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

It's great but if you think competing with other foothunters is bad try find mature animals when it's legal for commercial operators to shoot deer from helicopters. We have good populations if your willing to do the work (I start almost every hunt with 3000+ feet of elevation gain) but age class is pretty devastated from unlimited hunting opportunity. I couldn't go back to having seasons but it's not 100% utopia. I still very much enjoy hunting the US when I can.
 
For those who still question our choices you really need to consider the resulting wound is the means of killing, and it doesn't matter what caused it.

The first deer I shot with the 77gr TMK was a WT doe, about 90 yards, off-hand out of a 16" AR. I aimed to put it through the top of the heart. She started turning as the shot broke. Bullet exited, making as bit of a mess.
Why would anyone need more wound than this.
 

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For those who still question our choices you really need to consider the resulting wound is the means of killing, and it doesn't matter what caused it.

The first deer I shot with the 77gr TMK was a WT doe, about 90 yards, off-hand out of a 16" AR. I aimed to put it through the top of the heart. She started turning as the shot broke. Bullet exited, making as bit of a mess.
Why would anyone need more wound than this.
Is that the Exit?
 
For those who still question our choices you really need to consider the resulting wound is the means of killing, and it doesn't matter what caused it.

The first deer I shot with the 77gr TMK was a WT doe, about 90 yards, off-hand out of a 16" AR. I aimed to put it through the top of the heart. She started turning as the shot broke. Bullet exited, making as bit of a mess.
Why would anyone need more wound than this.
Just curious if you would have an approximate live weight on that doe. I have been told our deer in Saskatchewan can be a bit bigger than some of the southern deer so was just looking for comparison
 
Just curious if you would have an approximate live weight on that doe. I have been told our deer in Saskatchewan can be a bit bigger than some of the southern deer so was just looking for comparison
I'm not far from the Canadian border so these aren't as small as the Southern US. I had about 45# of packaged meat IIRC. So what's the rule of thumb? 30% of live weight? Not sure, don't weigh anything. I know they're a lot heavier in my backpack than they used to be.
 
No season or limit for deer, chamois, thar, pigs, goats, wild sheep, rabbits, possums and so on.
Plus masses of public land hunting area.
Hence a lot of us are hunting regularly

There is a season for game birds.

I know the 'global scene' is very much focused on USA and Canada, but it never ceases to amaze me just how much information and opportunity is out there for NZ and Australia, yet North Americans are still ignorant to this stuff.

I haven't kept up with this thread properly but I've posted in it a few times. Plenty of cool things being done here with .224 bullets and larger animals, but most people around the world can't even begin to comprehend just how many animals fall to .224 bullets in Aus and NZ every year.

I'm in the process of sorting out a varmint .223 for myself to be my go-to ute rifle, as I'm sick of torturing my poor ol' L461 in .222.
 
He'll be good chewing, mate.
It's about to ramp up big time on the fallow for me but I'll mainly be chasing them with my bow, a .243, or my .300WM. If I get my .223 in time I might take it out for the rut but it'll mostly be for culling when the rut is over.
 
80grn Berger J4 jacket custom. 2840fps. 220 yards, high in behind shoulder. A little totter and fell over.
View attachment 861722

View attachment 861723

What is the difference between the bullet that you used here and this bullet? :

 
What is the difference between the bullet that you used here and this bullet? :

It's a different bullet. It's made by a local guy using berger supplied j4 jackets other than that it's a rebated boat tail projectile.
 
My verdict is that they are good. Kill well. Those petals are vicious. Their expansion threshold seems to be around 2000fps, but the contra is that they can be driven quite fast. Easy to get to shoot well. This was the first one Ive recovered, all others have past right through. 10 or so. Travel ok - I use a BC of .3
Probably as effective as Hammers but I do like how the Hammers shed their petals. Lots of organ churn.
In the monos Hammer and Maker both better performing than Barnes.
Im using Monos cos I shoot meat for charities.
Here in NZ Makers are $89/50 and the TMK $117/100. And Hammers nearly twice the price of the Maker per 50 (landed).

The 77TMK and heavy ELDM remain the gold standard but I doubt an average sort of hunter would tell any difference between the best monos and them. Would still end up with a dead deer near to where it was shot.
Liking that bullet. I notice Maker has several designs. A tipped and non tipped. One not available for sale to individuals. Which is your choice in 62-70 grains?
 
Liking that bullet. I notice Maker has several designs. A tipped and non tipped. One not available for sale to individuals. Which is your choice in 62-70 grains?
I use the 62 tipped. Works great. Currently it's the only one available through my retailer. Maker wont send direct.
 
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