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

[Taudisio]

Lots of fat on most bears. The hide can move and plug the hole very effectively, therefore no blood trail.

Adding to this, I have been around at least 10 bear kills in the last 3 years. Only two had good blood trails. A frontal shot on a small bear, 35-40 yards with a 30-06, and a quartering-to shot with a 6 creedmoor around 400 yards. All the rest were non-existent, or very sparse. Calibers from 223, 6 creedmoor, 30-06, 7mag, 300wsm, and 30 nosler. We are usually following tracks, broken branches, or other sign to find them. If they don’t go down in sight, it’s rarely an easy time tracking them. We lost one shot with the 30 nosler at 50 yards. Had blood where it rolled into a tree, then nothing. Like a ghost, it disappeared. We searched for at least 4 hours, even the dog couldn’t find it.

 

[RockAndSage]

Adding to this, I have been around at least 10 bear kills in the last 3 years. Only two had good blood trails. A frontal shot on a small bear, 35-40 yards with a 30-06, and a quartering-to shot with a 6 creedmoor around 400 yards. All the rest were non-existent, or very sparse. Calibers from 223, 6 creedmoor, 30-06, 7mag, 300wsm, and 30 nosler. We are usually following tracks, broken branches, or other sign to find them. If they don’t go down in sight, it’s rarely an easy time tracking them. We lost one shot with the 30 nosler at 50 yards. Had blood where it rolled into a tree, then nothing. Like a ghost, it disappeared. We searched for at least 4 hours, even the dog couldn’t find it.

It's good to see @KHNC share negative results, so that this isn't just an echo-chamber of affirmation. But I just learned a lot about bears I had no idea of, that also added perspective. It's crazy one could take a hit from a 7mag or .30 nosler at short distance and not leave a blood trail.

 

[longrangelead]

Also, bear anatomy is different than ungulates. The lungs are well behind the shoulder. The correct spot on a bear feels wrong if you've mostly hunted deer/elk, etc.

If it was angled away at all, it might possibly have missed the important stuff entirely.

 

[Taudisio]

It's good to see @KHNC share negative results, so that this isn't just an echo-chamber of affirmation. But I just learned a lot about bears I had no idea of, that also added perspective. It's crazy one could take a hit from a 7mag or .30 nosler at short distance and not leave a blood trail.

Oh I agree completely. I have my opinions on the whole subject that are based on my observations and I’m not going to add now, but my observations on bear kills seem relevant. I posted this photo in the 6mm kill thread, but it shows the amount of fat, and this was in spring.

 

[SloppyJ]

4th 223 data point for me, whitetail buck i shot last night with speer gold dots. Im 4 for 4 on kills, 2 for 4 on exit holes. Kind of a mystery what exactly happened but i got stupid lucky and found him.

First shot was at last light ~15 yards away. He was on a scrape and i had to shoot through some leaves and must have hit a limb and my bullet deflected way back just in front of the ham (luckily no meat damage). He was sligtly quartered away but this is a crazy poa vs poi shift. Gun is zeroed and the second shot went where it was suppose to. Who knows. Guts were exploded big time and super ripe after sitting all night but i just had to look in his chest to investigate the second hole. You people have turned me into a forensics freak.
View attachment 959895View attachment 959898

This is the 75gr gold dot? I was recommended this when looking for something with just a touch tougher construction to ensure exits. Looks to be substantially more tough than a 77tmk.

 

[roosiebull]

Blacktail last week, tikka aac 77tmk shot probably 125yds broadside, trotted a few steps at the shot and stopped, looking at me still seeming alert all I could see was his head and neck, but my scope was very hard to see through using some scope covers that I found that suck in wet weather, all I could see was his white snout so I put the crosshairs right above that and he vanished at the shot

First shot wrecked him, and second shot wrecked his skull and popped out his port side eyeball, wish I would’ve held off on the second shot because he was not long for the world, didn’t take any wound pics because it was nearly impossible to use my phone, probably took me 20 minutes to tag him with soaked everything and I had a long way to go

Very impressive damage though, and I got an exit

Only bone hit was ribs on both sides (and skull ) kind of a shame, he would have made a nice euro

No idea on blood, it was pouring and he only went maybe 10-15yds and I wasn’t curious. I doubt i will ever use anything else for the rifle hunting I do

 

[np307]

Well I was really hoping to use some 75gr gold dots this year. Ordered back in February from Natchez. Like a good procrastinator, I just now got around to getting some loaded up. Ordered 5 boxes and all 3 that I've opened so far are 30 cal 150gr even though the box clearly says 22 cal 75 gr. Im sure natchez will kick me back to speer. Hopefully speer is of some help.

 

[longrangelead]

View attachment 960501
Blacktail last week, tikka aac 77tmk shot probably 125yds broadside, trotted a few steps at the shot and stopped, looking at me still seeming alert all I could see was his head and neck, but my scope was very hard to see through using some scope covers that I found that suck in wet weather, all I could see was his white snout so I put the crosshairs right above that and he vanished at the shot

First shot wrecked him, and second shot wrecked his skull and popped out his port side eyeball, wish I would’ve held off on the second shot because he was not long for the world, didn’t take any wound pics because it was nearly impossible to use my phone, probably took me 20 minutes to tag him with soaked everything and I had a long way to go

Very impressive damage though, and I got an exit

Only bone hit was ribs on both sides (and skull ) kind of a shame, he would have made a nice euro

No idea on blood, it was pouring and he only went maybe 10-15yds and I wasn’t curious. I doubt i will ever use anything else for the rifle hunting I do

nice buck!

You can now choose your inside spread!

 

[ResearchinStuff]

^ the rompola tactic.

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

This is the 75gr gold dot? I was recommended this when looking for something with just a touch tougher construction to ensure exits. Looks to be substantially more tough than a 77tmk.

Yessir, 75gr gold dot