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

[Billy Goat]

My “fix” with this is doing my load development with a warm rifle (warmer than it’ll ever get shot hunting) warm powder, warm brass etc in my 80 degree basement next to the stove.

Then I step outside and shoot them. I have yet to develop loads in my 80 degree basement then find temp issues (high pressure) shooting in the field.

I like the price of TAC a lot, that’s why I shoot it and make it work.

That works to know its safe, but if pressure is changing with temp, so is velocity.

Not a big concern with .223, but i generally keep a fair amount of Varget around anyways. Was able to load up on CFE too for pretty fair price a while ago. At least enough to last me several years.

 

[Pharmseller]

Hahahaha.

I’m at 23.5

Would you call that lots?

No

But 26.0 was.

 

[YaakRiver]

Not TMK.

Different bearing surfaces.

Agreed - but the Hornady data for the hornady bullets was a good reference to start with. I started low and worked up. When I shot that group (see above) at that velocity, I stopped. No pressure signs.

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

75ish yards hard quartering away shot with 77tmk. Due to steep angle bullet did not exit. Poi shown in picture below. Deer tucked his tail and ran hard for 3-4 seconds max and fell. Got into the guts so i did not autopsy the pump house. There was no bloodshot meet on the shoulders, so i suspect i got just enough penetration to bust up some lung/heart tissue.

3rd data point for me with 223 and 2nd with 77tmk and my LW gasser build.

 

[Trackselk]

I haven't caught up on this thread for months, and don't have the time, but here's what i found with the 79gr DRT at 2650 muzzle velocity. 1 spike bull, forgot to lead him in the heat of the moment (herd scattering) and I detonated his liver and stomach (what a mess) at about 30 yards. He staggered for a few seconds and went maybe 20ft, and expired. No pics of that one.
2nd animal. Same load of 79gr DRT. 125 yards, large muley. He went maybe 30 yards after lung hit and expired, lasted maybe 10 seconds. Pics show what I think is pretty marginal damage to the lungs, and the bullets (powder) damage didn't extend beyond the lungs. I'm concerned that this is not enough medicine for elk period, although it did fine with the close shot on a large spike bull. Please let me know what you think. I'm not going to shoot any more elk with this bullet, unless yall tell me otherwise.
I'm going to add 100fps to my loads (was in a rush before the hunt to find a charge that printed well) and call them good for deer and blackbear out to about 350 yards.
I think this is pretty minor lung damage, right?

 

[sierracharlie338]

While I don't think there is anything wrong with the performance you saw, I think there is opportunity for better performance from any of the tipped projectiles. Personally I would look at those over the DRT but that's just me unless you have to shoot non lead, then thats a different story.

 

[Taudisio]

While I don't think there is anything wrong with the performance you saw, I think there is opportunity for better performance from any of the tipped projectiles. Personally I would look at those over the DRT but that's just me unless you have to shoot non lead, then thats a different story.

This, plus, your photos appear the same as the damage I have seen with the 3 non lead kills I have put a knife in.

 

[KHntr]

You have a baseball sized hole in the lungs…. How much damage are you looking for??

 

[Trackselk]

You have a baseball sized hole in the lungs…. How much damage are you looking for??

After I not so carefully removed the lungs in pieces, I don't actually know what I'm looking at. If it's baseball sized damage then that sounds more encouraging

 

[Kaleb]

 

[Kaleb]

16” 223 75amax. 2750 MV between 170-180 yards. 40 yard dash crash. Tim Olt Canadian skinner/CBK s35v. Everything worked fine.

 

[gbflyer]

View attachment 956546

Man that’s a fat one. Fine table fare.

 

[SouthPaw]

I haven't caught up on this thread for months, and don't have the time, but here's what i found with the 79gr DRT at 2650 muzzle velocity. 1 spike bull, forgot to lead him in the heat of the moment (herd scattering) and I detonated his liver and stomach (what a mess) at about 30 yards. He staggered for a few seconds and went maybe 20ft, and expired. No pics of that one.
2nd animal. Same load of 79gr DRT. 125 yards, large muley. He went maybe 30 yards after lung hit and expired, lasted maybe 10 seconds. Pics show what I think is pretty marginal damage to the lungs, and the bullets (powder) damage didn't extend beyond the lungs. I'm concerned that this is not enough medicine for elk period, although it did fine with the close shot on a large spike bull. Please let me know what you think. I'm not going to shoot any more elk with this bullet, unless yall tell me otherwise.
I'm going to add 100fps to my loads (was in a rush before the hunt to find a charge that printed well) and call them good for deer and blackbear out to about 350 yards.
I think this is pretty minor lung damage, right?

That looks like quite a bit of crushed tissue in the lungs. Lots of bullets do way less than that.

From what I've personally seen from the 79gr DRT, it upsets and fragments dramatically at high impact velocity. >2400fps. 12-14" penetration. As impact velocity slows it will upset after a few inches, still fragment completely, but penetration will be a bit more. I'd have zero hesitation shooting elk with it but at close range (high impact velocity) I'm not trying to shoot through guts to get to vitals.

I would also only use the DRT if you require lead-free.

 

[Gettincloser]

I took my nephew out for hid 1st deer (he is 9). We had a red sow come in and he got her behind the shoulder as she was quartered away (taking out the lungs but under the spine) at 85ish yards. Thr bullet was recover against the hide on the opposite side. Hog ran 30 yards and fell over. 10 minutes later (love suppressors! ) a year old spike came in and he could not help himself. That was THE BUCK he wanted to shoot. He might have been a bit excited and pulled the shot a little low. Nearly broad side at 60ish yards. The bullet hit low in the crease behind the shoulder taking out the breast bone, the lower 1/3rd of the heart. Breaking to off side leg bone and stopping against the hide. Another 35 yard recovery. The expansion of the 77gr TMK took it from marginal to victory for his 1st buck!

 

[Chet707]

2nd doe with the 223, 77 tmk over 24 gr of varget. MV 2760, impact velocity of 2430. Perfect broadside, double lung and full pass through. She made a surprisingly long death run of about 155 yards considering that both lungs were trashed. Could have been a touch lower but wanted to clear the bush in front of her.

My apologies for the quality of the autopsy photos.

If anything the bloodshot on the exit side was my only complaint. My previous doe was with a 73 eldm and it had a great outcome as well with less bloodshot. Pretty awesome to watch impact through the scope and not feel bad shooting my "hunting" ammo at steel every week.

 

[Deere_Man]

2nd doe with the 223, 77 tmk over 24 gr of varget. MV 2760, impact velocity of 2430. Perfect broadside, double lung and full pass through. She made a surprisingly long death run of about 155 yards considering that both lungs were trashed. Could have been a touch lower but wanted to clear the bush in front of her.

My apologies for the quality of the autopsy photos.

If anything the bloodshot on the exit side was my only complaint. My previous doe was with a 73 eldm and it had a great outcome as well with less bloodshot. Pretty awesome to watch impact through the scope and not feel bad shooting my "hunting" ammo at steel every week.

I like your rifle setup. Gen 1’s Predators are sweet.

 

[Drenalin]

Took my daughter (9 years old) out on her first hunt this weekend for TN's youth season. She heart shot a 3.5 year old buck at 84 yards with the 77 TMK out of a suppressed 11.5" AR15. Entry hole was tiny, no exit, total devastation inside. The buck made it 40 yards with no blood trail, but I heard him crash and knew about where to look so there was no recovery drama. Hoping to knock down several more this year with the same combo.

 

[benconfused]

Took my daughter (9 years old) out on her first hunt this weekend for TN's youth season. She heart shot a 3.5 year old buck at 84 yards with the 77 TMK out of a suppressed 11.5" AR15. Entry hole was tiny, no exit, total devastation inside. The buck made it 40 yards with no blood trail, but I heard him crash and knew about where to look so there was no recovery drama. Hoping to knock down several more this year with the same combo.

Why no exit wound, were you able to find the bullet inside to see where it stopped?

 

[np307]

Why no exit wound, were you able to find the bullet inside to see where it stopped?

If you look through the thread, closer shots with the 77 TMKs dont exit relatively frequently. Often caught by offside hide.

 

[benconfused]

If you look through the thread, closer shots with the 77 TMKs dont exit relatively frequently. Often caught by offside hide.

Ah thanks for the reminder.