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

[Mike D Texas]

Wow, some people can read more than a word at a time…. I know that could surprise you! What is it, no one can express an opinion that doesn’t mesh wit yours?

Nope. As you’ll find out if you stay around here enough you’re not accepted if you have a different opinion.


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[Grover4360]

And your comments speak volumes as well. If you had no opinion, then why even comment? Seems pointless.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Nope. As you’ll find out if you stay around here enough you’re not accepted if you have a different opinion.


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You can be incorrect and still be welcomed. Up to you if you can handle that or not.

 

[Grover4360]

Nope. As you’ll find out if you stay around here enough you’re not accepted if you have a different opinion.


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Holy Cow, is it really like that? Well, I guess I can feel it already. Thanks for the support dude!

 

[fwafwow]

And your comments speak volumes as well. If you had no opinion, then why even comment? Seems pointless.

I think he was genuinely trying to he helpful. Your first post in this thread, on your first day, is typical of someone who read the thread title only and weighs in with a quick off the cuff post. If you did read (or do read) the entire thread and you disagree with the premise of the thread and want to say so, great - but some substantive basis for the same would help the discussion.

Many do disagree with the premise, but the soundness and/or amount of logic behind those differing viewpoints, varies.

 

[Antares]

I’m cheap and lazy so I shoot the 73 ELDM

Yeah I’ve strictly shot 73 ELDM also. Was thinking about taking the leap to the 77 TMK once I get my Tikka .223 put back together.

Well I guess I'm in good company. I'm also shooting the 73 ELDM exclusively for hunting.

You think you're cheap, @atmat? I'm switching back to the 68 BTHP for the off season! Now that's cheap...

 

[PNWGATOR]

Nope. As you’ll find out if you stay around here enough you’re not accepted if you have a different opinion.


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This is a bullshit statement.

 

[Grover4360]

You can be incorrect and still be welcomed. Up to you if you can handle that or not.

Sure I can handle that. Being incorrect and getting called for it is just fine. Being chastised for an honest opinion because it is counter to someone else’s opinion…. Not so good! Happy to debate not happy to be dismissed…. Right?

 

[PNWGATOR]

First of all, to each his own, not saying you shouldn’t, just that I wouldn’t . I’m not a big risk taker when it comes to my elk. I manage my points very carefully, and when I draw a coveted tag, I’m not taking any chances. I need to be able to shoot significant distances, at all manner of angles, in all kinds of wind and weather, way off the beaten path. I trust my 300WSM with 180gr ELDX handloads implicitly. Just like I trust my .223 for varmits. Without perfect conditions (normal for elk) I’m opting for the heavier bullet. Could I kill an elk with my .223, probably! But I once caught a 48 inch Musky with a fly rod too….would I do it again? Hell no, I was lucky to boat dat bitch, let alone revive her afterwards. Why take that chance with a valuable tag and a beast of an animal. You do what you do, I will follow your thread….. seriously, good luck!

Get it.

Think about what’s required.

Terminal ballistic performance. I.E. wound channel and depth of penetration at the distance you desire and then find the optimized bullet for your application with the lowest recoil to offer the highest hit rate. Bullet construction and bullet design matter! Build your rifle around a bullet in a delivery system that is robust and repeatable.

 

[Grover4360]

Get it.

Think about what’s required.

Terminal ballistic performance. I.E. wound channel and depth of penetration at the distance you desire and then find the optimized bullet for your application with the lowest recoil to offer the highest hit rate. Bullet construction and bullet design matter! Build your rifle around a bullet in a delivery system that is robust and repeatable.

Hey man, thanks for the reasonable response. I totally agree with you and understand the point of the thread…. bullet construction and design matter more than most hunters realize. I am a die hard re loader, so I get it. You can kill most any animal with the perfect shot placement of the right bullet in a caliber you can handle. I was commenting on my fear of being underpowered on an elk hunt .
Thanks for understanding, I didn’t mean to still the pot!

 

[ztc92]

Hey man, thanks for the reasonable response. I totally agree with you and understand the point of the thread…. bullet construction and design matter more than most hunters realize. I am a die hard re loader, so I get it. You can kill most any animal with the perfect shot placement of the right bullet in a caliber you can handle. I was commenting on my fear of being underpowered on an elk hunt .
Thanks for understanding, I didn’t mean to still the pot!

In the interest of carrying on this discussion, can you provide some additional detail on what you mean by “Underpowered”? Does this relate to the size of the wound? The distance at which you may shoot? The ability to buck wind?

 

[grfox92]

First of all, to each his own, not saying you shouldn’t, just that I wouldn’t . I’m not a big risk taker when it comes to my elk. I manage my points very carefully, and when I draw a coveted tag, I’m not taking any chances. I need to be able to shoot significant distances, at all manner of angles, in all kinds of wind and weather, way off the beaten path. I trust my 300WSM with 180gr ELDX handloads implicitly. Just like I trust my .223 for varmits. Without perfect conditions (normal for elk) I’m opting for the heavier bullet. Could I kill an elk with my .223, probably! But I once caught a 48 inch Musky with a fly rod too….would I do it again? Hell no, I was lucky to boat dat bitch, let alone revive her afterwards. Why take that chance with a valuable tag and a beast of an animal. You do what you do, I will follow your thread….. seriously, good luck!

I thought this was a very reasonable response.

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[Sadler]

Hey man, thanks for the reasonable response. I totally agree with you and understand the point of the thread…. bullet construction and design matter more than most hunters realize. I am a die hard re loader, so I get it. You can kill most any animal with the perfect shot placement of the right bullet in a caliber you can handle. I was commenting on my fear of being underpowered on an elk hunt .
Thanks for understanding, I didn’t mean to still the pot!

I totally get the fear of being underpowered. I had the same fears but had to try this for myself. Despite all the pictures and proof I just couldn’t really wrap my head around a 223 killing big game. So I switched to the 223 for my Idaho elk hunt last year and killed my bull without issue. He died just as fast if not faster than the elk I’ve killed with big 30s. Maybe get a cow tag and ease your way into it. Once you see it first hand, you’ll become a true believer.

 

[bpshtr]

Probably a bit light for bear

 

[Nomosendero]

PNWGATOR, that's too logical!

 

[PNWGATOR]

Probably a bit light for bear

FWIW I’ve been trying to get @Ryan Avery and @robby denning talked into funding an AK Coastal Brown Bear filmed .223 77TMK expedition for this thread and this site.

PLEASE help them be convinced to send me and @Formidilosus
and a cameraman to AK kill a coastal brown bear with the .223!

 

[fwafwow]

FWIW I’ve been trying to get @Ryan Avery and @robby denning to funding an AK Coastal Brown Bear filmed .223 77TMK expedition for this thread and this site.

PLEASE help them be convinced to send me and @formidilosous and a cameraman to AK kill a coastal brown bear with the .223!

I hear a “pass the hat” thread!

 

[Luke S]

Shoot I live in Alaska....I'll go on that trip.

 

[ElPollo]

Probably a bit light for bear

So I think a lot of people read posts like this that sound entirely rational to you if you are new to this idea, and they think you are trolling them because there are literally dozens of successful bear kills documented in this thread with a 223, and dozens of elk, and even a few moose. It can be a hard thing to get your head around the fact that such a cute little cartridge can do so much damage with the right bullet. It’s also true that marketing within the industry is telling you that it can’t. But take some time to go through the information presented here. It might change how you think about a few things. And start back at the beginning of the thread where it starts out by saying “bullets matter more than head stamps”.

 

[Chris_in_Idaho]

FWIW I’ve been trying to get @Ryan Avery and @robby denning to funding an AK Coastal Brown Bear filmed .223 77TMK expedition for this thread and this site.

PLEASE help them be convinced to send me and @formidilosous and a cameraman to AK kill a coastal brown bear with the .223!

I think the video would benefit from having a total newb along to offer perspective that would otherwise be missed by you old professionals. I graciously volunteer my time to join this venture.