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

[BigNate]

I know this has been rehashed over and over, and this question has been answered 200 times probably already. I'm outta screen time and trying to decide.

I've got an ID elk and deer tag. Looks like no caliber minimums.

I've spent a thousand bucks in the last month trying different loads in my 300 WM and 7RM. I'm accurate enough to about 400 yards right now. But if 4-500 yards ends up my max, what do I gain over the 223/5.56?

My 5.56 bolt gun is very accurate with both 73 eldm's and 77 TMK's. Both with factory ammo. I do reload, but don't enjoy it. I have plenty of componets to load the 77 TMK, and assume I could beat factory offering velocities I've seen.

I ran the ELD M and TMK through Bergers Calculator.

I'm really struggling with this right now, and want to dedicate my range time to one rifle. My free time is very limited, and I feel like I'm going in circles.

I can afford a new rifle/barrel if I should change caliber.View attachment 824587View attachment 824588

For me, living and hunting in North Idaho, the only advantage to bigger calibers is getting an exit wound that leaks. The terrain is usually steep, and vegetation is thick. It's not easy to follow your elks tracks when they cross others and there's no blood to follow.

That being said, many have had near instant incapacitation with the 77gr TMK so tracking wasn't an issue.

 

[Castle Rock]

Go with the 223 for this year, but sell at least one of the others and get a 243 or 6 Creedmoor fo next
The difference in n the wind is big

 

[Pharmseller]

Was….

Good. From your getup it looked like they might have been a terrorist beaver cell.




P

 

[Poe]

Big Brown Beaver.

Depredation permit.

Hornady 52gr BTHP.

44.5lbs.

View attachment 824148

How do you like the 52 gr hornady’s. I have them a try last year in my 22-250 on coyotes. They shot really good but if I didn’t hit bone coyotes definitely ran farther than normal. They seemed a little harder with more of a delayed expansion

 

[sierracharlie338]

How do you like the 52 gr hornady’s. I have them a try last year in my 22-250 on coyotes. They shot really good but if I didn’t hit bone coyotes definitely ran farther than normal. They seemed a little harder with more of a delayed expansion

The 53g Vmax should solve those problems if you are looking for a lighter varmint bullet.

 

[Nine Banger]

How do you like the 52 gr hornady’s. I have them a try last year in my 22-250 on coyotes. They shot really good but if I didn’t hit bone coyotes definitely ran farther than normal. They seemed a little harder with more of a delayed expansion

I had one rando box of 100 bullets come in with a bunch of .224 bullets I bought on another forum. I loaded them up a little long and had some trouble feeding so I was happy to run out of them last night. The wounds I observed on small game (opossum, raccoon, armadillo, beaver) this Summer and Fall on night hikes were devastating.

The 53g Vmax should solve those problems if you are looking for a lighter varmint bullet.

I switched to 55gr factory loaded VMAX last night...I see lots of folks that reload prefer the 53gr though and always wonder why when I see it mentioned.



This was a 55gr Vmax shot last night...frontal...DRT after some flopping. Had 5-6 cups of blood pour out through the entry when I moved the carcass. No exit. Great performance.

 

[Castle Rock]

The 53 has considerably higher BC

 

[sierracharlie338]

I had one rando box of 100 bullets come in with a bunch of .224 bullets I bought on another forum. I loaded them up a little long and had some trouble feeding so I was happy to run out of them last night. The wounds I observed on small game (opossum, raccoon, armadillo, beaver) this Summer and Fall on night hikes were devastating.



I switched to 55gr factory loaded VMAX last night...I see lots of folks that reload prefer the 53gr though and always wonder why when I see it mentioned.

View attachment 825336

This was a 55gr Vmax shot last night...frontal...DRT after some flopping. Had 5-6 cups of blood pour out through the entry when I moved the carcass. No exit. Great performance.

They both work. I’ve killed more shit with factory 223 55g Vmax than probably any other bullet honestly so I’m a fan of both. I was mainly referring to using a vmax over a hpbt.

 

[mt terry d]

More data:

223 77 TMK
346 yards Broadside.
Broke front leg. Heart.
Went about ten yards and dropped.





144 yards quartering to
Caught top of heart, lung, broke a front leg
Went about ten yards and dropped

 

[clperry]

Picked up a new to me x bolt 223. 20 inch barrel, with a harvester Evo. Loaded up some TMKs in Starline brass at 2.380 COAL with 8208. 5 shots to find a rough zero and then straight to 500. I guessed at 2700 and was high, adjusted and ended up at 2850. 20 impacts in a row on an 8 inch plate. Chrono’d today, 2830 average over 30 rounds. 1.25 MOA. I’m pretty happy.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[General RE LEE]

Anyone going to deer hunt with 22 ARC?

 

[pbroski]

Anyone going to deer hunt with 22 ARC?

I'll be hunting bear in May/June with 22 ARC and 88 ELD-M's.

 

[General RE LEE]

I'll be hunting bear in May/June with 22 ARC and 88 ELD-M's.

Good luck. I'm intrigued with the 22 ARC.

 

[Poe]

The 53g Vmax should solve those problems if you are looking for a lighter varmint bullet.

No thanks I have found a few good lighter options but I am sticking with the 73’s in my .223 for this season. I was just curious how the 52’s had worked for him

 

[HighUintas]

For you guys using a 16" barrel, suppressor, and Sportsmatch rings, and factory Tikka stock....

I need to get another scope and set of rings and was thinking of changing my Sportsmatch TO84 to the high rings. I occasionally find it hard to get behind the scope prone if my front support height is low, so I was thinking a higher ring might help. Also, would there be a noticeable difference in suppressor mirage with the high SM ring vs medium?

Thoughts?

 

[NSI]

For you guys using a 16" barrel, suppressor, and Sportsmatch rings, and factory Tikka stock....

I need to get another scope and set of rings and was thinking of changing my Sportsmatch TO84 to the high rings. I occasionally find it hard to get behind the scope prone if my front support height is low, so I was thinking a higher ring might help. Also, would there be a noticeable difference in suppressor mirage with the high SM ring vs medium?

Thoughts?

Try it out. Some note an improvement in mirage, certainly in percentage of scope taken up by can at low power. I personally prefer the head position from medium rings.

-J

 

[Stocky]

Not as good phots this time as started to rain but a chamois buck at 250m with 75 eld m at about 2340fps impact.
Entry and exit wounds a little far back. Was trying to avoid it going down the chute so a follow up hard quartering to put it down.





And the quartering on entry (no exit)

 

[mt terry d]

Note to Administrators:
If I've posted this in the reloading forum by mistake feel free to move it.


223 77 TMK
331yards
Dropped on the spot.
Lifted her head so one in the ear hole.

 

[liv3mind]

Good season for my family and glad to contribute to this thread. 9 deer taken with .223 this year. Rifles used were Ruger American Ranch in 5.56 and self built 10.5 AR. All 73eldm. Ruger American shots were 35-110y all had entry and exit by wife, 14y son, 13y son, and 7y son and ranged from through shoulder to above/just behind shoulder. 5 10.5 AR shots/kills were 90-180y only got 1 exit all just behind shoulder by myself. 6 of 9 had good blood trails. 1 may have had a trail but was shot in downpour. 2 had very light and distanced drops difficult to see for novices. ALL dropped within 25y. Will be exclusively using .223 going forward and was very satisfied with the results.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

 

[HighUintas]

How's the accuracy out of a Tikka factory barrel compared for these 3 AAC options?

And, I'm guessing the only reason the same rounds that are in the 250rd ammo can are more expensive is due to the included ammo can?