.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

 

[Speaks]

First kill with my 223 yesterday. Whitetail at 165 yards, 77 TMK from blackhills. Jumped when hit and ran about 25 yards and was stone dead when I got there. No blood, no exit wound and took just a minute to find the entry wound. Lungs were totally destroyed, liver looked like it went through a grinder. Found the little bit left of the bullet under the hide.

Not sure exactly how the liver was so shredded as both holes through the chest cavity seemed too far forward for that. Guessing as it came apart it must have gone two directions.

 

[Speaks]

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.

The sabres make a really good and affordable practice round and also share a 100 yard zero with the TMKs I shoot which is convenient. I also like that my training ammo is plenty sufficient to hunt with if needed even if not quite as good as the TMK.

 

[Ashy Larry]

I was skeptical but trying to find something my 7 year old can comfortably shoot. Bought the black hills TMK ammo for the AR and went to the range. Had does out in the fields from 350-210 and decided to take a high shoulder shot on the one at 210. Held just a couple inches higher than impact and watched her fall, rear legs first. She twitched her tail a few times but that was about it. After gutting it looks like I was a touch left of my aim. It broke 2 ribs and had a quarter sized hole on entry, lungs were shredded and the bullet broke another forward rib on exit size but didn’t exit.

 

[horpensky]

Happy to report another positive data point. Took the daughter out last week for her first hunt armed with the RSS. I'd taken her out to practice shooting the gun a few times this fall, so she was comfortable and confident in handling it.

First day we see deer but nothing within her comfort range. Second day is winding down, we're sitting on a corner of a tracked out abandoned oil lease, and I'm starting to get fidgety and bored and worried the daughter's enthusiasm is starting to fade. Of course right then we see the dreaded white tail of a deer bounding away from us along the opposite side. I curse myself quietly as I thought the doe had busted me fidgeting. But then she turns 90 degrees at the opposite corner and starts to trot back into the lease about 130 yards away.

Daughter is too busy watching things unfold through the binos, while I'm subtly/not so subtly muttering to her to get into shooting position. Doe has walked almost out of the lease again by now, and I'm thinking we missed the chance. But then it turns and starts walking right towards us! It's quartered towards us and at about 60 yards I start to whisper, "Wait to see if she'll turn broads-" BANG! Guess she didn't want to wait

Anyways, 60 yard shot, 73gr ELDM again, bang flop. Unlike wife's experience where there was no visible entrance or exit wounds, this time we had an entrance wound on doe's left shoulder, exit on the opposite side ribs, and lots of blood splattered about. Shoulder was messed up pretty good, missed the heart, but both lungs damaged and chest cavity full of blood.

So 2 shots and 2 deer in the freezer this year. Glad this gun/bullet combo is working out. If one of daughter/wife is lucky enough to get drawn for moose next year, I'll be really curious to see how it performs.