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

[Levi300wm]

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

 

[Tmac]

270 Win and 223 comparison. No pictures, both elk were taken in the last few minutes of legal shooting and we focused on getting them hung up on a very warm evening. But I thought it may be an interesting comparison.

I gutted both myself for my grands, so I had my hands in all the goo. Both cows were taken at about 60 yards. One with. 270 Win using a 140 gr trophy bonded tip impacting at approx 2,750 fps. A moderate sized cow, 221 lbs hanging. The second with a 223 using a 77 gr TMK impacting around 2,650 fps, a medium sized cow 251 lbs. hanging. Largest cow we have taken there was 341 lbs hanging. Both impacts fully broadside and centered on the lungs, neither exited.

140 grain bullet under skin on far side and fell out when skinning, No sign of the 77 gr TMK. Both dropped at the shot, both had intact hearts and lung soup. Could not tell which was which looking at the guts or carcass. The 77 TMK actually caused more damage against the far side ribs in terms of blood shot goo between the skin and ribs.

I’d have expected the 140 to exit and the 77 to not cause so much goo to blow through the far side. The elk taken by the 77tmk was the larger of the two. Thought it was an interesting comparison as the elk were taken a day apart from the same spot for both shooter and elk, same body position on the elk, and both dropped at the shot.

 

[BLJ]

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 View attachment 777425

I would greatly appreciate your opinion on the Field Stock. Especially forearm flex. You can PM if you prefer. Thanks.

 

[Mideerhunter]

Hey guys, do you see any difference between 73 and 75 eld-m other than a 2 grain difference?

 

[Castle Rock]

The 73 is a lot easier to get shooting well, 75s are fussy with seating depth

 

[Matt5266]

Hey guys, do you see any difference between 73 and 75 eld-m other than a 2 grain difference?

Alot of times mag length is the restriction. I prefer the 73 eldm

 

[JJ3]

The 73 is a lot easier to get shooting well, 75s are fussy with seating depth

I found the same with the 80eld also.

73s hammer in most barrels pretty easy and are proven killers

 

[WIDrake]

I've been using the 73s for prs thinking the 75s wouldn't work due the 9 twist barrel but after a few tries they seem to do okay. 1moa at 200 going 2850 means I have my pick now of those 2 and the tmk. Still haven't tested the 77 or 69tmk for accuracy yet

 

[AZ_Hunter]

That video is like listening to two virgin dorks argue why they wouldn’t have sex with a girl with pointy elbows.

 

[SamsonMan22]

Hey guys, do you see any difference between 73 and 75 eld-m other than a 2 grain difference?

In my opinion the 75 is better suited to a rifle with a longer throat and longer mag length. I used them seated long in a wylde chamber with modified Aics mags and they shot great, that particular barrel hated 77tmks so I tried the 75eldm. In my factory tikka barrels I prefer the 73s if using eldms, but if using Aics mags then the 75s still seem to work ok. I can’t comment about any differences on game so far.

 

[Jesseb]

Took this bruiser with an 18” AR-15 hand loaded with 77 tmk @ 2750fps. Shot was @ 250yds broadside with a tree branch across vitals so I went with a neck/shoulder junction shot. He was a very big bodied buck. He face planted on the shot and tried to get back up from what little I could see. He was in/behind a small pocket of small pines on the edge of a burn. We gave him some time before we headed over while I tried to talk my daughter into taking the small fork that kept hanging around but she was holding out for bigger. She almost got a nice big 3x3 next day with the same .223 but took a little too long to find him in her scope(accidentally had power cranked too high) but wound up taking a slightly bigger fork with her 6.5 Grendel loaded with 130 tmk a week later. Both that guy and her cow elk killed with the same bullet were 1 shot and traveled less then 40yds each. .223 is not legal for elk here and she just prefers her Grendel. Turned out my buck killed with the 77 tmk dropped and kicked a little but basically died in his tracks. No tracking job and no entrance or exit wound that we could find but you could feel the jelly under the hide. Somehow still took out the front of the lungs with the shot being that far forward. These bullets really are magic I guess! Impact should have been just under 2300. My biggest buck to date @ 26” wide.

 

[Brontosaurus]

Took this bruiser with an 18” AR-15 hand loaded with 77 tmk @ 2750fps. Shot was @ 250yds broadside with a tree branch across vitals so I went with a neck/shoulder junction shot. He was a very big bodied buck. He face planted on the shot and tried to get back up from what little I could see. He was in/behind a small pocket of small pines on the edge of a burn. We gave him some time before we headed over while I tried to talk my daughter into taking the small fork that kept hanging around but she was holding out for bigger. She almost got a nice big 3x3 next day with the same .223 but took a little too long to find him in her scope(accidentally had power cranked too high) but wound up taking a slightly bigger fork with her 6.5 Grendel loaded with 130 tmk a week later. Both that guy and her cow elk killed with the same bullet were 1 shot and traveled less then 40yds each. .223 is not legal for elk here and she just prefers her Grendel. Turned out my buck killed with the 77 tmk dropped and kicked a little but basically died in his tracks. No tracking job and no entrance or exit wound that we could find but you could feel the jelly under the hide. Somehow still took out the front of the lungs with the shot being that far forward. These bullets really are magic I guess! Impact should have been just under 2300. My biggest buck to date @ 26” wide.

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Wow father of the year award right there!

 

[Jesseb]

Wow father of the year award right there!

Ya, except the part where I stole that buck from the younger one on the right! She was first up using my tag on Oregons mentored youth program. I glassed him and a couple other bucks a little over a mile up the ridge. We were planning to head up after them for the evening but a little before noon they got bumped by a couple other guys and came barreling down the ridge right to us. They stopped @ 148yds and he and another big 3x4 locked antlers while I was trying to get her on the gun on the shooting sticks. She buck fevered really bad! Knees shaking and fumbling with the gun real bad. I was trying to calm her down and finally they looked up at us and bolted. They ran down into the creek bottom below then headed up the next hill side and started turning back. I knew it was too far to let them shoot standing off sticks and I couldn’t let him get away so I took him. At least they got to be there for it and help with the pack out. The younger one decided right then and there she don’t like back country hunting!! That was her first hunt and she says her last! My older daughter is 13 and has taken 2 elk and a buck and is addicted!

 

[Levi300wm]

I would greatly appreciate your opinion on the Field Stock. Especially forearm flex. You can PM if you prefer. Thanks.

I like the MDT stock overall, very comfortable and natural fitting and easy to adjust to fit. forearm flax isn't too bad it will flex a bit just torquing with my hand but the barrel has plenty of room to not contact. using a bipod is no issue and it plenty rigid for shooting from field positions.

 

[mt terry d]

Cripes, doesn't anyone miss ?

Seems to be a trend.

 

[BLJ]

I like the MDT stock overall, very comfortable and natural fitting and easy to adjust to fit. forearm flax isn't too bad it will flex a bit just torquing with my hand but the barrel has plenty of room to not contact. using a bipod is no issue and it plenty rigid for shooting from field positions.

No issue with a bipod and field positions is what I wanted to hear. Thanks

 

[rdp123]

Is there any significant drawback to the 73g ELD-M? I was planning on using it for a mule deer hunt. Reviewing this and a couple other threads, I’ve seen a lot of people say it works well and it seems to be most popular with whitetail hunters, but it’s also viewed as a step below the 77 TMK. Is this just because the 73g ELD-M exits less frequently? Are folks using it on larger game successfully?

I normally use a .308, but I’ve gotten really into shooting my .223. It’s a little more accurate from the bench, lighter and I shoot it better. Just want to make sure I’m not making a poor bullet choice with it.

 

[Poe]

Is there any significant drawback to the 73g ELD-M? I was planning on using it for a mule deer hunt. Reviewing this and a couple other threads, I’ve seen a lot of people say it works well and it seems to be most popular with whitetail hunters, but it’s also viewed as a step below the 77 TMK. Is this just because the 73g ELD-M exits less frequently? Are folks using it on larger game successfully?

I normally use a .308, but I’ve gotten really into shooting my .223. It’s a little more accurate from the bench, lighter and I shoot it better. Just want to make sure I’m not making a poor bullet choice with it.

I believe the general consensus is that it works great just not as much penetration as the 77tmk. I also believe there is someone on this thread that used the 73gr for moose so you should be good to go for Mule deer

 

[Jesseb]

500ct tmk $196 @ midway

 

[SamsonMan22]

Is there any significant drawback to the 73g ELD-M? I was planning on using it for a mule deer hunt. Reviewing this and a couple other threads, I’ve seen a lot of people say it works well and it seems to be most popular with whitetail hunters, but it’s also viewed as a step below the 77 TMK. Is this just because the 73g ELD-M exits less frequently? Are folks using it on larger game successfully?

I normally use a .308, but I’ve gotten really into shooting my .223. It’s a little more accurate from the bench, lighter and I shoot it better. Just want to make sure I’m not making a poor bullet choice with it.

Not at all, they are readily available and very accurate. If you are loading at AR mag length they are a good pick, I would never feel handicapped using a 73eldm. I would buy the 77tmk if they were available if not I would load 73s and go hunting.