Favorite coyote bullet
- Thread starter brybenn
- Start date
- Location
- Saskatchewan
I use a .222, and the Hornady or Nosler 40 gr plastic tipped, Vmax and BT. Can't see a difference.
FreedomIsn'tFree
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Republic of Buffalo.
.17 Rem 25 gr. or within a 100m one of my 5mm Rem mag with 38 gr. original white box ammo, of which I still have over 300 rounds left.
I use the bullet that shoots the best out of that particular rifle... right now I am shooting the following;
Ruger M77-R SS .222 - 53 V-Max
Ruger M77-R SS .223 - 55 V-Max
Ruger M77-VT .22 PPC - Hornady 50 SP
Ruger M77-RS .22-250 - Hornady 55 SP
Ruger M77-R .220 Swift - Hornady 60 SP
Ruger M77-R SS .222 - 53 V-Max
Ruger M77-R SS .223 - 55 V-Max
Ruger M77-VT .22 PPC - Hornady 50 SP
Ruger M77-RS .22-250 - Hornady 55 SP
Ruger M77-R .220 Swift - Hornady 60 SP
How are those 60gr SP's performing? We've got those loaded in the .223, but haven't shot a coyote with them yet (although we'd have to compare your 400 yard shots to our 4 yard shots for similar velocity - lol)
Assuming pelt damage isn't a big concern, bullets don't matter nearly as much as bullet placement. I've had great results with .17 Rem 25gr factory, both 35gr and 40gr. Bergers in a .204 and everything from 45-55 gr. in a fairly long list of .22 CF's. That said, I prefer HP and PSP and am not a fan of plastic tipped bullets on anything but broadside shots. I've probably used the .22-250 with 52gr sierra BTHP's for more coyotes that any other single bullet, and have been very pleased with their lethality and still being easy on hides. I haven't shot anything heavier than 55gr. in .22 cal yet, but have ruined a few pelts with the old Speer 75gr, HP's in a .243 (huge HP and gruesome effectiveness) as well as a handful of incidentals with 7mm-08 and .308 while chasing venison.
unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
.460" 480gr flat nose hard cast at about 1650 worked for me last time.
Why only broadside with plastic tips? Lack of penetration?
id love to use my double 4570 but i hunt in a caliber restricted zone. 275 or less
85gr NBT out of a 25-06. But I'm not looking to salvage anything that's left of what used to be a coyote
Ive stayed with the 75gr vmax in my 2506. After 250 yards its almost fur friendly lol. I stopped shooting foxes with it as no matter what i cant save a hide. Early season coyote hunting i get alot of mangy coyotes so im not worried so much about pelt loss. Later in the season i switch to shotgun generally but have a new 223 to try
I think the fear is, if it hits the shoulder bone, the bullet may splatter and penetration to the vitals could be lost... At least that is what I read....
This year I have been using the 55 vmax with good success so far....
I have shot a couple dozen coyotes and a wolf with the .220 Swift using the Hornady 60 grain SP... perfect performance, minimal damage but good even expansion, about half passed through, half were under the far side hide... shots were mostly between 100 and 200 yards, but a couple were past 300 yards and a couple under 30 yards.
Yeah, I should try some of the 75gr v-max and see how it performs. The v-max bullets do seem to fragment better than the NBT's.
I use the 55gr v-max in my 223 instead of the 55gr NBT. The v-max seems to fragment better and dump more energy inside the coyote where as the NBT holds together a little more and carries out the other side blowing them open. Of course shot placement and what that bullet hits plays a role regardless of what bullet used but I have had less messy kills with the v-max.
I just like using my 25-06 so much better than the 223 though.
