered a .223 Howa Mini Action….. Lord have mercy….. Please don’t tell my 85 year old Uncle! It’ll kill im!

I may need therapy…..

 

[mtnwrunner]

6.5 CM w/143 ELDX or 147 ELDM or 130 TMK.

And where, EXACTLY are those 130 tmks at???????
Oh, yeah, right next to the left hand tikka .223 superlite........

Randy

 

[ID_Matt]

And where, EXACTLY are those 130 tmks at???????
Oh, yeah, right next to the left hand tikka .223 superlite........

Randy

Not a superlite, but what about the CTR in the classifieds? And why superlite over a regular lite?

 

[mtnwrunner]

Not a superlite, but what about the CTR in the classifieds? And why superlite over a regular lite?

Already have a CTR. Just looking for the weight reduction......a regular lite would work.

Randy

 

[ID_Matt]

Already have a CTR. Just looking for the weight reduction......a regular lite would work.

Randy

Ahhh. Way ahead of me on the CTR.

 

[Macro]

I wouldnt want a .223 to fight off a large brown, polar, or grizzly bear but it would sure beat a sharp stick.


12ga with slugs.

 

[Grundy53]

Well, I drank the cool-aide. I was perusing a local gun shop today, and they had a Tikka T3X in .223. I knew I couldn't pass it up. I already have a SWFA 3-9 for it. I just have to figure out how I want to mount it. Also, I need to find a source of 77 TMKs... or at least find something to shoot until they become obtainable again (I did buy some 75 ELDMs.

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[Juan_ID]

Well, I drank the cool-aide. I was perusing a local gun shop today, and they had a Tikka T3X in .223. I knew I couldn't pass it up. I already have a SWFA 3-9 for it. I just have to figure out how I want to mount it. Also, I need to find a source of 77 TMKs... or at least find something to shoot until they become obtainable again (I did buy some 75 ELDMs.

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You’ll need to modify the factory mag, use an aftermarket or single feed the 75 eldm’s since they’re too long to load into the factory mag.
My tikka shoots 73eldm just as good as it shoots the 77tmk.