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

[Formidilosus]

I have the Tikka T3x and sending it off for a chop and thread at 18", the UM Tikka rings are ordered along with the trigger spring, the SWFA 3-15x42 is also ordered and shipped (wanted the 3-9 but they do not have an ETA), I also ordered the RokStok with a 6 month wait....

Here is where I am looking for guidance: bottom metal and mags!
I see that UM has bottom metal that only accepts UM mags. The mags ar 120 or 130 each! And the bottom metal is nearly 200. Seems a bit steep for limited options. My thought is that I could lose a mag during or on my way to a hunt. If I have a "generic" bottom metal, I could swing into a store and save the day with a generic mag!

What bottom metal/mag combo are you using with high reliability. I am not a reloader yet but might become one in the next few years... maybe. No immediate need to hold longer than average bullets as I will be shooting factory. What is your dependable go to? And where should I look for them?

(I do not have experience with the Tikka mags that I hear rattle and are less than 99% reliable. And I prefer to not have a plastic bottom "metal" but again, no personal experience. Am I worried about nothing or is there something to it?)

The UM mags and bottom metal are not for 223’s.

Use factory bottom “metal” and factory mags. The Waters Rifleman mags seem to be fantastic, and is what we are going to instead of factory 6 round mags.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

What bottom metal/mag combo are you using with high reliability. I am not a reloader yet but might become one in the next few years... maybe. No immediate need to hold longer than average bullets as I will be shooting factory. What is your dependable go to? And where should I look for them?

Factory bottom metal, or the factory clone aluminum piece from High Desert Rifle works are very reliable. For magazines, factory Tikka plastic work great! No issues.

 

[Sadler]

Since i'm a degenerate & cant leave good enough alone lol. Has anyone tried a 1-7 .223 shooting the 88 ELD's? Thats what i use in my creed, it would be nice to only buy 1 bullet for both rifles. thinking maybe a 223 AI

Hello fellow degenerate, I shoot the 88s in my 223AI and it’s a 1/7 twist. They stabilize fine and I’m getting around 2750 out of an 18” barrel.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

I can’t believe the UM bottom metal and mags cost that much.

Everything feels like Biden bucks monopoly money right now.

We recently had to increase our list prices across the board by 12% due to rising landed costs of goods. In order to maintain margins to keep lights on, the end user is who ends up paying for it unfortunately.

 

[Helislacker]

The UM mags and bottom metal are not for 223’s.

Use factory bottom “metal” and factory mags. The Waters Rifleman mags seem to be fantastic, and is what we are going to instead of factory 6 round mags.

For the CTR guys that read this…..while it’s probably much better to go with the standard T3x lite bottom metal for .223 …..I’ve used the CTR/AICS mod per @Shooter71 for my CTR DBM on my .223 and it works great with the metal MDT .223 AICS mags. It can still shoot the CTR mags but the metal AICS don’t move around nearly as much and feed reliably. Polymer MDT AICS are a no go because the lip eroded with time and eventually the mag stops feeding after 3-5 shots and needs to be reseated.

 

[Reburn]

I can’t believe the UM bottom metal and mags cost that much.

I was a little shocked myself.
Plus when I figured ot they were "out of stock" during the 20% off sale it felt like a preorder and I dont have it in me for another preorder.
High desert and tikka mags FTW for me.

I did try the mountian tactical mags they were horrible.

 

[Gstew1930]

Hello fellow degenerate, I shoot the 88s in my 223AI and it’s a 1/7 twist. They stabilize fine and I’m getting around 2750 out of an 18” barrel.

My man!! How are you liking it? Seems like a bad ass setup to me

 

[atmat]

I was a little shocked myself.
Plus when I figured ot they were "out of stock" during the 20% off sale it felt like a preorder and I dont have it in me for another preorder.
High desert and tikka mags FTW for me.

I did try the mountian tactical mags they were horrible.

I’m pretty sure they were a preorder of sorts. Website says not shipping till later in August.

$350 worth of bottom metal and mags for a $500 rifle lol

 

[IRH1997]

Not legal for big game in Oregon. Surprised that it is legal for Elk in Idaho.

Obviously Elk aren't armor-plated. And if you think like a bowhunter the 223 will put one down. But you don't have much leeway with a 223. You can end up with a hit to tag ratio greater than 1.

I am a little worried about this statement - "The terminal performance is on par with anything I’ve seen in a .284 or .30. Unreal performance. The bullet is a BEAST!"

No, it is not "on par" with 30cal fodder - not even a 30-30. It is a very marginal cartridge/bullet that CAN work if the shooter stays within its limitations. Sorry to burst your bubble, but better now than this fall when you post a sob-story about how you made a good hit and never found the elk.

Second this, “on par” is far fetched

 

[Reburn]

Second this, “on par” is far fetched

Did you literally quote someone on page 1 from 2019 and not read past that?

 

[fwafwow]

Did you literally quote someone on page 1 from 2019 and not read past that?

Your rhetorical questions are on point

 

[Big_wals]

Second this, “on par” is far fetched

Come to think of it, you’re right, they’re not on par. The 223 with proper bullets is actually superior.

 

[Sadler]

My man!! How are you liking it? Seems like a bad ass setup to me

I’m a fan. Fire forming sucks but it’s a cool little cartridge. Extremely low recoil, cheap to reload, components are everywhere, and it’ll kill well past my abilities. It’ll be going on an elk and mule deer hunt with me this year. I had it close to 2900
Just to test the limits but Norma brass doesn’t hold up well to that so I toned it down.

 

[wind gypsy]

The UM bottom metal and mags are and answer to long action cartridges and seem like a downgrade from the factory mags for short action hunting config.

High desert bottom metal and waters mags for 223 or factory plastic for standard short action cartridges FTW. The waters AICS pattern mags look very nice as well.

 

[Reburn]

The UM bottom metal and mags are and answer to long action cartridges and seem like a downgrade from the factory mags for short action hunting config.

High desert bottom metal and waters mags for 223 or factory plastic for standard short action cartridges FTW. The waters AICS pattern mags look very nice as well.

The hells canyon mag in factory pattern bottm metal work very well for loaded longer 300 wsm and 6.5 prc stuff. The hells canyon feed like butter.

I am going to have to pick up some waters mags everyone seems to like them.

 

[fwafwow]

High Desert has been on my mind, especially in orange to match my future Rokstok. Then I looked at the Waters mags the other day. Maybe it was a long day, or it was another post-TBI moment, but I needed to spend more time figuring out which one I actually don’t need.

But I can probably just still with the plastic I have and shoot more.

 

[Gstew1930]

I’m a fan. Fire forming sucks but it’s a cool little cartridge. Extremely low recoil, cheap to reload, components are everywhere, and it’ll kill well past my abilities. It’ll be going on an elk and mule deer hunt with me this year. I had it close to 2900
Just to test the limits but Norma brass doesn’t hold up well to that so I toned it down.

Yeah that sounds awesome. I’m going to have to do that for sure. Fireforming doesn’t bother me. I’ll just practice & kill coyotes with those loads

 

[HNTR_NW]

Here’s to being a useful FNG- 77gr TMKs are available now on creedmoor sports and cabelas.

 

[WIDrake]

Hello fellow degenerate, I shoot the 88s in my 223AI and it’s a 1/7 twist. They stabilize fine and I’m getting around 2750 out of an 18” barrel.

This makes me think that with them loaded long in an mdt poly mag and a 6.5 or 7 kreig at 26" I might be able to get 2750 with a standard.... My god the temptation...

 

[flyfisher117]

Raynham police shoot bull that caused crash on I-495, charged at them

Police said in a social media post that the bull was loose in the area of Elm Street East and Interstate 495.

turnto10.com

Sounds like this officers needs to attend the Shoot2Hunt University. saw this article and immediately thought of this thread. Anyone seen any additional details as to what projectile or where the bull was shot?