Hi all....new to the site, just wondering if anyone has ever used 45 grain hornets, or 45 grain SPT's (both are Sierra bullets) before for a "fur friendly" round for coyotes. Looking for something that won't ruin the hides, going to be shooting them anyways, may as well make some cash while having fun!

I have some 50 grain blitzkings at the moment, loaded pretty much to max, they turn smaller vermin into grease stains....too much explosion to use on coyotes! Thinking of loading them down to about 35 or 36 grains of H380, may still do for longer shots with the blitzkings.

Any info will be greatly appreciated!!

Welcome to AR.

Have not used the bullets you are thinking of. My opinion is they may be too fragile for what you need.

Correct me if I am wrong, but you can get some pretty big yotes up there, and depending on where you hunt, the shots can be pretty long? I think a 22-250 would be a good choice, however I would stay away from any frangible bullets. I would use the 55 Sierra Game King and drive it hard.

I have experienced all the "splashes" I want to. I use the Game King in my AR-15, my 223 bolt and my 22-250. No splashes. Pass throughs yes, however the exit has always been small.

I wouldn't hesitate using this bullet on wolves either.

Another bullet I have heard works well is the Hornady 52 gr. A-max. I can't comment on that personally, but have heard some hide hunters are using it successfully.

Jim

Thanks for the info Jim...I actually do have some 55 grain Game Kings...loaded up to 41 grains of H380...I may have to give them a try! Yes, you're right about the size of the coyotes up here, they can get pretty big. I think I will use what I have for now (55 gr gameking) and invest in some 52 gr AMAX's eventually! Sierra also makes a 52 gr HPBT match bullet, which would probably also be worth checking out.

My take on the problem, would have me looking at an accurate 55 grain FMJ.. not the bulk AR blasting stuff, but an accurate Hornady or Speer or Sierra 55 gr FMJ...

Strikes me as it would pass thru a coyote...

the other thing I would try would be a Berger match bullet, particularly the smaller ones.. like the 35 grain ones...

a downloaded varmint bullet like in the 2000 to 2500 fps range would also cut down on the explosiveness of them and turn them into more like big game bullets.. deep penetration...

download some and go out and fire them into trees and you will see what I am talking about... trees that are sapplings and like 5 to 8 inches in diameter...

quote:

would have me looking at an accurate 55 grain FMJ..

Sounds good in theory but it doesn't work so well in the field, I had too many runners shot with FMJ's and they sometimes tumble and blow out the offside of the pelt.

The Speer 52 gr. HP works very well on coyotes out of a 22-250, they generally wont exit.

In my .222 Rem. I've had great results on coyotes and bobcats with Sierra 50 gr. Blitz and Hornady 50 gr. SX, lead tipped at 3100 fps.

The polycarbonate tipped bullets generally do exit, Nosler, Sierra, Hornady.

But for "fur friendly" I prefer my .17 Rem. with a 25 gr. Berger Match HP. But I'm taking primarily high value bobcats where pelt damage is not acceptable.

Yeah, at first I was thinking FMJ, but a buddy of mine says his cousin uses them quite a bit, with a lot of runners.

I do have some of the blitzkings loaded down, but haven't had the chance to field test them yet! Bright and early tomorrow morning will be the first test run, good idea about shooting trees BTW, I never thought of that, should be a very good example of bullet expansion on a younger softer tree.

Thanks again for all your replies! And your friendly welcomes to the forum!

How about 50grain TSX? Straight through..

I can't speak from personal experience but I talk to a lot of hunters while selling stuff at the hunting dept. Several swear by the Barnes varmint grenades, the 37gr doesn't exit but makes a bit larger entrance wound when it impacts.

Depending on range, I have used my .22 Magnum with one shot kills and no damage. And my .22 Hornet using the 45 grain bullet does equally as well and at a longer range.

+1 on the #1365 Sierra Game King in the 22-250. FMJ's are not, IMHO, a good choice for predator hunting and are illegal to hunt with in some states. They have a nasty habit of ricocheting. The 22-250 is not fur friendly in general, but over the years, the 55 gr. SBT Game King has worked the best for me. My rifle likes RL-15 and Big Game with them.

Good Hunting,

Bob

Like Bob in TX mentioned, the 55 grain GameKing, while passing through on virtually any broadside presentation, generally is quite fur-friendly in that the exits are seldom more than the size of a nickel -- and often more like a dime.

Back in the heyday of the fur market, I used a Remington 788 in 22-250 with the Speer 52 grain HP (NOT the match version) and the Remington 50 & 55 grain PLHP. I used the same powder charge -- 34 grains H4895 -- for all 3 bullets. Inside 150 yards, an exit was an absolute rarity. At longer ranges, I did get exits more frequently, but they were not the violent, gaping exits oft-associated with certain varmint projectiles.

I am currently shooting a 23" .223 using the 36 grain Varmint Grenade atop 14 grains of Blue Dot powder. The MV is 3260 fps, and so far, it has worked beautifully. WIth this powder, the report is barely more than a .22 magnum, and the bullet fragments quickly. Even on a number of 'possums and 'coons, chest shots produced only one exit, and it was quite small. I plan to use that load on 'cats in the next few weeks.

In my experience, small-caliber FMJs have no business in the hunting fields. In fact, I recall Rick Jamison trying some .30 caliber FMJs on coyotes back in the 80s -- and if I remember correctly, they ran a long way before giving up the ghost.

quote:

I plan to use that load on 'cats in the next few weeks.

It should serve you well on bobcats, the ones I've shot thus far with the Varmint Grenade out of my .222 Rem. have not exited and killed them cleanly.

I think it's a 200 yard max bullet though for efficient killing. Which is fine since that's my .17 Rem. limit on cats and coyotes.

Skinner-Thanks for sharing your experiences. I agree with you on the range. I actually tailored my load with about 150 yards as the max range I'd take a shot. In the country I call 'cats, that poses no real problem.

I never had an exit with Barnes 50 gr. VLC driven to 3900 fps in my 22-250. Maybe small fragment exits, but never the big gaping hole.

Thanks for the ideas guys, the winter pelts have some value in these parts and I can tell you for sure that v-maxes are NOT fur or pelt friendly in a 22-250. I'll try the game kings.

Focus

Thanks again to all that replied! I must say this has been my best resource by far for reloading info! Keep up the good "work"! A very friendly site! Most sites string you up for asking a simple question!

.......I,m planning on rebarreling a savage to 22 250 , and so this is a very interesting thread ....I have an older Hodgdon manuel that lists [cast bullet ] loads for some of the popular varmit rounds I would like to find a load that would sort of duplicate the 22 Hornet , for foxes @ 50 ydrs or less ,coyotes too ....But still be able to shoot wolves to as far as they need killin ,,,,with factory , or equivalent hand loads with Barnes TSX or GS HV,s .,.,

Getting to this question a little late but in my mind the all time best coyote bullet is the seirra 1410 a .224 52 grain hp bt with a 220 swift one hole and you pick the coyote up by the back legs and pour his guts out his mouth
In fact this round was so populary back in the early 80 when fur hunting was big john nosler copyed this bullet exatly same wall thickness same lead same everything it is still being made today in the custom compation line 22cal 52 grain hpbt

not only is it the best fur hunting 22 cal made it is one of the most accurate I have found

"one hole and you pick the coyote up by the back legs and pour his guts out his mouth"

That was the only comment I've ever heard about varmint hunting that made me cringe.

Nice!

nevadaricw wrote:

quote:

Getting to this question a little late but in my mind the all time best coyote bullet is the seirra 1410 a .224 52 grain hp bt with a 220 swift one hole and you pick the coyote up by the back legs and pour his guts out his mouth
In fact this round was so populary back in the early 80 when fur hunting was big john nosler copyed this bullet exatly same wall thickness same lead same everything it is still being made today in the custom compation line 22cal 52 grain hpbt

not only is it the best fur hunting 22 cal made it is one of the most accurate I have found

-----

For someone that claims to average killing 25 coyotes a night, nevadarice doesn't seem to have much experience in the bullet department.

ANy serious fur hunter will tell you that the best bullet (assuming use in the 22-250 & .220 Swift) for pelt preservation of coyotes is the old-style Speer 52 grain HP. THe 50 grain PLHP is next in line. After that, one of the tougher spitzers such as the 55 grain GameKing is the best bet. It exits, but the exits are generally small.

The Sierra that nevadarice mentions exits almost every time given broadside presentation -- and more often than not that exit is gaping.

Also, the Nosler CC is NOT the same as the Sierra MatchKing. Section them for yourself, get out your micrometer and you'll see the differences.

The only thing I'll agree with in his post is that the Sierra MK is accurate.

Well bobby sorry you disagree but if you could wait just acouple of weeks I will post the pictures and give you a few pictures of both sides of the animal. to see there is no exit wounds. not trying to say your wrong but my so called expertise is very limited to one area, so as I read your reply I began to wonder if coyotes are a little different in texas, or in the south west not as fat or thick skinned. and maybe you are right in your area you need a bullet with little less jacket. As for the nosler CC I Have sectioned them aganist the 1410 and the ones that I have are the same. but they are also left over from along time ago my dad at one time bought two 1000 packs from nosler not srue if they have changed the way they make them for todays starand.

Nevadarice,

You were probably not even born in 1980. There are several good predator bullets. There are no absolutes in any area of predator calling, contrary to your professed vast experience.

Oh wait, that's right, you are a beginner, but know all the answers. Quit digging yourself into holes.................

Bob

I think Nevadarice is having plenty of fun with you guys. I do agree with Bob in Tx that the Sierra 55gr works best most of the time. It is hard for us mere mortals to hit these critters in the same exact spot for repeatability of bullet performance. I bet some folks will claim to however.

Venado

I didn't see anybody mention the 50gr Speer TNTs. In my 22-250 with a 14 twist I can push them to about 3600fps before they become frisbees. Speer recommends not to exceed 3400fps, which I have found to be the limit in 12" twist barrels.

These very seldom exit maybe one in ten. If they are within 200 yds. A little further out they tend to exit about 50 percent of the time. I haven't found a bullet that is 100%.

Check out Extreme Shock USA's bullets. I just received a case of a variety of their loaded ammunition, they offer bullets also, in 223 to test in my rifles. I haven't used them on dogs yet. But, I expect them to work very well!

Beagle,

I'll back you up on the 50 grain TNTs...

My 22 calibers see a lot of those go down their barrels each sage rat season especially...

I go thru 1500 to 2000 a year of them at least...

Hi Guys, I am new to this forum and new to the 22-250. I have reloaded for the 22-250 in the past but the rifle, a Remington 700VSSF, was not as accurate as my Savages so I sold it. I just rebarreled a Savage BVSS 308 to 22-250 using a slightly used Factory barrel. Using the ammo that I had loaded 6 years ago, it was shooting 5 shot groups at 100 yards slightly over one half inch. The Winchester white box 45 grain HP was also doing right around that as well. The Sierra 52 grain BTHP and the 50 grain BK seemed to be equally as accurate with the Nosler 50 grain Ballistic Tip coming very close. It seems to like H-380 and H-414 equally well. My question is, since I inadvertantly bought a sleeve of 500 Sierra 50 Grain Blitz bullets a few years back, Is this bullet good for coyotes. I have not been coyote hunting yet but am thinking about it. This is the Sierra 1340, not the Blitz King, which is what I thought I was buying. The coyotes up here are bigger than than the western coyotes.
In addition to the 22-250 I alsohave 2 204s, 2 223s, a 220Swift and a 25-06 all Savages BVSS or VLPs. I also have two heavy barreled ARs that shoot way better than they ought to but I don't think I would take them hunting.

quote:

Originally posted by CZ223:
Hi Guys, I am new to this forum and new to the 22-250. I have reloaded for the 22-250 in the past but the rifle, a Remington 700VSSF, was not as accurate as my Savages so I sold it. I just rebarreled a Savage BVSS 308 to 22-250 using a slightly used Factory barrel. Using the ammo that I had loaded 6 years ago, it was shooting 5 shot groups at 100 yards slightly over one half inch. The Winchester white box 45 grain HP was also doing right around that as well. The Sierra 52 grain BTHP and the 50 grain BK seemed to be equally as accurate with the Nosler 50 grain Ballistic Tip coming very close. It seems to like H-380 and H-414 equally well. My question is, since I inadvertantly bought a sleeve of 500 Sierra 50 Grain Blitz bullets a few years back, Is this bullet good for coyotes. I have not been coyote hunting yet but am thinking about it. This is the Sierra 1340, not the Blitz King, which is what I thought I was buying. The coyotes up here are bigger than than the western coyotes.
In addition to the 22-250 I alsohave 2 204s, 2 223s, a 220Swift and a 25-06 all Savages BVSS or VLPs. I also have two heavy barreled ARs that shoot way better than they ought to but I don't think I would take them hunting.

Welcome to AR.

I wouldn't use them on coyotes. In my opinion the jacket is not heavy enough and you could get a splash if hitting the shoulder. On your coyotes, I would go with the Sierra Game king. Several others above recommend it also. I would imagine your type of country is similar to ours. We need to stop them as run offs will often not be found in the thick brush. I like the Game King as I know it will penetrate.

Could you possibly work out a trade or try selling them in the classifieds?

Jim

I have been following this discussion for a while..I have not been happy with the way my 22.250 has been treating the hides on my critters..

Anyway, I switched over to the 55gr Sierra Gameking as recommended Bob and others above..and can say that the results are as advertised.. This cat, taken a few days ago had an exit wound about the size of a nickle...I can live with that for sure..




Won't be much of sewing job to hide that hole at all...



Sure appreciate the tip...

Z

Congrats on the cat..........nice spots!!!

Bob

Bob..Thanks..it aint the biggest cat I've shot, but it does have some pretty spots!! Sure appreciate the tip on that Sierra Gameking...now my favorite bullet for that 22-250!!

Z