Frequently Banned Troll
Well-known member
That guy’s (Tyler Freel) had a bear video on shot placement that I watched maybe a year ago. It was something I wish I’d seen maybe 30 years ago..
Small Bullets (.224) and BIG game
- Thread starter Frequently Banned Troll
- Start date
I have killed a few deer with a 22 long rifle, a few with a 223, and a few caribou with a 22-250. All with 55 grain Hornady soft points. I know people who have killed elk with 22-250, 220 Swift, and 22 magnum. All of these 20 to 50 years ago. I don't see little bullets being any better than bigger bullets.
If I had to hunt elk with a .223, I would not feel disadvantaged, but since I don't have to, I will be packing a bigger caliber.
Do whatever puts a smile on your face.
If I had to hunt elk with a .223, I would not feel disadvantaged, but since I don't have to, I will be packing a bigger caliber.
Do whatever puts a smile on your face.
It’s Bucky
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 15, 2025
- Messages
- 187
I like to experiment with different gear, cartridges, bullets, broadheads, etc., and have always had a curious personality. I also really enjoy eating wild game.
Prior to the RS thread, I tested the 55VMax out of a 223 and wasn’t real impressed, but sample size of 2 deer. I then went to 90Fusion, and it worked pretty well out of a 224 Valk, sample size of 4 deer. I went back to magnums with coppers and then to bonded’s for a while.
As I read more on different forums in recent years and better understood bullet construction and terminal ballistics, I decided to give small calibers another shot, and the 75ELD-M worked well out of a 22ARC, sample size 3 deer. My daughters will likely take their first deer with this rifle and a 75 or 88. I plan to try the 88 this next fall if the 22ARC likes them.
Personally, I like a magnum and a 180M or 180AB for trophy insurance, but probably mostly for nostalgia and from confirmation bias of years of use. That preference may continue to change. However, I can think of a few times it may have saved my butt where a solid copper or a smaller bullet may have resulted in them going farther and making it harder to recover. No way to confirm, other than anecdotally seeing a few critters go farther with solid coppers or smaller calibers, and similar shot placement.
My local range goes to 904yards and is almost always very windy, and the hit percentages for me are noticeably better/easier with the 7PRC at longer range. Spotting shots at longer range isn’t a huge issue with the suppressed 7PRC, especially when kept on 9 to 12 power, but can be with closer shots. It’s a blast to shoot other than the price per round. I would shoot my wife’s 6.5CM more out there, but the optic isn’t set up for shots over 600 (CDS dial), but I plan to change that soon for practice.
I shoot the 223 the most out there though because it is so cheap and fun, but I’m just flinging 55VMax’s out of a 12 twist and often at ranges where it’s subsonic. The 16” 22ARC is noticeably better, but simply due to the ability to shoot heavier higher BC bullets compared to my 12 twist. I bet the 22Creed is a lot of fun to shoot.
The 7PRC definitely bangs the steel with a much more satisfying sound than the 75 or 55 grainers. I’m also going to try it at a mile for fun when I’m more mobile in the next couple of months.
I don’t know why I wrote all this, turned into a book, but just adding to the conversation. Nice to see some talk about something shooting/hunting related.
Prior to the RS thread, I tested the 55VMax out of a 223 and wasn’t real impressed, but sample size of 2 deer. I then went to 90Fusion, and it worked pretty well out of a 224 Valk, sample size of 4 deer. I went back to magnums with coppers and then to bonded’s for a while.
As I read more on different forums in recent years and better understood bullet construction and terminal ballistics, I decided to give small calibers another shot, and the 75ELD-M worked well out of a 22ARC, sample size 3 deer. My daughters will likely take their first deer with this rifle and a 75 or 88. I plan to try the 88 this next fall if the 22ARC likes them.
Personally, I like a magnum and a 180M or 180AB for trophy insurance, but probably mostly for nostalgia and from confirmation bias of years of use. That preference may continue to change. However, I can think of a few times it may have saved my butt where a solid copper or a smaller bullet may have resulted in them going farther and making it harder to recover. No way to confirm, other than anecdotally seeing a few critters go farther with solid coppers or smaller calibers, and similar shot placement.
My local range goes to 904yards and is almost always very windy, and the hit percentages for me are noticeably better/easier with the 7PRC at longer range. Spotting shots at longer range isn’t a huge issue with the suppressed 7PRC, especially when kept on 9 to 12 power, but can be with closer shots. It’s a blast to shoot other than the price per round. I would shoot my wife’s 6.5CM more out there, but the optic isn’t set up for shots over 600 (CDS dial), but I plan to change that soon for practice.
I shoot the 223 the most out there though because it is so cheap and fun, but I’m just flinging 55VMax’s out of a 12 twist and often at ranges where it’s subsonic. The 16” 22ARC is noticeably better, but simply due to the ability to shoot heavier higher BC bullets compared to my 12 twist. I bet the 22Creed is a lot of fun to shoot.
The 7PRC definitely bangs the steel with a much more satisfying sound than the 75 or 55 grainers. I’m also going to try it at a mile for fun when I’m more mobile in the next couple of months.
I don’t know why I wrote all this, turned into a book, but just adding to the conversation. Nice to see some talk about something shooting/hunting related.
Hams42
Active member
Shoot I shot a cow at 400 through both lungs with a 168 VLD hunter out of my 7 mag and watched her run over 3/4 of a mile before tipping over. I decided bergers weren't for me and switched to coppers. Proof right there that caliber isnt the end all be all.
Hams42
Active member
I have yet to get a bear in the cross hairs but I know when I do im going to have to chant "aim further back" the whole time.
Redmt
Well-known member
I've taken countless pigs and deer with a .223 . My hunting is mainly on our place or neighboring ranches. I also stepped up to 25-06 and the dreaded 6.5 CM . My 6.5 is my grab and go preferred caliber. If I was to have the opportunity to hunt elk, I would consider the 6.5 but would probably center up on a .308. if I could develop a load as accurate as the 6.5 . I also have a .300 Wetherby mag but don't care to turn meat to jelly.
Gerald Martin
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- Joined
- Jul 3, 2009
- Messages
- 9,506
Hold my beer… Little Ralphie enters the chat.
Potsie
Well-known member
Tikka compact .223 “for the kids” with a can is about as much fun as possible with your clothes still on.
Great thread for what Ive been thinking. My kid is still too young for big game, but just got a shotgun for small game n birds. When I get him a rifle in a few years, I was debating on doing a .223 bolt action because its legal in CA to hunt with. As far as can it kill? I equate it to bow hunting - shot placement is the key and theres less room for error.
Questions - are there any kids .223 bolt rifles anyone has used? Any good all copper rounds? The .77gr TMK everyone talks about are not all copper.
Questions - are there any kids .223 bolt rifles anyone has used? Any good all copper rounds? The .77gr TMK everyone talks about are not all copper.
Redmt
Well-known member
The Ruger Ranch is a pretty nice little .223 bolt rifle. If you don't reload, any of the Barnes or Remington Barnes bullet factory loads are very accurate with the rifle.
Rack Daniels
Well-known member
Sounds like uhh.. middle of the night over on farmer Johnson’s place…
Elkmagnet
Well-known member
Same deal different approache. The kid and I may shoot hundreds of suppressed 6 creed rounds in a session.
Minimum load of h4895 behind a 75 vmax has to be dam close.
BAKPAKR
Well-known member
Like @Potsie suggested, get a T3X Compact, or you can get any Tikka 223 you want and put it in a T3X Compact takeoff stock. I chose the latter option for my daughter so she could have a stainless rifle (I am kind of bad about cleaning).
As far as copper bullets, I have really liked what Barnes 62 gr TTSXs have done. However, none of the deer we have shot with them have been much past 100 yards so I can’t tell you what they do when velocity gets really low. But, we have been using them with a 14.5” barrel so they are starting out kind of slow.
Caseknife
Well-known member
I've killed a boar and whitetail buck with a 62TTSX, worked fine. What I don't like about the frangible bullets that are all the rage is the meat destruction and metal fragments all through the meat whether lead or copper. I don't have the ability to shoot numerous animals in a season and cherish my wild game in the freezer. All my big game hunting for the last 30+ years has been with monos. Better have your shooting skills up to snuff when shooting monos in 22 caliber, not a lot of room for error. Hammers give a little more leeway with their terminal performance.
Love my Bob!I didn’t think there would be a day when my .257 Roberts would be considered a Heavy…yet here we are!
