.223 ft/lb

[grammy]

Hey everyone, I searched first, but could not find the answer. Where I am (Labrador) to hunt caribou with a centre fire 22, it needs to be 1500 ft/lb or more.

I have a tikka 223 with the normal barrel (not sure of length), is it possible to get rounds that are 1500 ft/lb? The only ones I could find are 1300...

Thanks.

 

[saskcop]

1500 is a bit much for a .223. You could do it with a .22-250 and heavy bullets, but even with hot loaded 75 grainers, you can't get there.

 

[whitetailwoodsarcher]

1500 is a little to high for a 223, but a 5.56 is around 1700 ft/lbs. but your gun wont shoot them.

 

[prosper]

no. A longer barrel with a custom chamber and benchrest-level handload pressures would get you there, but a 22" tikka with a factory chamber/throat and factory ammo won't do it.

 

[iceman2]

I take it this is muzzle energy.

 

[saskcop]

Correct me if I am wrong, but 5.56 doesn't get near 1700 ft/lbs either.

 

[grammy]

Oh well, I guess I have to use the 30-06...

Thanks guys.

 

[saskcop]

I think the .30-06 is the answer to many of life's questions ...

 

[curseyou]

I think the .30-06 is the answer to many of life's questions ...

...and many of the worlds problems.

 

[saskcop]

...and many of the worlds problems.

Ten four to that.

 

[Why not?]

A 22 Savage Hi-Power would do it.

It is reported that WDM Karamojo Bell used a .22 Savage Hi-Power to kill Cape buffalo in West Africa in the mid 1920s, However I am sure that was not the best enterprise he embarked upon.

It is available in over and under 5.62X52R/12 combination guns from Trade Ex for much less than a new Tikka.

Ted

 

[HeadDamage]

Typical 223 loads are around 1200 ft-lbs.

 

[ALBERTA BOY]

That 30’06 is far more ethical anyway. I can’t contemplate a situation where I would reach for an intermediate cartridge over a high power cartridge for big game…

 

[saskcop]

...and many of the worlds problems.

Truer words may have not ever been spoken ....

 

[saskcop]

A 77 grain bullet out of a 5.56 at 2900 fps (that is optimistic in any 5.56) yields only 1440 ft/lbs or so. So, a .223 will never get into that energy range and thus I just can't see a .223 being viable as an option. I have seen a 5.56 with 77 grain BTHP's kill decent whitetails like lightning, but if it ain't legal where you are at ..... If I were you, this would be my excuse to buy a new gun like a .243, etc. Otherwise, there ain't nothing a properly loaded .30-06 won't do.

 

[coleman1495]

1500ft/lbs is realistically unobtainable for a 223. Would have to be very precise shot placement anyways.

 

[kodiakjack]

1500 is a little to high for a 223, but a 5.56 is around 1700 ft/lbs. but your gun wont shoot them.

Lol! Not sure which statement is funnier!

 

[LolaPP]

With a 24" barrel I'd get 3050 fps with 75 gr AMax. A case crunchy full of Varget and a 450 primer. That comes out to 1550 lbs ft. It's absolutely doable, but it takes a long throat and rounds like 1/4 over normal OAL. No way any factory round is getting there.