Thread: 223 on deer

Originally Posted by Shearer

The TMKs sound good but I can't stomach the price. They can't be that much better than options available surely?

I know what you are saying

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Originally Posted by Shearer

The TMKs sound good but I can't stomach the price. They can't be that much better than options available surely?

The 77 Sierra do seem to be the best but gimp swears by the (cheaper) 80 eldm and I have had great success with the 80 Targex and still have 80 odd left of them.

Nathan seems pleased with the 69 Targex, and Ive got 200 74 grn Targex loaded to use for the first time on Wallaby and deer for an early May trip. So there are plenty of options.

In the mean time Im sitting on 250/300 of the 77 Sierra Tipped and at their price am almost too scared to use them

I would struggle to agree that the 77tmk are the best due to the credibility gap of a prominent user on that rokslide thread who is the primary self-appointed authority and advocate for the TMK. Bruce has had good results with the 77TMK, I have had good results with the 80 ELDM, I haven't tried the TMK and I don't believe Bruce has tried the 80 ELDM. That's the facts we have.

I'd certainly agree they work and happily try/use them but the comparative advantage info I'm aware of comes from a sketchy source.

Originally Posted by gimp

I would struggle to agree that the 77tmk are the best due to the credibility gap of a prominent user on that rokslide thread who is the primary self-appointed authority and advocate for the TMK. Bruce has had good results with the 77TMK, I have had good results with the 80 ELDM, I haven't tried the TMK and I don't believe Bruce has tried the 80 ELDM. That's the facts we have.

I'd certainly agree they work and happily try/use them but the comparative advantage info I'm aware of comes from a sketchy source.

Out of interest @gimp is your M7 your only shooter? Or have you got something in another cartridge that comes out now and again?

Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick

Out of interest @gimp is your M7 your only shooter? Or have you got something in another cartridge that comes out now and again?

I've got a safe full of bits and bobs but the last 30 or 40 deer have all been 223

I can only speak for myself in the UK but for head and neck shots don’t overlook the Sierra 1380 69g HPBT as with 25g of N140 at book length I get a ragged hole and same POI at 100m as Barnes 62g TSX (30190) with 26g N140 so tend to use the Matchking for head and neck out to 150m and the Barnes for body shots any further and have never failed to recover a deer but have failed to recover a single bullet but the deer are small, no bigger than the size of a fallow yearling.

60g nbt @ 3100fps

Still got velvet knobs?

Originally Posted by Shearer

Still got velvet knobs?

Picture is a few months old

I couldn't get the 80 ELDM to shoot in my Tikka (even with long mag). The 77 TMK did so I didn't persist with the ELDM. Gimp's and my experience confirms that there is nothing between them when it comes to knocking things over.

The 52 ELDM's shoot lights out in my rifles and is no slug if popped into the right spot on deer. Sometimes I get the odd deer with them when chasing smaller critters.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I couldn't get the 80 ELDM to shoot in my Tikka (even with long mag). The 77 TMK did so I didn't persist with the ELDM. Gimp's and my experience confirms that there is nothing between them when it comes to knocking things over.

The 52 ELDM's shoot lights out in my rifles and is no slug if popped into the right spot on deer. Sometimes I get the odd deer with them when chasing smaller critters.

I'm glad you said that as I've tried twice with the 80 ELDM and struggle to get a group less than 30mm.
I'm all set to try the 77 TMK

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So as I have become an owner of one of these, I'm after a little clarification. Rifle at best has a 1-12 twist (still to be confirmed later today), worst case 1-14.
As such I doubt anything over 60grs (unless its short and stubby -64gr powerpoint, sierra 63gr semipoint-maybe a bit soft, and the 70gr speer), will work.
so we can count out the heavier ELDMs and TMKs
Is it that fine line between tough and explode? just tough enough to wreck a shoulder if you had to, but prefer in the crease to take out lungs etc?

Originally Posted by csmiffy

So as I have become an owner of one of these, I'm after a little clarification. Rifle at best has a 1-12 twist (still to be confirmed later today), worst case 1-14.
As such I doubt anything over 60grs (unless its short and stubby -64gr powerpoint, sierra 63gr semipoint-maybe a bit soft, and the 70gr speer), will work.
so we can count out the heavier ELDMs and TMKs
Is it that fine line between tough and explode? just tough enough to wreck a shoulder if you had to, but prefer in the crease to take out lungs etc?

First try the Hornady 55 grn SP they go awesome on all game.

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Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

First try the Hornady 55 grn SP they go awesome on all game.

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so I'm hearing/reading

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

First try the Hornady 55 grn SP they go awesome on all game.

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Yes. And they are as cheap as chips.