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

[Nine Banger]

I'm the shooter on that bear in the back of the truck.

I don't need more shock or damage in the future, just another chance to make a proper shot.

I was advised a few days ahead of time to shoot at the center of the bear and in the excitement just fell back on old instincts.

If I have another chance its going to go "safety, center, breathe breathe breathe, exhale, CENTER PUNCH"

 

[Ralphie]

Old school. lol. Now you’ve really done it. WKRs consider themselves to be the bleeding edge of new school.

 

[Luke S]

I did a similar thing with a 375 Ruger before I knew better and never found the bear.

 

[Tobe_B]

I totally agree. But there is some wiggle room with larger calibers.

Don't take my comment wrong, I'm not saying it's unethical or wrong, just something I wouldn't personally do. I would prefer the shock and damage that a larger caliber gives you.

You mean like this kind of damage? I personally enjoy eating the meat from game I harvest. Not sure I’d be wanting to inflict as much damage as I can. Granted this isn’t a .223 harvest, but who would want this much loss?


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[WA209]

Same results with the 243 95 grain tmks?

 

[Wapiti151]

You mean like this kind of damage? I personally enjoy eating the meat from game I harvest. Not sure I’d be wanting to inflict as much damage as I can. Granted this isn’t a .223 harvest, but who would want this much loss?


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Phew, what created that carnage?

 

[Thegman]

I totally agree. But there is some wiggle room with larger calibers.

Don't take my comment wrong, I'm not saying it's unethical or wrong, just something I wouldn't personally do. I would prefer the shock and damage that a larger caliber gives you.

IDK, I've had exactly the same experience with 308 and 30-06 on bears. Didn't seem to offer any wiggle room.

Like I say about bears: Hit em right, and they're not tough, hit em wrong, and they are.
Like pointed out above, I've found it surprisingly easy to hit them wrong, especially when you've been shooting deer and other cervids for years.

 

[Tobe_B]

Phew, what created that carnage?

6.5 PRC with factory 143 eldx. Never again. Did this to both mule deer we shot with it last year.

Light weight calibers from here on out. I dropped to the smallest legal caliber I could for this next season. This thread has been a great educator on bullet selection and performance in tissue. The fundamental premise is spot on. Shoot a lot and shoot accurately and the right bullet will do the intended purpose. The idea that larger calibers offer more wiggle room has been fairly put to bed in the pages in this discussion.


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[yeti12]

6.5 PRC with factory 143 eldx. Never again. Did this to both mule deer we shot with it last year.

Light weight calibers from here on out. I dropped to the smallest legal caliber I could for this next season. This thread has been a great educator on bullet selection and performance in tissue. The fundamental premise is spot on. Shoot a lot and shoot accurately and the right bullet will do the intended purpose. The idea that larger calibers offer more wiggle room has been fairly put to bed in the pages in this discussion.


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What distance? Or impact velocity?

 

[Old Dog]

Reading through this entire thread and checking out the various photos, the idea that anyone would want a cartridge that produced more devastation than the 22cal TMK is insane to me. The idea that a larger caliber would provide a "margin of error" is also laughable. One of the worse shots I ever made on a deer was with a 300 WM at 75 yards. Snap shot and placed it too far back, plenty of FP of energy there but that deer didn't drop it ran for miles before we caught up to it. A 223 FMJ through the heart/lungs would have given a better result.

 

[barnguy]

IDK, I've had exactly the same experience with 308 and 30-06 on bears. Didn't seem to offer any wiggle room.

Like I say about bears: Hit em right, and they're not tough, hit em wrong, and they are.
Like pointed out above, I've found it surprisingly easy to hit them wrong, especially when you've been shooting deer and other cervids for years.

Aren't there vitals more forward than most animals? I don't have any experience with bear.

 

[Tell]

Aren't there vitals more forward than most animals? I don't have any experience with bear.

Post 7219 should clear it up for you. Two pages back.

 

[MEdude]

Aren't there vitals more forward than most animals? I don't have any experience with bear.

Also post #7223 provides clarity. Was very informative to me, as I’ve neither shot, nor cut a bear.

 

[pbroski]

Is this is an accurate representation of the anatomy of a black bear? I think it is. I've shot many right where the center of the lungs are shown, and they have all gone down fast.

 

[Tobe_B]

What distance? Or impact velocity?

My wife shot hers at 180 yds. I shot mine, the one in the picture, at 250 yards. I don’t have the rifle data anymore to recall its actual velocity.


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[Nomosendero]

My wife shot hers at 180 yds. I shot mine, the one in the picture, at 250 yards. I don’t have the rifle data anymore to recall its actual velocity.


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Interesting!
I shot an Axis Buck in the shoulder last week at 170 yds with the 147ELDM with my 6.5PRC Tikka. I did not have near that much damage. Granted, this was a factory load at 2840 fps.

 

[Thegman]

Aren't there vitals more forward than most animals? I don't have any experience with bear.

No, they're a little further back. It's the too far forward shots that have caused problems for me. There may be big dramatics like the bear rolling on its back, paws waving in the air, roaring like it's all over...only to roll back on his feet and take off. Bears can survive forward shots that would likely be fine on deer.

 

[Tahr]

A bit of .223 variety from a hunt this evening. 100 yards. 60 grn Hammer Hunter. Deer ran about 30 yards.



Entry through ribs with shoulder peeled back. Bullet didn't pass through. No blood trail.

 

[TX_Diver]

Shot 10 round groups with 77 TMKs using 24.5gr N140 and 24.5gr Sta-ball match (n140 on left, match on right).

I shot 3 in each then shot the 6.5, then 3 in each group, then the 6.5, then 2 in each group then the 6.5 then 2 in each group. I noticed that each group had multiple smaller groups within it and that generally all 6 shots across both powders moved relative to each other. So I suspect that if I sat there and shot 10 rounds of each without breaking position I'd probably shrink at least the N140 group.

I will probably load another 10 of N140 and shoot them in a row just to check out of curiousity.

Here are the first 6 shots of each. The first 2 groups of 3 (shot without breaking position) are closer to the center, then the next 2 groups of 3 both shift left slightly.

Here's the final 10 round group of each with the last 4 rounds of each filled in.

 

[RedRidge]

Another critter with my pea shooter. Shot was about 80 yards walking. Sow fell where she stood at the shot. Case knife is a standard size trapper for reference.