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

[pathnz]

This is deer number 21 for the year for me.

 

[Formidilosus]

I have my doubts on its ability to perform the same at close ranges if it’s used in a 22 creedmore or a 220 swift at much higher velocities.

Keep reading the thread(s) there are a bunch of TMK kills above 3,200fps impact. It is beyond too much damage for food at that speed.

 

[Bubbadoyle]

Keep reading the thread(s) there are a bunch of TMK kills above 3,200fps impact. It is beyond too much damage for food at that speed.

I’m sure there are. I’m sure it can work but I was trying to imply that consistent results will likely not be the case. I’ve seen a 180 grain sst fail at 150 yards on a broadside whitetail two times. Because of this I won’t ever use lightly constructed bullets at higher velocities. From reading this thread I’ve come to believe that 223 velocities seem to pair almost perfectly with the 77 TMK.


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[SloppyJ]

Congratulations to the boy.

What’s your velocity with that load? Thanks.

2611fps from my notes.

 

[Formidilosus]

I’m sure there are. I’m sure it can work but I was trying to imply that consistent results will likely not be the case. I’ve seen a 180 grain sst fail at 150 yards on a broadside whitetail two times. Because of this I won’t ever use lightly constructed bullets at higher velocities. From reading this thread I’ve come to believe that 223 velocities seem to pair almost perfectly with the 77 TMK.


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The 77gr TMK not “lightly constructed” and it works spectacularly at least to 3,400fps impact on deer.

 

[Bubbadoyle]

The 77gr TMK not “lightly constructed” and it works spectacularly at least to 3,400fps impact on deer.

I have zero experience with them so it was just an assumption from my experience with many other bullets. If that’s truly the case, which I tend to believe it is as I have zero reason to doubt you then it seems to be about a perfect bullet.


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[Thegman]

If I could get consistent exits, I would keep using them. Unfortunately, I’m 100% at no exits on deer I’ve shot. My search continues for a better bullet for my 223.

I'm thinking 75 grain Gold Dots might exit more reliably, but haven't seen any of them for sale (for reloading). I'll give them a try at some point.

I suppose a 62 TSX would as well, but the Gold Dot might do a little better terminally? So many things to try out!

So far though, 77TMKs and 73ELD-M have been pretty good at not requiring any tracking...but when it does happen, yes, an exit is probably helpful.

 

[Randle]

If I understand correctly the 62 grn Fusion will do well with exits at 200 yards and less?

 

[Reddish]

If I understand correctly the 62 grn Fusion will do well with exits at 200 yards and less?

I’ve killed a dozen or so deer with the 62gr Fusion and they have all exited so far. Longest shot was just over 200yds.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I'm thinking 75 grain Gold Dots might exit more reliably, but haven't seen any of them for sale (for reloading). I'll give them a try at some point.

I suppose a 62 TSX would as well, but the Gold Dot might do a little better terminally? So many things to try out!

So far though, 77TMKs and 73ELD-M have been pretty good at not requiring any tracking...but when it does happen, yes, an exit is probably helpful.

Mine have run about 50 yards. If I shot them right at dark, I would have lost them.

If the 70 grain Accubonds don’t work out, I’ve got some Nosler 64 grain boned solid base bullets. I bet they do the trick. I’ll try them before I go the copper route.

 

[Thegman]

Mine have run about 50 yards. If I shot them right at dark, I would have lost them.

If the 70 grain Accubonds don’t work out, I’ve got some Nosler 64 grain boned solid base bullets. I bet they do the trick. I’ll try them before I go the copper route.

Sometimes it takes that distance for a blood trail to even start, even with 30-caliber bullets that exit, but would be worth trying for sure. I like messing with stuff anyway, just to see the difference. Lung shooters like us have to consider that a little more, I think.

 

[N2TRKYS]

Sometimes it takes that distance for a blood trail to even start, even with 30-caliber bullets that exit, but would be worth trying for sure. I like messing with stuff anyway, just to see the difference. Lung shooters like us have to consider that a little more, I think.

It is very rare that mine don’t start bleeding within a few steps with any of my other cartridges. The 223/77TMK combo just doesn’t do that for me. Based off what I read in this thread, I knew it was gonna be that way, though. I love shooting that bullet at targets out to 650 yards, though.

 

[Tahr]

Regardless of what bullet you use in .223 the possibility of a blood trail is very random, but less likely with the 77TMK. There is no .223 bullet that Ive used (most of the bullets mentioned in this thread and more) that will reliably leave a good blood trail. Ive shot 56 deer this year and only a few would have been trackable through a blood trail. If the bullet is too hard you get a small exit and no blood, and if too soft no exit and no blood. The best for blood (but not necessarily killing) have been mid weight lead tip like 62grn Norma (very similar to 62 grn Sierra Game King) and 60 grn Hammers (driven very fast).

 

[SamsonMan22]

Mine have run about 50 yards. If I shot them right at dark, I would have lost them.

If the 70 grain Accubonds don’t work out, I’ve got some Nosler 64 grain boned solid base bullets. I bet they do the trick. I’ll try them before I go the copper route.

I will be curious to hear about the accubonds, in a 308 I caught more than not. Some times they gave excellent blood trails with the occasional pass through but more often than not I had near zero blood and caught the bullet.

I wonder how the 88s would do at 223 velocities. Might be slow enough and have enough bullet remaining to get out the other side.

 

[wind gypsy]

If a guy wanted reliable exits, good wound channels, and high likelihood of blood trail, that is asking an awful lot of a 223.

 

[N2TRKYS]

I will be curious to hear about the accubonds, in a 308 I caught more than not. Some times they gave excellent blood trails with the occasional pass through but more often than not I had near zero blood and caught the bullet.

I wonder how the 88s would do at 223 velocities. Might be slow enough and have enough bullet remaining to get out the other side.

It’s very rare for me to catch an Accubond in my 308 or 7-08 or any of my other cartridges, honestly.

I’ll report back after my season opens. My search for the perfect 223 bullet continues….

 

[SamsonMan22]

It’s very rare for me to catch an Accubond in my 308 or 7-08 or any of my other cartridges, honestly.

I’ll report back after my season opens. My search for the perfect 223 bullet continues….

In their defense my shots were fairly close range normally and 150g accubonds. Never had any rodeos with them but no consistent exits either.

My best blood trail ever came from a 150 accubond out of a 308 even in the rain you could see almost end to end the whole 70yds it traveled. The pic isn’t great but it was impressive to see in person.

 

[huntnful]

If a guy wanted reliable exits, good wound channels, and high likelihood of blood trail, that is asking an awful lot of a 223.

That’s asking a lot from any cartridge/bullet really.

Even the biggest cartridges/bullets don’t produce all 3 repeatedly from what I’ve seen.

 

[omicron1792]

It is very rare that mine don’t start bleeding within a few steps with any of my other cartridges. The 223/77TMK combo just doesn’t do that for me. Based off what I read in this thread, I knew it was gonna be that way, though. I love shooting that bullet at targets out to 650 yards, though.

I find they drop quicker with fragmenting bullet. So less need to track

 

[Ozarkansas]

That’s asking a lot from any cartridge/bullet really.

Even the biggest cartridges/bullets don’t produce all 3 repeatedly from what I’ve seen.

I think it depends on the game. Most of us who want reliable blood trails are hunting whitetail in the east. In my experience it’s pretty easy to get all 3 on a whitetail, especially at typical Eastern Whitetail ranges.

I think it’s a lot harder to ensure on something like an elk, especially out west where ranges vary a lot more