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

[CTXhunter]

whats a UM 77?

Just UM loaded 77 SMK’s. Very accurate but I have expended all I have now and mostly shoot AAC for the cost savings

 

[fauxarms]

Just UM loaded 77 SMK’s. Very accurate but I have expended all I have now and mostly shoot AAC for the cost savings

I think he's asking what "UM" stands for. I'm going to guess "unknown manufacturer"

 

[Matt5266]

I think he's asking what "UM" stands for. I'm going to guess "unknown manufacturer"

Its likely unknown munitions

 

[patrickj71]

DON'T HAVE TIME TO READ 176 PAGES? HERE'S THE CHEAT SHEET.

---

“Bullets matter more than headstamps.”

“Spent primers offer the supreme tutorial”.

I’ve read it here and elsewhere online. It got my attention. I started digging and asking questions and listened.

The 77gr TMK delivered by a .223 is where I ended up after many discussions and objective data regarding bullet performance and numerous pics of field results.

Now for the delivery system. Accurate. Repeatable. Reliable. Reasonable weight to afford steady shot placement and the ability to spot my own impacts yet packable. Tikka T3x, vertical grip, Sportsmatch rings, SWFA 6x MQ in mills. Replaced the trigger spring with a yo Dave, adjusted to my liking, then degreased everything and locked all of the screws down with loctite and got started.

The package checks all of the boxes. Plus, it’s FUN! Time at the range is spent learning to call wind, trigger control, spotting your own impacts and figuring out why a shot did or did not end up where you wanted it. No brake. No flinch. Inexpensive to shoot. The fun factor plus the ability to be able to afford to shoot a lot goes a long way to learning and understanding shooting, accuracy and precision.

With all of that said, I’ve decided to use 77 TMK out of a .223 from this delivery system for bear, deer and elk this season.

Opportunity presented itself a couple of days ago. I killed a mature, dry sow with the 77 TMK. Bullet performance exceeded all expectations! The terminal performance is on par with anything I’ve seen in a .284 or .30. Unreal performance. The bullet is a BEAST!

Practice will continue throughout the summer in preparation for the upcoming deer and elk seasons.

Based on my sample of one, the 77 TMK out of a .223 is truly a lethal combination well suited to a dedicated lower 48 big game rifle.

Would love to hear about others experiences with this bullet or similar bulletts!

I can't understand wanting to hunt elk with a .223. Is it possible? Sure. Is it a good idea? Probably not. As a matter of fact, it's not even legal in some states to use a .223 for elk. If some states don't allow. 223 there is obviously a good reason for it. My opinion, use a better suited round like 270, 308, 30-06, 300 win mag, 280AI, etc.

 

[HighUintas]

I can't understand wanting to hunt elk with a .223. Is it possible? Sure. Is it a good idea? Probably not. As a matter of fact, it's not even legal in some states to use a .223 for elk. If some states don't allow. 223 there is obviously a good reason for it. My opinion, use a better suited round like 270, 308, 30-06, 300 win mag, 280AI, etc.

Congratulations! You hit your 10th post. Make your way over to the classifieds now so you can continue not contributing

 

[fwafwow]

Congratulations! You hit your 10th post. Make your way over to the classifieds now so you can continue not contributing

But if the government says so, it must be right! (Wait - some governments don’t say that, so now I’m confused.)

 

[sprucehollow]

I can't understand wanting to hunt elk with a .223. Is it possible? Sure. Is it a good idea? Probably not. As a matter of fact, it's not even legal in some states to use a .223 for elk. If some states don't allow. 223 there is obviously a good reason for it. My opinion, use a better suited round like 270, 308, 30-06, 300 win mag, 280AI, etc.

You're right. .25-20 meets caliber minimums and is much better suited for walloping elk than the anemic .223

 

[Gstew1930]

I can't understand wanting to hunt elk with a .223. Is it possible? Sure. Is it a good idea? Probably not. As a matter of fact, it's not even legal in some states to use a .223 for elk. If some states don't allow. 223 there is obviously a good reason for it. My opinion, use a better suited round like 270, 308, 30-06, 300 win mag, 280AI, etc.

For more wallop or authority?

 

[gman82001]

I can't understand wanting to hunt elk with a .223. Is it possible? Sure. Is it a good idea? Probably not. As a matter of fact, it's not even legal in some states to use a .223 for elk. If some states don't allow. 223 there is obviously a good reason for it. My opinion, use a better suited round like 270, 308, 30-06, 300 win mag, 280AI, etc.

You tell em cowboy

 

[mt terry d]

If some states don't allow. 223 there is obviously a good reason for it.

Which is....................................................... ?

 

[justinspicher]

I can't understand wanting to hunt elk with a .223. Is it possible? Sure. Is it a good idea? Probably not. As a matter of fact, it's not even legal in some states to use a .223 for elk. If some states don't allow. 223 there is obviously a good reason for it. My opinion, use a better suited round like 270, 308, 30-06, 300 win mag, 280AI, etc.

I can’t understand wanting to use anything other than a 223/556 for anything in North America. I’ve heard lots of “hunters” talk about their sub MOA rifle in a big caliber and how awesome it is and they are only to see them miss “chip” shots or wound an animal because they are shooting further than they are actually capable or in a position they didn’t practice. Yet these “bigger/better” calibers will “anchor” an animal better.

Of course that’s the beauty of the internet, you can make an opinion on a subject you have little to no experience with.

I love how folks will point out that it’s not allowed, even unethical to use a small caliber on elk yet hundreds of folks wound animals every year using bigger calibers and even archery but that’s okay because it’s allowed by the states rules.

 

[Thegman]

The 70gr TSX is relatively unique in the mono world. It was not designed for max penetration. Very common to catch them on the offside.

Does the 62 TSX perform like the 70? Looking at both of them, I assumed the 70 was pretty much the 62 with a longer base, but maybe that's not the case.

And what is it about the 70 that limits its penetration? I assume greater expansion than most monos?

 

[Formidilosus]

Does the 62 TSX perform like the 70? Looking at both of them, I assumed the 70 was pretty much the 62 with a longer base, but maybe that's not the case.

Nope. All the others will penetrate much deeper. 62’s will exit pretty reliably in deer.

And what is it about the 70 that limits its penetration? I assume greater expansion than most monos?

A bit wider expansion- they were designed to penetrate 12-13” and stop.

 

[Deere_Man]

Nope. All the others will penetrate much deeper. 62’s will exit pretty reliably in deer.





A bit wider expansion- they were designed to penetrate 12-13” and stop.

What is the advantage in less penetration? Why did Barnes decide to engineer this feature into the 70gr?

 

[Castle Rock]

What is the advantage in less penetration? Why did Barnes decide to engineer this feature into the 70gr?

Wider wound channels, probably designed for two legged varmints

 

[Castle Rock]

I can’t understand wanting to use anything other than a 223/556 for anything

I can and do use a bigger gun for a very valid reason, flatter trajectory and better wind bucking.
243 and 6.5 PRC

 

[Formidilosus]

What is the advantage in less penetration? Why did Barnes decide to engineer this feature into the 70gr?

To reduce over penetration risk in LE and Mil use.

 

[benconfused]

I finally get to contribute to this groundbreaking thread! Or rather, my daughter gets to contribute.

Tikka t3x 223 with an LS wild 18” 223 wylde barrel.
KRG Bravo.
AB a10 556 can.
Swfa 3-9

Shooting 80gr eldm over 24.5gr Varget. Lapua brass. 2750fps.

My 11 year old daughter’s first deer hunt with her own tag. I was just praying for her to have a good experience….
Rain started at midnight.
We woke up and glassed a small herd of does 800yds from camp. They were in a spot where we would need to loop around a small hilltop to get into position. It would require bushwhacking through soaking wet alders.

We started hiking, got into the spot we had planned after about an hour.

Saw the group feeding at 300yds. Worked to a small crest and set up the shot. Dialed 0.6mil elevation. She had her scope set to 6x. She picked out the doe she wanted and waited until she turned broadside.

I’m on the binoculars ready to help if she needs it.
She Fired a single shot. She has a suppressor, so I hear the hiss from the suppressor, and then a spit second later the thwack of the bullet hitting the doe.
Doe drops, then cartwheels, and dies 10yds from where my daughter shot her. Less then 30 seconds from start to finish. The rest of the herd just stands around on alert, but not sure what to make of the commotion.

My girl stayed locked in on the deer through the scope while the gun recoiled. No flinch at all.
Then she coolly racked the bolt and was ready for a follow up shot, that was never needed. All that practice payed off.

Final distance ended up about 230-240yds. The heart and lungs were jelly. Lung tissue poking out. Impact velocity about 2300. When I pulled the shoulder off, there was about 2” hole in the onside rib cage. Mult broken ribs.
Offside rib cage also had 2” hole.

No pictures of the wounds since we were literally butchering the deer in a mountaintop hurricane. Snow came in during the pack out.

My 11year old daughter was feeling wet and getting down on herself. But she dug deep, persevered, had success, and is now so proud of what she accomplished! She was all smiles on the drive back.

I just ordered this same barrel. Glad to hear of your succes!

 

[Dust Rider]

77gr. TMK. Black Hills factory ammo. 360 yards. One shot, small run and piled up quick. Bullet got lungs and punched through opposite side leg. No bullet recovered.
My son shot two deer on MT youth hunt with the same bullet and set up. He claimed my first Tikka T3X .223. I just had to put together another! I will get his posted up later. Bonus: the Scythe didn’t blow up on 3 animals!

 

[nm.otter]

Interesting spreader bar...