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

[Coopsdaddy]

I’m waiting on my 223 T3x to show up and wondering why even use another gun if you mainly hunt black bear,dear and similar game out to 400-500.
Are a lot of you doing that?
How many are killing game 6-1000 yards with all these fast new calibers.

 

[Ajsomp]

I’m waiting on my 223 T3x to show up and wondering why even use another gun if you mainly hunt black bear,dear and similar game out to 400-500.
Are a lot of you doing that?
How many are killing game 6-1000 yards with all these fast new calibers.

If you have a caliber restriction state - co, WY etc. 223 isn’t legal.

 

[Matt5266]

I’m waiting on my 223 T3x to show up and wondering why even use another gun if you mainly hunt black bear,dear and similar game out to 400-500.
Are a lot of you doing that?
How many are killing game 6-1000 yards with all these fast new calibers.

After killing my cow elk this year at 410 and seeing the damage first hand of the 77 tmk I dont think there is anything in my state of Idaho I wouldn't shoot with it to 450 yards

 

[Brap01]

I’m waiting on my 223 T3x to show up and wondering why even use another gun if you mainly hunt black bear,dear and similar game out to 400-500.
Are a lot of you doing that?
How many are killing game 6-1000 yards with all these fast new calibers.

Me and my young sons have been killing deer/elk with 6 CM and 6 ARC.

I put together a Tikka 223 as a trainer and ordered bulk .223 to practice with. So maybe my wind calls will improve and I'll 223 a bunch of stuff to death. Most of my shots the last few years have been +/-400 yards across canyons and its windy here in Idaho. The 6 CM will cut that wind better than the 223, and I figure I need all the help I can get calling cross canyon winds. Recoil with the RokStok and the 6 CM is tolerable, I just don't want to change a barrel every year, so I went with a trainer.

 

[The Guide]

I’m waiting on my 223 T3x to show up and wondering why even use another gun if you mainly hunt black bear,dear and similar game out to 400-500.
Are a lot of you doing that?
How many are killing game 6-1000 yards with all these fast new calibers.

My issue is temperatures. My DA can be anywhere from 9000' to -4000'. With my 22" 223 shooting the 77 TMK at 2714 fps I'm 1800 fps @ 425 yards when I'm seeing -4025' DA at -16⁰ F. Bring that from winter to early fall weather of 9000' DA @ 50⁰ and my distance to 1800 fps moves out to 610 yards.

In those same cold weather conditions my 22" 6CM with the 105 Berger Hybrid is 1800 fps at 660 yards, my 22" 6.5 PRC is a 720 yards with the 156 Berger EOL, and my 20" 7mm Backcountry is 1800 fps at 890 yards with the 195 Berger EOL bullet. To give you more 22 caliber info, my 22" 22 ARC is to 1800 fps at 595 yards with the 88 ELDM and my 22" 22CM is at 700 yards with an 80 ELDM in those same cold temps.

For me, having other options is a necessity based on temperature. I want to have options for the times when things go wrong at 400 yards and you are trying to do clean up at 600. If I never hunted elk in cold and snowy weather on open sagebrush flats, I could probably get away with a 22" 223 or a 16" 22 ARC for everything but I kill elk where they are and not where I want them to be.

Jay