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

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P

PNWGATOR

WKR
Shoot2HuntU
Joined
Oct 14, 2014
Messages
2,722
Location
USA
First kill with 77gr TMK. .223 RSS. View attachment 776345View attachment 776346View attachment 776347View attachment 776348

314 yds . Took out the heart and broke the offside leg. Ran maybe 40yds and piled up. Damage to shoulders was severe... more than I'm used to with a .30-06. Borderline too much of a good thing for me.... but definitely effective and I watched it all in my scope
THANK you for sharing your experience!

Bullets matter.

Wound channels matter.

Hit rates matter.

WELL done!

Thank you for sharing your experience and results.
 

bigeyedfish

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Sep 22, 2021
Messages
128
My deer hunting this weekend was unsuccessful, but I did put the .223 to use for the first time. A coyote stepped out at last light at ~100 yards. 75 gr sabre black tip did the job. I didn't take any pictures, but the exit was smaller than expected. I'm still hoping to kill at least one whitetail with this rifle/bullet this year. I'll post a picture if I can make it happen.
 
Joined
Jun 7, 2023
Messages
562
Location
Wyoming
Got my first kill with Black Hills' 77-grain TMK last night. From 17-inch Tikka barrel, impact speed was estimated at 2,200 fps at 330 yards. This mighty bullet (entrance shown) devastated the lungs and top of heart and then exited far side of 'lope.

Learning about this impressive bullet is one of the biggest "aha!" moments of my hunting life, and after seeing the results firsthand, I won't be going back to those big boomers like the 6.5 CM and 7x57 Mauser. Thanks to everyone for sharing the power of placing the right bullet in the right spot at the right speed. 223-antelope.jpeg223 wound.jpeg
 

MT_Fin

WKR
Joined
Jul 18, 2014
Messages
369
Location
Montana
First kill with new RSS: Tikka/SWFA/UM Rings shooting BH 77TMK ammo. Around 200 yards, bang flop. No drama, insides sloshing and full of blood (gutless so didn’t see). Shot was directly behind front shoulder, minimal/almost no meat damage. Very tidy killing tool.

IMG_5377.jpeg

Entrance with undamaged front shoulder removed.
IMG_5382.jpegIMG_5383.jpeg

Exit with undamaged front shoulder removed.
IMG_5384.jpeg


MT’s 2 day youth season is this week so I hope the kids can put it to use on deer soon.
 

mtnbound

WKR
Joined
Nov 8, 2016
Messages
322
Location
N. Idaho
Got my first kill with Black Hills' 77-grain TMK last night. From 17-inch Tikka barrel, impact speed was estimated at 2,200 fps at 330 yards. This mighty bullet (entrance shown) devastated the lungs and top of heart and then exited far side of 'lope.

Learning about this impressive bullet is one of the biggest "aha!" moments of my hunting life, and after seeing the results firsthand, I won't be going back to those big boomers like the 6.5 CM and 7x57 Mauser. Thanks to everyone for sharing the power of placing the right bullet in the right spot at the right speed. View attachment 776896View attachment 776897

How do you like that MDT 26?
 

woods89

WKR
Joined
Sep 3, 2014
Messages
1,793
Location
Southern MO Ozarks
View attachment 776117
Entry
View attachment 776118 Exit

Some more 69 gr TMK nastiness. 30 yds, internals were soup, 30 yds death run.
Just for interests sake, I processed this deer tonight, and that little bullet dead centered the dreaded shoulder bone on the entry side. Not the scapula, the bone section below it. Still worked great! Not that anyone is surprised......
 

mt100gr.

WKR
Joined
Jan 29, 2014
Messages
2,974
Location
NW MT
First kill with new RSS: Tikka/SWFA/UM Rings shooting BH 77TMK ammo. Around 200 yards, bang flop. No drama, insides sloshing and full of blood (gutless so didn’t see). Shot was directly behind front shoulder, minimal/almost no meat damage. Very tidy killing tool.

View attachment 777082

Entrance with undamaged front shoulder removed.
View attachment 777084View attachment 777085

Exit with undamaged front shoulder removed.
View attachment 777086


MT’s 2 day youth season is this week so I hope the kids can put it to use on deer soon.
Good work!

I am fired up for the MT youth hunt again this year, too. My girls have been burning powder in our RSS and we're hoping to put another couple pics up here a week from now. The .223/TMK combo has been beyond impressive for us the last few seasons. (And it's my favorite rifle to shoot, too. )

Good luck to you and the youngsters!👊
 

Levi300wm

FNG
Joined
Sep 20, 2023
Messages
3
Well i got a .223 bolt gun because i just am not an AR guy. I call it the Budget "Budget" RSS. Ruger American with a MDT field stock and custom Rattle can pain job (scope will be upgraded to maven when funds become available). Handloaded 77TMK using 24gr of Varget and moving about 2700fps. dumped this coyote that came into a mouth call on a string, shot was about 50yds I'm guessing he bang-flopped.. I did not necropsy the yote because i was pressed for time but after some investigation found the bullet entered under his chin and excited out the back and basically exploded his neck tissue and spine chunks falling out a 2in hole on the back of his neck. Cant wait to try this on a deer if the opportunity present itself. (i always have my 300wm as a backup) LOL Coyote Picture.png
 
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