Deer and Coyote bullets?

kodiakjack

kodiakjack

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Picked up a 243 Savage 100 recently, and want to start playing with some loads for it. This is my first time with a 243 so still need the dies, etc.

But in the mean time, I’d appreciate your input on preferred (modest budget) bullets for both deer and coyotes.

For deer, I was thinking 95gr SSTs. I’ve used them in 308 and 303 in the past with success, and they don’t break the bank.

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For coyotes, I thought maybe something fun like the super light 55gr varmageddon. I’ve never pushed anything over 4000fps before, but might be able to with these. I’ve used them in 223 with success. IMG_1287.jpeg

Also considering the varmint grenade and v-max.


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Any thoughts or considerations?
 
Hornady bullets like you already stated do not break the bank.
You can’t go wrong with the Hornady 58 grain Varmint V-Max bullet.
I bet it will be the most accurate, the least expensive and the most deadly. Keeping in mind at the speed it’s travelling you won’t be selling any coyote, bobcat or fox hides. This little 58 grain bullet will blow a hole the size of your fist in a coyote sized predator. Marmots, gophers, possums will almost vaporize upon contact!…:)
 
The Hornady 95 grain SST bullet is also somewhat explosive. If you do not mind a fair bit of meat damage on your deer sized animals, it’s an awesome bullet choice.
Shot placement should be through the lungs or heart, preferably broadside.
Normally a SST bullet will not penetrate the stomach on a far angled quartering away shot.
And if it does, the mess inside will be astronomical!
You may want a Hornady CX 90 grain or a Hornady 90 grain ELDX bullet.
These two choices will expand very well, but hold together better all the while accomplishing your goal of a humane harvest…:)
 
On a modest budget, you cannot beat a Hornady bullet.
Nosler makes great bullets, but an Accubond bullet for example is almost double of what Hornady bullets cost.
In my gun shop I carried about $40,000.00 in Hornady bullets and approximately $25,000.00 in Nosler bullets. Had an amazing selection to say the least.
Over two years, Hornady out sold the Nosler brand by 25 to 1.
Needless to say, we sold out the Nosler bullets to another gun shop in Red Deer. That gun shop went belly up. Go figure!
Now I’m not saying Nosler bullets are not good, they definitely are. People just won’t buy Nosler stuff anymore with gas and groceries killing most of us….:(
I believe that Nosler has priced itself out of touch for the average Joe.
 
To add to Thunderhog's post, the Ballistic Coefficient of those Hornady's to a Nosler is remarkedly close.

You can even see it on paper. No need to fool around with the scope.
 
Thunderhog said:
The Hornady 95 grain SST bullet is also somewhat explosive. If you do not mind a fair bit of meat damage on your deer sized animals, it’s an awesome bullet choice.
Shot placement should be through the lungs or heart, preferably broadside.
Normally a SST bullet will not penetrate the stomach on a far angled quartering away shot.
And if it does, the mess inside will be astronomical!
You may want a Hornady CX 90 grain or a Hornady 90 grain ELDX bullet.
These two choices will expand very well, but hold together better all the while accomplishing your goal of a humane harvest…:)
Click to expand...
mbogo3 said:
Don't care for SST's for hunting too explosive IMO.
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Appreciate the input, guys. I haven’t found the SSTs to be overly explosive, but I also haven’t played with them in anything so fast. The 30 cals I’ve used have been 300-500fps slower than these would be.

I think I’ll give the ELD-X a try. My local shop is out of stock at the moment, but I’m sure I can track some down.

As a point of comedic interest, I thought it was funny that you two spoke about how explosive the SSTs are, and yet this was the first review to pop up on the cabela’s site, lol:

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“The first 2 rounds didn’t even penetrate the hide at 60 yards!” Lol. Yeah, that happens when you miss. :)
 
  • Haha
Reactions: B
Thunderhog said:
On a modest budget, you cannot beat a Hornady bullet.
Nosler makes great bullets, but an Accubond bullet for example is almost double of what Hornady bullets cost.
In my gun shop I carried about $40,000.00 in Hornady bullets and approximately $25,000.00 in Nosler bullets. Had an amazing selection to say the least.
Over two years, Hornady out sold the Nosler brand by 25 to 1.
Needless to say, we sold out the Nosler bullets to another gun shop in Red Deer. That gun shop went belly up. Go figure!
Now I’m not saying Nosler bullets are not good, they definitely are. People just won’t buy Nosler stuff anymore with gas and groceries killing most of us….:(
I believe that Nosler has priced itself out of touch for the average Joe.
Click to expand...
Thunderhog said:
Hornady bullets like you already stated do not break the bank.
You can’t go wrong with the Hornady 58 grain Varmint V-Max bullet.
I bet it will be the most accurate, the least expensive and the most deadly. Keeping in mind at the speed it’s travelling you won’t be selling any coyote, bobcat or fox hides. This little 58 grain bullet will blow a hole the size of your fist in a coyote sized predator. Marmots, gophers, possums will almost vaporize upon contact!…:)
Click to expand...

bluelynx said:
To add to Thunderhog's post, the Ballistic Coefficient of those Hornady's to a Nosler is remarkedly close.

You can even see it on paper. No need to fool around with the scope.
Click to expand...


Well, in this instance the 58 grain v-max and the 55 varmageddon are the exact same price. ($44/100). The Barnes are closer to $60.

You mentioned the V-max making a nasty exit hole on the Coyote… From my (admittedly limited) experience with the vArmageddon bullets, I’ve found that there was no exit hole. They just kind of blow up inside. But again, that’s a different size bullet at a different speed (223, 32gr).

Given the price parity (in this case), would you still go with the v-max?
 
Oh, and I’m not a hide hunter. I do save the odd hide from all sorts of critters and tan them with the plan to do something with them someday, but haven’t found the inspiration yet. Mostly it’s about trying to help deer and turkey numbers on a few properties I have access to.
 
100 grain BTSP “interlock” Hornady’s for deer.

I’ve had numerous .243’s over the years that all shot the 87 grain V-Max Hornady’s with match like precision, they wreck hides for sure, but since coyotes are pretty much worthless these days, who cares.
 
I've shot a bunch of yotes with the Nosler 70gr Ballistic Tip from a 243. I refer to that combination as the Hammer of Thor because it kills coyotes stone dead instantly. Of all the yotes I shot with that, I think only one took more than 2 steps before expiring.

The 70gr bullet has a much better BC than the stumpy 58gr so it will be effective out to longer distances and it is easier to seat in the case neck. Stumpy flat base bullets always end up having to be seated quite short.

I still use the 70gr BT in my 6BR. It has been good out to about 700yds on steel.
 
kodiakjack said:
Appreciate the input, guys. I haven’t found the SSTs to be overly explosive, but I also haven’t played with them in anything so fast. The 30 cals I’ve used have been 300-500fps slower than these would be.

I think I’ll give the ELD-X a try. My local shop is out of stock at the moment, but I’m sure I can track some down.

As a point of comedic interest, I thought it was funny that you two spoke about how explosive the SSTs are, and yet this was the first review to pop up on the cabela’s site, lol:

View attachment 857100

“The first 2 rounds didn’t even penetrate the hide at 60 yards!” Lol. Yeah, that happens when you miss. :)
Click to expand...
I love this review of the fellow that apparently shoots deer wearing body armour, one thing I realized running a gun shop for close to four years is one cannot fix stupid!.......:) LOL
 
kodiakjack said:
Well, in this instance the 58 grain v-max and the 55 varmageddon are the exact same price. ($44/100). The Barnes are closer to $60.

You mentioned the V-max making a nasty exit hole on the Coyote… From my (admittedly limited) experience with the vArmageddon bullets, I’ve found that there was no exit hole. They just kind of blow up inside. But again, that’s a different size bullet at a different speed (223, 32gr).

Given the price parity (in this case), would you still go with the v-max?
Click to expand...
Barnes bullets are always ridiculously expensive. I am shocked that the Hornady and Nosler bullets are the same price though.

Maybe it's because they are Varmint type bullets. Either way, I would buy the Hornady V-max bullets.

But that's just my personal choice......:)
 
Lefty #### said:
100 grain BTSP “interlock” Hornady’s for deer.

I’ve had numerous .243’s over the years that all shot the 87 grain V-Max Hornady’s with match like precision, they wreck hides for sure, but since coyotes are pretty much worthless these days, who cares.
Click to expand...
As Lefty #### stated, the 100 grain Hornady BTSP is another great bullet for the 243 Winchester. It may or may not be as accurate as the polymer tipped style bullets, but it is also a great contender......:)
 
Another -1 for the Hornady SST at high velocity on deer. I tried them in 7mm Rem mag and they had a tendency to explode on impact without penetrating or otherwise fail to perform.

Hornady interlocks also have some issues at high velocity with expansion.

I settled on a Berger hunting bullet and was very pleased this year. I would suggest you look at a V max or other bullet designed for the velocities you are pushing them at.
 
I Dont Care About You said:
I've shot a bunch of yotes with the Nosler 70gr Ballistic Tip from a 243. I refer to that combination as the Hammer of Thor because it kills coyotes stone dead instantly. Of all the yotes I shot with that, I think only one took more than 2 steps before expiring.

The 70gr bullet has a much better BC than the stumpy 58gr so it will be effective out to longer distances and it is easier to seat in the case neck. Stumpy flat base bullets always end up having to be seated quite short.

I still use the 70gr BT in my 6BR. It has been good out to about 700yds on steel.
Click to expand...
Good point, those 70 grain ballistic tip bullets will carry very well with the higher ballistic coefficient.
 
I used a 165 SST from an 18.6' bbl .308 to take a 160lbs or so doe at 165m. The damage was pretty incredible despite a complete pass through. That deer couldn't have been deader any faster but we lost a fair bit of meat. Lungs were liquid, almost all the animal's blood was in the thoracic cavity... That load is from Hornady's "Superformance" line. Definitely good speeds, 2830+fps from 18.6" bbl, effect on target excessive however. Varmints aren't hard to kill but they can be hard to hit. I would be more concerned with finding a bullet that shoots well over the cheapest option.
 
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