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

[zdc1775]

I'm strongly considering buying a Gen 2 Ruger American in either 5.56 (Ranch model) or .223 (standard) with the possibility of adding a can sometime down the road. I already have a gen 1 in 7.62x39 but another rifle for affordable trigger time and deer hunting would be good with more of my four kids wanting to get out. I'm leaning towards the standard 20" model as it would pick up a bit of velocity, be slightly quieter, and well, I like the looks more.

Knowing that the Tikkas are well loved here, I'll just say that I owned one a decade ago. Extremely accurate and great trigger, but the ergos just never did it for me. That rifle was responsible for lots of deer.

A couple questions:
Does anyone have experience shooting 5.56 through Rugers chambered in .223? Any overpressure signs? If they aren't good for 5.56 Ill just opt for the Ranch.

Second, what are some recommendations for relatively budget friendly cans? That would be a whole new world for me but the elimination of the few makes it much more appealing.

I have one of the 20" Gen 2s in 223. So far I have put about 6-700 rounds of factory 5.56 through it and the only issue I've run into was a few flattened primers from one lot of AAC ammo. I can't remember if it was the 75 BTHP or 77 SMK and I only had that issue once this past summer when I was out shooting with a friend when it was right at 100 degrees outside and we were using the bed of his truck as the storage area so the guns and ammo were sitting sun until we were shooting them. I also had the same issue shooting that ammo in a 5.56 AR so can't really blame it on the rifle.

 

[BigWoods]

I have one of the 20" Gen 2s in 223. So far I have put about 6-700 rounds of factory 5.56 through it and the only issue I've run into was a few flattened primers from one lot of AAC ammo. I can't remember if it was the 75 BTHP or 77 SMK and I only had that issue once this past summer when I was out shooting with a friend when it was right at 100 degrees outside and we were using the bed of his truck as the storage area so the guns and ammo were sitting sun until we were shooting them. I also had the same issue shooting that ammo in a 5.56 AR so can't really blame it on the rifle.

That's a great data point! Sounds like I should be good to go then. Especially since I can't imagine going out shooting in 100° weather here in Northern New England. How's the accuracy been for you?

 

[jonandy]

60 ish yards DRT on a whitetail doe. Pass thru with 77tmk aac out of a lightish weight gasser AR i built last year. My 2nd data point with 223.

First pic is the doe for supper - smoked her backstraps and both shoulders whole, then pressure cooked the shoulders and pulled/shredded meat. The wife fixed cream corn, mashd taters and home grown green beans.

That looks tasty!! Nice work.

 

[zdc1775]

That's a great data point! Sounds like I should be good to go then. Especially since I can't imagine going out shooting in 100° weather here in Northern New England. How's the accuracy been for you?

Accuracy has been great, this is actually the first bolt gun I've ever had that can shoot the 77 TMK'S into a less than 3" group. It shoots the BH 77 TMK and SMK's into a 1-1.5" ten shot group at 100, with the AAC 75 BTHP and 77 SMK and TMK it varies from 1-2" depending on which bullet and the specific lot, and all the bullets I've tries in handloads I've been about to find a load that would shoot around 1" pretty easily. But I've really only shot it for accuracy with bullets that were 62 gr +, and other than the 62 TTSX and some 68 gr Hornady, they have been 70+ so I can't speak to accuracy with lighter bullets.

Obviously when I've run stuff like bulk 55 or 62 gr FMJ's through it, it shoots much larger groups, but even with those it's worked fine for hitting steel out to 300.

 

[Packmansion]

Despite the Tupperware budget feel of rugers. They are accurate as heck and are pretty good value. A ruger will not stop you from performing the same as a much more expensive build but it will feel cheap. I had a Gen 1 and I sold it for a few reasons. What I disliked most was the bolt and generally the machining was rough. The barrel was not smooth and the bolt made a zipper sound and it would drag across the top of the ar mag, felt very cheap. However it was a sub moa gun for sure.

 

[BigWoods]

Despite the Tupperware budget feel of rugers. They are accurate as heck and are pretty good value. A ruger will not stop you from performing the same as a much more expensive build but it will feel cheap. I had a Gen 1 and I sold it for a few reasons. What I disliked most was the bolt and generally the machining was rough. The barrel was not smooth and the bolt made a zipper sound and it would drag across the top of the ar mag, felt very cheap. However it was a sub moa gun for sure.

Yes indeed! I have a gen 1 in 7.62x39; one of my favorite guns to shoot and shockingly accurate with cheap ammo. Some day I might try one of the 10 rd groups but I'm usually too cheap for that. The bolt on mine is really pretty smooth and the cheek riser I made fixes the stock geometry.

My daughter loves shooting it, but I'm looking forward to a gen 2 with shorter LOP for the kids.

Target below is typical. Yes those are only 2 shots because I was sighting two brands of hunting ammo.

 

[Packmansion]

I wish they would re-release gen1. I really want the 16" with ar mags in 22 arc. I like the look of the gen 1s a lot more very utilitarian.

 

[Deere_Man]

I wish they would re-release gen1. I really want the 16" with ar mags in 22 arc. I like the look of the gen 1s a lot more very utilitarian.

I agree 300%

 

[Xae289]

Have they done this with any other caliber? Only wondering as my son is young and doesn’t handle heavier recoil well, but we can’t legally hunt with 223 in my state

I still haven't gotten anything with my .223, but I've taken 2 good sized does and a coyote with .300 Blackout out of a 16" AR. The first with the Hornady Black 110gr VMax Hornady load. Bang-flop. The next doe and coyote were with handloads using the Barnes 110gr TacTX. The doe ran around 30-40 yards and laid down. The coyote was a bang-flop. All 3 shots were within 50 yards. Both loads were pushing a 110gr pill right around 2400 fps. I can definitely recommend those for close range, but no idea how far past 50 yds those bullets still do well.

 

[mt100gr.]

Two more 77TMKs in the air, two more bucks on the wall for my daughters during the 2025 MT youth deer season.

My middle daughter (13) made an excellent, slightly quartering-to, 274 yard shot on this mature mule deer. He took a 25ish yard death sprint after the double lung thru-thru shot and piled up hard. His lungs were mooshy and the exit (side pictured) left plenty of blood on the ground.

My oldest daughter (15) killed this buck at 245 yards. He was quartering to us and she dotted him a bit high on the point of his shoulder. Dead on impact, he fell on the sage bush above him in the picture, slid down until his antlers dug into the dirt, and straight-legged-flopped his body over to what you see here. Zero movement after he came to rest. The bullet penetrated the shoulder, clipped the top of his lungs, and destroyed about 5 inches of his spine. A few fragments in the back strap, but mostly slipped under the goods!

I didn't take any necropsy pics this year, but the destruction of the soft parts of the first buck and the wound channel thru hard parts of the second were par for the course with the .223/77TMK combo.

My girls have taken 9 bucks to date with 11 bullets in the last 6 years. One of the extras was a follow up hit on a heart-shot deer that kept his feet long enough to get shot twice. The other extra was a follow up hit on a deer that was falling down from the first round. In total, I'd estimate that the 9 deer have traveled less than 80 yards combined. And they both mentioned this year that they watched the impact and knew they had punched their tags! The .223 is SO shootable!!!!!

My oldest daughter also pointed out, on the ride home, that the 2 "misses" (her first 2 years) were before I had a suppressor for them to hunt with. Since then, they are 100% on 1 shot kills.

 

[Floridave]

Is the 77gr TMK still the go to for best terminal performance? I’ve used them in my AR among other things, but now setting up a new Tikka (my first bolt action 223).
I’m thinking just one bullet, one load for this rifle for plinking and targets to 600, deer and hogs to 300.
Any reason to even try anything else assuming they shoot from this rifle?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sierracharlie338]

Is the 77gr TMK still the go to for best terminal performance? I’ve used them in my AR among other things, but now setting up a new Tikka (my first bolt action 223).
I’m thinking just one bullet, one load for this rifle for plinking and targets to 600, deer and hogs to 300.
Any reason to even try anything else assuming they shoot from this rifle?


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Cost may be a factor. The TMKs are pricey compared to other 22 cal stuff in that weight class. If you don’t care about that and truly want a one bullet solution then yeah you can do that. Others prefer something cheaper for higher volume shooting. Personal preference.

 

[Ajsomp]

Is the 77gr TMK still the go to for best terminal performance? I’ve used them in my AR among other things, but now setting up a new Tikka (my first bolt action 223).
I’m thinking just one bullet, one load for this rifle for plinking and targets to 600, deer and hogs to 300.
Any reason to even try anything else assuming they shoot from this rifle?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Unless your gun shoots something else better - no. TMK can be it.

 

[benconfused]

Two more 77TMKs in the air, two more bucks on the wall for my daughters during the 2025 MT youth deer season.
View attachment 953396
My middle daughter (13) made an excellent, slightly quartering-to, 274 yard shot on this mature mule deer. He took a 25ish yard death sprint after the double lung thru-thru shot and piled up hard. His lungs were mooshy and the exit (side pictured) left plenty of blood on the ground.
View attachment 953397
My oldest daughter (15) killed this buck at 245 yards. He was quartering to us and she dotted him a bit high on the point of his shoulder. Dead on impact, he fell on the sage bush above him in the picture, slid down until his antlers dug into the dirt, and straight-legged-flopped his body over to what you see here. Zero movement after he came to rest. The bullet penetrated the shoulder, clipped the top of his lungs, and destroyed about 5 inches of his spine. A few fragments in the back strap, but mostly slipped under the goods!

I didn't take any necropsy pics this year, but the destruction of the soft parts of the first buck and the wound channel thru hard parts of the second were par for the course with the .223/77TMK combo.

My girls have taken 9 bucks to date with 11 bullets in the last 6 years. One of the extras was a follow up hit on a heart-shot deer that kept his feet long enough to get shot twice. The other extra was a follow up hit on a deer that was falling down from the first round. In total, I'd estimate that the 9 deer have traveled less than 80 yards combined. And they both mentioned this year that they watched the impact and knew they had punched their tags! The .223 is SO shootable!!!!!

My oldest daughter also pointed out, on the ride home, that the 2 "misses" (her first 2 years) were before I had a suppressor for them to hunt with. Since then, they are 100% on 1 shot kills.

Thats a really cool right side antler in the first pic. Is that a straight muley or some kind of hybrid?

 

[BLJ]

Is the 77gr TMK still the go to for best terminal performance? I’ve used them in my AR among other things, but now setting up a new Tikka (my first bolt action 223).
I’m thinking just one bullet, one load for this rifle for plinking and targets to 600, deer and hogs to 300.
Any reason to even try anything else assuming they shoot from this rifle?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mine prefers the 73 ELDM.
Kills the same.

 

[mt100gr.]

Thats a really cool right side antler in the first pic. Is that a straight muley or some kind of hybrid?

Funny picture angle in my post...standard muley with some extra goodies.

 

[Pharmseller]

Is the 77gr TMK still the go to for best terminal performance? I’ve used them in my AR among other things, but now setting up a new Tikka (my first bolt action 223).
I’m thinking just one bullet, one load for this rifle for plinking and targets to 600, deer and hogs to 300.
Any reason to even try anything else assuming they shoot from this rifle?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

75 ELDM is a close second according to Form. I’m 3 for 3 on Mulie bucks from my stainless Tikka Varmint, 4 shots 3 bucks. Same load (Kyle) I use for marmots and sage rats. The bullets are affordable and available.

I load loooong so I use Ascension Industries 3D printed magazines.

 

[Serving4Him]

Thanks for the education! I have really appreciate this thread and the detailed examples and responses ive read. Ive been dead set on getting a 6.5 grendel bolt gun. After the last few months continuing to read this thread has changed my mind. I
Do have a few lingering questions, I know the group can help with for a little more clarity. First for a little background i plan on purchasing a new .223. Ive narrowed it down to Howa mini, Ruger Ranch G2, or tikka compact. Currently I have a savage axis, but I want a shorter barrel (18 or16”). The new rifle will be used to hunt whitetails and hogs in the south. I will use it along with my youngest son(7). I do not reload. My questions are what commercial manufactured 77tmk ammo should i be looking for and where is it available. What barrel twist is recommended for 77’s. Of the three rifles mentioned what do you recommend. Thanks in advance for any and all feedback.

 

[omicron1792]

Thanks for the education! I have really appreciate this thread and the detailed examples and responses ive read. Ive been dead set on getting a 6.5 grendel bolt gun. After the last few months continuing to read this thread has changed my mind. I
Do have a few lingering questions, I know the group can help with for a little more clarity. First for a little background i plan on purchasing a new .223. Ive narrowed it down to Howa mini, Ruger Ranch G2, or tikka compact. Currently I have a savage axis, but I want a shorter barrel (18 or16”). The new rifle will be used to hunt whitetails and hogs in the south. I will use it along with my youngest son(7). I do not reload. My questions are what commercial manufactured 77tmk ammo should i be looking for and where is it available. What barrel twist is recommended for 77’s. Of the three rifles mentioned what do you recommend. Thanks in advance for any and all feedback.

1-7 or 1-8” twists. 77TMK made by black hills, bone frog, AAC, phantom defense. When you find it go ahead and buy a couple hundred rounds.

Most would recommend tikka. Look up RSS (rockslide special) that many have done here. Basically a tikka 223 with 16-18” barrels, threaded and suppressed, with a rockstock.

I use an 18” suppressed 223 wylde for the vast majority of my hunting now in the Deep South.

 

[PNWGATOR]

Tikka T3x compact 1:8 with a vertical grip, cut and threaded for a suppressor, nitrided, Unknown Suppressor, Unknown Munitions rings, SWFA 6x (3-9 if you can’t find a 6x) mil/mil milquad reticle, assembled correctly. Black hills 77TMKs. Go forth and kill every big game animal you hunt.

Drop it in a RokStok when your son needs an adult sized stock.