.223 for bear, deer, elk and moose.

[Floridave]

Just repeating what’s been reported so many times in this thread, but last week I carried my 223 loaded with 77gr TMK’s and left the 30/06 in the case. First time I’ve hunted with this gun or caliber.

A nice doe at 154 yards and a decent 6 point at 70ish yards in thick woods at last few minutes of light didn’t know the difference. Doe dropped in her tracks, the buck did a 30 yard death dash before piling up.

It was awesome actually seeing the hit and deer drop on the open field 154 yard shot. The woods shot was threading the needle through a small opening and I could only see the target area of him at the shot. It was from a sitting position on the ground.

Super happy with the performance of the round, enough that I’m going to hold off on building up a 6.5 Grendel for now.

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[KHntr]

Had a new rifle built this summer to match my 243AI.
223AI with a 1:7” IBI tube. Built it to shoot 88 gr ELD’s and 75 Amax’s (as I have several thousand for my Montana 223AI.

Rifle has been fairly impressive so far banging steel and rocks out past 1300 yards.
Last weekend I picked up 3 coyotes with the 88’s in my yard at 257 yards and results looked pretty promising. Not to mention the fact that I have been killing deer and black bears with the 75 Amax for 7 or 8 years now.

Here in Northern BC we had some political interference on our moose season, which resulted in 2, two day open season hunts for spike/fork, tripalm, or ten points. November 10th and 11th being the second one.
Closest buddy in the world came up for a moose/whitetail weekend.

Long story short, 175 yards, 88gr ELD M, square broadside. I’m a dedicated shoulder shooter, the 6” window through the willows on the 2 point gave me nothing but shoulders. Bullet hit the rear edge of the onside scapula, punched a 3” hole through the ribs, centered the offside scapula, and was caught under the hide.

I’ve long been a proponent of the shooting being the fun part, and if they are standing they get more holes in them. I’ve also never personally met anyone who runs a bolt faster than me (not bragging, just background info).

As the bolt was closing on the second round the bull turned, and fell.

Incidentally, there were 2 two points. Double header on moose.

 

[Trial153]

Has anyone used the 77 grain open tip match load from SiG?

 

[SouthPaw]

One shot, two moose shoulders...that sure aught to get the Fudds' blood boiling.

 

[PathFinder]

Has anyone used the 77 grain open tip match load from SiG?

I believe those are 77 SMK projectiles. Terminal performance would suffer considerably, those bullets nearly always pencil through unless they hit heavy bone. Not an ideal hunting load.

 

[KClark]

I’ve also never personally met anyone who runs a bolt faster than me (not bragging, just background info).

That's the best thing about using a bolt action rifle, it doesn't slow you down like a semi-auto. You don't have to wait for it to cycle and can shoot as fast as you want.


Congrats on the moose.

 

[roymunson]

Pretty impressive results. Kinda a mind bender to imagine drawing down on an animal that size, with that bullet. But it's hard to argue with those results.

So to clarify, you have had competitions to see who could run a bolt quickest?

 

[Elmer J. Fudd]

One shot, two moose shoulders...that sure aught to get the Fudds' blood boiling.

Hey now

 

[260madman]

Guess I better get to work. Leftovers from last year. I’ve found 2 other powders that work when my XBR is gone after today.

 

[Trial153]

I believe those are 77 SMK projectiles. Terminal performance would suffer considerably, those bullets nearly always pencil through unless they hit heavy bone. Not an ideal hunting load.

Appreciate that as I am looking for factory load alternatives. Thank you

 

[Rooggvc]

Had a new rifle built this summer to match my 243AI.
223AI with a 1:7” IBI tube. Built it to shoot 88 gr ELD’s and 75 Amax’s (as I have several thousand for my Montana 223AI.

Rifle has been fairly impressive so far banging steel and rocks out past 1300 yards.
Last weekend I picked up 3 coyotes with the 88’s in my yard at 257 yards and results looked pretty promising. Not to mention the fact that I have been killing deer and black bears with the 75 Amax for 7 or 8 years now.

Here in Northern BC we had some political interference on our moose season, which resulted in 2, two day open season hunts for spike/fork, tripalm, or ten points. November 10th and 11th being the second one.
Closest buddy in the world came up for a moose/whitetail weekend.

Long story short, 175 yards, 88gr ELD M, square broadside. I’m a dedicated shoulder shooter, the 6” window through the willows on the 2 point gave me nothing but shoulders. Bullet hit the rear edge of the onside scapula, punched a 3” hole through the ribs, centered the offside scapula, and was caught under the hide.

I’ve long been a proponent of the shooting being the fun part, and if they are standing they get more holes in them. I’ve also never personally met anyone who runs a bolt faster than me (not bragging, just background info).

As the bolt was closing on the second round the bull turned, and fell.

Incidentally, there were 2 two points. Double header on moose.

So you were able to kill two moose with the 88’s?

 

[SteveAndTheCrigBoys]

Will there be a significant POI shift between a 77gr HPBT Matchking vs the 77gr TMK? Ordered up a 100 rounds of the former to zero and break in the new AR with, 40 of the latter to hunt with.

 

[Jim1187]

I know the larger diameter scenars have a pretty good reputation but what about the .224 versions, 69 grain in particular?
They're readily available unlike just about every other .224 projectile and locally cost less than tmks. Not to mention they shoot very well.

 

[amassi]

Will there be a significant POI shift between a 77gr HPBT Matchking vs the 77gr TMK? Ordered up a 100 rounds of the former to zero and break in the new AR with, 40 of the latter to hunt with.

At 500 yards the tmk is a click flatter and .05 mil less wind hold at the same velocity. I think you'll be OK

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[Pharmseller]

I did not realize I could load these with 4350.

ETA: Now I see you are loading 22CM, not .223. So sad.

I’m getting 3100 fps with this bullet and TAC out of my Tikka .223.




P

 

[robtattoo]

I’m getting 3100 fps with this bullet and TAC out of my Tikka .223.




P

I'd love to see a photo of the rifle & chrono reading, because you're beating everyone else by about 400fps.....

 

[Bcleck90]

@Formidilosus I’ve been shooting shoulders with 75gr gold dots with little blood trails. (20-30 yards max) on deer size animals. Any reason to do anything different with 77gr. TMK? I like breaking shoulders but not a ton of blood from my experience with gold dots. Where are you shooting broadside +/- animals with TMK? Shoulder or behind?

 

[260madman]

I’m getting 3100 fps with this bullet and TAC out of my Tikka .223.




P

I'd love to see a photo of the rifle & chrono reading, because you're beating everyone else by about 400fps.....

I’ll be honest. I can hit 3000fps with a 75gr Amax from a 26” barrel 223. I’ll only be able to prime the brass once because the pockets get extremely loose with that load, but I hit 3000fps. 3100? Umm…

 

[KHntr]

So you were able to kill two moose with the 88’s?

No, my buddy killed his with his 7/08AI and a 162 Amax

 

[Formidilosus]

I know the larger diameter scenars have a pretty good reputation but what about the .224 versions, 69 grain in particular?
They're readily available unlike just about every other .224 projectile and locally cost less than tmks. Not to mention they shoot very well.

There is a lot of info in this thread about most bullets, but short answer is- they will kill, but are a bit erratic and don’t produce the largest wounds- like most HPBT match bullets. Would not be my choice.

@Formidilosus I’ve been shooting shoulders with 75gr gold dots with little blood trails. (20-30 yards max) on deer size animals. Any reason to do anything different with 77gr. TMK? I like breaking shoulders but not a ton of blood from my experience with gold dots. Where are you shooting broadside +/- animals with TMK? Shoulder or behind?

Generally behind scapula, however they go through bone without issue. Tissue damage and hence meat loss will be on the extreme end however.