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

[Castle Rock]

It’s not difficult to kill a cattle bull with a 22 LR under the right circumstances, I would imagine a bears skull is much thinner

 

[JCMCUBIC]

Head shooting seems to be frowned upon in the US, not so much south of the equator

Maybe they’re better shots down south.

This reminds me of my brother's friend in college that he brought home to visit. I don't remember where he was from but I "think" it was Trinidad or Tobago (?)...I could be wrong on that though.

Anyhow, my dad had a deer hanging and we were going to be cutting it up. He saw where it was shot, basic behind shoulder heart/lung shot, and he asked "how did you shoot it there?". Dad explained it was the easiest shot, etc.

My brother's friend explained that they only shoot them in the head back home because all they they could see to aim at where the reflections of the eyes.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Wow, I read to about page 50. Interesting thread indeed.

From my perspective, the only downfall for the 77 TMK is range and wind drift. I usually take game under 200 yards. But…not always. There are occasions where longer shots are required given the circumstances.

That being said, I like hunting with .30 cals and have really liked the newest rifle in my arsenal which is a Tikka .308 20” CTR. Fantastic rifle. It really likes the 168 SMKs. IU’m not excited about using these on game other than I know hey will hit where I aim. This thread has me intrigued using TMKs…regardless of cartridge due to terminal performance. I’ve heard the 175 TMKs are devastating, how about the 168s? Any experience outside of the .224 cal bullets I would find interesting.

I’ll give the 77 TMK a go too out of my 1:7” ARs.

 

[Robobiss]

If I remember correctly it was said they work similarly but with less penetration. I believe multiple people are using them in 9 twist barrels. 77s are definitely the preferred weight but I understand 69 are more available.

I know the twist calculator exists and I’ve used it but… What am I risking shooting the 77’s in a 1:9 as long as they shoot at the distances I would ever reasonably shoot something at?

the only 223 I have/had was AR’s and I wanted to load them longer than 2.26, my dad (FFL) had a savage model 12 with a 1:9 in the back of the safe he took in on trade years ago and hadn’t moved it. He gave it to me because he had no use for it and didn’t feel like throwing it on gunbroker. Yay me (thanks dad)

I loaded 100 77 TMK’s at 2.35” with 22 grains of IMR4064 and… they shoot. They shoot more than well enough for my intended purposes thus far. 10 shot groups at 100 a little bigger than 1”, maybe 1.25-1.3 with many of them in the same hole.

I haven’t put them on paper at any distance further but I went 5 for 5 on a 6” steel plate at 300 once I figured out the holdover (has a junk truglo on it that was on it when they traded it in, no reference marks in the reticle). I’m sure I could be on this plate 100% of the time with better glass that I can actually dial or use actual mil designations for holdover instead of guessing.

I’ll never shoot a deer over 200 yard in my AO, and probably never over 100. They shoot, I obviously need a larger sample size to make sure, assuming that they do, what negative could ever come from running them in a 1:9?

 

[Formidilosus]

Wow, I read to about page 50. Interesting thread indeed.

From my perspective, the only downfall for the 77 TMK is range and wind drift. I usually take game under 200 yards. But…not always. There are occasions where longer shots are required given the circumstances.

Read the whole thread- 223/77gr TMK is way more then a 200 yard combo

That being said, I like hunting with .30 cals and have really liked the newest rifle in my arsenal which is a Tikka .308 20” CTR. Fantastic rifle. It really likes the 168 SMKs. IU’m not excited about using these on game other than I know hey will hit where I aim. This thread has me intrigued using TMKs…regardless of cartridge due to terminal performance. I’ve heard the 175 TMKs are devastating, how about the 168s? Any experience outside of the .224 cal bullets I would find interesting.

I’ll give the 77 TMK a go too out of my 1:7” ARs.

TMK’s in all calibers kill get well.

 

[RockAndSage]

Read the whole thread- 223/77gr TMK is way more then a 200 yard combo





TMK’s in all calibers kill get well.

I think I remember you mentioning recently that larger caliber TMKs may be more devastating than some hunters would want to use on their game animals, in terms of meat damage...can't quite remember the exact phrasing, but if you had to use something other than .22, what would your personal upper limit be on using TMK on a deer or an elk to ensure the best meat harvest, before you'd choose a different bullet, like a bonded, etc? As in, someone handed you a 7mm, or a .30cal, or the like, that you had to use in taking a mule deer with a heart/lung shot. And is it just a caliber thing, or would velocity make a difference? Such as, you'd use a TMK in a 7mm-08, but not a 7mm mag?

 

[grfox92]

I have a guide that will sell me a Buffalo from Ted Turner's ranch for a discount. I'll start a GoFundMe for it here and if Rokslide pays I'll use the 223

We can probably find a few guys to throw down and split the meat. South Dakota?

Sent from my SM-G990U2 using Tapatalk

 

[Formidilosus]

I think I remember you mentioning recently that larger caliber TMKs may be more devastating than some hunters would want to use on their game animals, in terms of meat damage...can't quite remember the exact phrasing, but if you had to use something other than .22, what would your personal upper limit be on using TMK on a deer or an elk to ensure the best meat harvest, before you'd choose a different bullet, like a bonded, etc? As in, someone handed you a 7mm, or a .30cal, or the like, that you had to use in taking a mule deer with a heart/lung shot. And is it just a caliber thing, or would velocity make a difference? Such as, you'd use a TMK in a 7mm-08, but not a 7mm mag?

In general I use the most effective (read- terminally) bullet in each caliber/cartridge available. I moderate damage by reducing caliber/cartridge- not by taking spark plugs out of a V8 because it’s too fast. If you want less meat damage, drop down in caliber/cartridge. Though, there still will be lost meat if you hit bone.

So, I would use TMK’s or ELD-M’s/X’s regardless of caliber. Impact velocity does play a large part in tissue disruption, along with bullet construction. For close range doe/meat hunts- I would/do use Barnes or other narrow wounding bullets in 223’s.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Read the whole thread- 223/77gr TMK is way more then a 200 yard combo





TMK’s in all calibers kill get well.

I did read your previous posts of effective range in the 400ish yard range. I was looking for a couple hundred yards more than 400 yards. Your second response above answered my question as larger cartridges provide longer ranges.

 

[swavescatter]

I did read your previous posts of effective range in the 400ish yard range. I was looking for a couple hundred yards more than 400 yards. Your second response above answered my question as larger cartridges provide longer ranges.

Don't get hung up on range. Range is determined by velocity. Keep velocity up over 1800fps and you're golden. 22-250 gets you there easy. Maybe even handloads with 223AI.

My boy took a mule deer with factory black hills ammo near 600yds. Velocity was lower than 1800fps but two hits still jellied up his lungs. Not recommended though and I'm converting to 223AI handloads to get a bit more velocity.

 

[wesfromky]

For close range doe/meat hunts- I would/do use Barnes or other narrow wounding bullets in 223’s.

Which ones? Monos? I have 77tmks, but also have a tendency to shoot deer through the front shoulders as well.

 

[atmat]

I did read your previous posts of effective range in the 400ish yard range. I was looking for a couple hundred yards more than 400 yards. Your second response above answered my question as larger cartridges provide longer ranges.

I believe @Formidilosus has taken elk at >800 yards with the 77 TMK. But I’ll let him validate that.

 

[robtattoo]

Exactly. Just like people do with elk.

and goats to a crazy extent

You ought to hear about how "bullet proof" wild hogs are. According to everyone down here, anything short of Africa-class magnums will do nothing but piss them off

 

[kkp005]

You ought to hear about how "bullet proof" wild hogs are. According to everyone down here, anything short of Africa-class magnums will do nothing but piss them off

Ohhhh man. That shield is like armor . Here’s the opposite shoulder of a decent boar after a 95gr tmk blew through him like he was butter . Lol

 

[robtattoo]

Good day in the basement today, until I ran out of TAC......

That's 573 TMKs & 500 77gr OTM

I've still got another 600 pieces of primed brass & 400 TMKs to go. I just need Natchez to hurry it up with the powder!

 

[Boltgun]

You ought to hear about how "bullet proof" wild hogs are. According to everyone down here, anything short of Africa-class magnums will do nothing but piss them off

To be fair, hog hide really is much thicker than most other North American game. I’m always impressed by the shield on big boars.

I can attest, however, that TMK blows right through it, and 77gr is PLENTY big medicine for big piggies, even from an 11.5” barrel.

 

[Formidilosus]

Which ones? Monos? I have 77tmks, but also have a tendency to shoot deer through the front shoulders as well.

Monos. Tipped TTSX, or LRX in the mag and twist will support. I personally mostly use a bullet that isn’t commercially available.

 

[Fireflyfishing]

Don't get hung up on range. Range is determined by velocity. Keep velocity up over 1800fps and you're golden. 22-250 gets you there easy. Maybe even handloads with 223AI.

Right, if I were to use either of my 1:7 ARs, one being 14.5” one being 18”, they don’t get real crazy with velocity. Thus, limiting effective range. So, for longer range use, I need to go up a caliber…that I own and have in the safe.

I believe @Formidilosus has taken elk at >800 yards with the 77 TMK. But I’ll let him validate that.

Huh…That’s certainly not achievable with the two rifles I have.

 

[robtattoo]

Right, if I were to use either of my 1:7 ARs, one being 14.5” one being 18”, they don’t get real crazy with velocity. Thus, limiting effective range.

You should easily get 400-450 yds out of either of those, with the right load. I'm good to 440yds (assuming minimum velocity of 1800fps) out of my 16" AR.

 

[crich]

Good day in the basement today, until I ran out of TAC......
View attachment 705318
That's 573 TMKs & 500 77gr OTM

I've still got another 600 pieces of primed brass & 400 TMKs to go. I just need Natchez to hurry it up with the powder!

You pump all that out in one day on a single stage?