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

[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.

 

[Don Fischer]

They shoot most as head shots at close range.


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Interesting. Indian woman in Canadian killed a world record Grizzly one time with a 22 long from a single shot 22 rf. Did it on purpose too. took a head shot!

 

[YaakRiver]

Going to be hunting whitetail and muley with this rifle this season. Now that the barrel is broken in, the velocity is 2798. Load is AAC once fired brass, 77 grain TMK, 24 grains of Varget, Federal 205M primers. Rifle is a factory Tikka in a Rokstok with an RS1.2 and Unknown Munitions trigger spring.

 

[Pharmseller]

View attachment 955529Going to be hunting whitetail and muley with this rifle this season. Now that the barrel is broken in, the velocity is 2798. Load is AAC once fired brass, 77 grain TMK, 24 grains of Varget, Federal 205M primers. Rifle is a factory Tikka in a Rokstok with an RS1.2 and Unknown Munitions trigger spring.

Is this much Varget above book max?

I tried that with TAC, to my regret.

 

[Packmansion]

Is this much Varget above book max?

I tried that with TAC, to my regret.

 

[Robobiss]

Is this much Varget above book max?

I tried that with TAC, to my regret.

How much TAC was too much?

 

[YaakRiver]

Is this much Varget above book max?

I tried that with TAC, to my regret.

Like @Packmansion posted, since it's a bolt gun, I use the 5.56 data for these loads and am .4 gr under the max. There have been no signs of pressure on the primers or cases. No heavy bolt lift and the velocity is right about where it should be.

 

[Pharmseller]

View attachment 955827
View attachment 955828

Not TMK.

Different bearing surfaces.

 

[Pharmseller]

How much TAC was too much?

Lots.

 

[Robobiss]

Lots.

Hahahaha.

I’m at 23.5

Would you call that lots?

 

[NWBLKTAIL]

Hahahaha.

I’m at 23.5

Would you call that lots?

I ran 24gr for 100 rounds, no issues

But if I loaded it again I’d load what you have at 23.5

 

[Billy Goat]

Problem I felt like I had with Tac was not being temp stable.

I developed pressure signs pretty quick in hot weather and a warm barrel.

I was getting some flattened primers and felt like heavy bolt lift. I passed on it. Don't remember what gr charge was, wasn't past what I found as max for 556 data. I have been sticking with Varget and CFE223, have been easy to find, just expensive.

 

[Robobiss]

I ran 24gr for 100 rounds, no issues

But if I loaded it again I’d load what you have at 23.5

Yeah, I’m running through some old chincey primers and they do not look super happy. That’s why I asked.

 

[Robobiss]

Problem I felt like I had with Tac was not being temp stable.

I developed pressure signs pretty quick in hot weather and a warm barrel.

I was getting some flattened primers and felt like heavy bolt lift. I passed on it. Don't remember what gr charge was, wasn't past what I found as max for 556 data. I have been sticking with Varget and CFE223, have been easy to find, just expensive.

My “fix” with this is doing my load development with a warm rifle (warmer than it’ll ever get shot hunting) warm powder, warm brass etc in my 80 degree basement next to the stove.

Then I step outside and shoot them. I have yet to develop loads in my 80 degree basement then find temp issues (high pressure) shooting in the field.

I like the price of TAC a lot, that’s why I shoot it and make it work.

 

[Billy Goat]

My “fix” with this is doing my load development with a warm rifle (warmer than it’ll ever get shot hunting) warm powder, warm brass etc in my 80 degree basement next to the stove.

Then I step outside and shoot them. I have yet to develop loads in my 80 degree basement then find temp issues (high pressure) shooting in the field.

I like the price of TAC a lot, that’s why I shoot it and make it work.

That works to know its safe, but if pressure is changing with temp, so is velocity.

Not a big concern with .223, but i generally keep a fair amount of Varget around anyways. Was able to load up on CFE too for pretty fair price a while ago. At least enough to last me several years.

 

[Pharmseller]

Hahahaha.

I’m at 23.5

Would you call that lots?

No

But 26.0 was.

 

[YaakRiver]

Not TMK.

Different bearing surfaces.

Agreed - but the Hornady data for the hornady bullets was a good reference to start with. I started low and worked up. When I shot that group (see above) at that velocity, I stopped. No pressure signs.

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

75ish yards hard quartering away shot with 77tmk. Due to steep angle bullet did not exit. Poi shown in picture below. Deer tucked his tail and ran hard for 3-4 seconds max and fell. Got into the guts so i did not autopsy the pump house. There was no bloodshot meet on the shoulders, so i suspect i got just enough penetration to bust up some lung/heart tissue.

3rd data point for me with 223 and 2nd with 77tmk and my LW gasser build.