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

[mwoolsey5]

Finally made it all the way through. I started looking into small calibers for big game around the same time the JVB podcast came out. I tried to come in with an open mind and research both sides of the small calibers argument. I listened to the podcasts with Form, read this thread, listened to the opposition that voiced many of the same concerns I had. Every single concern I had was answered. I’m currently building a 22 CM and then will be adding a RSS. I’m excited for what this will do for my sons as they begin hunting in the next few years to not be afraid of the weapon they are using and developing bad habits.

Oddly, I do still feel lingering doubt it will work, even in the face of the MOUNTAIN of evidence presented, because it goes against everything I was taught growing up. I look forward to using them this fall. If I’m lucky enough to draw and harvest, I will make sure to return and add another data point.

 

[Shraggs]

I was apprehensive too until I shot my first deer with 223/77 - 194 yards, three hops and down. Put energy and effort into practice !

 

[Speaks]

Finally made it all the way through. I started looking into small calibers for big game around the same time the JVB podcast came out. I tried to come in with an open mind and research both sides of the small calibers argument. I listened to the podcasts with Form, read this thread, listened to the opposition that voiced many of the same concerns I had. Every single concern I had was answered. I’m currently building a 22 CM and then will be adding a RSS. I’m excited for what this will do for my sons as they begin hunting in the next few years to not be afraid of the weapon they are using and developing bad habits.

Oddly, I do still feel lingering doubt it will work, even in the face of the MOUNTAIN of evidence presented, because it goes against everything I was taught growing up. I look forward to using them this fall. If I’m lucky enough to draw and harvest, I will make sure to return and add another data point.

Just made the leap too. From 270 to 223, cant wait to see how this turn out this fall.

 

[RDF1]

Just made the leap too. From 270 to 223, cant wait to see how this turn out this fall.

My neighbor has been hunting with a 270 for a few years. He thought he needed to step it up and bought a browning 300WM and wounded 3 deer with it. He got discouraged so I told him to bring it Over one day and we can see how it shoots.
Couldn't hit a paper plate more than 3 times out of 5 from 100 yards. Changed ammo, same thing. Changed ammo again, same thing. Swapped a good scope from one my rifles and same thing. He sold the rifle and went back to the 270 and killed a nice buck on last day of season.
Now I'm tryin to convince him to try 223 haha.
He needs to practice and he isn't going to with the 270 cause ammo cost.

 

[Deere_Man]

My neighbor has been hunting with a 270 for a few years. He thought he needed to step it up and bought a browning 300WM and wounded 3 deer with it. He got discouraged so I told him to bring it Over one day and we can see how it shoots.
Couldn't hit a paper plate more than 3 times out of 5 from 100 yards. Changed ammo, same thing. Changed ammo again, same thing. Swapped a good scope from one my rifles and same thing. He sold the rifle and went back to the 270 and killed a nice buck on last day of season.
Now I'm tryin to convince him to try 223 haha.
He needs to practice and he isn't going to with the 270 cause ammo cost.

I have found that it is much easier to convince someone of the effectiveness of a 6mm ARC or 6.5 Grendel than it is to make them believe a 223 will also quickly dispatch a deer. Inevitability they start talking 6.5 Creedmoor, and that’s ok…I guess.

 

[mt terry d]

Working up loads for my 7mm wby and 300 win mag

It's just not fun anymore.

The 223 has spoiled me rotten.

 

[bcmntgoathunter.]

 

[bcmntgoathunter.]

Tryed to edit to clean it up a bit helping 2 friends of mine with their tikka 223s and both using n140 and 77 tmk 2.364"coal running 24.5 and 24.8 grains of n140 and single digit sd/es tested 3 times to make sure velocity 2755 from one rifle 2762 from another at -10 deg Celsius

 

[Tahr]

Exit, 80 grn Berger jacketed custom. 100 yards. 2,900 MV.

 

[RDF1]

I have found that it is much easier to convince someone of the effectiveness of a 6mm ARC or 6.5 Grendel than it is to make them believe a 223 will also quickly dispatch a deer. Inevitability they start talking 6.5 Creedmoor, and that’s ok…I guess.

I have noticed over the years that most folk have been brought up around the thought that bigger gun = deader deer.

I use to work with some guys that hunted with 300RUM or 7STW or 300 SAUM and they were having to get the dogs to track every deer they shot. It was kinda embarrassing and I wasn't even a part of it.

I'd get invited out to hunt later in the season and show up with my little 223. They would all laugh and joke but I'd drop everything I shot and make them bring the dogs to come get me and load the deer/hog up haha.

I could sit there and drop deer with one the guys there and they still were saying the 223 wasn't enough gun.

I was shooting sierra 65gr game kings back then cause they shot good out of my Steven's 20" 223. Then moved up to the AR and went to 77gr SMK cause that's what I used for 600yd Fclass and had a good load worked up. Switched to 77TMKs when I found out about them and never went back.

I got to test lots of different bullets doing Deer depreciation for farmers and for a flat shooter, the 53gr nosler varmageddon was the best and worked perfect out to 400 yards. Past that the 77TMK was the magic one. 4 shots and dropped 3 does at 720 yards with them. My buddy was using a 6x47L and he couldn't belive it. So he started ranging for me and had my drop chart calling my shots. The next year he shows up with a 20" 223 AR with TMKs and he turned into a believer quick.
Covid put him under and I'll always miss my shooting buddy.

So yea. I have a 6.5 Needmoor barrel and lots of components but have no want to put it together.

 

[Kenny Hart]

Working up loads for my 7mm wby and 300 win mag

It's just not fun anymore.

The 223 has spoiled me rotten.

I've shot a lightweight 300 WM and 7 WM once in my life years ago. Sighted them in for a buddy who said they didn't shoot...turns out the rifles weren't the problem but I was like "nope, have no interest in doing this ever again."

No ego here, I absolutely hate recoil and blast. It completely removes the fun from shooting.

I rarely go to public ranges anymore because it seems everyone heard that you must shoot a brake on every rifle you own these days

 

[Truck24hr]

Thought I'd leave these for any interested. Safe in MY rifle. Ran these through today. Not sure why, but the first velo came up 53 fps slower than the slowest of the remaining 9 shots. Maybe chrono was off? Not sure

25gr Varget, BR4, Nosler brass, 77TMK. Vibrated the charge to settle, no crunch

 

[BLJ]

What rifle? Barrel length?

 

[Truck24hr]

What rifle? Barrel length?

Sorry, Savage 110 Trail Hunter LW 20"

 

[BLJ]

Good velocity from Varget out of a 20”.
Hopefully it was accurate.

 

[Truck24hr]

Good velocity from Varget out of a 20”.
Hopefully it was accurate.

Yeah, it is. Good accuracy too. Red dot is 1". I think it'll do under that with a trigger upgrade. Not a great group today, 20mph winds @15* was not pleasant, so I was rushed.

 

[BLJ]

Awesome. That’ll do for sure.

 

[RDF1]

Yeah, it is. Good accuracy too. Red dot is 1". I think it'll do under that with a trigger upgrade. Not a great group today, 20mph winds @15* was not pleasant, so I was rushed.

Ive struggled with Varget in 223, never could get it below 1.25" at 100 for 5 shots..
Had to go to H4895 to get anything worth while in the accuracy. It will do 10 shots under 1/2" somehow.

 

[Gstew1930]

Ive struggled with Varget in 223, never could get it below 1.25" at 100 for 5 shots..
Had to go to H4895 to get anything worth while in the accuracy. It will do 10 shots under 1/2" somehow.

What's your load with H4895

 

[RDF1]

What's your load with H4895

I'll have to double check. But I'm pretty sure it was 24.2gr h4895 with Fed AR Match primers.
And in Lapua neck sized brass.
The lot Of lapua brass had more volume than most my other brass.
It was a really hot load in some nosler brass but was reasonable in the Lapua.