Whats a good coyote bullet?

Hellpit

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So, the old man is wanting a bullet for his 243 that doesn't leave a hole the size of his fist on the other side. He says that he can't get as much $ for the pelts with gaping holes.

Currently, I've got him setup with Nosler 95 grn B-Tips, these shoot great, and kill great too (too good).

Anyone have a bullet suggestion that wont violently expand so much? Yet carry well?
 
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you'd be hard pressed to find a 243 bullet that consistently wont tear them up. Its alot of power to be hitting a 30 lb dog with. I found 70 gr Nosler BT to be destructive unless it was a frontal shot. The few dogs I hit with the 55 gr Nosler BT gave mixed results.

If you're hunting for fur I would look at a 17 Remington, 204, 222, or 223
 
Coyotes are a pretty tough critter-your main goal is to kill them quickly. I have a .243, 6mm,.222 and a .17. There really isn't much difference in pelt damage between a .222 and a .243. The .17 is probably the best at cutting down on sewing but it isn't the best a bucking wind. If your in a calling setup where the shots won't be too long it is a great little gun. There's been alot of yotes called in and shot with a .22 long rifle if you get them in close. My son is buying a .204 so we'll see how it works but there are always going to be some compromises.
 
As with most things in life, there is more than one way to skin a cat. The Nosler 55 gr BT's is an option. They shouldn't exit on a shot made on the length, but broadside they will. Barnes makes a 75 gr banded FMJ that should be a good fur bullet provided it doesn't swap ends and exit broadside. Another option is a low velocity load with a heavy cast or round nosed jacketed bullet say like 20 grs of 4198 behind a 100 gr Hornady RN for about 1800 fps. This should be a good arrangement if the range is not excessive.
 
I TOOK THIS FROM ANOTHER SITE -

I found a pretty reliable load/bullet combination fror my previous 243 a couple of years ago.

After shooting several yotes with the 85gr Sierra Game King Hollow Point I couldnt deny the surprising results. I was blowing big holes in my coyotes and this despite knowing that there are people who have good success with this bullet on deer. I didnt take long for me to try the 80 gr Nosler Btip on paper and I had a very tight grouping load at just over 3200 fps using Varget powder and Norma brass.

I then proceeded to shoot about 15 coyotes with this load and almost all that did not hit spine left only a finger tip exit hole, no big gaping wound.

I sold that rifle and replaced it with a Tikka T3. Not surprising this rifle liked this bullet too. I'm now charging it with 40 gr of H4895 in the Norma brass with Win primers and getting a tad more velocity but still under 3300 fps. My previous 243, a Savage liked it charged with 40.5 gr of Varget with fed 210 M primers.

There are lots of lighter 6mm bullets that shoot flatter but if you want to try something that leaves a easily repaired exit wound (couple of stitches) give this bullet a try. This bullet is still very flat shooting with plenty of down range energy.
 
Hornady 87gr BTHP, Sierra 85gr BTHP, never had a hole bigger than a golf ball and most are smaller in and out with the red paint telling where the hole is?
 
I'd never recommend shooting coyote with a rimfire rifle, including 22 magnums.

I've learned by shooting them with both, and was let down by the bullets not expanding, and not dropping the yotes.

The rimfire bullets( 22 mags a bit better) leave a pinhole through their body and tracking will be a chore. Better to shoot them with something more potent.

I'd recommend the Hornady 70 grain spire point. 41.5 grains of IMR 4064@ 3400 fps for the 243 Win.:cool:
 
Commercial FMJ's are made for hide hunting. They're not the same as a milsurp FMJ.
A Speer 90 grain bullet makes a puncture hole. Hornady makes an 87 grain FMJ. Sierra makes a 90 grain BTFMJ Gameking. The other option would be a match grade bullet. Varmints are the only game they should be used for. Not cheap either.
Pick one and work up a load.
 
Fmj

So, the old man is wanting a bullet for his 243 that doesn't leave a hole the size of his fist on the other side. He says that he can't get as much $ for the pelts with gaping holes.

Currently, I've got him setup with Nosler 95 grn B-Tips, these shoot great, and kill great too (too good).

Anyone have a bullet suggestion that wont violently expand so much? Yet carry well?

H P

I live in Edmonton and I have a box of the Speer 90 gr FMJ bullets as well as some of the Sierra Match kings in 70gr. I'm sure either of these will be better suited to less pelt damage than any of the traditional hunting bullets.
can sell them to you if need be. FS
 
I shot this one today at around 3:10,ruger 204 at just over 125yds.The rifle was the H&R handi i have for sale on the EE.............maybe i should keep it!
DSCF2566.jpg


The bullet was a 32gr Vmax.
 
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Hellpit

Let us know how the 6mm VG's work on the yotes, I have had mixed results with them in my .223. In the .243 I am shooting 87grn V-Max's at about 3200fps. I will post a pic of the exit later it was small and dropped the yote in its tracks @ 175yards.
Regards
 
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My hunting partner shoots 70 gr Speer TNT's in his and has had ZERO exit holes on coyotes. I'm in the process of working up a load for the same bullet in mine as well.
 
Coyote Bullet

Here's a pic of the yote I shot yesterday with the 87grn V-max @ 175yards bullet entered and exited behind the front shoulder. The coyote was a female and weighed 53lbs the hole is not visible but is less than 1/2"dia and only left the pelt a little bloody.

sight005.jpg


sight006.jpg
 
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