....wacking 'yotes and not tearing up pelts to bad.

A little history first.
Been bird hunting on a lease this year that has a bad song dog problem.
I just picked up a Tikka T3 Camo in 22-250 that I will be reloading for it using, because of twist, between a 50 and 55 grain bullet.

In that weight range which are some of the better bullets for the least amount of pelt damage.

I have some time since the bird season aint over till the end of January! Come Feb, them dogs are gonna have a little trouble.

Thanks all!!!!!!!

My freind uses Barnes solids. When I get my own small bore I will too.

Twer it me and I wanted one is those ranges I would try the 52 Speer with the big open point.

If you didn't mind going a bit lighter I would try to get some 40 Sierra HP's and or the 40 NBT.

All of these slugs have been pretty fur friendly for me.

On a last quick note I would personally not use a FMJ. Been there done that and bought the t-shirt and will not do that again.

Mark D

I'll second the 52 gr Speer with the big hollow point.

Mark and KWK, why the big open point? Still learning and what does it do?

Forgive my ignorance but open or flat points mean devestation to me. Does the speed or small diameter or small mass make a difference? I don't want to cause trouble as I'm just beginning the quest into reloads and want to learn.

One of the things I alway's see in discussion's like this is that someone buy's a lighting bolt to kill a coyote with then tries to figure out how to keep from ruining the pelt. Don't understand the notion? If saving the pelt is the goal, seem's you'd be better off with a 222 or 223 with something like a Hornady sx bullet. But if the intent is to kill a coyote as far away as possible then the answer would seem to me to use a 6.5 or up with a heavy bullet. Then if the idea is to be able to kill anything out to moderate range without worry of pelt damage, a lighting bolt would work.

If I were putting together a set of rifles just for coyotes the first thing I'd concider is weather or not I want to save the pelt's. Then if I really am going to be able to call them, so far I haven't been much good at that. Right now I have a 243 shooting 75gr V-Max's and for calling a 22 mag. If I get to the point where I can call them in, I'm thinking a 22Hornet with a 45gr or 50gr bullet should be about right, IF I decide I want the pelts.

Go with lighter bullets. Something that will go to pieces and expend all energy inside the animal. Most 40 grainers work well.

52 grain Match Hornaday bullets. I've killed over a hundred coyotes and these bullets seem to do the least amount of pelt damage. The exit wound is around the size of a quarter. Using Barnes solids should work real well the only problem with solids a coyote might run a short distance before tipping over.
Good-Luck

Steve

rainman-I stumbled onto the Speer with what we came to call the big open point years ago. For whatever reason it is just very effective and very accurate.

It is day in and day out as kind to pelts as any other slug out there. Give it a go if you like.

One last thing is that the 53 TSX has been awfully effective out of a 22/250 for yote work as well.

The biggest thing IME is less about the bullet and more about staying away from those big bones. Hit one of those and things will get ugly real quick.

Thx

Mark D

I have had great luck with the 50gr. V-max.

Usually don't have a exit wound out to 250 yds. Past that the bullet has slowed enough that it is usually just a quarter size hole.

Of course there are exceptions to every rule. But I have not had a problem with that bullet so far.

I have taken around 30 dogs with it so far.

But I don't know where you are located, so if the dogs are smalleror have less winter hair that the ones up here in Alberta. I can't say how they will react.


Good luck and keep us posted.

Graylake

Graylake-good hear.

Have you done any work with any of the 40's or with the 50 NBT?

A bud of mine runs the 50 NBT and thinks the world of it for yotes.

Mark D

Thanks folks!!!

Don Fischer, the reason for the 22-250 is because I already have the brass and dies for it. (gonna get rid of my KM77 Target) My .222 barrel for the Contender has not arrived yet and my .223 is an AR. AR will be going as a reserve rifle but the Tikka will be the main rifle for the task at hand.

Graylake, I am down here in Washington State and will be persuing the dirty dogs in the central part of the state. They, from the ones I have seen thus far, are pretty good size. The winters around there are kinda brutal so the pelt should be good and full. They have no problems with food supply around all the farms in the area. Seems some of the ranchers are loosing calves to some and with all the grain, mice are plentiful.

The reason I am choosing between the 50 and 55's is one the twist rate won't let me go heavier and the lighter ones won't buck the wind, and it does blow around there, as well out to 300+yards.
I am hoping to take the majority between 100 and 200 but the are chances of clipping and having to use a second shot on the run will be possible. Or getting some a little shy of coming to visit, it may not be uncommon out to 300 to 400.

Mark, was thinking of using the 50 BT or maybe the 50 Blitzking since I have had very good accuracy with them in other rifles, just didn't know about tearing up the pelt.

I do like the Speer 52grn HPBT's. They were the best grouping with the highest velocity out of that KM77.

Thanks again folks!!!!!!!

Smedly-a couple of quick things.

I used to own a T3 in 22/250, a wonderful and accurate rig.

It would shoot a 63 Sierra very well and that is another bullet that I would give a go in your T3.

IIRC your T3 is a 14 twist and every 14 I've ever worked with would shoot those 63 Sierra's and other 60's incredibly well.

I've used the 63 Sierra (ugly lil bullet that it is) for a lot of deer/lopes/yotes and it is one excellent bullet.

And it is fairly fur friendly, so do yourself a favor and buy a box and give me a go with either R15 or Varget. I would be just short of amazed if it didn't shoot into little tiny clusters.

Mark D

Thanks Mark!

And I will give 'em a go when my scope mounts show up. (back order from Midway) (went with Burris mounts and Signature rings)

Was thinking about RE10 also ???? (I will do a little research and see what I can find)

I've never used R10 b4, I did hear rumor that is was being discontinued.

With the 63 try R15, Varget, H414 all of these have worked well for me b4.

Mark D

Mark

I never have used Sierra on coyotes however, they were very accurate out of my seven mag when I used to shoot them. I have not personaly used the Sierra on on any thing except deer. I have read good things about them from other hunters. Hopefully in the morning I'll be able to see what pelt damage if any the Barnes 53 grain Triple shock do on coyotes.

Steve
Riverton Wyoming

I use to work with the basic 55 gr. soft points but they do very bad things to coyotes and fur.

I was told to try the 50 vmax and was happy with the performance. So I never looked for any thing else.

I ended up getting 600 rounds of winchester supreme 50 gr ballistic silver tips, at a really good price. So I have been shooting those for the last year and a bit. They work alright, but I always have an exit wound. Not big, quarter size usually. But I think I will be going back to the vmax and leave the silvertips for shooting gophers.

I also shot those cheap winchester white box stuff, the ones from walmart 40 rounds for $24.00 CAN. I think they are 45gr hollow point. I found that they also did bad things to coyotes. They would shoot good at 100 yrds, but when I started shooting at 200 and farther the groups really opened up.

I just love the 22-250. It is like a lazer out past 300. When I was shooting the vmax, every dog shot was a bang flop, no runners. The farthest was 385 that winter.

Since using the silvertips, I have had quite a few run 20 yards or so. And just over half usually do a couple spins before falling over.

You should have no problem with the Washington yotes. plenty of size and body mass to work with. I would be concerned if you were shooting dogs down south, where the body size and amount of hair is not there. I don't think the bullets perform the some on the dog down there. But that is just my opinion.

keep use informed.

50gr vmax...2 reasons

What's wrong with good old 55 grain FMJs???

quote:

What's wrong with good old 55 grain FMJs???

I don't know? What???

smedly,

Though I have only hunted yotes a couple years now, I researched the fur friendly bullet issue and would have to agree that it is tough to go wrong with the Speer 52HP (part #1035) as Mark and others have suggested. Out of a 22-250 I simply loaded per the manual and with no experimentation 5/8MOA at 250yrds. I have a SU16 in 223Rem and they feed and work very well with it also. Though there are many good bullets, this is probably the toughest bullet to go wrong with.

Deke.

quote:

Originally posted by smedley:
Thanks Mark!

And I will give 'em a go when my scope mounts show up. (back order from Midway) (went with Burris mounts and Signature rings)

Was thinking about RE10 also ???? (I will do a little research and see what I can find)

Smed;

I was playing with RL 10, and like you I found that load data was scarce... so I finally got a hold of Alliant in Radford, and their tech guy told me that load data for H 322 could be used for RL 10 loads....

Now I can find some of that around....

But RL 10 is also spotty on the availability down here in Hooterville Oregon, but BiMarts started carrying H 322.... which I had never tried....

So I bought some and tried it....

For both the 223, and the 22.250 it is a pretty accurate powder! I was pretty impressed....

just another tool in the tool box, in case ya need it...

or if you don't want to use it, at least you have a data reference point to consult now...

cheers
seafire....



PS for accuracy in the 223 and 22.250... the 50 grain Speer TNT really performs for me... haven't taken a coyote with it... but it sure turns sage rats and seagulls/crows inside out...

I've shot a lot of 58 gr Vmax bullets out of my 6mm AI including sending one through a big dog yesterday. I'm not impressed with the bullet, it doesn't expand while traveling through the yote.

I'm going to try something else this year as soon as I get time to reload.

My friend likes 52 gr Sierra's out of his Swift. Small holes if you avoid shoulders and I have not heard this bullet ricochet yet.

I'm going to try 70 Sierra's out of my 6mm next.

Any other ideas for a 6mm?

Since I have had 75gr 6mm Nosler BT blow up at near point blank ranges. I don't use them anymore. In a 22 cal I use the Sierre 55gr Spitzer, 52gr Speer HP and el cheepo 55gr Hornady and Winchester SPs. They all tend to stay in and don't come out. For that 200 yard coyote sitting behind the yucca I now shoot a 280 with a 140gr BT bullet and a 6.5x57 with a 140 semi point.

Good Luck

Fur damage=shot placement. Brisket coming at you behind the shoulder in the lungs will save alot of time with needle and thread. Open tipped hollow point will expand rapidly and dump everything inside and not exit. Solids and some match bullets will just zip right through. I shoot V-maxs and Bergers MEF. Even a Hi-perfromance 22mag round will open a fox up crazy hit on the fringe. Like was said above a 223 might be more fur friendly. I would try around a 50gr Berger MEF HP and watch your shot placement

Barnes Varminator 50 gr. in 22-250.

I use the old VLC with the blue coating, but the construction is the same. I think they are still pure copper jackets with pure lead cores.

3900 fps with Varget from my 22-250. No exits. No coyotes escape when hit.