.223 for bear, deer, elk and moose.

[mtnwrunner]

1-8” will generally work for the 88’s in a 22-250, but a 1-7” or 1-7.5” is better.


And we need a 90+ grain TMK.

I would settle for a 77 tmk. Just sayin......

Randy

 

[ztc92]

Processed my elk quarters today, here’s the damage from the unfortunate hindquarter shot I mentioned previously. I had already cleaned up a lot of the bloodshot/vaporized tissue by the time I remembered to grab a photo. What remained was a roughly 4” diameter circle of meat that was basically turned to mush…

Edit - Autocorrect error

 

[TxxAgg]

Wow

 

[Formidilosus]

Another. 393 yards. 20” 223/77TMK/SWFA 6x

 

[ShootOkHuntWorse]

I need in on this 20” train.

 

[Moose83]

Is 20" the optimal barrel length for the RS special? I have a standard t3x lite that I was thinking of chopping down some to make it handier for teaching my kids to shoot. Any benefit to going down to 18.5"? (Legal minimum for a barrel chop here in Canada)

 

[Sadler]

I have multiple 223AI’s to be honest, built on Sako/Remington/Kimber rifles.

With the latest one (Remington) and 88’s I’m at 2740 fps. I could probably get more speed but I basically did load “development” by finding pressure and then backing off some and making a handful to confirm. First five shots made one ragged hole so called it good enough and shot the rest at 800 to get an idea of velocity for the dope.

With the Kimber and moly’d 75’s I’m at 2980 fps. Brass life isn’t spectacular though, maybe 5 reloads on average with Lapua brass and no annealing. The 1:9 twist is on the bubble for stability though I think.

What are the barrel lengths on those rifles?

 

[KHntr]

What are the barrel lengths on those rifles?

Remingtons and Kimber are 22”, Sako is 24”. (The Sako is 1:14 so it doesn’t get shot at all and needs to go down the road, but it spits moly’d 40’s at 3800+ and 45 gr TSX at 3750.)

 

[Sadler]

Remingtons and Kimber are 22”, Sako is 24”. (The Sako is 1:14 so it doesn’t get shot at all and needs to go down the road, but it spits moly’d 40’s at 3800+ and 45 gr TSX at 3750.

That makes me hopeful. I’m cutting my 223 down to 16” and I’m going to AI it and shoot the 77 TMK. I want to be around 2600fps at the muzzle so I’m above 1800fps around 500 yards where I hunt. I think I should be able to get that.

 

[Antares]

I’m torn between 20” and 16.5”, so I’m going with 18.”

 

[mt100gr.]

That makes me hopeful. I’m cutting my 223 down to 16” and I’m going to AI it and shoot the 77 TMK. I want to be around 2600fps at the muzzle so I’m above 1800fps around 500 yards where I hunt. I think I should be able to get that.

Not sure how much extra the AI will buy you, but I have a Ruger American Ranch at 16.5" and it gets a bit under 2600fps with the UM factory 77tmk (@ AR mag length, loaded with XBR 8208) ...I think you'll break 2600.

For comparison, my (daughter's) T3x Lite Compact with the 20" barrel shoots the same load @ 2695fps.

 

[BLJ]

I’ll echo what @mt100gr. said above. I’m at AR mag length getting 2564 from a RAR 16”.

 

[Sadler]

@mt100gr. @BLJ thanks for that. I guess I was overthinking it a bit. As soon as I get it back from TBAC I’ll chrono the Unknown Munitions 75 ELDMs that I have at 2.42 OAL through it and see where I’m at.

 

[Lawnboi]

I think 18” is a good place for what I think the 77tmk/223 is proficient at. Personally it’s a 350-400 yard gun for me. Reason being is wind. At 400 in most density altitude ranges I hunt I’m looking at .1 mil per mph wind. Im fairly confident given time to really look I can judge to 5mph but when hunting that dosnt always happen.

Something to keep in mind for guys planning on shooting animals at 500 yards with it. Not saying it cannot be done, and it’s easy to shoot but not forgiving to an inexperienced wind caller.

Even after thousands of rounds through mine, with a good handful in field conditions, the above is still where I put the limit on the gun.


On top of that as noted in the thread earlier at above 2k the tmk expands violently. That’s what I want.

 

[BLJ]

@Sadler. No problem. That’s why we’re here.

 

[Steve300xcw]

Not sure how much extra the AI will buy you, but I have a Ruger American Ranch at 16.5" and it gets a bit under 2600fps with the UM factory 77tmk (@ AR mag length, loaded with XBR 8208) ...I think you'll break 2600.

Getting 2640fps with 75 amax's outta the same rifle. They are loaded a bit further out though

 

[Lawnboi]

@mt100gr. @BLJ thanks for that. I guess I was overthinking it a bit. As soon as I get it back from TBAC I’ll chrono the Unknown Munitions 75 ELDMs that I have at 2.42 OAL through it and see where I’m at.

You might be in kissing the lands with those, just check when you get them. In my factory chamber those would be .020 into the lands. Assuming your talking a tikka.

 

[Sadler]

You might be in kissing the lands with those, just check when you get them. In my factory chamber those would be .020 into the lands. Assuming your talking a tikka.

It is a tikka. My newbness is shining through today! Solid points on the wind calls past 350/400. I still have a lot to learn in that department and don’t plan on slinging rounds at game just because the gun can do it. I’ve walked away from 500 yard shots before so I’m sure I can do it again if need be.

 

[PNWGATOR]

The 77TMK is a 4mph bullet out of my Tikka at my DA and it holds true well beyond 400 yds.

The issue isn’t the bullet, but rather the shooter’s/spotter’s ability to correctly ‘call wind’ in field conditions, especially rough topography.

Precisely why this combination works, as it affords the ability to shoot a lot and actually LEARN why shots hit where they do.

The one downfall of such a light projectile is that the splash can be difficult to spot at distance in various mediums.

 

[LimeSpoon]

Another. 393 yards. 20” 223/77TMK/SWFA 6x

View attachment 474571

Is that small hole at top left an exit? Looks like the bullet impacted at quite a steep angle.