Ill add the disclaimer that everything below is in reference to the 77gr TMK terminal ballistics, but not exclusively with short barrels. I also can’t claim to know even half as much as some of you on this subject, so realize I am just passing along information, I have not exhaustively fact checked it.
https://www.rokslide.com/forums/thre....130488/page-2
The link above is a thread on .223 vs bear, deer, and elk over on Rokslide. Quite a few pics of 77gr TMK against deer at varying ranges. Its kind of long but the whole thread is worth a read. Or just skim and read anything "Formidilosus" posts. He has 77gr TMK wound pictures on pg 2 and pg 10. He refers mainly to four legged critters, but I'm pretty sure he works with dudes who put down bipeds as well.
To cherry pick a couple of his posts in that thread:
"...between hunting and depredation I have killed and seen killed hundreds of deer.... and a few more than that. Around 40 deer with Barnes it was clear that they create less damage, and the animals run farther after being shot. I’m only personally at around 100 deer with 77gr TMK’s and the farthest animal has traveled less than 30 feet sliding downhill.
This is why I constantly go against the grain with “shoot a Barnes!”
Barnes TSX’s and other monos create relatively narrow wound channels and consequently kill slower. The wound from a 62gr TSX really isn’t a whole lot different than from a mechanical broadhead. 77gr TMK’s, 75gr SPGD, 75gr AMAX/ELD-M, etc. create horrific wounds, and kill very quickly.”
“To be clear Barnes TSX/TTSX’s are good bullets. But unless you hit the CNS animals run farther than with others. The TMK does more damage on average than the .308 168gr Ballistic Tips, while giving 18-22” of penetration."
“In any case, the 77gr TMK-
Is generally stable through transonic when fired from suitable twist rates. Consistent and wide upset should be expected to +-/ 1,900fps impact velocity. Minimum (read minimal) upset down to 1,600’ish FPS.
Wound channels in big game (deer and bigger) are... extreme to around 2,300fps impact. From 2,200 or so down to approx 2,000fps impact wounds will be similar to conventional bullet from 270/30-06/etc class rounds. Below 2,000fps wounds will be similar to solid copper monolithic bullets such as Barnes TSX.
In laymen’s terms, from 20-24” barreled 223’s with MV’s of 2750+ FPS, the 77gr TMK is an emphatic killer inside of 300 or so yards. Most would consider it too much on even big deer. From 300+/- yards to 450 yards or so, it is a solid performer terminally generally giving exits on normal sized deer, and is 50/50 on being caught under the skin on the offside on big deer or major bones being hit. Past 450 to around 550-600 yards, it will kill, but effects on animals is similar to a good broadhead, I.E.- 10-20 seconds before succumbing.”
Another member: “Any idea on how the bullet performs out of a 12.5” barrel on game?”
Formidilosus: “Very well. A little less temporary stretch cavity than at higher velocities, but still very good.”
Another member: “When you say less TSC damage, is the actual wound channel smaller? I was under the impression that TSC was essentially the same as the permanent cavity in violently fragmenting bullets like the TMK.
Formidilosus: “The temporary stretch cavity and permanent crush cavity will be more similar with fragmenting bullets than with non fragmenting such as monolithics, however the permanent cavity will be smaller than temporary in all. In this specific case however, the wound from a bullet with 200-300fps less MV will produce smaller wounds at the same range as bullets launched faster.”
There’s more where that came from, but its probably better to take it all in the proper context.
Reply With Quote
Originally Posted by markm
Bookmarks