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

[fish impaler]

Wyoming whitetail, 62 gr. Barnes tsx at 130 yards just behind shoulder. Went about 10 yards.

 

[flyinsquirel]

Complete pass through I presume?

 

[fish impaler]

Yup, exit side shown .

 

[Muley Buck]

Wyoming whitetail, 62 gr. Barnes tsx at 130 yards just behind shoulder. Went about 10 yards. View attachment 248744View attachment 248742

Whats the muzzle velocity on those?

 

[TheGDog]

Wyoming whitetail, 62 gr. Barnes tsx at 130 yards just behind shoulder. Went about 10 yards. View attachment 248744View attachment 248742

Those 62gr Barnes TSX can be vicious! Last day of the season 2019, only does were coming by, then about 2:30p, a Bobcat saunters by, so that was my consolation prize that year. Hit his scapula so tore a substantial hole in the hide. But it was repairable though.

 

[fish impaler]

Whats the muzzle velocity on those?

Box says 3k. “5.56 chambers only” . No pressure signs in my .223 savage axis .

 

[Teaman1]

So what I’m gathering is, if you’re using the 77 tmk, the 223 is suitable for up to moose size game.
Expected performance on elk and moose is devastated vitals on lung shots and if the shoulder hit, typical results are broken on side shoulder with wrecked lungs and/or heart and no exit.
Pretty impressive

 

[mstei4]

CCI 450
24.8 grains of varget
Mixed commercial brass (RP & Hornady mostly)
2840 FPS out of a 22" 1:9 savage.
I don't have my oal handy, but mag length.

That 24.8 load seems to just be perfect for every 62gn & heavier bullet I've tried, it of every .223 I've owned. I don't even play with other loads the days.

Is the 1:9 stabilizing the 77’s fine?

 

[robtattoo]

Is the 1:9 stabilizing the 77’s fine?

At 300, yes. The group size seems to be consistent out to 300 (.75@100, 1.5@200, 2.25@300) I don't have a 400yd berm, but at 500 i'm seeing 5 to 6" groups which is a little over what i'd expect. I can't say definitively that that's the twist coming into play, wind or my shooting though. They're all 10 round groups, by the way.

 

[mstei4]

At 300, yes. The group size seems to be consistent out to 300 (.75@100, 1.5@200, 2.25@300) I don't have a 400yd berm, but at 500 i'm seeing 5 to 6" groups which is a little over what i'd expect. I can't say definitively that that's the twist coming into play, wind or my shooting though. They're all 10 round groups, by the way.

Thanks, I’ve liked the savages I’ve used in the past and have only ever seen them in a 1:9 from the factory

 

[Formidilosus]

So what I’m gathering is, if you’re using the 77 tmk, the 223 is suitable for up to moose size game.
Expected performance on elk and moose is devastated vitals on lung shots and if the shoulder hit, typical results are broken on side shoulder with wrecked lungs and/or heart and no exit.
Pretty impressive

“Suitable” is up to each person. It’s just a wound with a certain depth and width. Whether that is satisfactory is the question. For me- yes, the 223/77grTMK is acceptable for anything in NA under 450’ish yards, potentially save Buffalo. If one thinks a stick with a broadhead is “enough”, than any high velocity projectile that reaches the vitals is more than enough.

The 233 with 77gr TMK’s is absolutely devastating on the biggest antelope, deer, or bear. On elk and moose, because I haven’t seen a huge number of them killed with it, I would suggest to look at the pictures, study the wounds and decide for yourself.
My caution would be that if you’re someone that is going to fling rounds at any part of brown... it’s probably not the cartridge/bullet to use. Of course, if you do that- there is no cartridge/bullet combination you should be using. If you understand terminal ballistics and know what to expect, and can put a bullet into the front half it’ll work fine.

The best part of the 223/77gr TMK combo is that people can shoot a huge number of rounds with it each year from field positions, and watch every single one of those rounds impact the target through the scope. People become surgical with it. It has the lowest screw up rate of any combination I have personally seen, and I’ve seen a lot of animals killed with a lot of cartridge/bullet combinations.

 

[Teaman1]

Took me a day and a half, but I got through all the pics and stories. I won’t be using a 223 for anything. Seems to be plenty of proof that it is capable of taking down big game. Interesting thread and results.

The 233 with 77gr TMK’s is absolutely devastating on the biggest antelope, deer, or bear. On elk and moose, because I haven’t seen a huge number of them killed with it, I would suggest to look at the pictures, study the wounds and decide for yourself.
My caution would be that if you’re someone that is going to fling rounds at any part of brown... it’s probably not the cartridge/bullet to use. Of course, if you do that- there is no cartridge/bullet combination you should be using. If you understand terminal ballistics and know what to expect, and can put a bullet into the front half it’ll work fine.

The best part of the 223/77gr TMK combo is that people can shoot a huge number of rounds with it each year from field positions, and watch every single one of those rounds impact the target through the scope. People become surgical with it. It has the lowest screw up rate of any combination I have personally seen, and I’ve seen a lot of animals killed with a lot of cartridge/bullet combinations.

 

[TexasHTR]

In the last few years I’ve shot or seen deer shot with a 223 (4 deer), 22-250 (2), 244 (1), 6.5 (3), 270 (2), 308 (1), and 30-06 (4) plus a few with arrows. All aiming for the boiler room except one neck shot with the 244 Rem. All of them ran an average of <50 yards and piled up when hit double lung/heart. Only had one do a bang flop. If I didn’t know the cartridge used I couldn’t tell you what was shot with what excluding the broadheads. The only rodeos were the neck shot, and one with an ‘06 that we did not recover before yotes destroyed the impact evidence. The neck shot was super confusing but that doe is alive today a year later verified by trail cam. All were with bonded, monos, or cup/core hunting bullets. All this to say I have no issues shooting deer with 223 fusions/gold dots. (Yet to try the 77tmk.) And that I don’t prefer monos except in the 22-250.

 

[Kimber7man]

Tag for a read tomorrow

 

[BAKPAKR]

Since the supply pipeline has dried up, I almost hated wasting a BH 77 gr TMK on a coyote. Almost.

 

[awildswanger]

Certainly willing to try this out; anyone know where to find some in stock lol?

 

[wind gypsy]

77 TMK bullets have been fairly available comparatively speaking. I imagine loaded ammunition is a different story.

 

[Kimber7man]

I managed to snag a few boxes.

Thinking of using this 77 TMK with my 22 creed for Wyoming antelope and mules.

Or the 95 TMK out of my 8 twist 6 creed. will start a new thread for that one.

 

[Lawnboi]

The tipped matchkings have definitely been available. Way easier to find than any 6.5 bullets. I’m keeping an eye out for another 500 77s because the inner hoarder in me wants them. I even ordered a proof tikka contour blank for when the time comes.... with enough free bore to take advantage of all the mag space I have.

I wonder what a 22cm would start a 77tmk at?

 

[Fatcamp]

Ya, the Scheels in Sioux Falls has had TMK 77 sitting on the shelf for weeks. I have 200 of them, but no powder, primers, or dies. When things settle down I will work it out.