OT Best .22 cal Coyote bullet?

[TedH]

Since my deer hunting is over for this season, I'm gearing up for coyote hunting. With some interest in preserving the pelts, I want to do as little damage to them as possible while still giving the dogs as quick and painless end as I can.

I've been doing some reading on the net and a popular choice seems to be the 40 gr. V-Max or Ballistic Tip with the various 22 centerfires, 223, 22-250, etc. One gentleman's website even had several photos of skinned coyotes that he had shot with a 40 gr. 223. He claims they make just a tiny entrance hole and no exit. That would be the ideal situation obviously, but I'm just concerned about having enough penetration on a less than perfect presentation.

I've seen a coyote hit in the boiler with a 7 Mag that still managed to run quite some distance, so these teeny lightweight bullets have me wondering.

What say you?

[Rimfire McNutjob]

How about an FMJ? You'll probably get 2 small holes but you'll definitely get through the vitals. I would think an FMJ with a somewhat blunt point would be ideal if you're not shooting out too far ... more than a couple of hundred yards anyway.

[shawn_c992001]

40gr Ballistic Tip, hands down!!! In a .223 or .22-250 they are hard to guard! They also put dogs down in their tracks, with a FMJ bullet you sometimes can have a dog run off and they don't leave much of a blood trail either.

[TedH]

How do you think the 40 gr. will shoot out of a 1-9" twist .223? Are they so frangible to come apart in flight from the rpm? I've had that happen with some older Hornady 50 gr. SX bullets. They just made a light gray splatter on the target at 25 yards!

[Wes]

I used to use Hornady SX bullets. They usually wouldn't penetrate clear through. I tried FMJ's one time. Even with a 22-250 coyotes would sometimes shrug them off and go a long way before you'd find them if you ever did.
The 40 Vmax will work fine in your 223. I've run them all the way up to 3900 fps and not seen them come apart. In fact they are what I did use in the 223 at close to 3600 fps, they were good coyote medicine within it's range.
My favorite load was RL15 and the 50 grain Vmax. Sometimes more violent on the coyote but it was easier to hit with when you got past 250 yards with some wind.

[Hobie]

40 gr. VMAX from a .218 Bee will go through a groundhog. Never shot a coyote with them. 35 gr VMAX from a .22 Hornet will also go through a groundhog at 25-30 yards. Don't know how much of the bullet went through though (as I sit here seeing the damage in my head).

[shawn_c992001]

Hmmm, I've shot them out of a 1 in 7" and had them hit the target at 80 yards, so I think you should be ok. (If they shoot well out of your gun.)

[JReed]

I prefer the 50-55gr pills. The blizt kings do a number on coyotes out to 400 yards in .223 and they shoot well in my 1/9 twist Stevens.

[AJMD429]

(as I sit here seeing the damage in my head).

I was wondering when you'd "go public" about it, Hobie; I'm really proud of you for admitting it to the world like this. I respect you even more now...

[JReed]

(as I sit here seeing the damage in my head).

I was wondering when you'd "go public" about it, Hobie; I'm really proud of you for admitting it to the world like this. I respect you even more now...

[BigSky56]

Ted, I use a 40 grn fmj in 22 mag it whops them pretty good and no pelt damage. danny

[NonPCnraRN]

Nosler has a new 223 bullet that is a copper jacket filled with granulated copper as a core. Sort of like a lead free Glaser. It might be what you want, just one small hole in, no hole out.

[txpete]

down here we just hang them on the fence .I would say the 55 fmj does the least damage to the pelts.if you want to drop them quick the 64 gr win sp bullet is a good one.(1/9 twist).I just bought a bunch of the nosler BT 50 gr but haven't shot a coyote with one yet so no help there.they group really good in my hb sav.
pete

[19112TAP]

Most of the coyote's Ive shoot are DRT with the 50gr Blitz king out of a .223 and a couple with Hornady 55gr SP from a 22-250 but that being said I haven't taken a shoot over 150 yr in years most being in the 50 to 100 range.

[Hobie]

(as I sit here seeing the damage in my head).

I was wondering when you'd "go public" about it, Hobie; I'm really proud of you for admitting it to the world like this. I respect you even more now...

I am for full disclosure....

[SJPrice]

I have taken a few with the new Barnes Varmint Grenades launched by a 14 inch Contender in 221 Fireball. 22 cal entrance and never an exit, but all three dropped DRT

[Nath]

Hollow point target/match bullet.

Nath.

[Don McDowell]

I use quite a few of the winchester bulk 46 gr hp's , never had one exit a coyote yet.
About any 45 gr hp bullet should work ok, if that fast twist in your barrel will group them.

[HEAD0001]

1in9 twist is pretty fast for the 40 grain V-Max bullet. You would probably do better with eithe a 1in12 or go to the 50 grain V-Max bullet. the 40's may stabilze, but the 50 would be better. I like a 1in12 for 40 grain pills,

IF you shoot FMJ's then I hope you do not have any neighbors?? Tom.

[L_Kilkenny]

You'll get a lot of coyote slayers who think 50gr V-Maxs are too light for coyote yet alone the 40's. I use and have very good luck with 50gr V-Maxs pushed at around 3600 fps in my 22-250. I'd try some different bullets and see what your gun likes but I wouldn't go any lower than 50 grainers. I also avoid FMJ's like the plague. Too much ricochet factor for my liking and they have a poor rep for killing.

LK