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

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PNWGATOR

WKR
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Oct 14, 2014
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2,735
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In stock, good price, 100% GTG seller

FML…more on the way.

Appreciate the heads up.
 
Joined
Jan 9, 2017
Messages
82
Has anyone noticed any temp stability issues with the Black Hills 77 TMK? Debating buying some components to load or buying factory ammo to save time.
 
Joined
Sep 6, 2023
Messages
87
I’d like to try the tmk’s at some point, but I’m sitting on thousands of rounds of imi and cbc 77gr smk’s. I’ve been pretty much exclusively white tail hunting with an ar15 of some flavor for the last 15 years (mk12, mk18, block ii). Furthest shot was 416yds on a white tail with a mk12. Shot her in the neck and she was DRT. Silver dollar size exit. I’ve had nothing but great results with the smk’s. I will say the fast 22’s like the 22-250 or swift are ‘better’ killers IME Hydrostatic shock is a thing, like a lightning bolt. That being said I’ve never lost a deer with any 5.56/.22 cal rifle (knock on wood).

I did buy 500rds of PSA’s 77gr in house bullet load to try out. I’ll start with a coyote to see how they perform. If they work well I’ll buy more to keep out of the double sealed 262 stash.
 

KHNC

WKR
Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
3,618
Location
NC
I’d like to try the tmk’s at some point, but I’m sitting on thousands of rounds of imi and cbc 77gr smk’s. I’ve been pretty much exclusively white tail hunting with an ar15 of some flavor for the last 15 years (mk12, mk18, block ii). Furthest shot was 416yds on a white tail with a mk12. Shot her in the neck and she was DRT. Silver dollar size exit. I’ve had nothing but great results with the smk’s. I will say the fast 22’s like the 22-250 or swift are ‘better’ killers IME Hydrostatic shock is a thing, like a lightning bolt. That being said I’ve never lost a deer with any 5.56/.22 cal rifle (knock on wood).

I did buy 500rds of PSA’s 77gr in house bullet load to try out. I’ll start with a coyote to see how they perform. If they work well I’ll buy more to keep out of the double sealed 262 stash.
I wondered about the SMK's too. People are always posting not to use SMK's for hunting. Ive killed 8-10 deer with my 308 with 168gr SMK's . Plenty of damage, entry and exit. Im sure the 308 will drop them fine with any bullet , but the damage was significant with the SMK. They are much cheaper and more available than TMK's as well. I have a box of 50 TMK's , but after they are gone , i will probably try SMK's. I wont be shooting elk or bears with them anyway. Deer should be no problem.
 
Joined
Sep 6, 2023
Messages
87
I wondered about the SMK's too. People are always posting not to use SMK's for hunting. Ive killed 8-10 deer with my 308 with 168gr SMK's . Plenty of damage, entry and exit. Im sure the 308 will drop them fine with any bullet , but the damage was significant with the SMK. They are much cheaper and more available than TMK's as well. I have a box of 50 TMK's , but after they are gone , i will probably try SMK's. I wont be shooting elk or bears with them anyway. Deer should be no problem.

Having not tried them and purely judging by ballistic testing I’ve seen and internet hype.. I would say the tmk’s are ‘better’ than smk.. but the smk’s have never let me down in the 15yrs I’ve used them and I’ve been nothing but pleased with their performance. Killed my second largest buck with the 77gr smk.
 

BLJ

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Joined
Jan 19, 2020
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WV
Having not tried them and purely judging by ballistic testing I’ve seen and internet hype.. I would say the tmk’s are ‘better’ than smk.. but the smk’s have never let me down in the 15yrs I’ve used them and I’ve been nothing but pleased with their performance. Killed my second largest buck with the 77gr smk.
Any info on the 69 SMK for deer?
 

robtattoo

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Joined
Mar 22, 2014
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Tullahoma, TN
The little Ruger got to eat this afternoon.
77TMK at 2677fps impact velocity.
41yd, absolute head on shot, center chest. He backflipped on the spot & didn't move another inch.

No autopsy pics, I'm afraid, but both lungs were goo. Heart was perfectly intact, although the major vessels & arteries leading to it were essentially gone. It pretty much just rolled out.
No bullet recovered yet, but it wasn't in the gutpile.

20231208_144403.jpg
Screenshot_20231208_183646_Gallery.jpg
 
Last edited:
Joined
Dec 20, 2019
Messages
1,123
The little Ruger got to eat this afternoon.
77TMK at 2677fps impact velocity.
41yd, absolute head on shot, center chest. He backflipped on the spot & didn't mice another inch.

No autopsy pics, I'm afraid, but both lungs were goo. Heart was perfectly intact, although the major vessels & arteries leading to it were essentially gone. It pretty much just rolled out.
No bullet recovered yet, but it wasn't in the gutpile.

View attachment 639096
View attachment 639098
Damn nice buck, and that hunting rig is awesome.
 
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