Best coyote bullet?

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litlejohn657

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What is everyone's opinion on what is the best bullet that is fur friendly for shooting coyotes (grain and make of bullet please)? I've read that some Sierra bullets have to thin of a jacketting for killing coyotes very effectively. And I've also seen stories that say polymer tips are known to have problems if you hit bones with wrecking the hides when using this calibre. I've read good reports on the hollowpoints by Berger. Most reports with the .204 are very favourable with what they can do though.

My dad recently bought what I'm told is a limited edition .204 rifle made by Savage (apparently only 50 were made). He wants to use predominantly for shooting coyotes (the other day we saw at least 5 within 1/2 mile from his farm not to far from the road). Right now he is using Hornady's 32 gr V-Max, but a friend warned him that there is a chance they could damage the hides (I've seen pictures of it when it hits bone, but he is also worried about what kind of exit holes there might be). So he he is looking around to see what there is out there for bullets. So I figured I'd come on here and see what the opinions of user's are, and the experiences (good and bad) they've had with the different rounds.

So far I've found the following types of ammunition for this calibre:
40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip
32 grain Hornady V-MAX
40 grain Hornady V-MAX
45 grain Hornady Soft Point
32 grain Sierra BlitzKing
39 grain Sierra BlitzKing
34 grain Winchester Super-X® Hollow Point
32 grain Remington AccuTip-V
40 grain Remington AccuTip-V Boat Tail
30 grain Berger Match Varmint
35 grain Berger Match Varmint
40 grain Berger Match Varmint
50 grain Berger Match Varmint
33 grain Calhoon Double Hollow Point
Please let me know if you know of any others as well please.

Also he is looking into possibly reloading as well. So what are your opinions on the best loads to use when reloading this round?

Also feel free to tell your stories of using this calibre on other animals besides coyotes if you want as well.
 
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all I can pass on is what Ive read, and that the 35 gr Berger is the bullet to use for coyotes in a 204. the 45 gr hornady SP load would probably be a good choice as well

boonerbuck has killed a handful of yotes this month with his 204 with the 35 gr berger, seems to work good for him so far
 
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Im a big advocate of the VMax bullet for coyotes. With the velocity of the .204 and the thin jacket of the VMax you should have one of the best fur friendly rounds going.
Ive shot many coyotes with the 55gr. Vmax out of a 22-250 and hitting them square in the chest leaves a tiny pin hole. Ive tried the Nosler BT varmint bullets and really did not have the accuracy that V-Max's gave.
Id also give the Sierra hollow points a try if they come in a .204 as they performed very well out of my 22-250 and .243 on coyotes.

If you can find the Oct./Nov. 2006 of Predator and Prey Magazine it has an oustanding article on the .204 vs the .223 with tests done on ballistic tubes of gelatin. The .204 really is a great round and can be argued better then the trusty .223.
 
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Levi Garrett said:
Killing power , best darn bullet available, weight retention is awesome:D
Click to expand...


I would'nt consider weight retention important if you plan on harvesting a coyote for fur. I have personally found fragile bullets that enter and literally explode within the animal is best. One hole is easier to sew then 2 ;)

I do understand that alot of guys hunt coyotes for other reasons then fur collection and weight retention may be imporatnt to make sure when they're hit they stay there.

Cheers!!
 
I have just been shooting them with the .308 and 150 grain federal bullets. Maby quarter sized exit wounds if that. For some reason my .308 handloads(using hornady softpoints), and federal GMM 165's Blow a huge hole in them, even at 300 and 400 yards.
 
so, something that blows up on a rib and tears a huge hole is good, cuz it "hit the vitals"? :rolleyes: there is more to choosing a hunting bullet than just accuracy
 
shooting for pleasure or money

I harvest around 100 coyotes per year most by the wire, but when the urge arrises we do it the old fashion way. If I am shooting a mange animal I use the Nosler ballistic tip do not know the weight off hand, when it comes to revenue hunting I use the Remington generic 52gr FMJ over 13grains of LIL gun with a small mag rifle primer out of a 218KBee I like little holes and hate sewing, moving up to wolves I use the 6.5X55 with an 85gr sierra HP that has a dap of epoxy in the nose to make it a FMJ good luck
 
I've been using nosler ballistic tips 115rgn I think and my 25-06, its a little more fur friendly then shooting them with my 7mmRM and 175grn pills :)

neither is really that fur friendly.

the 87grn Noslers for the 25-06 worked good too
 
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