I've taken 2000 coyotes over the years, and during the past twelve or so years have used the 40 grain Bergers in my .223 and finally my .222 mag imp. Think and say what you want, but the 40 grainers out to 400 yards are adequate. I have no desird to shoot anything else. My critters are skinned in the field (about 10 minutes) and are sold through North American Fur Auctions out East.

My .222 mag imp pushes the 40s at 4100'/sec (not a mild load by any means). Shoulder shots usually drop them on the spot and lung shots result in a dash and a pile up.

Try Berger Bullets.....usually they'll tighen up your groups, and they do just what they're supposed to for the pelt hunter. I shoot right at 100 coyotes a winter....walk and stalk method, and about half of them are taken with my .17 Remington and 30 grain Bergers at 3900'/sec....but that's another story Mike

Well, well, well. I was wonderin' when Mr. Mike J. of PS/VHA/Varmint Hunter's Odyssey fame was going to be joining us. I've read your articles/chapter several times over, and loved them, even way back when, when PS mag. was just a teenager. Great info. one + all. When i started reading your post and saw the .222 Rem. Mag. Imp. I thought is it? and then saw the 30 gr. .17 cal. stuff, and knew it was you. A most hearty welcome aboard Mike. Oh yeah, and ditto to the 40/30 grainers approach.

[ 05-28-2003, 11:33: Message edited by: sscoyote ]

Mike, Thank you very much for your comments about 40 Gr. bullets on Coyotes. It was very good to get some specific information about the velocity and the brand of 40 gr. bullets you are using. With my .223 Ackley Impv., I can get about 3950 fps without pushing the psi too high. Could I ask what powder you are using in your 222 mag. AI ?? Cris284w

Mike, you certainly have plenty of experience to comment, but I feel I must put in my two cents worth.

Not all 40 grain bullets are up to the task of shooting coyotes on a regular basis. As much as I love my 40 grain V-Max bullets for small varmints, I try not to shoot any coyotes with them anymore.

In regard to Berger bullets, I might add that they seem to finally have gotten their act together. When Walt Berger sold out the quality of the bullet suffered seriously! From what I understand the quality is back up to snuff now. But, they put out some crap for a while, it would seem.

I am much happier with the 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip when shooting coyotes, be it with my .223 Remington at 3650 fps or a 22-250 AI at over 4500 fps.

R F

Mike if you're having good luck with those 30 gr. Berger's, you might want to take a look at the 30 gr. Gold Todd Kindler's putting out now too. It's a BTHP with a longer ogive i think. I'm not sure what twist it requires, but Blaine Eddy out of Utah is reaching out pretty good with a wildcatted .17 PPC case using that higher B.C. bullet

I also like the 40 gr. Nosler out of a .22-250 AI. @ 4350 f.p.s.

When i read that some one has killed 2000+ coyotes i do rase an eye to what he has to say. Shit son you have spent more time in the bush than most of us have lived.I too use the 40grs on coyotes out of a 22-250 and i push them as fast as I can a very forgiving load on range estamation, do to the fact that they shoot very flat. And almost no exits. To date I have shot around 400 coyotes with this combo, out of a rem 700 with a 12x Leapold scope. Funny thing about that gun I ran into a coyboy that needed a lot more than I did. The coyotes were doing some serious damage to his livestock, so I gave it to him. Now I have a good reason to have a mister Darrell Holland build me a new rifle.

DH2,

Just have Darrell send the new rifle directly to me. I am knee deep in 150 lb. coyotes, 100 lb. bobcats, and 500 lb. cougars. I almost got eaten last night by a vicious 75 lb. racoon. I NEED that rifle........HELP!!

Good Hunting,

Bob
(Well I am in Texas.......)

Bob in TX But ya never know!

I just bought some 40gr V-Max for my 22-250. I was wondering if they would be too explosive for coyotes. But from the majority of the posts I think I can rest easy in knowing that they will perform well.

Probably

Yap Dog,

I have not shot as many as DH2 with the 40gr. V-Max, but I have shot a bunch of them. I have never lost a coyote with them. Most were immediate kills with no exit. I have had some blow up on the shoulder when I have had a "less than perfect shot".......I can hear GonHuntin' chuckling up in Oklahoma. I have since switched to the 50gr. BT in my 22-250 or the 55gr. BTSP Sierra #1365.

Good Hunting,

Bob

[ 06-10-2003, 07:11: Message edited by: Bob in TX ]

I have had mixed results with the 40 Blitz King,some coyotes drop right away but i have hit 2 with bad results one was shot facing at 125 yards it was hit where the neck meets the shoulder off center it blew a pocket of meat about a softball size and i had to chase it down to finish it,the second was hit square on the shoulder,it nocked it down but it was up on its feet in nothing flat and took 2 shot from a buddies 22-250 before going down.i am shooting a 223 at about 3400 fps.The guys at SIERRA said it wasn't recomended for coyotes more for p-dogs.