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

[Pharmseller]

Years ago I took a bunch of heat from the big-case believers when I extolled the virtues of the 7mm-08 as an elk hunting cartridge. Their mistake, as they gasped and clutched their pearls, was their belief that I said the 7mm-08 was a better choice than their 300 Whizbag Ultra Mags and why I never, how dare you? The problem was, that’s not what I said.

I see a lot of that with the .223 failure thread, as well as this one.

If I may be so bold as to speak for others (and please, correct me if I’m wrong), I’m not saying the .223 is a better choice. What I am saying is, the .223 with proper bullets is just as good.

Not better. But just as effective.

Now, if we inject shooting skills into the equation, then yes, for some the .223 will be better, because some shooters cannot handle recoil. As a result, accuracy suffers. A poor shot is a poor shot, regardless of cartridge, but the odds of a poor shot might, just might, be reduced by a cartridge with less recoil.

And to the hairy-chested he-men who opine that if you can’t handle a 30-06 level of recoil you shouldn’t be hunting, well, if the .223 is just as effective (not better), why not? It’s supposed to be fun, right?

No one is looking to take your 300 Whizbang away. I don’t give half a hoot what you shoot, it’s your money and your shoulder, after all. I’ll keep shooting elk with my 7mm-08 (.223 isn’t legal in Oregon) and deer with my .223. We’ll share a beer and stories around the campfire.

And who knows, you might just try a .223 on a prairie dog or two, then maybe, just maybe, a deer.

It could happen.




P

 

[Luke S]

Totally forgot this one from the spring

A 14 year old buddy of mine got a 6 foot black bear with a Ruger American 223 and 55 fmj. To quote the text I got after the kill...

"55 grain fmg.
Went through the the rib cage, lungs, tore up half the heart and lodged in the front leg"

I believe he told me it was generic Winchester brand ammo. Sounds like the bullet tumbled. I don't expect middle school boys to give me a perfect autopsy but he said it killed about as well as the 30-06 he used the year before.
Oh to highlight the importance of scopes over other things....
1. The boy shot his first bear with MY 30-06 because the scope on his wasn't mounted right and was visibly moving.
2. He shot THIS bear with the 223 on a hunt because another boy's rifle scope worked loose and spun in the rings, otherwise it would have been the other boy's shot.

 

[mtnbound]

Years ago I took a bunch of heat from the big-case believers when I extolled the virtues of the 7mm-08 as an elk hunting cartridge. Their mistake, as they gasped and clutched their pearls, was their belief that I said the 7mm-08 was a better choice than their 300 Whizbag Ultra Mags and why I never, how dare you? The problem was, that’s not what I said.

I see a lot of that with the .223 failure thread, as well as this one.

If I may be so bold as to speak for others (and please, correct me if I’m wrong), I’m not saying the .223 is a better choice. What I am saying is, the .223 with proper bullets is just as good.

Not better. But just as effective.

Now, if we inject shooting skills into the equation, then yes, for some the .223 will be better, because some shooters cannot handle recoil. As a result, accuracy suffers. A poor shot is a poor shot, regardless of cartridge, but the odds of a poor shot might, just might, be reduced by a cartridge with less recoil.

And to the hairy-chested he-men who opine that if you can’t handle a 30-06 level of recoil you shouldn’t be hunting, well, if the .223 is just as effective (not better), why not? It’s supposed to be fun, right?

No one is looking to take your 300 Whizbang away. I don’t give half a hoot what you shoot, it’s your money and your shoulder, after all. I’ll keep shooting elk with my 7mm-08 (.223 isn’t legal in Oregon) and deer with my .223. We’ll share a beer and stories around the campfire.

And who knows, you might just try a .223 on a prairie dog or two, then maybe, just maybe, a deer.

It could happen.




P

I wholeheartedly agree.

 

[BasicUtahrd95]

Does anyone have any info/experience with Federal's CenterStrike open tip match 77gr? Supposedly it's a new bullet released about a year ago. Is it just a rebrand/knock off of something else? Anybody know of any testing done in game or gel?

 

[Bratch]

Shot a whitetail doe last night at 40-50 yards. Ruger American Predator Gen 1, AAC 77gr TMK. Blood on the spot she was standing and recovery about 40 yards away, clipped the heart and double lung. Bullet did not pass through but hit the far side rib with some blood shot meat. Pretty happy with the results and plan to continue hunting with it.