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

[Marshfly]

I wish Crazy Creek made a blaze orange chair. Sigh.

 

[Big_wals]

Another deer down with the 223/77 tmk this morning. 278 yards, impact velocity around 2125. Slightly quartering away with his offside leg back. It made about a 1" hole thru his ribcage going in, blew theu the heart, and then around an inch and a half on the way out. Shattered his offside leg just above the knuckle and stopped on the hide. He did a typical heart shot/mule kick, and ran around 50 yards. Will update with more pics next week when we process it.

 

[BlackHillsShooter]

Another deer down witb the 223/77 tmk this morning. 278 yards, impact velocity around 2125. Slightly quartering away with his offside leg back. It made about a 1" hole thru his ribcage going in, blew theu the heart, and then around an inch and a half on the way out. Shattered his offside leg just above the knuckle and stopped on the hide. He did a typical heart shot/mule kick, and ran around 50 yards. Will update with more pics next week when we process it.

Great shot!

 

[Big_wals]

Thanks!

 

[JohnDough]

Today I shot a doe which I estimate at 100-120# on the hoof. The shot was taken with an 11.5" 5.56 SBR, suppressed. The distance was 90m. The deer ran 125m and promptly expired. At the impact site there was foamy blood with chunks (lung tissue). Within about 20 feet of where the deer lay, there was significant blood trail. I did not bother tracking all of it, because I could see where the deer piled up. The reaction to being shot was a shoulder twitch (or maybe that was impact?) and a little "startle kick" and then the deer took off running, keeping pace with the other 2, until it didn't. It just collapsed and died. The structures impacted were ribs upon entry, both lungs, and ribs upon exit. The angle was directly perpendicular to the shooter. Ammunition used was MK318 MOD 0 SOST.

This is the entrance, picture taken at site of recovery, after rolling the animal to expose entrance:

This is the exit, picture taken without moving the animal at site of recovery:

This is the entrance. Note the immediate appearance of expansion and disruption:

This is the lung tissue. Note the appearance of copper and lead fragments and small secondary channels caused by same (maybe not visible in photos):

Fragments were recovered from lung tissue (very small, not photographed).

This is the exit. Note fragments clearly visible embedded in rib and ribcage, as well as small secondary wound channels caused by other fragments:

Projectile entered from (photo) Right to Left:

 

[huntercole]

I read through this entire thread earlier this summer and it really got me thinking of picking up a new 223. I ended up ordering a t3x and getting it chopped to 17.5" and threaded. I also added the vertical grip and a cheek riser. I worked up decent load with the 77gr TMK over XBR. I practiced quite a bit and had my data dialed out to 560 yards, but planned to keep shots inside 400. I ended up taking my 308 Tikka to New Mexico, but decided to take the 223 to Montana. The first night out I was after a smaller 2x3 when this buck stepped out. I couldn't believe it when I saw him in the scope. I ranged him at 275 and dialed the scope quick. I was able to keep him in the scope during the shot and saw it hit right on the shoulder crease. He went about 40 yards out then 20 yards back and was down around 6-8 seconds. I hit the meat, but not the bone of the near shoulder and got an exit behind the offside shoulder. I've hunted out west for several years and messed up some opportunities but was super excited to get my first mule deer and out of state big game animal. I got some bonus prairie dogs on my birthday while I was out there too.

 

[fshaw]

Great buck huntercole. Congratulations.

 

[huntercole]

Great buck huntercole. Congratulations.

Thank you!

 

[Nomosendero]

Fine Mule Deer !

 

[sierracharlie338]

I read through this entire thread earlier this summer and it really got me thinking of picking up a new 223. I ended up ordering a t3x and getting it chopped to 17.5" and threaded. I also added the vertical grip and a cheek riser. I worked up decent load with the 77gr TMK over XBR. I practiced quite a bit and had my data dialed out to 560 yards, but planned to keep shots inside 400. I ended up taking my 308 Tikka to New Mexico, but decided to take the 223 to Montana. The first night out I was after a smaller 2x3 when this buck stepped out. I couldn't believe it when I saw him in the scope. I ranged him at 275 and dialed the scope quick. I was able to keep him in the scope during the shot and saw it hit right on the shoulder crease. He went about 40 yards out then 20 yards back and was down around 6-8 seconds. I hit the meat, but not the bone of the near shoulder and got an exit behind the offside shoulder. I've hunted out west for several years and messed up some opportunities but was super excited to get my first mule deer and out of state big game animal. I got some bonus prairie dogs on my birthday while I was out there too.
View attachment 630922
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That’s awesome congrats!

 

[roosiebull]

Finally got to shoot mine today, and I can’t believe I haven’t had one all along. Such a fun rifle to shoot. That rifle is going to be bad news for lots of stuff. Got it zeroed in 4 shots and then shot until I ran out of light

The black hills tmk shot really well which I was happy with, and of course the federal 77gr smk shoot good, and I have a bunch. Hopefully the 73gr eldm do too, and assume that they will, because I have a case showing up any day

It’s crazy that such an easy weapon to shoot can cause so much hell on big animals, I guess that’s the beauty of it

 

[Pharmseller]

I read through this entire thread earlier this summer and it really got me thinking of picking up a new 223. I ended up ordering a t3x and getting it chopped to 17.5" and threaded. I also added the vertical grip and a cheek riser. I worked up decent load with the 77gr TMK over XBR. I practiced quite a bit and had my data dialed out to 560 yards, but planned to keep shots inside 400. I ended up taking my 308 Tikka to New Mexico, but decided to take the 223 to Montana. The first night out I was after a smaller 2x3 when this buck stepped out. I couldn't believe it when I saw him in the scope. I ranged him at 275 and dialed the scope quick. I was able to keep him in the scope during the shot and saw it hit right on the shoulder crease. He went about 40 yards out then 20 yards back and was down around 6-8 seconds. I hit the meat, but not the bone of the near shoulder and got an exit behind the offside shoulder. I've hunted out west for several years and messed up some opportunities but was super excited to get my first mule deer and out of state big game animal. I got some bonus prairie dogs on my birthday while I was out there too.
View attachment 630922
View attachment 630924
View attachment 630925

Dude,
If you fill your tag the first day, you’ll never give yourself a chance to shoot a big one. Patience.





P

 

[Pharmseller]

Finally got to shoot mine today, and I can’t believe I haven’t had one all along. Such a fun rifle to shoot. That rifle is going to be bad news for lots of stuff. Got it zeroed in 4 shots and then shot until I ran out of light

The black hills tmk shot really well which I was happy with, and of course the federal 77gr smk shoot good, and I have a bunch. Hopefully the 73gr eldm do too, and assume that they will, because I have a case showing up any day

It’s crazy that such an easy weapon to shoot can cause so much hell on big animals, I guess that’s the beauty of it

When are you going to start reloading?




P

 

[roosiebull]

When are you going to start reloading?




P

Very soon, after I burn through this ammo, I am going to reload it all, probably start before that, but have everything I need, just need to get to my other house down south and get all of my reloading equipment… I haven’t been at our “primary” house since the last day of April, but need to soon now that work has slowed down

Need to build my wife some ammo too, just need to get all of my stuff up here, and plan on building a bunch

 

[Billy Goat]

I mean, this almost fell to page 3.....

 

[Big_wals]

I mean, this almost fell to page 3.....

View attachment 631358

Thats how I envision Form on the podcast

 

[NoveskeEnjoyer]

Switched from TMK to a 70gr TSX for this one. 50 yard shot, clean double lung broad side entry and exit. He dropped, got up and ran 25 yards and dropped dead. Big, strong buck. Very happy with the performance.

Will switch back to TMK this afternoon for my doe.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I shot my first deer this morning with 77 grain TMKs in my 223. I was pretty lucky to find it. Probably wouldn’t have found it if it was dark.

 

[Thegman]

Switched from TMK to a 70gr TSX for this one. 50 yard shot, clean double lung broad side entry and exit. He dropped, got up and ran 25 yards and dropped dead. Big, strong buck. Very happy with the performance.

Will switch back to TMK this afternoon for my doe.

Doesn't appear to be, but any difference in blood trail with the TSX compared to the TMK? (although a 25 yard run might be too shot to tell) I imagine the TSX is much more likely to exit. I don't know how much difference that makes with a blood trail in a 223 though.

 

[Thegman]

I shot my first deer this morning with 77 grain TMKs in my 223. I was pretty lucky to find it. Probably wouldn’t have found it if it was dark.

What circumstances hindered finding it?