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

[PNWGATOR]

Someone please post a recent experience afield with the .223 chasing big game so we can get this thread back on track!

Still some late season opportunities AND spring brown bear season is just around the corner.

 

[Shraggs]

Someone please post a recent experience afield with the .223 chasing big game so we can get this thread back on track!

Still some late season opportunities AND spring brown bear season is just around the corner.

Maybe someone above can start a new dedicated thread on cast bullets use and performance.

It’s nice to keep this thread focused as a 223/77 “reference” for those interested.

 

[KHNC]

Well ill try to get it refocused. Just bought a Tikka T3X Lite Black in .223 a few mins ago. On way to FFL by 12/28 supposedly. I wont have in time for this deer season use. Not to mention I dont even need the damn thing. lol. But what the hell, I already have the SWFA scope. 22 in barrel so I will be visiting my gunsmith again to have yet another barrel cut down to 16" and threaded.

 

[Anschutz]

Maybe someone above can start a new dedicated thread on cast bullets use and performance.

It’s nice to keep this thread focused as a 223/77 “reference” for those interested.

Sorry about that.

From my reading, I'm seeing that most shots are relatively short (sub-200). For those that are stretching the .223 closer to that 1800fps range, what are you using for wind calls?

My assumption is a Kestrel and Applied Ballistics. From my observations of the .223 and a 75gr ELD-M or BTHP in non-hunting scenarios, I've noticed that from 300ish on, a really good wind call is critical. At 400, the difference between 5 and 10mph is 7ish". Start adding angles, and such and errors can compound quickly.

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[PNWGATOR]

Sorry about that.

From my reading, I'm seeing that most shots are relatively short (sub-200). For those that are stretching the .223 closer to that 1800fps range, what are you using for wind calls?

My assumption is a Kestrel and Applied Ballistics. From my observations of the .223 and a 75gr ELD-M or BTHP in non-hunting scenarios, I've noticed that from 300ish on, a really good wind call is critical. At 400, the difference between 5 and 10mph is 7ish". Start adding angles, and such and errors can compound quickly.

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I use ‘wind brackets’ for my wind calls based on all data input into Shooter.

 

[Pharmseller]

I lick my finger and hold into the cold side.





P

 

[sierracharlie338]

Not to mention I dont even need the damn thing.

Whoa whoa whoa. My brother, we don’t need negative talk like that around here!

 

[Tahr]

Yesterday. Rem Model 7 shooting 52 grn Berger jacketed projectile. mv 3250.

Red Stag 280 yards. Ran 20 yards max down hill.

Red hind neck shot at 150-ish yards.

 

[Shraggs]

Sorry about that.

From my reading, I'm seeing that most shots are relatively short (sub-200). For those that are stretching the .223 closer to that 1800fps range, what are you using for wind calls?

My assumption is a Kestrel and Applied Ballistics. From my observations of the .223 and a 75gr ELD-M or BTHP in non-hunting scenarios, I've noticed that from 300ish on, a really good wind call is critical. At 400, the difference between 5 and 10mph is 7ish". Start adding angles, and such and errors can compound quickly.

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Actually if you read this thing from the beginning, you’re going see many elk killed in the 350-450 range with the same wound profile. There is also one elk killed at 803 yards if memory is working…

 

[BLJ]

Yesterday. Rem Model 7 shooting 52 grn Berger jacketed projectile. mv 3250.

Red Stag 280 yards. Ran 20 yards max down hill.

Red hind neck shot at 150-ish yards.

Any info on that stock?

 

[Tahr]

Any info on that stock?

It's just a Boyd laminate that I took to with a jig-saw. and rasp. Plenty of strength in the laminate and makes a nice light stock.

 

[Anschutz]

Actually if you read this thing from the beginning, you’re going see many elk killed in the 350-450 range with the same wound profile. There is also one elk killed at 803 yards if memory is working…

Thank you for your answer to my question. It has definitely enhanced my knowledge.

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[HandgunHTR]

@Fartrell Cluggins that looks alot like the places I hunt in Sothwest Georgia. People that hunt out west will say "how can you not follow a blood trail?" I've tracked alot of deer and a good number of those I've been crawling through privet thickets and grown up clear cuts. Pretty places you have there!

I know I am a little late to this convo, but just wanted to add: It’s even more fun when you crawl over a yellow jacket nest. Although you do figure out how the animals travel through that stuff in a hurry. 25 minutes in, 30 seconds out.

 

[Luke S]

It's just a Boyd laminate that I took to with a jig-saw. and rasp. Plenty of strength in the laminate and makes a nice light stock.

Any idea how much weight was saved? Or just how heavy it is now? Looks like something I might try.
I found some TMKs and ordered 200. My family has some 223 rifles laying around. Hopefully try the TMKs this spring. I'm still a but hesitant though. Can anyone comment on whether a 6.5 Grendel or 300 Hamr might produce more reliable exits? I'm buying the argument that with a TMK the 223 will kill reliably Just like big blood trails.

 

[Drenalin]

73 ELD-M at 160 yards. Very impressive damage to the lungs, and the bullet exited this time.

 

[wilkup]

73 ELD-M at 160 yards. Very impressive damage to the lungs, and the bullet exited this time.

View attachment 643257

View attachment 643258

Just curious if it was a boltgun or AR?
What barrel length?
I’m assuming handloads… How fast you got them moving?

 

[SC HUNTER]

I know I am a little late to this convo, but just wanted to add: It’s even more fun when you crawl over a yellow jacket nest. Although you do figure out how the animals travel through that stuff in a hurry. 25 minutes in, 30 seconds out.

I've got a video saved that is definitely not appropriate for any forum of me finding a yellow jacket nest with a bush hog. My brother is an ass and laughed the whole time.

 

[wyosam]

Any idea how much weight was saved? Or just how heavy it is now? Looks like something I might try.
I found some TMKs and ordered 200. My family has some 223 rifles laying around. Hopefully try the TMKs this spring. I'm still a but hesitant though. Can anyone comment on whether a 6.5 Grendel or 300 Hamr might produce more reliable exits? I'm buying the argument that with a TMK the 223 will kill reliably Just like big blood trails.

Exits are more about bullet choice than head stamp. Monos, bonded bullets, partitions, etc that are built with weight retention as a goal will give exits with enough ooomph and a reasonable shot angle. As mentioned frequently in this thread, there is a tradeoff for the exit hole- you’re shooting a bullet that will do less damage than something like the TMK/ELDMs, unless of course you’re shooting a bigger bullet/pushing it faster etc at the expense of more recoil.


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[PNWGATOR]

Any idea how much weight was saved? Or just how heavy it is now? Looks like something I might try.
I found some TMKs and ordered 200. My family has some 223 rifles laying around. Hopefully try the TMKs this spring. I'm still a but hesitant though. Can anyone comment on whether a 6.5 Grendel or 300 Hamr might produce more reliable exits? I'm buying the argument that with a TMK the 223 will kill reliably Just like big blood trails.

Understand your concern if you like big blood trails.

That said, I assure you the 77TMK delivers an incredibly lethal wound channel with impact velocities above 1800 fps.

 

[Luke S]

Understand your concern if you like big blood trails.

That said, I assure you the 77TMK delivers an incredibly lethal wound channel with impact velocities above 1800 fps.

The big thing that might change my mind would be someone convincing me that a .223 will drop things FASTER to make that blood trail a moot point. But like I said earlier, I will probably try a .223 for spring bear. We don't need a .223 because the kids I take out do just fine with my 308. Between the suppressor and the weight it has extremely minimal recoil. The .223 would really be nice on our fall mountain hunts, which is where the brush is thicker and a good blood trail is nice. So we might try a .223 in the spring where it is a safer experiment. If it goes well I would love to carry an AR15 for our mountain hunts.