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

Formidilosus

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Shoot2HuntU
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What makes the hit rate so high for the 223 under 450 you think? It has to be recoil right? Do nerves play a big part in the hit rate? Past 450, I definitely won't argue on the 22CM and 6mm.

Because even people who shoot a lot shoot with less concern subconsciously with a 22LR than anything else partly due to the lack of movement in the rifle equates to seeing every round impact without even trying- there is no effort expended trying to spot impacts/misses. Once you factor in unstable field positions, heavy or irregular breathing, muscle fatigue, mental and emotional stress, potentially vision narrowing (tunnel vision) caused by all of those factors; it becomes measurably more mental load to align and mount the rifle perfectly- the less recoil, less noise, less muzzle blast, and less movement of the rifle; the less effort is expended consciously or subconsciously to watch what happens during recoil.
Subconsciously our brain is fighting the desire to get away from the movement: regardless of how good of a shooter you are- it is forcing itself to accept the gun going off. The 223 bolt action, like the 22LR, is at such a level (especially suppressed) of movement that consciously or subconsciously you expend less “effort” during the shot.
 

ID_Matt

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Because even people who shoot a lot shoot with less concern subconsciously with a 22LR than anything else partly due to the lack of movement in the rifle equates to seeing every round impact without even trying- there is no effort expended trying to spot impacts/misses. Once you factor in unstable field positions, heavy or irregular breathing, muscle fatigue, mental and emotional stress, potentially vision narrowing (tunnel vision) caused by all of those factors; it becomes measurably more mental load to align and mount the rifle perfectly- the less recoil, less noise, less muzzle blast, and less movement of the rifle; the less effort is expended consciously or subconsciously to watch what happens during recoil.
Subconsciously our brain is fighting the desire to get away from the movement: regardless of how good of a shooter you are- it is forcing itself to accept the gun going off. The 223 bolt action, like the 22LR, is at such a level (especially suppressed) of movement that consciously or subconsciously you expend less “effort” during the shot.
Makes complete sense. What about on steel, where a person doesn't deal with as much heavy breathing, stress, etc.? Does the hit rate only show up on game? I was thinking it would be fairly easy to test on steel, but I am about 90% sure I would shoot my 6mm better with any sort of wind. However that test would be in unstable positions on vital sized targets. The stressors you mentioned wouldn't be so much in play.
 

Formidilosus

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Makes complete sense. What about on steel, where a person doesn't deal with as much heavy breathing, stress, etc.? Does the hit rate only show up on game? I was thinking it would be fairly easy to test on steel, but I am about 90% sure I would shoot my 6mm better with any sort of wind. However that test would be in unstable positions on vital sized targets. The stressors you mentioned wouldn't be so much in play.

Measured anyway it will show. Given someone that is actually practicing from field positions, and shooting thousands of rounds a year from those conditions, the difference between a 223 and 6mm such as the 6cm will be small.
 
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Can you explain what a video is going to show you? And, what do you think the difference is between a bull elk and cow elk, or a bull moose? There have been bull elk killed with the combo and they died just like every other has.

Again- if you would read the thread, your questions have already been answered multiple times.
A video shows the whole story with no spin, exaggeration, or bias. It's surprising that with how many people record their hunts these days there's not a single one floating around. A forum thread can quickly become the highlight reel of an echo chamber where not all experiences are advertised if they don't support the trend.
The difference? A few hundred pounds body weight, which isn't nearly as relevant as the cross-section of the chest which is an additional couple inches in radius between a cow elk to a bull, then again to a bull moose, and keep adding for angled shots. The notion that even a slightly larger round of the same parameters is entirely unnecessary and has zero advantage over the 77gr is just plain wrong from a physics standpoint. Not everyone else is timid of recoil and no elk is going to be blown apart by a 6.5 Creedmoor or 7-08. There's a difference between a seasoned proficient shooter with lots of time in the field to pass bad shots, and a one week a year hunter who may only get one or two opportunities. I pity those who are forced to pass because of the bullet choice and those who watch one limp over the hill because they didn't pass. But I doubt they're running back here to talk about it. Rant over.
 
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A video shows the whole story with no spin, exaggeration, or bias. It's surprising that with how many people record their hunts these days there's not a single one floating around. A forum thread can quickly become the highlight reel of an echo chamber where not all experiences are advertised if they don't support the trend.
The difference? A few hundred pounds body weight, which isn't nearly as relevant as the cross-section of the chest which is an additional couple inches in radius between a cow elk to a bull, then again to a bull moose, and keep adding for angled shots. The notion that even a slightly larger round of the same parameters is entirely unnecessary and has zero advantage over the 77gr is just plain wrong from a physics standpoint. Not everyone else is timid of recoil and no elk is going to be blown apart by a 6.5 Creedmoor or 7-08. There's a difference between a seasoned proficient shooter with lots of time in the field to pass bad shots, and a one week a year hunter who may only get one or two opportunities. I pity those who are forced to pass because of the bullet choice and those who watch one limp over the hill because they didn't pass. But I doubt they're running back here to talk about it. Rant over.
Well written, good points all.
 
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This is where we’re at - only people who video their hunts are to be taken seriously?

Or to assume that animals react evenly across the board from the same impacts. Only thing that guarantees a bang flop is a hit to CNS, and that's not always an extremely lethal shot, it puts them down, but high shoulder can leave them alive for a while since it doesn't always cause a lot of blood loss. But it looks good.
 

Reburn

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There's a difference between a seasoned proficient shooter with lots of time in the field to pass bad shots, and a one week a year hunter who may only get one or two opportunities.

Huh?
This sounds like,

"bigger bullets kill better"
"Bigger bullets will still kill better with sub par shots"
"Bigger bullets allow you to punch the shoulder in bad shot situations a 223 is too light it will just bounce off."

These are literally the things this entire thread has proven wrong. If you dont want to dont. Nobody here cares what you do. but dont be making totally wrong statements because you havent read the material.

I bet you were the kid that watched the movie to write the book report.
 

Shraggs

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That isn't anywhere near what was said. Referring to actual authority figures on the subject is different than projecting as one.

Using what metric to measure damage? And apples to oranges anyway using a different bullet. My question is what makes 77 such a magic number that is more effective than other heavy-for-caliber TMK's in heavier weights at the same velocity?

I guess my point was, and not all being rude, genuinely your quoting experts to refute something you don’t know yourself to be true or not, but they advocate something very traditional hence 223/77 tmk is wrong. They don’t know either.

As I said many of us started that way to this thread initially. Many see it differently now after doing it.

I’m not Form, so I’m not going to explain your question. Form is not the only contributing credible hunter in this thread that I consider far more experts than crap thats written or podcasted. That’s me. Not even sure how many dozens of mixed big game animals he shoots annually with 233, 6cm 6.5, 308, 300 wm and I think others, including many different bullet types, from point blank to at least 975 yards.

Honestly, when I had those questions early as my knowledge base was blown up - they were answered in detail in this thread on how certain designs react differently in animals. Ie tissue damage. There are couple other threads that address wounding differences of bullets also.

It seems if you read you wouldn’t be asking. You may not change but the answers are here.

I’ve killed a buck few years ago just shy 300 yards. Broadside with 308 165 accubond. High heart both lungs. Went 55 yards staggering after initial lunge. Top of heart shredded approx 3” swath of lungs damaged.

This year, doe at similar distance, a few less than above, same shot but with 233/77 same outcome, she hunched and slowly trotted and dropped. Prolly 30 yards. Biggest visual, the entire lungs were deflated and mush. I don’t carry a tape measure, I let Form do that 😊

Apples to apples where I’m standing.
 

DJL2

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Sure , it may kill one, but how badly will you hurt waiting for the bear to realize it’s dead. The latest stuck in the rut has some pretty exciting footage. Three good shots from a 338 rum, Then five more from a 454.
If the first one didn’t do the job it wasn’t a good shot. The same goes for the subsequent shots. No magic in this. You hit the vitals, the job is done, and the only question is time to expiration. Bullet choice matters a great deal there.
I saw that video. What are your thoughts on the 3 shots from the .338 RUM? I wonder if the shots were too far forward and simply missed the heart/lungs completely.
See above. Hunting is a tense, adrenaline pumping business. Aim small, miss small still applies though. A wide wound channel might be 2-3” and a narrow wound perhaps 1-1.5” - a big difference, certainly, but not enough to save a bad shot.
Lots of pictures, mostly deer and smaller, no videos. About what you'd expect from 6mm's except for the fella from South Africa.
Like I was saying earlier, none of that looks excessive and 6mm's definitely didn't cause any bruised shoulders or twitches regardless of rifle weight.
Please update when you get a 168TMK in an elk, that's right up my alley!
Feel free to check out www.ballisticstudies.com. It’s already referenced in this thread. Mr. Foster has plenty of time shooting fully fragmentary bullets (aka: the TMK, old A-Max, now ELD-M) from a variety of calibers and cartridges. If I can be so bold as to recommend a different source than this thread.
 
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clperry

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Dec 5, 2019
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Since I can't replenish the 77 tmks at the moment, I'm going to see if I these 175s will impress out of 308, 06, and WM.

The 195’s out of a 300wm make what one might call…. A mess.


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