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

rbutcher1234

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 2, 2023
Messages
133
I have joined the tikka 223 club.... Once it gets back from being chopped and threaded, we'll see what all the fuss is about!

I normally hunt with a 6.5CM or a 308 (300NM if I know I am going to watch over very long pipeline cuts for Nilgai), so I am very excited to see how the tikka works. I've hunted with ar15's before and filled the freezer multiple times with gold dots, but the 77 tmk pics have me very excited for the rokslide special.
 
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PNWGATOR

WKR
Shoot2HuntU
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Oct 14, 2014
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I have joined the tikka 223 club.... Once it gets back from being chopped and threaded, we'll see what all the fuss is about!

I normally hunt with a 6.5CM or a 308 (300NM if I know I am going to watch over very long pipeline cuts for Nilgai), so I am very excited to see how the tikka works. I've hunted with ar15's before and filled the freezer multiple times with gold dots, but the 77 tmk pics have me very excited for the rokslide special.
I assure you that you’ll be smitten with the delivery system and impressed with the terminal performance and wound channels inside of 450 yds.
Recommend you go ahead and buy several thousand rounds of ammo now. Just sayin.
 

Tell

FNG
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Mar 1, 2023
Messages
87
I read the whole thing from the beginning. Incredible thread. It took me a long time, but by the time I finished I had about 2,000 rounds ready to load up and a 223 bolt gun on the way.

Thanks to everyone who’s posted, and especially thanks to those who’ve taken the time to do necropsies. Now to get practicing Form’s field drill with my hunting gear on.
 

JCMCUBIC

WKR
Joined
Nov 22, 2020
Messages
479
The vertical grip is still friendly for shooting offhand


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I've worked in some lightweight vertical grip hunting stocks over the past couple of years and I'm starting to prefer them offhand. I think I'm slightly quicker on the bolt with them...though it's minor. I'm still fine with an open grip...and may still prefer it on movers (which I try to avoid)...but if given the choice now, I go with vertical.
 

ShootOkHuntWorse

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 23, 2020
Messages
205
Those of us who got the ABC “TMKs” anyone shot them into an animal to see if they act like a name brand TMK? Currently shooting through my 600 factory seconds and the ABC bullets will be in use by hunting season.
 

11Justin22

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 19, 2020
Messages
120
AAC tmk out of a Ruger MPR (18" AR-15). Seems about par for what I've seen so far in this thread with this ammo and coming out of an AR. Black hills for reference shot marginally better (1.5"ish) from what I remember. It will be fine for my purposes, whitetail under 200yds. Had no problems hitting steel out to 500 with it.Ballistic-X-Export-2023-08-10 12_08_09.558244.jpg
 

Axlrod

WKR
Joined
Jan 8, 2017
Messages
1,500
Location
SW Montana
I shot some ABC 77gr TM's and Sierra 77 TMK's yesterday. Gun is a T/C Contender Carbine with a 20" 8 twist SSK. Barrel & 16x SWFA. It has 230ish rounds on it. Load was the same for both bullets. L-C brass, 23.5 Gr. H4895, CCI 400. I shot 5 of each @ 100 yards into 3/4" target dots. Powder was weighed on a V4 Auto trickler.

I also shot both into pine logs and recovered them. The ABC penetrated 7.5" and weighed 62.4 gr, the Sierra penetrated 5" and weighed 51.2 gr. Shooting into logs in no way is representative of what happens in tissue. It's just something I used to do many years ago, when I was experimenting with cast bullet alloys for handgun hunting. In the handgun bullets, the ones that went farther in wood (retaining their original shape) would penetrate further in game.

Anyway I did this to try to determine if these are the same bullets. I am not convinced one way or another, but I do feel the ABC will preform as well as the Sierra's
 

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khuber84

WKR
Joined
Jun 6, 2019
Messages
1,727
Im extremely pleased with my rough RSS. Trijicon accupoint 3-9 and 24.5grains of tac at mag length had an SD of 3fps over 3 rounds so I stopped there to not ruin my hopes. Was getting consistent hits out over 700 before my scope runs out of elevation. I dialed the accupoint for 70 rounds from bottomed out to 24moa above my zero and never felt like it wasn’t tracking correctly. Not enough for a novice like me to notice. 2833fps was my trued velocity from StrelokPro. Got DA using the same aviation chart Form has posted previously. Between strelok and a rough understanding of the altitude I was within the ballpark of a kestrel every time. I need a small thermometer on my pack or something.
Things I would change; 1. Sacrifice the weight of the scope for the tenmile FFP and a zero stop. I have my zero marked in number of revs from the bottom but it’s a hassle to do that repeatedly. 2. Try the tikka vertical grip. I might not like it for N.Idaho hunting situations. 3. I want a suppressor.
View attachment 588020
I love shooting at rock lake!

While I'm not going down the Tikka 223 path, I'm going with a 22" 7.5tw 22gt 120 freebore chamber to launch my 77tmk. I think 3100mv should be a balance to keep over expansion down at shots under 200y but keep my range out to 700y with 1750mv for reliable performance.
 
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ShootOkHuntWorse

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 23, 2020
Messages
205
I love shooting at rock lake!

While I'm not going down the Tikka 223 path, I'm going with a 22" 7.5tw 22gt 120 freebore chamber to launch my 77tmk. I think 3100mv should be a balance to keep over expansion down at shots under 200y but keep my range out to 700y with 1750mv for reliable performance.
Yea I’m definitely getting a membership. That was my first time. It’s almost a two hour drive for me though.
 

mt terry d

WKR
Shoot2HuntU
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Jul 18, 2023
Messages
764
Should someone tell them?

Sierra Bullets TMK .22 Cal 77 Gr

Sierra has enhanced a segment of the MatchKing line by adding the acetal resin tip, thus crowning the Tipped MatchKing (TMK) bullet line. The major advantage of adding a tip to the bullet is the reduction of drag, producing a more favorable ballistic coefficient. Another benefit is reliable feeding in magazine fed firearms. The 77 grain Tipped MatchKing (TMK) allows seating to an OAL that permits cartridges to be loaded into M16/AR15 magazines.



Although the MatchKing line is recognized around the world for record setting accuracy, like their untipped counterparts, Tipped MatchKing (TMK) bullets are not recommended for hunting anything larger than varmints. Having heavier jackets than our Hornet or Blitz line of bullets, these bullets will not provide the same explosive expansion on small varmints. The #7177 was introduced in January 2015.

This bullet requires a barrel twist rate of 1x8" or faster.


Dia. (inches)Weight (grains)Sectional DensityBallistic Coefficients and Velocity Ranges
0.22477.219.420 @ 2400 fps and above
.415 between 2400 and 2000 fps
.395 between 2000 and 1750 fps
.380 @ 1750 fps and below
 
Joined
Jan 26, 2016
Messages
27
Not legal for big game in Oregon. Surprised that it is legal for Elk in Idaho.

Obviously Elk aren't armor-plated. And if you think like a bowhunter the 223 will put one down. But you don't have much leeway with a 223. You can end up with a hit to tag ratio greater than 1.

I am a little worried about this statement - "The terminal performance is on par with anything I’ve seen in a .284 or .30. Unreal performance. The bullet is a BEAST!"

No, it is not "on par" with 30cal fodder - not even a 30-30. It is a very marginal cartridge/bullet that CAN work if the shooter stays within its limitations. Sorry to burst your bubble, but better now than this fall when you post a sob-story about how you made a good hit and never found the elk.
He's not gonna post that 🤪
 
OP
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PNWGATOR

WKR
Shoot2HuntU
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Oct 14, 2014
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Not legal for big game in Oregon. Surprised that it is legal for Elk in Idaho.

Obviously Elk aren't armor-plated. And if you think like a bowhunter the 223 will put one down. But you don't have much leeway with a 223. You can end up with a hit to tag ratio greater than 1.

I am a little worried about this statement - "The terminal performance is on par with anything I’ve seen in a .284 or .30. Unreal performance. The bullet is a BEAST!"

No, it is not "on par" with 30cal fodder - not even a 30-30. It is a very marginal cartridge/bullet that CAN work if the shooter stays within its limitations. Sorry to burst your bubble, but better now than this fall when you post a sob-story about how you made a good hit and never found the elk.
Please read the entire thread.

I assure you what I’ve written is factual. Period.
 
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