Fur friendly 223 bullet?

I don't agree with any of these suggestions as being fur friendly. An expanding bullet, impacting at full .223 velocity, regardless if designed for varmints or game will exit and leave a large exit wound on fox sized animals; the white fox (smaller than their colored counterparts) I shot with a 50 gr TNT looked like someone had thrown a baseball through it, harsh wouldn't begin to describe it. Match bullets provide a high degree of accuracy, but their terminal performance tends to be inconsistent, where one might expand explosively, the next might pencil through, although I've had some success with 52 gr Sierras MKs. The answer IMHO is a FMJ bullet, which has several draw backs, first is they tend not to be quick killers, secondly, they don't usually match the accuracy of either a game or varmint bullet, and thirdly, if they are only marginally stable, and tumble on impact, they'll make as big a mess as an expanding bullet. The one I'd choose is the Lapua .224/55 gr FMJ, product code S538, which has a good reputation for accuracy in the .223, and I'd load it with a full charge of 4895 which has proven an excellent powder in both the .222 magnum and the .223. If I was wolf hunting, I'd load 45 gr TSXs.
 
Boomer said:
I don't agree with any of these suggestions as being fur friendly. An expanding bullet, impacting at full .223 velocity, regardless if designed for varmints or game will exit and leave a large exit wound on fox sized animals; the white fox (smaller than their colored counterparts) I shot with a 50 gr TNT looked like someone had thrown a baseball through it, harsh wouldn't begin to describe it. Match bullets provide a high degree of accuracy, but their terminal performance tends to be inconsistent, where one might expand explosively, the next might pencil through, although I've had some success with 52 gr Sierras MKs. The answer IMHO is a FMJ bullet, which has several draw backs, first is they tend not to be quick killers, secondly, they don't usually match the accuracy of either a game or varmint bullet, and thirdly, if they are only marginally stable, and tumble on impact, they'll make as big a mess as an expanding bullet. The one I'd choose is the Lapua .224/55 gr FMJ, product code S538, which has a good reputation for accuracy in the .223, and I'd load it with a full charge of 4895 which has proven an excellent powder in both the .222 magnum and the .223. If I was wolf hunting, I'd load 45 gr TSXs.
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Something to keep in mind is, the leather on a fox is 3-4 times thinner then a coyote. The perfect fox gun is a 22, 12 gauge, 22 magnum or 17 hmr. I have shot a few with a 17 hornet and 17 rem but they require some very special loads. A coyote on the other hand, has a lot thicker and stronger hide. Shooting fox with anything bigger then a rimfire will have significantly more damage then a coyote. But with almost anything shot, you need to stitch.
 
titch-- said:
I found the lighter bullets only worked good if you didnt hit bone. Once you did, you got holes to sew.

Im trying 65gr GK's this year in my 223.
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This. I've talked to numerous guys in our area switching to a soft point. I'd rather controlled expansion through than a fist sized hole because a 50gr vmax hit a rib bone. I've seen splashes with blitzkings under 200 yds in a .223 also. Varmint bullets we're designed for: you guessed it, varmints. Coyotes are predators. Gophers are varmints.
 
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Just took a yote from 10 yards away. .223 Horniday Superformance 53 grain V Max. Shot to the lungs with massive trama, dropped on the spot. No Exit wound. I usually use the 40 grain Varmit Express V Max but the 53 doesn't get blown around in the wind as much, and has almost the same velocity as the lighter load.
 
lol...3 pages of discussion and everyone has a different answer.....confusing isn't it.

Id also take in to consideration how far you plan on shooting, out west especially in Southern Sask you could shoot out to infinity...eastern guys are usually in tighter quarters. If plan on shooting far velocity helps but can can cause a mess (close shot) if you don't get proper shot placement and hit bone.

Its like the debate on which cal is best...its endless and everyone has their favorite.

Cheers!!
 
Well it certainly has been an interesting debate. I think I will try 40 or 50 Vmax, or 55 SPSX or 40 Berger HP as I have all those on hand. Now I just need to get off my butt and actually "get to callin". Thanks for all the input. I have enjoyed it all.
 
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