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

[Brap01]

I originally landed in this thread while researching if my 308 would be suitable for elk... Well, I'm several weeks in (maybe over a month?) and I've read from start to finish (currently on page 659). I now have a 223 in my future. I wanted to join just to say "I did it! I read the whole thing!"

Thank you to everyone who has contributed meaningfully to the thread, I've learned a lot.

Be sure to post up your results in here, good or bad.

Best of luck!

 

[proslogion]

Be sure to post up your results in here, good or bad.

Best of luck!

It will be a while before I get everything lined up, but I'll definitely circle back and contribute!

 

[ihookem]

I posted this elsewhere but it belongs here.
77 TMK 223 AI
Bull 260 yds
Cow 510 yds.

There is no reason on earth to shoot a bigger gun . I will stick to my .243 Win. for deer , only cause I have so many bullets. I will sooner or later just shoot .223 REM. just cause cases are everywhere, 25 gr. of powder and cheap bullets make for a reasonable target and deer gun.. I dont hunt anything bigger than deer except bear once in a while though.

 

[Dave Thomas]

I wonder how many foot pounds would be necessary to kill a moose in a spot and stalk scenario?

Just make sure you have enough wallop. Because in a spot and stalk your bullet might just bounce off the shoulder.

 

[mt terry d]

There is no reason on earth to shoot a bigger gun . I will stick to my .243 Win. for deer , only cause I have so many bullets. I will sooner or later just shoot .223 REM. just cause cases are everywhere, 25 gr. of powder and cheap bullets make for a reasonable target and deer gun.. I dont hunt anything bigger than deer except bear once in a while though.

I can understand some guys shooting something faster with better BC but I'm
not good enough yet to really utilize the better ballistics when out to kill something

I think one of the main things I've taken a way from my journey into the "223/77TMK" world
is that regardless of how you've always done it, you really need to walk before you can run
with reliable and consistent effectiveness ( <is that a word?)
And even while walking you can kill the $HiT out of just about anything.

 

[Chet707]

I can understand some guys shooting something faster with better BC but I'm
not good enough yet to really utilize the better ballistics when out to kill something

I think one of the main things I've taken a way from my journey into the "223/77TMK" world
is that regardless of how you've always done it, you really need to walk before you can run
with reliable and consistent effectiveness ( <is that a word?)
And even while walking you can kill the $HiT out of just about anything.

I agree. Didn't take any convincing for me to start using a .223 since my family and many friends have always trended towards the smaller side for elk in az. Mostly 22-250 and .243.

This thread and the 6mm thread opened my eyes as to why it worked and after switching from a 6.5 creed to a 223 I shot more in a year than I ever had and learned more about mid and longer range shooting because of the amount I could afford to shoot. Putting together a 6 cm this year just to extend usable velocity and wind a little bit. Definitely still at the walk stage and the .223 works like a charm.

 

[KHntr]

Just make sure you have enough wallop. Because in a spot and stalk your bullet might just bounce off the shoulder.

Good point. I try to whisper “Remember the Extra Wallop” to each cartridge before it gets chambered but sometimes I forget. Seems to make a difference though.