Despite the gusty crosswind on this chilly morning, instinct told me I needed to spend a few minutes outside observing as I had a feeling coyotes may be on the prowl. After all, there was a fresh gut pile from a hog, not to mention mating season for these canines is in the early stages here.

Sure enough, I soon saw a flicker of something a couple hundred yards out, but it disappeared before I could get the scope on it. Deer rarely travel that particular spot and instead cross about 25 yards away, so I was fairly confident it might be a 'yote. About a minute later, a doe came through downwind of there and began stomping her feet before fleeing with her white flag on display.

It didn't take long, and I soon saw movement through the brush. It was a coyote alright, but it had stopped in some thick stuff and was staring intently my way. The entire body and the very top of its head remained covered by limbs. My only shot would be at a small portion of the neck just below the jawline.

The wind was steady but strong, complicating things even more, but the Caldwell rest atop the tractor's hood sure did make things more manageable. I didn't have much time to think as coyotes don't hang around long, so I put the dot of the Steiner Ranger 4 2.5-10x50 on the edge of fur (to compensate for wind) and touched off a round.

I felt a sense of great relief when I heard the distinct impact of the bullet. The 120 grain Ballistic Tip managed to land right where I had hoped, centering the neck and killing the coyote instantly.

The range turned out to be 205 yards.

This was one of the heaviest females I have taken. Most mature female coyotes in this area top out at 32-33 pounds. This one weighed a whopping 39. She had obviously been eating well and was in her prime.

PS-Had to take the dog-gone picture myself (no pun intended ha ha). Our son Andy was helping a friend this morning. It's not the best but was all I felt up to doing today. I'd have liked to pose it better and position the rifle differently and then take it from an angle above the coyote to better show its size, but getting onto a ladder or the bed of the truck and taking a picture is no longer something I can do.

Makes a guy feel good to thread a shot through the crud like that and still connect in a precise way. Is that 6.5 B based on an improved 30-30 case? I haven't studied the Bullberry line for a while. I have thought about a 35-30 based on an Ackley 30-30. Be Well, Packy.

This one is based on the 30-30 necked down to 6.5mm. For years I shot the improved version in a 26"/1:8 barrel and then also a 24"/1:9.

While some of my loads are made from 30-30 brass, I am currently using .375 Win brass. The only real advantage to it is that there is no fireforming needed and I can make it fit my chamber snugly right from the outset. Of course, it requires an adjustment in powder charge as the .375 is thicker and has less capacity than the 30-30.

quote:

Originally posted by packrattusnongratus:
Makes a guy feel good to thread a shot through the crud like that

It really does. The last thing I want to do is educate a coyote. A missed shot means you'll likely never get a chance at that one again.

Well done!
Prime looking coyote.
Cute cartridge and perfectly suited for that rifle.
Thanks for sharing.
Zeke

OT here. I was just wondering if one could make a 6.5 Packrattus Mag by necking down the 33 WCF to 6.5. The case of origin for the 33 is the 45-70, which is "fun" to size down to .338 WCF. If you go all the way from the 45 you can plan on annealing the necks each step. I like the dip in the hot lead pot the best using some kind of pliers. Otherwise the necks split quite regularly. However the beauty of the Bullberry is the ease with which it is handled. It loads, shoots, and reloads like a dream and is perfect for the single shot guns for which it was designed. Just an idea I wanted to throw out. Take care and Be Well, Packy.

Yes, but if memory serves, the .33 WCF has substantial taper. You'd definitely want to minimize that.

You are right so the design would have to be blown out to get rid of the taper. I wonder if you would gain anything as you will undoubtedly use more powder to get equal performance. Just was thinking there would be more potential for velocity. I guess the medium velocities are fine for me. The 6.5 and 9MM Steyr rifles I have should kill quite well. And they give medium velocities. I have no Magnums in 9MM as the 350 Rem Mag gives mostly 35 Whelen velocities. Too much thinkin. Getting a mild headache. Be well, Packy.

I don't think you'd gain enough to make it worthwhile when one considers what is safe in the Contender format.

With a 26"/1:8 long-throated 6.5x30-30 AI barrel (aka 6.5 Bullberry IMP) and using N160, I used to get just over 2600 fps with 129 and 130 grain bullets.

In my current 24" 6.5 Bullberry, I am getting 2536 with the 123 grain SST and 2551 with an earlier 120 grain Nosler load. Using a different powder and the .375 brass, my velocity is up slightly with the 120s but not enough to matter.

These loads kill exceptionally well and have never left me wanting for more speed or power. And, they are pleasant to shoot.

Those are the most important goals of reloads.

Just a question: where's the tailgate pix?

I thought that looked better than this one.

Fine looking cartridge.

When you need more .30/30 brass let me know before you buy them. I should have half a bucket full in there. Would take a bit of digging, but,
the rooms small.

George

Thanks, George. The tailgate photo is on my phone, and I only use my laptop for the internet. I always try and get one with the phone if I can so I can text it to you because -- as you know -- sometimes me and my senile brain forget if I don't do so right away.

The kids and I have several guns running on variations of 30-30 brass, so if you do dig them up, I'd love to buy some from you or else trade you something that you could use. Thanks!

OK, here's the tailgate picture and one other:

Bobby:

Belly looks full, is she full of pups?

Thanks, appreciate the advance notices.

When I get this kink out of my back I'll
go in and look for that brass.. let you know when and what etc.

George

quote:

Originally posted by georgeld:
Bobby:

Belly looks full, is she full of pups?

George

No, she was just well-fed and even had obvious fat rolls in places. The mating season for coyotes is just about to be in full swing.

Nice shot. Way to "thread the needle" on that one.