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

[FredH]

You mean like this?

Post in thread '6mm /.243 hunting success on Big Game'

Oct 25, 2024

The Femur of an Alaskan moose destroyed by a 88 ELDm out of a 22 ARC. A .243 with a good bullet couldn’t possibly take on a deer or elk shoulder….

• Ryan Avery

• 

And what happened after? Was this animal shot again? That does look nasty but was there much of a bullet left on the other side under the hide?

 

[FredH]

I think there are multiple pics in this thread demonstrating the 77TMK, e.g., being able to do this just fine. Not saying anyone should or shouldn't use them, just that they do seem to be capable of accomplishing this.

Well maybe so. However I am not going to test it purposely on a deer. Might find out though night hunting feral hogs. Wish it would cool off a bit. We finally got a bit of rain and it looks like the highs are going to be mid eighties for a week.

 

[RockAndSage]

Well maybe so. However I am not going to test it purposely on a deer. Might find out though night hunting feral hogs. Wish it would cool off a bit. We finally got a bit of rain and it looks like the highs are going to be mid eighties for a week.

Just keep an open mind, and run the hell out the TMKs on hogs. And definitely let us know how it goes.

 

[FredH]

If a person wants 100% certainty of an exit and zero bloodshot meat then the 77 TMK isn’t for you. If you want a disruptive bullet which penetrates to the offside ribcage and is very destructive to all things between the entrance and to the offside ribcage then the TMK is a champ.

Where I like to hunt an exit that leaks blood is a plus. I don't mind a bit of bloodshot and in reality you can clean it up pretty good if you put in some effort. The hamburger laced with lead pieces sucks though. That said if meat is your goal don't shoot into the meat.

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

And what happened after? Was this animal shot again? That does look nasty but was there much of a bullet left on the other side under the hide?

Sounds like a question for the person who posted the picture.

 

[FredH]

Fwiw imo

Comes down to low recoil preference and cost for practice.

223 55 GR soft point isn’t a great big game at 400+ but that 77 tmk is. puny cartridges benefit with increased destruction making more than suitable and capable vs a bigger caliber.

But I’m not sure I’d use a tmk in a 30 cal based early thread pics for the reason you bring up. 308 w/ 165 accubond is capable and yet 223/77 is equal easily in damage at 300 yards.

I’d just rather have 4 vs 16 lbs of recoil…

I'd say not as capable as far as penetration goes. As for the level of damage, controlled expanding bullets at least partly reduce meat damage. However a standing broadside elk hit through the ribs with either would soon be dead.

 

[FredH]

Sounds like a question for the person who posted the picture.

Good point.

 

[ztc92]

Finally got my hands on some XBR 8208 and loaded up 100 of the 77 TMK for the coming season and beyond. Hoping to kill my first antelope next month with this load and add another animal to the thread

View attachment 940048

Good news, the XBR combo is shooting great. I’ve never been able to do much better than 1.5 MOA for 10 rounds prone off a pack so I’m quite pleased with these groups. These are all 1.5” dots.

First target was the top and I went left 0.3 before shooting the bottom left. The bottom right is same zero as bottom left but with some factory second TMK’s that have a cannelure. I moved another 0.1 mil left after that and set the turrets. Confirmed on another target and the group was spot on. Using a RSS really boosts your confidence and it’s so nice to use a system that just works as it should.

After getting zeroed, I took it out to 650 to true velocity. The POI was spot on from a prior load using the same recipe of XBR that a friend loaded for me over 3 years ago. That was a nice surprise!

For anyone wondering, the TMK's with a cannelure had same POI as the normal TMK’s out to 650 despite being factory seconds. Good to know if they come up for sale cheap in the future.

 

[Pharmseller]

Getting ready for deer season in Oregon.



Using the load I named Kyle in my stainless T3 Varmint I named Varmint Cong. Hoping to fill my tag with the .223 for the third straight year.



P

 

[schmidty3]

My 16” AR is sub MOA. Shoots 73s, 75s, 77s great. Can swap my 3x9 trijicon for aimpoints or slap on other built uppers.
What would the 16” tikka give me over my current rifle as far as achievable goals?

I just built a new AR (well just an upper)... the ultralight thread inspired me, but j wasn't quite ready to make the plunge into a side bolt action dingus.

My use case was i wanted a lighter gun that could be stretched to 400ish yards. And peak precision isn't necessary for shots to the max terminal range of a 223 anyway. 1-1.5 moa is more then good enough.

This thing has shown to be plenty accurate for that. And I can do rapid double taps!

Without a can im under 6# and thats a 20" barrel (criterion core). You can build a semi auto AR to be lighter then a tikka, and do it for cheaper. And it just seems like a waste to me to put such a small round into that action, might as well fill it up with a 22 creed.

Best of all... I can do 3 gun matches with this thing!

Im going to carry it without the can if the bear quota is still open while im scouting for mule deer. Pretty sure It'll do the job!

 

[Elk botherer]

I'd say not as capable as far as penetration goes. As for the level of damage, controlled expanding bullets at least partly reduce meat damage. However a standing broadside elk hit through the ribs with either would soon be dead.

My 11 year old son shot this cow elk at 210 yards with a 77 gr tmk in a .223 and the bullet destroyed the knuckle of the shoulder and proceeded to take out the heart and lungs. One shot and she went less than 50 yards and plowed nose first in the dirt. If a 77 tmk can make it through that shoulder and still take out the vitals, I’m pretty comfortable using it. That’s about the worst case scenario of shot placement and it passed with flying colors. It’s hard to wrap your mind around such a small cartridge being so effective after years of fudd lore programming our brains that we need enormous amounts of foot pounds of energy and whollup factor. It took me a while to get the guts to give it a try but the data in this thread convinced me to give it a go. Not telling you you have to do it, but I’m saying the bullet will do it. Crazy, isn’t it?

 

[River Reaper]

Anyone know of anywhere that is loading 77TMK in the 22ARC? The 75gr ELD-Ms are shooting great out of my 16” barrel but I’d like to give the mythical TMK a try

 

[BLJ]

Not sure what you’re hunting but the 73 ELDM gave me the same results as the 77 TMK at 223 velocity on whitetails.

I’m going to try the 75 ELDM in my 22 ARC this year. I expect similar enough results to not be concerned about the minor differences.

 

[benconfused]

Not sure what you’re hunting but the 73 ELDM gave me the same results as the 77 TMK at 223 velocity on whitetails.

I’m going to try the 75 ELDM in my 22 ARC this year. I expect similar enough results to not be concerned about the minor differences.

Is the 73 ELDM available in 223 factory loads? I don't reload.

 

[atmat]

Is the 73 ELDM available in 223 factory loads? I don't reload.

Yes.

 

[The Harbor Master]

Is the 73 ELDM available in 223 factory loads? I don't reload.

It is indeed. That will be my go to round when I try .223 hunting in 2026, as it shoots at an inch in my Tikka and I have a harder time finding loaded ammo with 77gr TMK. 73 ELDM is on store shelves regularly near me. The QC and velocity issues worry me a little bit though.

 

[BLJ]

Hornady Match 223 Rem 73 gr Extremely Low Drag-Match Box of 20

<p>Hornady's Match ammunition features extremely tight tolerances and strict quality control for superior lot-to-lot consistency. Cases are carefully selected based on wall thickness uniformity, internal capacity, case weight and consistent wall concentrically, while the powder is matched...

deleonrxgunsandammo.com

Cheapest place I have found and I’ve ordered from them a lot. GTG.

 

[benconfused]

It is indeed. That will be my go to round when I try .223 hunting in 2026, as it shoots at an inch in my Tikka and I have a harder time finding loaded ammo with 77gr TMK. 73 ELDM is on store shelves regularly near me. The QC and velocity issues worry me a little bit though.

I use the 147 ELDM in my prc so Id be happy to use the 73gr if the TMK is hard to find.

 

[BLJ]

IMO I wouldn’t walk past ELDM’s to search for TMK’s. In reference to the wound channels of each on whitetails at 223 velocity.

Also going to try the 155 TMK in my 308 this year as another comparison.
I think I know haw that will go.

 

[NoveskeEnjoyer]

Does anyone have reliable expansion data on the TMK for 16" barrels? Using Black Hills 77gr TMK

I've read reports of 300 yards to 350 yards, seems shallow though for the TMK.

Thanks!