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

[hunterjmj]

COAL is 2.475”.

I’m barely touching the lands.

I’m using aftermarket mags for my Tikka.




P

What mags are you using?

 

[Pharmseller]

What mags are you using?

Adam (AscensonIndustries) on 24hrcampfire sells extended OAL 3-D printed Tikka magazines. Just the shell and follower, he doesn’t provide the spring. They work great.

No dog in the fight, I hope posting a link is okay.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/19828375/1

P

 

[hunterjmj]

Thanks. Not sure if I'll even need them but good to know this exists.

 

[sargent]

Data point for a less than perfect shot with a .223/77 TMK. New hunter hit this ~80 lb button buck in the stomach. Impact velocity was ~2377.




The deer dropped in it's tracks at the shot, then got up and ran a 20 yard loop in the field before heading into the trees. The bullet did not exit and there was no blood trail whatsoever. We found the deer bedded with it's head up ~30 minutes after the shot (no follow up shots after dark), came back an hour later and it was dead.

The bullet did it's job despite the shot placement. When we removed the first hindquarter a ton of blood came out of the deer and total distance traveled from the shot was around 75 yards.

 

[Gettincloser]

Data point for a less than perfect shot with a .223/77 TMK. New hunter hit this ~80 lb button buck in the stomach. Impact velocity was ~2377.

View attachment 782373
View attachment 782374
View attachment 782377
The deer dropped in it's tracks at the shot, then got up and ran a 20 yard loop in the field before heading into the trees. The bullet did not exit and there was no blood trail whatsoever. We found the deer bedded with it's head up ~30 minutes after the shot (no follow up shots after dark), came back an hour later and it was dead.

The bullet did it's job despite the shot placement. When we removed the first hindquarter a ton of blood came out of the deer and total distance traveled from the shot was around 75 yards.

That is a data point that you never try to get (especially with a youth hunter) but it sure is enlightening to have. Very glad for a positive outcome. I am also very glad you were willing to share this data point.

 

[Pharmseller]

Data point for a less than perfect shot with a .223/77 TMK. New hunter hit this ~80 lb button buck in the stomach. Impact velocity was ~2377.

View attachment 782373
View attachment 782374
View attachment 782377
The deer dropped in it's tracks at the shot, then got up and ran a 20 yard loop in the field before heading into the trees. The bullet did not exit and there was no blood trail whatsoever. We found the deer bedded with it's head up ~30 minutes after the shot (no follow up shots after dark), came back an hour later and it was dead.

The bullet did it's job despite the shot placement. When we removed the first hindquarter a ton of blood came out of the deer and total distance traveled from the shot was around 75 yards.

Sort of addresses the argument for larger cartridges in case of a marginal hit, doesn’t it?

The animal didn’t travel far and was recovered in a fairly timely fashion.






P

 

[Machingeaneer]

Data point for a less than perfect shot with a .223/77 TMK. New hunter hit this ~80 lb button buck in the stomach. Impact velocity was ~2377.

View attachment 782373
View attachment 782374
View attachment 782377
The deer dropped in it's tracks at the shot, then got up and ran a 20 yard loop in the field before heading into the trees. The bullet did not exit and there was no blood trail whatsoever. We found the deer bedded with it's head up ~30 minutes after the shot (no follow up shots after dark), came back an hour later and it was dead.

The bullet did it's job despite the shot placement. When we removed the first hindquarter a ton of blood came out of the deer and total distance traveled from the shot was around 75 yards.

I had a very similar situation last season but it was a 130gr mono out of a .270 wsm. That did exit but zero blood, guts and fat just plugged the holes. All that energy and penetration to have the exact same result.

 

[Chris_in_Idaho]

Got my first RSS kill. Tiny button buck at 130 yards. He was quartering away to the left and was lower than me but facing uphill so that I could see the top of his back. That makes the shot placement look really high but the bullet traveled downward and diagonally through on a path that would have exited just in front of the off side shoulder, but didn't exit.

He dropped like a bag of rocks, kinda thrashed for 30 seconds and then was done. The way he went down I think a fragment must have hit his spine, but I couldn't feel any damage when I removed the backstraps (gutless method).

With you all shooting bears, moose and other gigantic critters this little guy doesn't really offer any new data for the thread, but I wanted to share it. I'm an adult onset hunter that usually gets skunked so I have no shame admitting I was stoked to get this little button buck.

 

[Gettincloser]

Got my first RSS kill. Tiny button buck at 130 yards. He was quartering away to the left and was lower than me but facing uphill so that I could see the top of his back. That makes the shot placement look really high but the bullet traveled downward and diagonally through on a path that would have exited just in front of the off side shoulder, but didn't exit.

He dropped like a bag of rocks, kinda thrashed for 30 seconds and then was done. The way he went down I think a fragment must have hit his spine, but I couldn't feel any damage when I removed the backstraps (gutless method).

With you all shooting bears, moose and other gigantic critters this little guy doesn't really offer any new data for the thread, but I wanted to share it. I'm an adult onset hunter that usually gets skunked so I have no shame admitting I was stoked to get this little button buck.

View attachment 782720View attachment 782721

There is never any shame as long as you are happy with the kill. I have been hunting 30+ years. If I get an opportunity at a spike or doe, I still get the shakes of excitement afterwords!

 

[Luke S]

Nice shooting. I always figured hunting is hunting, all fun and challenging. My adopted son was probably more exited about a spike buck he shot than a bear in Alaska. Growing up in Hungary and then Alaska I don't know how many deer he's even seen.
Sadly I probably won't get to try a .223 for a long time. But this thread did inspire me to try a 6.5 Grendal after never using anything smaller than a .308 in Alaska. Worked great.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Got my first RSS kill. Tiny button buck at 130 yards. He was quartering away to the left and was lower than me but facing uphill so that I could see the top of his back. That makes the shot placement look really high but the bullet traveled downward and diagonally through on a path that would have exited just in front of the off side shoulder, but didn't exit.

He dropped like a bag of rocks, kinda thrashed for 30 seconds and then was done. The way he went down I think a fragment must have hit his spine, but I couldn't feel any damage when I removed the backstraps (gutless method).

With you all shooting bears, moose and other gigantic critters this little guy doesn't really offer any new data for the thread, but I wanted to share it. I'm an adult onset hunter that usually gets skunked so I have no shame admitting I was stoked to get this little button buck.

Congrats! Meat in the freezer!

 

[Pharmseller]

Congrats!

 

[jaredg]

Congrats! You will only ever have one "first" deer. Nice harvest!

 

[TX_Diver]

Adam (AscensonIndustries) on 24hrcampfire sells extended OAL 3-D printed Tikka magazines. Just the shell and follower, he doesn’t provide the spring. They work great.

No dog in the fight, I hope posting a link is okay.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/19828375/1

P

How much have you used these and how reliable are they? Can’t be worse than my Mountain tactical mag (speaking of it’s been another 6 months ish… time to call again )

 

[SamsonMan22]

How much have you used these and how reliable are they? Can’t be worse than my Mountain tactical mag (speaking of it’s been another 6 months ish… time to call again )

I saw Mountain Tactical had their newest 223 mags advertised as in stock.

 

[Pharmseller]

On a happy note, my Mountain Tactical replacement magazines are scheduled for delivery today.

Four years later, I kid you not.

I hope they work.




P

 

[Pharmseller]

How much have you used these and how reliable are they? Can’t be worse than my Mountain tactical mag (speaking of it’s been another 6 months ish… time to call again )

I haven’t used them much but I cycled full mags several times slow/medium/fast and zero hiccups.




P

 

[BLJ]

I haven’t used them much but I cycled full mags several times slow/medium/fast and zero hiccups.




P

I’ve had the same experience with the 4 that I have as well.

 

[TX_Diver]

On a happy note, my Mountain Tactical replacement magazines are scheduled for delivery today.

Four years later, I kid you not.

I hope they work.




P

For .223?? No way. I really do need to call him again then. I’m at 3 years I think. I sent them back fall of 2021.

 

[turbo406]

Please update us when you try the new ones, I'm hesitant to order a couple hearing horror stories on the gen 1s