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

[Grundy53]

I buy 77gr SMK for practice, etc. Save the TMKs for bloodletting.

This was my thinking. TMKs are hard to find. Save them for hunting. Shoot these up at the range.

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[DJL2]

223 isn’t legal for deer or big game where I hunt. Still, I have waded through this thread (took me several sessions!) and I have found it informative and interesting.

So thanks for everyone who has made constructive posts in it.

The TMK seems to punch above its caliber and is a formidable load.

Seeing mention of this thread on snipershide is what brought me to rokslide.

Was it the link I dropped?

The TMK is a great bullet across the range, really. Next to the ELD-M, it’s my favorite “do it all” choice.

 

[SBR Sarge]

Was it the link I dropped?

The TMK is a great bullet across the range, really. Next to the ELD-M, it’s my favorite “do it all” choice.

DJL2,
I can’t remember which link I folowed to here, or even what thread it was in. I might be getting old and forgetful! It was fairly recently, I think in the semi-auto forum section.

I’ve shot some really tight groups quite consistently with the SMKs, but the TMKs seem to not do as well. But, for hunting or defense, a 1moa rifle/ammo cmbination is probably just as good as .75moa.

I’ve never really looked into the ELD-M for hunting. In my 6ARC the ELD-X groups just as superbly as the ELD-M, and the other rifles I hiunt with have Barnes TSX or TTSX, or some other all copper loads available. This’ll give me something more to glean info on and I just might learn something else here!

Cheers!

 

[DJL2]

DJL2,

I’ve shot some really tight groups quite consistently with the SMKs, but the TMKs seem to not do as well. But, for hunting or defense, a 1moa rifle/ammo cmbination is probably just as good as .75moa.
Cheers!

My own experience with SMK vs TMK tracks the conventional wisdom concerning tangent ogive “traditional” bullets and secant/VLD ogive designs. For me, the TMK have always exhibited sensitivity to “jump” - so much so that I’ve experienced three different powders and multiple charge weights shooting ~.65” average per 5@100 when it’s right and refusing to group under 1-1.5” when it’s not.

Addendum for clarity - that’s with 6.5mm 130 TMK. I bought a bunch as my one bullet to rule them all for my 6.5 CM family (lucky too, they were both on sale and all I could find). My 77 TMK experience is loaded ammo from American Reloading. I run that from a 16” AR with a RDS to “good enough” levels of precision.

 

[Castle Rock]

I have found the 77 TMK the easiest heavy .224 to tune bar none, in quite a few rifles

 

[redneckbmxer24]

SMK for practice vs TMK for hunting is likely going to be a different POI and definitely different drop and wind drift. Out to 300 or so the difference will likely be marginal.

The Berger 77gr OTM fragments very consistently and is very jump tolerant and easy to load. I never shot a deer with one but I shot a number of groundhogs and coyotes and 95%+ were DRT.

 

[ElPollo]

Anyone try the 77 gr Scenars?

 

[EastCoaster]

Anyone here have any experience with the 1:8 twist howa mini action?

 

[Stu]

I have found the 77 TMK the easiest heavy .224 to tune bar none, in quite a few rifles

I’ll second that. My experience across 6 guns was also just as good with the 73 ELD. For folks suggesting a separate bullet for practice, I’d suggest using it due to lower cost than the SMK, and closer BC to the TMK.

I’ve found the zero to be within .1-.3 mil in both axes for my rigs.

I zero turrets for the 77 TMK.
For the 73 ELD I simply adjust my windage zero on the turret and already have the elevation offset for zero set in the profile for the ballistics calculator. That means all I have to remember is to adjust the windage turret.

I can optionally adjust the elevation turret, but I usually don’t bother since this is practice and practically all shots are ranged and calculated anyway.

 

[Lawnboi]

Hornady 75 bthp are a decent bullet too for the price.

I’d like to give the Berger 77s a try for varmint/predator/practice as well.

 

[SouthPaw]

I’ll second that. My experience across 6 guns was also just as good with the 73 ELD. For folks suggesting a separate bullet for practice, I’d suggest using it due to lower cost than the SMK, and closer BC to the TMK.

I’ve found the zero to be within .1-.3 mil in both axes for my rigs.

I've found this to also be true. The 75eldm did not work out for my tikka 1:8 but I practice at 600ft elevation. The 73eldm has been great as a practice bullet, and I have an accurate load for 77tmk for this hunting season. Interestingly, the 73eldm has a very slightly better BC than the 77tmk (AB data) and I'm getting an extra 80fps with it over the TMK.

 

[Stu]

I've found this to also be true. The 75eldm did not work out for my tikka 1:8 but I practice at 600ft elevation. The 73eldm has been great as a practice bullet, and I have an accurate load for 77tmk for this hunting season. Interestingly, the 73eldm has a very slightly better BC than the 77tmk (AB data) and I'm getting an extra 80fps with it over the TMK.

I really wanted the 75 ELDs to work too and I spent way too much time and money on them. the 73s just don't seem to care about the gun, chamber/seating depth at all. My go-to, non finicky, precision load for 223/5.56 is the 73 ELD with basically any primer and any amount of Varget.
And yeah, definitely faster.

Where can a fella find the AB data?

 

[amassi]

I really wanted the 75 ELDs to work too and I spent way too much time and money on them. the 73s just don't seem to care about the gun, chamber/seating depth at all. My go-to, non finicky, precision load for 223/5.56 is the 73 ELD with basically any primer and any amount of Varget.
And yeah, definitely faster.

Where can a fella find the AB data?

There's a book or an app. The app updates every time a new bullet is added to the library

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[Lawnboi]

I really wanted the 75 ELDs to work too and I spent way too much time and money on them. the 73s just don't seem to care about the gun, chamber/seating depth at all. My go-to, non finicky, precision load for 223/5.56 is the 73 ELD with basically any primer and any amount of Varget.
And yeah, definitely faster.

Where can a fella find the AB data?

The AB app is worth the 30 bucks.

I found it much more accurate than sierras data.

 

[Stu]

There's a book or an app. The app updates every time a new bullet is added to the library

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Ha, I have the app. Just dug into the listed BCs in the library that i already have set up. No wonder they seem to drop so similarly. Doh!

Guess that shows how much I use my Vortex Fury IIs with applied ballistics these days instead. Thanks @Formidilosus

 

[Castle Rock]

I really wanted the 75 ELDs to work too and I spent way too much time and money on them.

Me too, and likewise the 7mm 150 ELDM

 

[Formidilosus]

Guess that shows how much I use my Vortex Fury IIs with applied ballistics these days instead. Thanks @Formidilosus

Working well for you?

 

[Stu]

Working well for you?

Yeah, I’m all about it. No complaints. Wish the ballistics solution came up a little faster, but that’s splitting hairs I reckon.

 

[Formidilosus]

Yeah, I’m all about it. No complaints. Wish the ballistics solution came up a little faster, but that’s splitting hairs I reckon.

Nah, it is a bit slow to pop up, but given all around usability, it’s solid I think.

 

[Stu]

Nah, it is a bit slow to pop up, but given all around usability, it’s solid I think.

I don’t own any of its competitors to compare to, but have been using it for a little over a year now. I’m happy with the glass, really like the continuous scanning/ranging, and was surprised at how easy and quick it is to get a windage calculation when there’s time. That’s a feature I figured I’d never use.