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

[Serving4Him]

Thanks for the education! I have really appreciate this thread and the detailed examples and responses ive read. Ive been dead set on getting a 6.5 grendel bolt gun. After the last few months continuing to read this thread has changed my mind. I
Do have a few lingering questions, I know the group can help with for a little more clarity. First for a little background i plan on purchasing a new .223. Ive narrowed it down to Howa mini, Ruger Ranch G2, or tikka compact. Currently I have a savage axis, but I want a shorter barrel (18 or16”). The new rifle will be used to hunt whitetails and hogs in the south. I will use it along with my youngest son(7). I do not reload. My questions are what commercial manufactured 77tmk ammo should i be looking for and where is it available. What barrel twist is recommended for 77’s. Of the three rifles mentioned what do you recommend. Thanks in advance for any and all feedback.

 

[omicron1792]

Thanks for the education! I have really appreciate this thread and the detailed examples and responses ive read. Ive been dead set on getting a 6.5 grendel bolt gun. After the last few months continuing to read this thread has changed my mind. I
Do have a few lingering questions, I know the group can help with for a little more clarity. First for a little background i plan on purchasing a new .223. Ive narrowed it down to Howa mini, Ruger Ranch G2, or tikka compact. Currently I have a savage axis, but I want a shorter barrel (18 or16”). The new rifle will be used to hunt whitetails and hogs in the south. I will use it along with my youngest son(7). I do not reload. My questions are what commercial manufactured 77tmk ammo should i be looking for and where is it available. What barrel twist is recommended for 77’s. Of the three rifles mentioned what do you recommend. Thanks in advance for any and all feedback.

1-7 or 1-8” twists. 77TMK made by black hills, bone frog, AAC, phantom defense. When you find it go ahead and buy a couple hundred rounds.

Most would recommend tikka. Look up RSS (rockslide special) that many have done here. Basically a tikka 223 with 16-18” barrels, threaded and suppressed, with a rockstock.

I use an 18” suppressed 223 wylde for the vast majority of my hunting now in the Deep South.

 

[PNWGATOR]

Tikka T3x compact 1:8 with a vertical grip, cut and threaded for a suppressor, nitrided, Unknown Suppressor, Unknown Munitions rings, SWFA 6x (3-9 if you can’t find a 6x) mil/mil milquad reticle, assembled correctly. Black hills 77TMKs. Go forth and kill every big game animal you hunt.

Drop it in a RokStok when your son needs an adult sized stock.

 

[ztc92]

Excited to finally add to the thread once more with my first antelope. Using my Tikka RSS with a 20” barrel and shooting hand loaded 77TMK at 2800 FPS.

Shot was 400 yards almost exactly and the impact velocity was about 2150 FPS. I thought he was quartering to me but based on the wound I think he was more broadside than I realized. I aimed for my impact to be in front of the onside shoulder and exit behind the offside shoulder but ended up shooting a few inches higher than intended and instead severed the spine, esophagus, trachea and carotids. I also caught the top of both lungs. He dropped immediately but still was moving his head after a little while so he got another round in the neck to make sure he didn’t suffer.

First photo shows approximate entrance (green) and exit (blue). Bullet hit a rib on the way in and clipped another on the way out. It didn’t fragment as much as other TMK’s I’ve used or seen on here. It exited the chest and then penetrated directly through the offside shoulder. The jacket/core still together and was trapped on the offside hide. It weighs 3 to 4 grams on my kitchen scale so probably 45-60 grains.

Best part of using the 223 was watching everything happen in the scope and noticing his back end dropped before his chest or head (which I’ve learned suggests a spine shot). This led me to watch him for a good while and notice his head twitch, prompting me to put another round in his neck.