I have been loading for a .223 with 52gr MatchKings. Got my first coyote with the gun/load last weekend. Bang, flop with no exit wound. The entry was good and clean as well. He was quartering walking away and the bullet caught him in the left side. The angle would have made the exit through the right front shoulder if there would have been one.

Velocity is at 3350.

I also use match grade bullets for coyote hunting. Berger 50 gr match, not the varmint...the varmint has too big of a hollow point, the match bullet is where it's at, at least out of my 22-250!

Is your load "pelt friendly"?

If it is, did you have to load it down to a lower velocity?

My buddy shoots a 22-250 and can't stop ruining the pelts. I told him to decrease the velocity. He's shooting the 55 gr. V-Max

What load were you shooting.congrats on the coyote.Good Luck

quote:

Originally posted by rcamuglia:
Is your load "pelt friendly"?

If it is, did you have to load it down to a lower velocity?

My buddy shoots a 22-250 and can't stop ruining the pelts. I told him to decrease the velocity. He's shooting the 55 gr. V-Max

Every yote I've downed with it has only had one hole in the hide upon entry. Slowing down V'max's might work, but I've never tried any ballistic tip bullets on coyotes, so you'd have to give it a try. The V'max's are designed to disintegrate, but if being pushed too fast, they will blow a hole on the off side.

Off the top of my head, I can't remember what my load is. I think it is about 40 gr. of H380 for my coyote load, which is up towards the max, so they aren't loaded down by any means. I have only 15-20 coyote loads from last year, when they're gone, I will have to work up a new load as my H380 supply is pretty much gone, and I will be switching to a different powder as I cannot find ANY H380 up here in Manitoba!

quote:

Originally posted by rcamuglia:
My buddy shoots a 22-250 and can't stop ruining the pelts. I told him to decrease the velocity. He's shooting the 55 gr. V-Max

I've tried several factory offerings of the V-max and regardless of weight found them to be pelt destroyers out of my .223.