.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.
- Thread starter PNWGATOR
- Start date
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2023
I’ve seen all the pictures and shot a deer with it, and read as much as I could find about the terminal performance. But for some reason, it’s nice to validate it first hand.
Another data point. 77 TMK, 2460 impact velocity out of a 223. Cow elk. She ran for about 5 seconds and dropped. Big entrance wound (straight on a rib) and great damage to both lungs. There was only an entrance wound on the second lung. It didn’t make it to the other side of the ribs.
If the impact velocity had been lower - like near the 1800fps threshold, would the results have been mostly the same? It’s been a couple months since I read the thread all the way through and this may have been addressed before.
Another data point. 77 TMK, 2460 impact velocity out of a 223. Cow elk. She ran for about 5 seconds and dropped. Big entrance wound (straight on a rib) and great damage to both lungs. There was only an entrance wound on the second lung. It didn’t make it to the other side of the ribs.
If the impact velocity had been lower - like near the 1800fps threshold, would the results have been mostly the same? It’s been a couple months since I read the thread all the way through and this may have been addressed before.
From what I'm reading yes. It seems that 1800fps mark is more of a safety-net than a hard floor because there are a number of animals shot south of that speed exhibiting almost, if not exactly, the same wounds. 2460fps makes me think a pretty short-range shot or a 22cm or something a bit hotter?
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2023
In the spirit of the thread, I wanted to go the same route as the OP. He and the rest of the people validating that choice have convinced me. I saw the impact on the elk, had another round in the chamber right after and was ready for a follow up if necessary.
My experience this year with a 223 and this bullet has been all I could hope for. Two kills done as cleanly and ethically as you can, very little meat damage, and catastrophic damage to the vitals. And I’ve had a blast shooting, too. I’ve put more rounds through this gun than any other hunting rifle I’ve owned by a long shot.
My experience this year with a 223 and this bullet has been all I could hope for. Two kills done as cleanly and ethically as you can, very little meat damage, and catastrophic damage to the vitals. And I’ve had a blast shooting, too. I’ve put more rounds through this gun than any other hunting rifle I’ve owned by a long shot.
5811
WKR
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2023
Has anyone been able to make lung soup and pop the stomach on one shot from broadside? I tried 223/tmk for the first time this year on a large whitetail doe and was surprised by that.
I talked a friend into trying the 77tmk out of a 22 creed and he had the same results on a larger buck, otherwise Id figure mine was an anomaly. So high impact velocity, behind the shoulder shots. Definitely not gut shots but the stomach was popped is the only way to describe it. The lungs were mush.
I'd rather not high shoulder and lose meat on a whitetail, but im thinking I will use the tmk as a neck shot round inside reasonable ranges. No chance it's penciling through.
I talked a friend into trying the 77tmk out of a 22 creed and he had the same results on a larger buck, otherwise Id figure mine was an anomaly. So high impact velocity, behind the shoulder shots. Definitely not gut shots but the stomach was popped is the only way to describe it. The lungs were mush.
I'd rather not high shoulder and lose meat on a whitetail, but im thinking I will use the tmk as a neck shot round inside reasonable ranges. No chance it's penciling through.
Got any pictures of the entrance/exit? I'd be curious to see how close to the liver/guts you were. Is it possible a bullet fragment went that direction and popped a hole. Or are you talking the guts were completely torn open?
Lawnboi
WKR
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2012
- Location
- North Central Wi
I don’t gut animals anymore but the 77 at 16” 22cm speeds, on close deer is border line too much carnage.
I posted pictures in the 22 creed thread but at 100 yards I could have stuck my iPhone through the entrance wound. Grape fruit sized hole in the rib cage and near side shoulder, which the bullet was off of by an inch or so, completely mushed. Bullet found in offside hide.
So if you want margin for error…. I’d just run it faster. I have no desire for any more damage on a deer.
I can’t imagine what a fast 130tmk would do
I posted pictures in the 22 creed thread but at 100 yards I could have stuck my iPhone through the entrance wound. Grape fruit sized hole in the rib cage and near side shoulder, which the bullet was off of by an inch or so, completely mushed. Bullet found in offside hide.
So if you want margin for error…. I’d just run it faster. I have no desire for any more damage on a deer.
I can’t imagine what a fast 130tmk would do
5811
WKR
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2023
I didn't take any photos. It seemed like a standard double lung with where I hit and how she went down. I was probably 3" back from the shoulder. There was liver damage as well as the stomach was opened. It was a surprise when dressing and it was too messy to clean myself up for photos.
I'm guessing it was fragments that did it. It was caliber sized entrance and stuck in ribs/hide on the other side. I just wouldn't have shot behind the shoulder if I'd have known it would be that messy. I was just curious if it was common, but 2/2 same result for my friend and I.
I'm not surprised by this happening. I posted pictures of a double lunged buck. The shot took out ribs on both sides, but also blew a hole up through the spine, even though the shot wasn't really even close to the spine.
Seems like the TMK can damage stuff in a pretty big radius. Doubt you'll pop rumens every time, but not too surprised that you guys did it two times in a row.
Seems like the TMK can damage stuff in a pretty big radius. Doubt you'll pop rumens every time, but not too surprised that you guys did it two times in a row.
- Joined
- Oct 22, 2014
My how times have changed…
2019- “.223 calibers are way to small to kill reliably!!!”
2023- “77gr TMK’s cause too much damage”.
Haha.
2019- “.223 calibers are way to small to kill reliably!!!”
2023- “77gr TMK’s cause too much damage”.
Haha.
Definitely a 9mm used here.
Shraggs
WKR
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2014
- Location
- Zeeland, MI
Pharmseller
WKR
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2015
- Location
- Harrisburg, Oregon
He’s making fun of Biden claiming a 9mm Parabellum will blow a lung out of the body.
P
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