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

[NeHunter13]

Here's another first time use for anyone keeping track. Central Nebraska Whitetail that I typically would have let walk, but it was a slow year and I really wanted to try the 77 TMK for myself.

He was roughly 75 yards quartering away, hit a little back but still caught the heart. He only went 40 before going down. Landed next to the river which made for a good picture!

 

[mt terry d]

I'm suspicious that this was the inspiration for the 77 TMK

https://twitter.com/x/status/1992541492255080720

 

[bigeyedfish]

I killed another whitetail buck with the 75 Sabre Blacktip. Shot was 40-50 yards right before dark. Caliber sized entry and no exit. It took a minute to find the entry wound. The lungs were trashed. Buck ran about 40 yards and died in a trail. I have previously mentioned that I will use up the rest of this ammo, then switch to ELD's or TMK's. My family has killed three deer and two coyotes with these bullets now, and they have performed similarly in all cases.

I didn't even look for a blood trail. I could hear him take a few steps through some thick brush, then it got quiet, and I never heard him crash. That made me a bit nervous, but I figured he busted brush to get onto a worn down trail, which made it quiet enough I couldn't hear him any more. After giving him a few minutes, I walked to the last spot I saw him and guessed which way he went from there. I was using my phone's flashlight, so I moved a bit slower than I would have liked. Took me about ten minutes to find him.

 

[RockAndSage]

With all these responses, it seems pretty consistent that these bullets in vitals have deer running between 40-70ish yards, then dropping. Sometimes less, but don't recall seeing too many reports of runs much longer.

This seem to be the case? (Gauging for tracking purposes.)

 

[_MountainBum]

Buddy’s buck from today.

16” sig gasser
Barnes 69gr precision match
325 yards

Forward thoracic cavity essentially jello
Dead after three steps

 

[Pharmseller]

I love a monster forky!

 

[Hardly_Hangin]

With all these responses, it seems pretty consistent that these bullets in vitals have deer running between 40-70ish yards, then dropping. Sometimes less, but don't recall seeing too many reports of runs much longer.

This seem to be the case? (Gauging for tracking purposes.)

Im up to 8 total data points now
The first one was a poor shot and hit too far forward, but still died around the 100ish yard mark. Its somewhere in this thread circa Nov/Dec 2024. 75gr eldm.

I shot one today that somehow made it around 100ish yards, heart was intact lungs had some damage but not as much carnage as usual. 75gr gold dot.

It seems liek if you heart shot them they go between 0-30yds max in my sample sizes.

Most interestingly thinh i noticed today, the two that ran the furthest had the best blood trails.

Here is pics from today.

 

[omicron1792]

Im up to 8 total data points now
The first one was a poor shot and hit too far forward, but still died around the 100ish yard mark. Its somewhere in this thread circa Nov/Dec 2024. 75gr eldm.

I shot one today that somehow made it around 100ish yards, heart was intact lungs had some damage but not as much carnage as usual. 75gr gold dot.

It seems liek if you heart shot them they go between 0-30yds max in my sample sizes.

Most interestingly thinh i noticed today, the two that ran the furthest had the best blood trails.

Here is pics from today.
View attachment 972728View attachment 972729View attachment 972730View attachment 972731

If their heart is intact it pumps the blood out onto the ground. When you hit the heart the pump stops and you get worse blood trails.

Next time high shoulder shoot them and just watch them drop where they stand