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

[Hoove]

Another elk to add. Young bull fork horn. 75 eldm at 430yds. I recovered bullets in the offside hide and in the liver (quartering towards). View attachment 800489View attachment 800494

two days later I used the same combination on a coyote at 610. On impact he jumped and bit at the shot, then ran. We recovered him about 40yds downhill. The bullet exited and both entrance and exit were small. It went through his lungs, but it wasn’t nearly as explosive as hitting ribs on an elk. View attachment 800504View attachment 800505View attachment 800506View attachment 800507Impact velocity was around 1,975 fps.

Great hunt Tell! Your dad sent me pic the other day. I wish I was closer I love to give it a shot!

 

[sierracharlie338]

The authority on big game hunting has spoken and he's not happy with the small caliber trend. So, listen up to JVB and put those .223's and 6mm's back in the safe. His latest podcast says so.

 

[Ac338]

This was a couple hours ago just got back in. 77 TMK 24 grains varget 20” barrel unknown velocity .223AI (fire form load though). Shot was roughly 50 yards from the ground using a fallen log as a rest. Pic is of exit. Great blood trail ran about 75 yards max

 

[cmahoney]

This is a good listen

With her

News Podcast · 2 Seasons

podcasts.apple.com

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Stocky]

Here a data point for the 75 eld m launched at 2850 from a Tikka 223.

Nannie Tahr at 275 yards was quartering away hard. Only exposing top half of chest area. Nasty shooting position definitely handy to be shooting the 223. 1 shot and fell about 300 feet until caught in some brush.




Entrance


Exit no projectile recovered

Nothing drastic under skin on entrance side

Can see fairly torn up behind shoulder entry was about a third back into the chest cavity well behind shoulder

Bit of meat removed for clarity showing entrance through ribs

Few torn up organs

 

[Stocky]

Exit side punched the shoulder blade dead centre before it exited.


Not extremely dramatic damage but death was quick was tumbling uncontrollably within seconds. Then rolled for about 20 seconds didn't get up so died within that time frame.

A Nannie Tahr is a realitively light/soft animal so will try get more necropsy photos from future animals when I get the chance to take my time like this one.

 

[TML75]

Is anyone successfully using a 12 twist 223 for deer? If so, what bullets are you using?

 

[Deere_Man]

Is anyone successfully using a 12 twist 223 for deer? If so, what bullets are you using?

I bought a Ruger Mark II 223 with a 1:12” twist. I have accumulated a few different brands of factory ammo that I plan on going deer hunting with. The Hornady 55gr soft points may get first crack, or maybe the 60gr Hornady Interlocks American Whitetail ammo that sells exclusively through Academy Sports. Or I may use the 64gr Federal Power Shocks. I believe 60-65gr is about as large as I can go without trying to reload the Speer 70gr soft points.

 

[HighCascadeHunter]

Just thought I would ask this question here as it seems to be the place.
Recently built tikka 16.5” barrel .223 ( you can see previous post of rifle)
I’ve shot 77 smk, 68bthp frontier, 73 eldm bullets all in factory ammo. Average about 2600fps, give or take between the ammo.
I have ordered some AAC 77 grain smk and their other cheaper version with the hornady bthp. (will get the 77 tmk when it’s back in stock)

I’m setup to hand load but really debating if it’s worth it. So I’m asking about realistic performance gains by hand loading. What can I expect for velocity increase in short barrel? How about loading a heavier bullet ? 80 or 88 eldm ?

My cost seems to be about $0.60 per round to hand load which is close to just buying factory ammo. Should I just stock up and shoot a bunch and not take time to reload or have guys found that hand loading for .223 is really worth the time investment for increased performance?

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Here a data point for the 75 eld m launched at 2850 from a Tikka 223.

Nannie Tahr at 275 yards was quartering away hard. Only exposing top half of chest area. Nasty shooting position definitely handy to be shooting the 223. 1 shot and fell about 300 feet until caught in some brush.
View attachment 802574

View attachment 802570

Entrance
View attachment 802571

Exit no projectile recovered
View attachment 802572
Nothing drastic under skin on entrance side
View attachment 802575
Can see fairly torn up behind shoulder entry was about a third back into the chest cavity well behind shoulder
View attachment 802576
Bit of meat removed for clarity showing entrance through ribs
View attachment 802577
Few torn up organs
View attachment 802580
View attachment 802581
View attachment 802582

Awesome photos and shot explanation! Thanks for sharing.

 

[mt100gr.]

Just thought I would ask this question here as it seems to be the place.
Recently built tikka 16.5” barrel .223 ( you can see previous post of rifle)
I’ve shot 77 smk, 68bthp frontier, 73 eldm bullets all in factory ammo. Average about 2600fps, give or take between the ammo.
I have ordered some AAC 77 grain smk and their other cheaper version with the hornady bthp. (will get the 77 tmk when it’s back in stock)

I’m setup to hand load but really debating if it’s worth it. So I’m asking about realistic performance gains by hand loading. What can I expect for velocity increase in short barrel? How about loading a heavier bullet ? 80 or 88 eldm ?

My cost seems to be about $0.60 per round to hand load which is close to just buying factory ammo. Should I just stock up and shoot a bunch and not take time to reload or have guys found that hand loading for .223 is really worth the time investment for increased performance?

I love shooting my .223s. And I love the convenience and price of factory ammo as it compares to handloading. When in stock, I buy what I can of the factory flavors that I like. Being set up to handload, as well, I have also laid in a solid supply of components to have on hand. Sooner or later the world will get stupid again and prices and supply will make handloading more attractive or necessary. My answer is buy both!!

Performance-wise, I handload to match the performance of the factory ammo, for the most part. It works. No sense burning stock to chase a few FPS.

 

[Moccasin]

6 pigs this past weekend with a Tikka 223. 19” barrel, suppressed with BH 77 TMK.

Shots were sitting or kneeling off crossed sticks with target stationary (4) and offhand on moving target (2).

Ranges were 10 yards to 135 yards. 5 pigs were hit double lung and traveled 25-50 yds. Consistent small diameter entry, destroyed lungs, and 2-2.5 inch exits. Smallest shoulder to shoulder width was 11 inches and largest was approximately 14 inches. 1 pig shot below the ear and instant incapacitation.

 

[Pharmseller]

Here a data point for the 75 eld m launched at 2850 from a Tikka 223.

Nannie Tahr at 275 yards was quartering away hard. Only exposing top half of chest area. Nasty shooting position definitely handy to be shooting the 223. 1 shot and fell about 300 feet until caught in some brush.
View attachment 802574

This pic is so steep I fell off the couch and rolled all the way to the kitchen.




P

 

[rabbithuntr]

Just thought I would ask this question here as it seems to be the place.
Recently built tikka 16.5” barrel .223 ( you can see previous post of rifle)
I’ve shot 77 smk, 68bthp frontier, 73 eldm bullets all in factory ammo. Average about 2600fps, give or take between the ammo.
I have ordered some AAC 77 grain smk and their other cheaper version with the hornady bthp. (will get the 77 tmk when it’s back in stock)

I’m setup to hand load but really debating if it’s worth it. So I’m asking about realistic performance gains by hand loading. What can I expect for velocity increase in short barrel? How about loading a heavier bullet ? 80 or 88 eldm ?

My cost seems to be about $0.60 per round to hand load which is close to just buying factory ammo. Should I just stock up and shoot a bunch and not take time to reload or have guys found that hand loading for .223 is really worth the time investment for increased performance?

I have a 16.5” barrel on my tikka as well. I shoot handloads almost exclusively. Most are 75eld @2650. The 75 eld extends your terminal range almost 100 yards compared to the 73eld, and really doesn’t lose any to the 80 eld. I don’t know that the 88 eld will stabilize. When going to the 75 + eld you have to modify magazines or buy expensive ones though.

 

[4090Sharps]

For the 62gr Gold Dot fans:

.224 62gr Speer Gold Dot (100ct)

sagesreloadingsupply.com

 

[Pharmseller]

I’m putting a 1-8” barrel on my stainless T3 Lite .223 Rem specifically for shooting the 77 TMK. I have Varget and Benchmark. I’d like to get at least 2850 mv.

Anyone have a good recipe? I have aftermarket mags so I can load loooong.




P

 

[FredH]

Well my 22 ARC project just got sidelined by a so called gunsmith destroying my upper trying to remove the barrel nut. So I bought some 73 gr. ELDM bullets to run in one of my 223/5.56 rifles. Thinking a 20 inch 1-7 twist AR will get me nearly 2900 fps with the 73 grain bullet using Levrolution. Should I load it down to 2700 fps? Shot distances will be under 300 yards and coyotes will be shot also.

 

[Stocky]

Awesome photos and shot explanation! Thanks for sharing.

Least I can do. I've found this info exceptionally useful so should add when I can

 

[hunterjmj]

This pic is so steep I fell off the couch and rolled all the way to the kitchen.




P

No joke.

 

[hunterjmj]

View attachment 80312475gr BTHP Hornady Tikka 223. 8pt, doe, and coyote. Great week

That's a stud buck. Congrats! Looks like it was a square on frontal shot?