Reloading for coyotes a 243cal.

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recoil 5

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Does anybody have a load (243) for coyotes that will make the minimum damage to the hide? I trap and snare coyotes in the winter and would like to try shooting a few as well.
 
I have never tried this load on yotes myself but....

36.5 grains of Varget with a 85 grain sierra HPBT gameking works wonder in both .243's I have had.

A 70 grain Nosler ballistic tip or 70 grain sierra match king both work very well with 40 grains of varget. These might very do a lot of damage to the pelts though. I have only used them on ground squirrels.

I used CCI benchrest primers in my loads.
 
75gr V-Max in a 257 makes a fair amount of damage. To be fair about it I only shot one though.
 
I have not found a combination that is fur friendly for my 6mm. I have tried 55gr NBTs, Vmaxs, 69gr and 80gr Bergers, 95gr IBs and 100gr ILs. If I'm out calling and I want to save the hides I use a smaller caliber, if I want to kill coyotes I take the 6mm.
 
Maybe try a barnes X bullet going 2700fps at the muzzle. No clue how it will act but if the velocity falls they have a tendency to not expand and MAY act as a solid and leave 2 small fixable holes
 
Lapua 90g scenar's at about 3000 fps in a .243WSSM shoot very accurately in my rifle, and have minimal expansion, making them suitable for your needs.
Most target, of FMJ bullets are suitable for salvaging hides. Lighter varmint style are not. Heavy partitions, and cup and core bullets are not too bad, unless you hit some hard bone in the shoulder.
HuntingCorns09B080.jpg

Photo is a .308 Tikka with 155 Lapua scenars.
 
Yup there is two schools of thought on this, one says a light bullet going fast and hope it explodes and doesn`t come out the other side and one says a heavy jacket bullet that will come out but not expand. I am going to try some of the Hornady 58gr. V Max this winter but will likely go back to the 204 as it kills reliably but doesn`t blow them up. My favorite Hornady 100 gr. deer bullet is not fur friendly.:)
 
dead meat said:
Yup there is two schools of thought on this, one says a light bullet going fast and hope it explodes and doesn`t come out the other side and one says a heavy jacket bullet that will come out but not expand. I am going to try some of the Hornady 58gr. V Max this winter but will likely go back to the 204 as it kills reliably but doesn`t blow them up. My favorite Hornady 100 gr. deer bullet is not fur friendly.:)
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I shot one between the ribs broadside with my 223 with 53 gr V-max there was a small hole on the opossite side when it came out between the ribs. It would be hard to hit less flesh than I did and as far as i can tell the bullet grenaded inside and a small portion exited. I hope I can do more "reserch" on the subject this winter. I think if you stick to the lighter 58 grain in a 243 you should be fine. I remember years back shooting them with my 30-06 with FMJ surpluss ammo and it often left a mess on the exit wound then again that was not a 243!

Was just out to the range today trying to work up a load for sone 50 gr Barnes Varmint grenades. can't get them to group on the hotter loads. If you believe all the hype you can also get Barnes VG for your 243. I for one am still on the fence untill I get some first hand results on the terminal performance of these bullets.

G
 
Used a hornady 87gr BTHP on my deer this year. very small hole in, no exit. Deer took 3 steps and fell. On a coyote, I'd say bang flop.
 
So far I have probally only tried 8 different bullets in the 243 for coyotes including the 58g V-max and none of them were real friendly as far as pelt damage goes. I take the 223 for that and even the 223 pending where I hit them can make a hell of a hole but nothing like the 243.
 
g-manz35 i tried Barnes V grenades in the 222 and wasn`t impressed, inconsistent results on gophers. I went back to my old stand by, Hornady 50gr.sx bullets.
 
dead meat said:
g-manz35 i tried Barnes V grenades in the 222 and wasn`t impressed, inconsistent results on gophers. I went back to my old stand by, Hornady 50gr.sx bullets.
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Best load I could find so far for the Barnes VG was 27.5 gr of BLC-2. It shot about 1 1/4" at about 3000 FPS as I increased the powder charge the groups opened up to about 3". Can't say I'm impressed either.

G
 
I would think any of the FMJ rounds in the 70 grain area would work super with a well placed shot. With vitually no expansion it should be a good choice.
 
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