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

[Moose83]

2.26” coal compatible and generally available:

77gr TMK
69gr TMK (sufficient, but less penetration)
73gr ELD-M (sufficient but TC isn’t as long)
77gr Berger OTM (higher upset velocity required)
85gr Barnes MatchBurner (good wound channels with a longer neck length)
62gr Federal Fusion (lower BC)
62 and 75gr Speer Gold Dot (62gr identical to Fusion, 75gr very good wounding)

Potentially the AAC 75gr Saber.


Not 2.26” compatible:

88gr ELD-M
80gr ELD-M
75gr ELD-M
80gr ELD-X



That’s about it for the major ones, though I’m sure there are one or two I am missing. The 77gr TMK is more like the high water mark for all around performance, though it is not the sole good .224 bullet.

I've never heard of this 85 gr match burner before. It must have a fairly blunt ogive profile to be 2.26" compatible. What kind of velocities would be attainable in a 20" .223? And what would the minimum velocity for upset be?

 

[Formidilosus]

I've never heard of this 85 gr match burner before. It must have a fairly blunt ogive profile to be 2.26" compatible. What kind of velocities would be attainable in a 20" .223? And what would the minimum velocity for upset be?

From what I’ve seen, you can get 2,700’ish from the 85’s. I haven’t done a lot with the 85gr, what I have seen makes me think it is about like the other MatchBurners- 1,800 to 1,900fps impact is a solid lower limit.

 

[Boltgun]

Has anyone dropped a large boar with the TMK? Curious to see how it penetrates the "shield".

As stated above, no issues with the first dozen or so.

77TMK convinced me to switch back to 5.56 for hogs, instead of the 123gr SST Grendel that had been the preference.

 

[Gstew1930]

Hogs aren't near as tough as people make them out to be

 

[yeti12]

For those looking for a cheap way to try the 77gr TMK, the AAC are back in stock:
https://palmettostatearmory.com/aac-5-56-nato-77-grain-sierra-tmk-20rd-box-ammunition.html

Excuse my ignorance here but can 5.56 be ran in a 223 bolt gun? I was thinking they couldn't be.

 

[yeti12]

Hogs aren't near as tough as people make them out to be

I had a "guide" tell me he seen a hog take a 45-70 straight to the head and shake it off and run away. He reccomended large 30 cals minimum. Absolutely no 223 6mm 6.5 etc. I lied and said I had one, shot 2 with my 6.5 prc and absolutely annihilated them. I wish I would have used a smaller gun due to the amount of meat damage. I went in totally confident but it was still wild to see these "tough" animals die in half a second.

 

[atmat]

Excuse my ignorance here but can 5.56 be ran in a 223 bolt gun? I was thinking they couldn't be.

Yep, sure can.

 

[Gstew1930]

I had a "guide" tell me he seen a hog take a 45-70 straight to the head and shake it off and run away. He reccomended large 30 cals minimum. Absolutely no 223 6mm 6.5 etc. I lied and said I had one, shot 2 with my 6.5 prc and absolutely annihilated them. I wish I would have used a smaller gun due to the amount of meat damage. I went in totally confident but it was still wild to see these "tough" animals die in half a second.

lmao that's funny, I've killed hundreds in traps with a 22lr to the head.

 

[Boltgun]

I had a "guide" tell me he seen a hog take a 45-70 straight to the head and shake it off and run away. He reccomended large 30 cals minimum. Absolutely no 223 6mm 6.5 etc. I lied and said I had one, shot 2 with my 6.5 prc and absolutely annihilated them. I wish I would have used a smaller gun due to the amount of meat damage. I went in totally confident but it was still wild to see these "tough" animals die in half a second.

They do have sloped skulls that are pretty good at deflecting bullets. It's not terribly unusual to find one with a substantial scar on the forehead from a glancing bullet. I skipped a 110gr barnes 300BLK off one years ago, although a shot perpendicular to the forehead will definitely penetrate, as Gstew pointed out.

As usual, shot placement above all.

 

[rbutcher1234]

Most people claiming hogs are “super tough” shoot them in the wrong place.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

Technically, if you shot it fast enough from the moon it would kill an elephant with the right shot placement. Let's just call it 230,000 miles effective range.

no way it survives atmospheric reentry.

 

[BLJ]

They do have sloped skulls that are pretty good at deflecting bullets. It's not terribly unusual to find one with a substantial scar on the forehead from a glancing bullet. I skipped a 110gr barnes 300BLK off one years ago, although a shot perpendicular to the forehead will definitely penetrate, as Gstew pointed out.

As usual, shot placement above all.

Any idea on how far away it was? Thanks.

 

[ekupp]

2.26” coal compatible and generally available:

77gr TMK
69gr TMK (sufficient, but less penetration)
73gr ELD-M (sufficient but TC isn’t as long)
77gr Berger OTM (higher upset velocity required)
85gr Barnes MatchBurner (good wound channels with a longer neck length)
62gr Federal Fusion (lower BC)
62 and 75gr Speer Gold Dot (62gr identical to Fusion, 75gr very good wounding)

Potentially the AAC 75gr Saber.


Not 2.26” compatible:

88gr ELD-M
80gr ELD-M
75gr ELD-M
80gr ELD-X



That’s about it for the major ones, though I’m sure there are one or two I am missing. The 77gr TMK is more like the high water mark for all around performance, though it is not the sole good .224 bullet.

Any experience with the Hornady 75gr BTHP?

 

[WestTN2288]

Any experience with the Hornady 75gr BTHP?

X2… I don’t understand how it couldn’t fit in with the rest of those

 

[Billogna]

no way it survives atmospheric reentry.

those Earth shoulders are TOUGH!!!

BRING ENOUGH GUN!!!

 

[berretsteve]

i think you much figured out your self 77 TMK is almost good for everything..

 

[Big_wals]

Any experience with the Hornady 75gr BTHP?

Shot probably 40 to 50 hogs with em so far this year, they work great. Range is usually under 100 yards tho, probably wouldnt be so great at extended range.

 

[eric1115]

no way it survives atmospheric reentry.

That's why I only use Hornady bullets for that type of shot. Orbital mechanics are a bitch though, makes Coriolis look like 3rd grade math.

 

[Boltgun]

Any idea on how far away it was? Thanks.

Around 60 yards. And back before I understood shot placement on hogs.

 

[Thegman]

Most people claiming hogs are “super tough” shoot them in the wrong place.

Similar situation with bears. They're probably both tough when hit in non-vitals. Hogs seem further forward than deer, bears further back than deer.