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

[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.

 

[Trackselk]

I haven't caught up on this thread for months, and don't have the time, but here's what i found with the 79gr DRT at 2650 muzzle velocity. 1 spike bull, forgot to lead him in the heat of the moment (herd scattering) and I detonated his liver and stomach (what a mess) at about 30 yards. He staggered for a few seconds and went maybe 20ft, and expired. No pics of that one.
2nd animal. Same load of 79gr DRT. 125 yards, large muley. He went maybe 30 yards after lung hit and expired, lasted maybe 10 seconds. Pics show what I think is pretty marginal damage to the lungs, and the bullets (powder) damage didn't extend beyond the lungs. I'm concerned that this is not enough medicine for elk period, although it did fine with the close shot on a large spike bull. Please let me know what you think. I'm not going to shoot any more elk with this bullet, unless yall tell me otherwise.
I'm going to add 100fps to my loads (was in a rush before the hunt to find a charge that printed well) and call them good for deer and blackbear out to about 350 yards.
I think this is pretty minor lung damage, right?

 

[sierracharlie338]

While I don't think there is anything wrong with the performance you saw, I think there is opportunity for better performance from any of the tipped projectiles. Personally I would look at those over the DRT but that's just me unless you have to shoot non lead, then thats a different story.

 

[Taudisio]

While I don't think there is anything wrong with the performance you saw, I think there is opportunity for better performance from any of the tipped projectiles. Personally I would look at those over the DRT but that's just me unless you have to shoot non lead, then thats a different story.

This, plus, your photos appear the same as the damage I have seen with the 3 non lead kills I have put a knife in.

 

[KHntr]

You have a baseball sized hole in the lungs…. How much damage are you looking for??

 

[Trackselk]

You have a baseball sized hole in the lungs…. How much damage are you looking for??

After I not so carefully removed the lungs in pieces, I don't actually know what I'm looking at. If it's baseball sized damage then that sounds more encouraging

 

[Kaleb]

 

[Kaleb]

16” 223 75amax. 2750 MV between 170-180 yards. 40 yard dash crash. Tim Olt Canadian skinner/CBK s35v. Everything worked fine.

 

[gbflyer]

View attachment 956546

Man that’s a fat one. Fine table fare.

 

[SouthPaw]

I haven't caught up on this thread for months, and don't have the time, but here's what i found with the 79gr DRT at 2650 muzzle velocity. 1 spike bull, forgot to lead him in the heat of the moment (herd scattering) and I detonated his liver and stomach (what a mess) at about 30 yards. He staggered for a few seconds and went maybe 20ft, and expired. No pics of that one.
2nd animal. Same load of 79gr DRT. 125 yards, large muley. He went maybe 30 yards after lung hit and expired, lasted maybe 10 seconds. Pics show what I think is pretty marginal damage to the lungs, and the bullets (powder) damage didn't extend beyond the lungs. I'm concerned that this is not enough medicine for elk period, although it did fine with the close shot on a large spike bull. Please let me know what you think. I'm not going to shoot any more elk with this bullet, unless yall tell me otherwise.
I'm going to add 100fps to my loads (was in a rush before the hunt to find a charge that printed well) and call them good for deer and blackbear out to about 350 yards.
I think this is pretty minor lung damage, right?

That looks like quite a bit of crushed tissue in the lungs. Lots of bullets do way less than that.

From what I've personally seen from the 79gr DRT, it upsets and fragments dramatically at high impact velocity. >2400fps. 12-14" penetration. As impact velocity slows it will upset after a few inches, still fragment completely, but penetration will be a bit more. I'd have zero hesitation shooting elk with it but at close range (high impact velocity) I'm not trying to shoot through guts to get to vitals.

I would also only use the DRT if you require lead-free.

 

[Gettincloser]

I took my nephew out for hid 1st deer (he is 9). We had a red sow come in and he got her behind the shoulder as she was quartered away (taking out the lungs but under the spine) at 85ish yards. Thr bullet was recover against the hide on the opposite side. Hog ran 30 yards and fell over. 10 minutes later (love suppressors! ) a year old spike came in and he could not help himself. That was THE BUCK he wanted to shoot. He might have been a bit excited and pulled the shot a little low. Nearly broad side at 60ish yards. The bullet hit low in the crease behind the shoulder taking out the breast bone, the lower 1/3rd of the heart. Breaking to off side leg bone and stopping against the hide. Another 35 yard recovery. The expansion of the 77gr TMK took it from marginal to victory for his 1st buck!