223 on deer

350 meters using a 64gr sierra game changer, the yearling stopped and looked back over his shoulder as if to say I'm at a safe distance but what mum forgot to teach him was 350 meters is not far enough when it comes to the mighty 223.

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It was my first time using the 64gr game changer on deer, I ranged it then dialed 300 on the scope and aimed just above center on the front shoulder and it went straight down.

When I walked over I was almost expecting to see it had got up and run somewhere but no it was laying exactly where I hit it.

Bloody stoked :thumbsup:

That deer will taste nice,feeding out of that paddock.Go the 223.

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Originally Posted by 7mm Rem Mag

350 meters using a 64gr sierra game changer, the yearling stopped and looked back over his shoulder as if to say I'm at a safe distance but what mum forgot to teach him was 350 meters is not far enough when it comes to the mighty 223.

Attachment 245410

Attachment 245411

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It was my first time using the 64gr game changer on deer, I ranged it then dialed 300 on the scope and aimed just above center on the front shoulder and it went straight down.

When I walked over I was almost expecting to see it had got up and run somewhere but no it was laying exactly where I hit it.

Bloody stoked :thumbsup:

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I have a small mountain of those 64g here, great to know they work :)

I've shot a few hinds over the last bit with the 80gr targex. 250-420m. Would say they're not as effective as the 80 ELDM at those ranges. Continue to be impressed with the ELDM.

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Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

I have a small mountain of those 64g here, great to know they work :)

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The Sierra website no longer lists any .224 gamechanger projectiles so I assume they are no longer produced. Don't waste them:thumbsup:

Interesting. I am pretty sure Targex projectiles have a Berger Jacket. According to the Berger bullet info on their website their bullets are intended to be very frangible, so maybe this is the reason for the performance you mention.

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Originally Posted by zeropak

Interesting. I am pretty sure Targex projectiles have a Berger Jacket. According to the Berger bullet info on their website their bullets are intended to be very frangible, so maybe this is the reason for the performance you mention.

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They appear to be a little harder or less expansive than the ELDM. Not bad by any means

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Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

I have a small mountain of those 64g here, great to know they work :)

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Very accurate, 25.5gr 2206H, cci 450 primers

They cant all be big :)

237 yds. 74grn Targex. Busted the heart and lungs in half and still made it 60 yards.

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That is a very fast wagging tail! A very happy woofer by the looks.

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Originally Posted by yeah_na_missed

That is a very fast wagging tail! A very happy woofer by the looks.

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She did a great track on it so she should be very happy about herself.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/jBT4Ffx7vwM

Tasty dinner there for the pot.

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Originally Posted by zeropak

Interesting. I am pretty sure Targex projectiles have a Berger Jacket. According to the Berger bullet info on their website their bullets are intended to be very frangible, so maybe this is the reason for the performance you mention.

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Targex do use the Berger jacket but the difference is that Bryn makes his own cores which I expect in the 80 are a little harder than the ELDM. What do you think @gimp ?

The 80 Targex penetrate well and will pass through stout Fallow at 400 yards - thats an indication that they are harder. Good on big deer at closer ranges.

The 74 Targex seem to be more frangible than the 80 and more like the ELDM. I need to do a bit more cutting up and poking around to confirm that though. For me Im tending towards the Targex 74grn being good middle ground between the 69 and the 80. Bryn might chime in. @TARGEX

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Originally Posted by Tahr

Targex do use the Berger jacket but the difference is that Bryn makes his own cores which I expect in the 80 are a little harder than the ELDM. What do you think @gimp ?

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They appear to be less expansive than the 80 ELDM. Solid exits on red hinds with shoulder shots at 400m; slightly slower kills at 250 odd m - the ELDM is very rapidly effective, the Targex they seem to wander around for a bit

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Originally Posted by gimp

They appear to be less expansive than the 80 ELDM. Solid exits on red hinds with shoulder shots at 400m; slightly slower kills at 250 odd m - the ELDM is very rapidly effective, the Targex they seem to wander around for a bit

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The .223 stagger.

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Originally Posted by gimp

They appear to be less expansive than the 80 ELDM. Solid exits on red hinds with shoulder shots at 400m; slightly slower kills at 250 odd m - the ELDM is very rapidly effective, the Targex they seem to wander around for a bit

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Perhaps the plastic tip initiating expansion a bit quicker.

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Perhaps the plastic tip initiating expansion a bit quicker.

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No doubt. The targex work fine and shoot very well, just an observation from my experience so far. Might change my mind if I shoot a few more deer with them

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Originally Posted by Tahr

Targex do use the Berger jacket but the difference is that Bryn makes his own cores which I expect in the 80 are a little harder than the ELDM. What do you think @gimp ?

The 80 Targex penetrate well and will pass through stout Fallow at 400 yards - thats an indication that they are harder. Good on big deer at closer ranges.

The 74 Targex seem to be more frangible than the 80 and more like the ELDM. I need to do a bit more cutting up and poking around to confirm that though. For me Im tending towards the Targex 74grn being good middle ground between the 69 and the 80. Bryn might chime in. @TARGEX

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@Tahr So I have been using the 73gn ELDM with good results on Fallow. I do have some 69gn Targex that i am thinking of trying. What's you experience with these 69gn pills. I have been sticking to the 73gn and under weights because of the short throat in the Tikka T3x.

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Originally Posted by zeropak

@Tahr So I have been using the 73gn ELDM with good results on Fallow. I do have some 69gn Targex that i am thinking of trying. What's you experience with these 69gn pills. I have been sticking to the 73gn and under weights because of the short throat in the Tikka T3x.

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Nothing wrong with the 69 grn Targex. Ive shot a heap of wallaby and deer with them and they have never let me down. @Nathan F uses them exclusively. I haven't used the 73ELDM but they are well regarded. Really, you could chuck a blanket over the 69, 74, 80 Targex and the 73, 75, 80 ELDM and not be let down.

One from last night. Bang flop 260 yds
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Hi there, I'll "chime" in but not with too much.
I do make all my own cores & just a little info as I'm not saying too much.
If the cores are too soft the bullet will "splatter" a bit too much(blow up on the outside) & if they are too hard the cores will just shatter so not much better off.
Hope this helps in the debate!
Cheers

@TARGEX great bullets. So accurate. Great BC and more importantly deadly.

So, managed to get out for a cheeky overnighter with the dog and the mighty 223. Got onto plenty of animals, sneaking up on a hind feeding at 5m on the walk in and missed an easy head shot (don't ask). Got this one at about 6 paces, Kai windicating through a tight ball of supplejack. She popped her head up from above the grass bed she was sleeping on. Sako 55g did the job.

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Got onto a few more which was fun in the tight, and the dog got us onto another hind the next day. Both came back in the backpack which was a mistake, well the Physio is benefitting. I checked the rifle zero at my range at 25m. Appears the first miss was my fault.

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Wee fella yesterday jumped up about 5m in front of me as I was heading back to truck after a really frustrating several hours of rubbish gusty and swirling wind. Went about 30m and stopped too long. Threaded the needle and high neck shot dropped him like a sack o' spuds. Cheap and cheerful 64gr power points. Feel a wee bit shit because I thought he was just a spike, but in good nick and broke a bit of a drought lately so I'm happy enough.

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Looks like it needed removing from the gene pool anyway. Great shot

Beauty of the little Model 7 in .223 is I watched it drop through the scope. Didn't think to see if I could recover any of the projectile but it was probably quite smashed after hitting vertebrae at that distance I think. Now to get one with the reloads

A bit of a fun weekend on fallow all shot with the.223 55grn SP and 77 TMK https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...56a52ee74c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2954d5ac20.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...1b62741ddb.jpg

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Nice little clean up

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Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

A bit of a fun weekend on fallow all shot with the.223 55grn SP and 77 TMK https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...56a52ee74c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...2954d5ac20.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...1b62741ddb.jpg

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How did the 77 grn TMK go?

74 grn Targex. Shot off my knees at 140 yards. 1 of 3. Report to follow at some stage.

https://youtu.be/51bfiN7yWIM

Another. Last evening.

https://youtu.be/QZrUZlxKR1c

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Originally Posted by Tahr

How did the 77 grn TMK go?

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They went well but to be honest so did the 55grn Hornady cheap sp.
The main difference maybe is the 55grn bruise way more meat.
I think big reds would be a better comparison.

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Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

They went well but to be honest so did the 55grn Hornady cheap sp.
The main difference maybe is the 55grn bruise way more meat.
I think big reds would be a better comparison.

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What ranges did you get out to?

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Originally Posted by Tahr

Another. Last evening.

https://youtu.be/QZrUZlxKR1c

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Awesome little bullets those.
You liking that scope.

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Originally Posted by gimp

What ranges did you get out to?

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Only about 250m max

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Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

Awesome little bullets those.
You liking that scope.

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Yes I am. It's a good day scope for conventional hunting and covers the culling and meat gathering too. Can be a bit fiddly but manageable. I like the vids (as you can tell).
I will post a day time clip (6pm in the evening actually - last night). It's proof too that I dont shoot everything. I guess the biggest disadvantage is that you wouldn't want to put it on anything too heavy recoiling.

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Originally Posted by Tahr

Yes I am. I guess the biggest disadvantage is that you wouldn't want to put it on anything too heavy recoiling.

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I think i read somewhere that they can be used on rifles up to .338, i have just put 1 on my 6.5AI,Haven't sighted it in yet, hope to in the next couple of days.
if it doesn't work out i have a 22-250 that it can go to.

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Originally Posted by HUNTY

I think i read somewhere that they can be used on rifles up to .338, i have just put 1 on my 6.5AI,Haven't sighted it in yet, hope to in the next couple of days.
if it doesn't work out i have a 22-250 that it can go to.

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Let us know how it works out.

I guess a suppressor would help.

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Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

Only about 250m max

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I shoot the Hornady 55gn SPs exclusively in my Sako .222. I no longer shoot fallow in the lungs for meat as they bruise very badly. Only head or neck shoot now. When I did use to lung shoot I would avoid the heart shot because if the heart isn't pumping the deer take longer to bleed out and go further. They are definitely dead but can be very hard to find. A lung shot deer will usually only go 20 - 30 m. I also only shoot the .222 out to 220m max, preferably under 200m.

74 grn Targex at 230 yards. Front on at slight angle - exited front of shoulder. Bang flop.

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