Lightest 270win load possible for coyote.

zackstab

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I know I should buy a smaller caliber rifle. If you are going to say that just dont bother please.

I want to know if I can hunt coyote with "minimal" pelt damage with the 270win. I have seen 85gr bullets, are there any lighter? And what is the lowest FPS I can get with 85gr bullets that will still be reliable? I imagine if I use a smaller bullet and turn down the speed I could obtain something that doesnt demolish the coyotes? Thoughts?

Thanks CGN.
 
I have some Barnes 85gr tsx and 95gr ttsx bullets left over from my 6.8 SPC, I never really thought of it before your post as I don't have a 270, you could move those fast and they would hold together.
 
Those light, fast 270 bullets will virtually turn a coyote inside out.
If you want to save their hides, you can't use anything much heavier than a 22 magnum.
 
But let's say you need a 400 yard shot. What will shoot flatter to the target 90GR pills or 110GR pills? Would 110GR retain more speed downrange making 90GR pointless?
 
I think shooting a lighter, tough bullet will give you the best success by being flat shooting and hold together.

Minimal pelt damage with a 270 won't be the same as minimal pelt damage with a varmint cartridge.
 
I have used a 270 on groundhogs a few years ago using, 100 grain Speer hp.
If it does to a coyote what it did to a groundhog the hide won't be usable.
I would thing that a heavily constructed bullet that would not expand would do better than a frangible one.
I think you either want a bullet to go right through without expanding or a bullet that totally blows up inside the animal.

David
 
There is almost nothing you can do with a .270 to make it coyote hide friendly. Just admit it. I have seen less damage to a coyote with 150 grain Paritions than with any other bullet I have shot at them. That is not a lot of samples, in truth, because I don't intentionally use mine for coyotes, but I support the idea of going for a tougher bullet and hope the exit is small rather than lighter, more frangible bullets.
 
Bigger bullet, less velocity. Barnes 140 tsx or partition. Use starting loads

They make a 160 partition. That might be ideal.

Or, ya know, get a gun that's suitable for coyotes without blowing them in half.... if you plan to sell the pelts, a cheap 223 bolt gun will get you going and pay for itself pretty quick.
 
Shot a coyote this past fall with a 270wsm at 220 paces. I was deer hunting and had 150gr federal fusions. Bullet size entry, 2" exit. As other have said a bullet that holds together will likely do less damage. Doesnt take much to knock em down. Good luck. And always a great reason to buy another rifle!
 
Have you thought of using cast boolits? You can get some very nice, light loads, and if you use a hard alloy, you won't get any expansion. Plus, cheap as heck. Even if you're not set up to cast, a lot of LGS' sell locally cast stuff, or an ad on EE? I used cast in 7.62X39 to get rid of feral cats many moons ago.
 
I know I should buy a smaller caliber rifle. If you are going to say that just dont bother please.

I want to know if I can hunt coyote with "minimal" pelt damage with the 270win. I have seen 85gr bullets, are there any lighter? And what is the lowest FPS I can get with 85gr bullets that will still be reliable? I imagine if I use a smaller bullet and turn down the speed I could obtain something that doesnt demolish the coyotes? Thoughts?

Thanks CGN.

Try the 135 grain Sierra HPBT MatchKing. They should pencil through just fine and will put them down with lung shots. If you still see pelt damage it is normally just a tear where the bullet struck a rib bone and is easily stiched up. If you find they are still too much, you can use a candle flame and anneal just the ogive area twisting the bullet slowly in one circle for around ten seconds. Then let it cool off SLOWLY (not in a cup of water). This is normally used to prevent bullet blowup on big game at closer range and should help but is a slow process.
 
I know from experience the 90gr HP blows coyotes in two at normal speeds.I've shot a lot of coyotes with regular 130gr deer bullets and pelt damage has been minimal.Harold
 
Heck I shot a red fox at 100 yards w8th a 17 rem.and it darn near cut him in half.any bullet that hits bone is going to make a mess of the hide..I stick with the 22 250 .
 
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