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> 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goats
65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goats
@ 10:16 pm (GMT) |
IanI regard the 223 as being at its most useful for animals up to foxes and dogs, but have become interested in extending its usefulness.I wouldn't see ranges for larger animals exceeding 200 yards, maybe an occasional maximum of 225yds. I would envisage mostly 150/200yards. Does anyone have any thoughts on which of the two Sierras listed would be the most suitable for this ? I am well aware of the 77TMK, but I don't know whether or lot it will have OAL issues in a standard mag length bolt action, and I am not sure whether or not the extra grunt is worth the loss in velocity when compared with the 69gTMK. |
Replies
@ 10:48 pm (GMT) |
Michael SeagerRe: 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goatsHi Ian,I'm up in the UK and we use .223 Rem for our smaller deer species (Muntjac, Chinese Water Deer and Roe deer in Scotland). I really like the 65gr SBT for deer. It's a proper little soft point / boat tail expanding bullet and it works very well. I haven't tried the 69gr TMKs (I have a some 60gr TMKs that I suspect will suit my 1:9 twist barrel better but according to Sierras website you can do everything with them). If "non-lead" requirements weren't coming where I am, I probably would not look for another hunting bullet in .223 Rem. Best wishes, Mike |
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@ 10:42 am (GMT) |
IanRe: 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goatsThanks Mike. Getting quick kills with lead free on those little deer will be a challenge.I've hunted roe deer only once, and to me they are wonderful little deer. Given the popularity of the 224s for these deer in Europe their illegality for roe in England is a mystery. |
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@ 01:36 pm (GMT) |
IanRe: 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goatsLooks like I may have found some 65GKs, so given the scarcity of components, that makes choosing easier. |
@ 02:05 pm (GMT) |
Mike DavisRe: 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goatsget some 50grn TTSX and see if they work for you...the extra velocity from reduced projectile weight MUST help with expansion...I may have been lucky with older batch of them but can in no way complain about terminal preformance so far.there is very good thread titled .223 on deer over on NZHS forum... lots of photos and real world first hand accounts...well worth the effort to look it up. |
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@ 09:17 pm (GMT) |
Michael SeagerRe: 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goatsHi Ian,Glad you found some matey, they are like hens teeth up here. I'm currently developing a load for Nosler 55gr E-Tips which if it works I will probably transition to as my .223 Rem hunting load just for ease of compliance. If you are going to try factory ammo, see if you can lay your hands on some Federal Fusion 62gr. My little CZ loves that stuff and I have found it very effective. Roe are a lovely little deer and we are at a loss why there is any sense in being able to use a .223 Rem for roe deer in Scotland but not in England.... Mike |
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@ 10:42 pm (GMT) |
IanRe: 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goatsThanks for the 50gr TTSX feedback Mike. I don't doubt that they have worked for you, particularly if driven at warp speed and if they connect before they wash off too much speed. For me, I think of monos as a wonderful way to increase one's tracking skills, so not in a hurry to go down that path unless forced to. I reckon the TTSX are likely to be an improvement over the TSX, but still not keen.Michael, everything Sierra is like hen's teeth here also, and I suspect most other places also. I have some accurate factory ammo loaded with the 62gr Sierra GK, and also some loaded with the 55gr GK, so OK for factory ammo for a while. Just looking to explore a different path. |
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@ 05:28 pm (GMT) |
Michael SeagerRe: 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goatsHi Ian,May I ask who loads the 62gr Sierra in factory ammo? How are you getting on with loading the 65gr bullets? Scrummy |
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@ 08:54 pm (GMT) |
IanRe: 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goatsQuote: Hi Ian,
May I ask who loads the 62gr Sierra in factory ammo? How are you getting on with loading the 65gr bullets? Scrummy The 62s are loaded by ADI here in Australia. Their regular bulk offerings to the retail/civilian market are loaded with either a 55GK or a 55 Blitz. I was unaware of the loaded 62s until they were offered to me at the LGS. I was told that from time to time a run of 62s are done for LE or military and the the over run comes to retail. Judging by scarcity in shops, the shortage of Sierra projectiles seems to have stopped production of this ammo for now. Haven't yet got everything I need to load the 65s, or anything else, for 223, but I'm gradually getting there. |
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@ 07:13 pm (GMT) |
Michael SeagerRe: 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goatsIan, thanks for that. Guessing it's the police who like the 62 gr softpoint? I wonder if that mimic's Federal's 62 gr Speer Gold Dot / Fusion load?I know what you mean about .223 Rem components. It's a question buy what you can when you can. I developed a good load for the 65gr SBT using Ramshot TAC but I'm not sure you guys get that powder. Best wishes, Mike |
@ 06:17 am (GMT) |
David LenziRe: 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goatsI would simply point re: your 77 TMK concerns - the 77 TMK was made to run from AR mag length, it would be all but impossible to run into issues running it from a bolt gun. If you can find it, Black Hills makes Mk 262 Mod 3 that is well regarded using the 77 TMK. I got some "knock-off" Mk262 from American Reloading that I use a GP round in my AR carbines and SBRs. Runs a touch lower pressure than the BH stuff, but no issues with it.There's an entire thread on Rokslide devoted to the use of the .223 and 77 TMK on big game if you want something that'll raise your eye brows (and maybe your blood pressure). Largest post hunt results/autopsy I remember seeing was a moose (of the North American variety). |
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@ 09:13 pm (GMT) |
IanRe: 65g Game King or 69gn TMK in 223 for small (max 150lbs) deer and goatsThanks David. I obtained similar advice from Sierra re OAL a few weeks ago, and you have confirmed that, thank you.As of a couple of weeks ago, I am without a 223, and plan to replace it with an 8" twist 223 of some variety. The accumulation of bits goes on. I can confirm acquisition of some 65GKs and it appears that someone overseas has some 77TMKs for me - I just have to get them. Hopefully dies are organised, and I have the other consumables, so in a couple of months, barring problems, I should be able to load some rounds. Interesting times. |
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