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

[JBradley500]

That thing looks like it hung out behind an Olive Garden or something.

 

[Gettincloser]

This was a fun hunt from Sunday. I snuck up a valley low on one side and heard antlers rattling, then spotted two Sitka Blacktail bucks sparring/push fighting on the opposite steeper hillside above me. I had my suppressed AR15 and thought "I bet I can get them both." 325 yards shooting uphill at them, 77gr TMK, wind was a little tricky but I thought it averaged out to about 10mph L-to-R. I set up my KUIU pack as a front rest and shot from the seated position. With their antlers still locked, I shot the orange-brown one first, and it jumped and turned around in a circle and then tried to go uphill, then fell and gradually slid/flopped 75-100 yards directly down toward me. The grey-brown one stood there looking at its sparring partner try to go uphill as I shot it, and it took a couple of steps before it started running on a diagonal in my general direction, clearly not knowing where the shots were from (thanks, suppressor!) and as it ran I put in a quick second shot, then hit it with a third shot as it plowed into the ground behind the bushes in the photo. Wound channels were good-- lost some rib meat, and glad I was doing gutless deboning because the wound channel on the grey-brown went through the diaphram and a little into the gut. No exits, but no tracking or searching for them either.

I know your post is nearly a year old but I am new to the thread and playing catchup to the rest of you.

That is absolutly beautiful county you get to hunt! I would have a hard time shooting 2 bucks at once in fear of cutting my trip short. I would wait a week... then shoot 2 at once. I would hate to leave that location! Thanks for sharing with us.

 

[Steve300xcw]

View attachment 730705

Anybody have any experience with these? Wondering if they are comparable to the 62 grain gold dot or federal fusion bullet.

Cant see the price. But I would be looking at targetsports or similar before I bought ammo from midway......

 

[Gettincloser]

That they are not but just to be clear I wasn't referencing little 200lb hogs that are running around the woods everywhere. Most full grown boars were in the 600lb range with some getting over 700. Most people don't even realize a pig can get that big. They are also omnivores.... Still not a bear, just saying.

I know ow the age of the post is back there a bit but as a FNG to this thread, I wanted to contribute in a meaningful way. (Even if in a very small token way.

I went to college in Huntsville, TX (Ag Department). One of the things we did that has left a lasting impression was visit a prison unit where they bred hogs for the purpose of butchering and feeding the inmates. Once we got to the breeding area, I saw the 2 massive sows that were fron and center next to a large bolder (on the shady side.) They were huge! I never knew a hog could get that big.... then the bolder moved! It was the boar in with them. They said he was on a diet as they did want him getting over 700-750# as he would break the sows back during the breeding process! Blew my mind.

2nd thing I would like to add is a 45LC that I shot, I had picked up some gun show special 45lc hollowpoint reloads (I have learned my lesson, never buy reloads at a gunshow) and assured they were great for hunting. We had a sow (sub 200#) in a trap and I shot her right in the forehead ( between they eyes and up an inch where the bone is thin). She flinched and charged the cage... repeat 3 more time before my dad pulled his Rugger Mk 2 22lr pistol and shot her in the same spot and dropped her stone dead with basic remington lightning bullets. The next day we found all of the 45lc shots had hit her. The lead was so soft and the opening so big, they were opening to nearly the size of a 50 cent piece and flattening on the skull. One side was the copper jacket and the other side was soft lead with the imprint of the hair on the forehead. Too slow, too soft, no good!

On the same note, a different sow (obviously) but the same trap and a 12 gauge slug. Shot between the eyes (not between the eyes and up an inch) at a steep downward angle (distance of a couple of feet). I dropped a hog. We went back to the house, got some water and a skinning knife. When we returned, there was a pissed off sow breathing through the new hole in her head and sounding dreadful but full of life and anger! ( I do not blame her.) We went back to the house, grabbed the shotgun and shot her through the earhole. She was down for good this time. So what happened? The shot between the eyes and directly down had nocked her out but had passed in front of the brain box! Not fatal!

Here are a couple of examples of under penatration with great placement and poor placement with plenty of penetration. You must have both, placement and the getty up to get there. I too have killed some old cows that were down and we could not get them back up. After 3 days of hauling them feed and water and b12 shots and penicillin, we would put them down with a 22. Ear hole or make an X from left eye to right ear and right eye to left ear. Thar is a great formula for X marks the spot! No problems!

I do not believe that there will be an issue with proper shot placement... what this thread is partly about. This is where the bigger bullet fixes bad shots argument comes in... but a 12 gauge is a fairly large bullet and it didn't fix poor shot placement.

I already have 200 rounds of 223 load with TMK that arrived today. Just need to get a Tikka 223 T3X compact (for my daughter... or so the story goes!) I will prove it out for myself before releasing her with it.

I hope these 1 off situations help.

 

[Luke S]

Unfortunately we didn't kill anything with the .223 yet. All the bears our crew killed were with my 6.5 Grendal and one with a .308.

Just to prove a point, we took a bear skull from a roughly 6 ft bore and shot it with a TMK. First shot went through the teeth into the skull. Second shot hit between the eyes and split it open, as in a 2-3 inch split with brains showing. Interestingly, I made a similar shot on a live grizzly once with a .375 Ruger and the entrance hole was barely visible (still dropped the bear instantly). So yes, you can punch through a bear skull head on with a small bullet.

 

[Pharmseller]

They let you butcher the inmates?

Tough place.



P

 

[Axlrod]

I know ow the age of the post is back there a bit but as a FNG to this thread, I wanted to contribute in a meaningful way. (Even if in a very small token way.

I went to college in Huntsville, TX (Ag Department). One of the things we did that has left a lasting impression was visit a prison unit where they bred hogs for the purpose of butchering and feeding the inmates. Once we got to the breeding area, I saw the 2 massive sows that were fron and center next to a large bolder (on the shady side.) They were huge! I never knew a hog could get that big.... then the bolder moved! It was the boar in with them. They said he was on a diet as they did want him getting over 700-750# as he would break the sows back during the breeding process! Blew my mind.

2nd thing I would like to add is a 45LC that I shot, I had picked up some gun show special 45lc hollowpoint reloads (I have learned my lesson, never buy reloads at a gunshow) and assured they were great for hunting. We had a sow (sub 200#) in a trap and I shot her right in the forehead ( between they eyes and up an inch where the bone is thin). She flinched and charged the cage... repeat 3 more time before my dad pulled his Rugger Mk 2 22lr pistol and shot her in the same spot and dropped her stone dead with basic remington lightning bullets. The next day we found all of the 45lc shots had hit her. The lead was so soft and the opening so big, they were opening to nearly the size of a 50 cent piece and flattening on the skull. One side was the copper jacket and the other side was soft lead with the imprint of the hair on the forehead. Too slow, too soft, no good!

On the same note, a different sow (obviously) but the same trap and a 12 gauge slug. Shot between the eyes (not between the eyes and up an inch) at a steep downward angle (distance of a couple of feet). I dropped a hog. We went back to the house, got some water and a skinning knife. When we returned, there was a pissed off sow breathing through the new hole in her head and sounding dreadful but full of life and anger! ( I do not blame her.) We went back to the house, grabbed the shotgun and shot her through the earhole. She was down for good this time. So what happened? The shot between the eyes and directly down had nocked her out but had passed in front of the brain box! Not fatal!

Here are a couple of examples of under penatration with great placement and poor placement with plenty of penetration. You must have both, placement and the getty up to get there. I too have killed some old cows that were down and we could not get them back up. After 3 days of hauling them feed and water and b12 shots and penicillin, we would put them down with a 22. Ear hole or make an X from left eye to right ear and right eye to left ear. Thar is a great formula for X marks the spot! No problems!

I do not believe that there will be an issue with proper shot placement... what this thread is partly about. This is where the bigger bullet fixes bad shots argument comes in... but a 12 gauge is a fairly large bullet and it didn't fix poor shot placement.

I already have 200 rounds of 223 load with TMK that arrived today. Just need to get a Tikka 223 T3X compact (for my daughter... or so the story goes!) I will prove it out for myself before releasing her with it.

I hope these 1 off situations help.

Not to be a smart ass. But you went to college, and don't know the difference between boulder and bolder??

 

[Ozarkansas]

Unfortunately we didn't kill anything with the .223 yet. All the bears our crew killed were with my 6.5 Grendal and one with a .308.

Just to prove a point, we took a bear skull from a roughly 6 ft bore and shot it with a TMK. First shot went through the teeth into the skull. Second shot hit between the eyes and split it open, as in a 2-3 inch split with brains showing. Interestingly, I made a similar shot on a live grizzly once with a .375 Ruger and the entrance hole was barely visible (still dropped the bear instantly). So yes, you can punch through a bear skull head on with a small bullet.

Any chance you’ll post those grendel results in the 6.5 kill thread?

 

[Gettincloser]

Not to be a smart ass. But you went to college, and don't know the difference between boulder and bolder??

I said I went to Sam Houston! We are still working with pictures and not full words. If auto correct gives a suggestion, you assume it is right and you are wrong...

 

[Pharmseller]

Not to be a smart ass. But you went to college, and don't know the difference between boulder and bolder??

Dude, give him a break, he’s wiped out from butchering the inmates.




P

 

[Gettincloser]

Dude, give him a break, he’s wiped out from butchering the inmates.




P

Punctuation is key. That was still a theory when I went to school.

 

[robtattoo]

Punctuation is key. That was still a theory when I went to school.

It's the difference between helping your Uncle, Jack, off a horse & helping your Uncle Jack off a horse

 

[call em in]

Does anybody know where you can find 77 TMK in stock?! I can’t find it anywhere. Only 69 gr

 

[justinspicher]

Does anybody know where you can find 77 TMK in stock?! I can’t find it anywhere. Only 69 gr

WTS - Black Hills 77gr TMK- 5.56

I have several cases of new production Black Hills 5.56 77gr TMK. Can Split cases, prefer to do at least 100 rounds at a time so shipping isn't crazy. Shoot me a message if you have any questions. $700/shipped per case of 500. $160/shipped for 2 boxes. Shipping two boxes is almost the same as...

rokslide.com

 

[call em in]

Thank you I’ll keep the Blackhills in mind. I should have clarified I was looking for bullets for reloading…but this may be a good alternative.

 

[Anschutz]

Thank you I’ll keep the Blackhills in mind. I should have clarified I was looking for bullets for reloading…but this may be a good alternative.

The NRA and CMP National Matches are this month. The 77SMK is more popular than the TMK in those games. However, Sierra may be saving a run for commercial row.

Sent from my SM-S918U using Tapatalk

 

[CTXhunter]

Big pig down with the 75 gr AAC Sabre ammo. I’ll continue to use this ammo for hogs and yotes through the offseason. The first round was on the run and hit in spin. Did not exit but obviously brought him down. One to the head to stop the squealing. Shit seems to fall when hit with the 75’s!

 

[Bluumoon]

View attachment 733974
Big pig down with the 75 gr AAC Sabre ammo. I’ll continue to use this ammo for hogs and yotes through the offseason. The first round was on the run and hit in spin. Did not exit but obviously brought him down. One to the head to stop the squealing. Shit seems to fall when hit with the 75’s!

Keep the feed back coming, have 1k of them to load if I can find a powder they like

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Thank you I’ll keep the Blackhills in mind. I should have clarified I was looking for bullets for reloading…but this may be a good alternative.

I shot a box of 50 (minus the sight in shots), into this square at 100 yards… I wouldn’t waste my time reloading and just buy the stuff, but to each their own.

 

[Bluumoon]

Thank you I’ll keep the Blackhills in mind. I should have clarified I was looking for bullets for reloading…but this may be a good alternative.

AAC TMK 0.85 each, can’t really load them much cheaper. I think at .30 each bullet I’m around .70 per load not including brass.