.243 bullet recommendation for coyote hunting

fugawi

fugawi

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Hi. I normally shoot 100 - 110 gr. Nosler partitions out of my Savage 99 for deer hunting. I've been invited to try coyote hunting. But I don't want to waste partitions on them.

What weight and bullet types would other hunters recommend for coyotes? Thanks.
 
I would shoot whatever my .243 was sighted for, and which I had on hand. Why is a Partition "wasted" on a coyote? If you are worried about cost, do the math. How much would it cost to buy a different bullet, shoot test loads (and perhaps find that bullet doesn't shoot well with that powder so do it again) and then sight the rifle?

Take your gun and loads and go on the invited hunt. IF you get into coyote hunting in a big way later on, develop a load specifically for coyotes if you wish, but I would just go hunting for now.
 
We use the H58VM's over 44 grains of Varget when specifically hunting for coyotes otherwise we just shoot the same loads we use on deer 80/85 GMX/TTSX...
 
rral22 said:
I would shoot whatever my .243 was sighted for, and which I had on hand. Why is a Partition "wasted" on a coyote? If you are worried about cost, do the math. How much would it cost to buy a different bullet, shoot test loads (and perhaps find that bullet doesn't shoot well with that powder so do it again) and then sight the rifle?

Take your gun and loads and go on the invited hunt. IF you get into coyote hunting in a big way later on, develop a load specifically for coyotes if you wish, but I would just go hunting for now.
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^ - This is some sound advice.

If you do in fact reload & your Savage has it's typical 1:9.25 twist, bullets in the 70-90gr range seem to work best in terms of groupings & accuracy. FWIW, I'm using 70gr NBTs' and 87gr VMX over IMR 4064.
 
You could simply shoot the partitions or maybe record your scope setting for return reference and shoot Nosler BTs or go with a 75 gr Hornady VMax.

The partitions definitely won't blow up like a varmint round, if you have concern about pelts being graded slightly-damaged to damaged.

If you reload, 95 NBTs over Varget and 75 gr VMax over Varget work well.
 
skypilot said:
You could simply shoot the partitions or maybe record your scope setting for return reference and shoot Nosler BTs or go with a 75 gr Hornady VMax.

The partitions definitely won't blow up like a varmint round, if you have concern about pelts being graded slightly-damaged to damaged.

If you reload, 95 NBTs over Varget and 75 gr VMax over Varget work well.
Click to expand...

This is axactly yhe two bullets I use and they both work very well, 75 s group around 1/2'with decent consistence in mine
 
rral22 said:
I would shoot whatever my .243 was sighted for, and which I had on hand. Why is a Partition "wasted" on a coyote? If you are worried about cost, do the math. How much would it cost to buy a different bullet, shoot test loads (and perhaps find that bullet doesn't shoot well with that powder so do it again) and then sight the rifle?
Click to expand...

^^^this

The aggravation of switching bullets for possibly only a few loads is not worth the bother.
 
Switching loads is not that bad. I can switch my big game loads to coyote in seconds. 100 gn federal blue box for big game, 58gn Moly VMax hand loads for 'yotes. Sight both in, use a collimator, record the crosshairs on graph paper, reset anytime you want, single shot to verify.
People complicate things...
 
vinny61 said:
Nosler 55 gr ballistic tips over h4895powder...no need to lead them when they are running...entrance and no exit
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The Ballistic Tips are good out of a .243, but the advice on leading a running shot is pure nonsense. We have two .243 rifles that will shoot the 55 grain BT well enough to use on coyotes out to about 350 yards. One rifle was hard to get a good load for, and the other shot them well from the start. We like Varget with the light bullets.

You always have to lead a running target. A bullet takes some time to get there, no matter how fast you think your load is.
 
I use Nosler ballistic tip varmits over 42gr. varget. I have tried Horandy 65gr. Vmax's, but the Noslers print better out of my barrel. Either one will make coyotes very dead, and will blow the whole side off a crow.
 
If you reload, I have had really good luck with 70gr. NBT @ 3100-3200fps (seven coyotes with this load). Very little pelt damage, just stay off the shoulder. Shots to the front chest (facing me),hard to find a bullet hole. Hits in the lung area, off the shoulder will be bullet hole entrance and maybe loonie size exit. The lighter weight bullets don't shoot as well for me.
 
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