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

One of the bulls I posted previously, I just like that pic.
223AI, R700 1976 action, 1:7 IBI barrel, 88 ELD m, Bushie LRHS, 176 yards quartering in. First poke crushed his humerus and made it to the last rib. He hopped 3 times and got a second one through the breathers as he was falling over. In retrospect I shouldn’t have shot the second time, but the shooting is the fun part…(especially when its 25* below freezing…)

Took the first pic at 4:16pm, took the last pic fully loaded in game bags on the sxs at 9:16pm. Not bad for being on my own.
 
I shot over 100 rounds on my range day with my friend. Could easily have shot more. If im going to take time away from my family once or twice a week, im going to make it count and get some shooting done.

Just for an experiment I priced out loading 1000 6.5 147s and 1000
223 69gr . It was around $475 for the .223 and $990 for 6.5.

That's a massive difference. One is unaffordable, one I could make work.

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I have this exact setup. Tikka 223 and Tikka 6.5Creed. Most of my practice is with the 223. I also reloaded both guns last year with similar cost per round.

I now only load for the 6.5 and just buy bulk 223 ammo for practice. The cost per round is so close to buy factory ammo vs handloads that it’s hardly worth it. Gives me lots more time to shoot and makes practicing a lot less stressful.
 
My 8 year old has gotten deadly with her tikka 223 / 77gr tmk combo

Shot a boar hog right through the shoulder at about 110 yards
Impact velocity of about 2400 fps
Hog ran about 30 yards and then his pump station failed
 

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My 8 year old has gotten deadly with her tikka 223 / 77gr tmk combo

Shot a boar hog right through the shoulder at about 110 yards
Impact velocity of about 2400 fps
Hog ran about 30 yards and then his pump station failed
I kept looking at that cartridge case, trying to figure out what was wrong with it, then realized the primer wasn't flattened or cratered.
 
Bruh, you’re totally leaving 200fps on the table. Those loads are totally safe. As long as you can get the bolt open it’s fine.
My little girl just likes to take a picture of the brass she used after she kills something. I’m only using 23.0 gr of xbr 8208 but it shoots fantastic. Realistically won’t shoot further than 200 yards so no need to chase velocity
 
My little girl just likes to take a picture of the brass she used after she kills something. I’m only using 23.0 gr of xbr 8208 but it shoots fantastic. Realistically won’t shoot further than 200 yards so no need to chase velocity
And I was being a smart azz. I think any charge weight with 8208 shoots well with heavies in 223.

It’s great she likes to take a pic of the brass. I used to do that and send it to my friend across the state and I’d get a text back asking how big the deer was. If he gets a pic of the brass he knows a deer died. It’s a good tradition to hang onto.
 
Lol

If he only knew then what we know now the hunting world would be a MUCH better place!
Your comment is disigenous and dismissive of the contributions he did have. Though I believe his contributions are felt more in the handgun hunting crowd, he was on the design team of the Model 70. Even if he knew what we know now in his most active years, he couldn't do anything with the info. Hell, the Partition was new technology in those years. Maybe one day, you'll have a bullet style named after you.
 
Your comment is disigenous and dismissive of the contributions he did have. Though I believe his contributions are felt more in the handgun hunting crowd, he was on the design team of the Model 70. Even if he knew what we know now in his most active years, he couldn't do anything with the info. Hell, the Partition was new technology in those years. Maybe one day, you'll have a bullet style named after you.
I think you’re reading too much into his comment.
 
 
I’m tryi
Looking for opinions on factory loaded lead free .223 options for California blacktail or blacktail/mule hybrid. Range under 100 yards is most likely. I’m not seeing much for choices besides:

Copper Creek 62gr TTSX
Black Hills 62gr TSX
Lehigh Defense 62gr Controlled Chaos
Lehigh Defense 62gr Maximum Expansion

A few more options exist at 55gr (Barnes TTSX, Winchester, etc) but I assume it’s best to go with the heavier grain in .223?

Undecided on rifle but likely the Tikka compact 20” barrel (11 yo’s rifle).
I’ll be trying the 79 grain DRT when I get my lefty tikka. I’ll post results when I put some rounds on paper. And obviously if one ends up through bear or deer.
 
Has anyone shot this new Barnes factory ammo with the 69gr TGK?

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No reason it won't work. Tried a search to point you in the right direction, but I came up empty. The jacket on the TGK is slightly thicker than that on the TMK. May not give as rapid upset as a TMK. Put it in the lungs and you'll be dragging or packing.
 
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