Have any of you tried the 40 Gr. v-max or the 40 gr. Ballistic Tip on Coyotes. I have three .223 Ackleys and have been reading so much about the great performance of the 40 Gr. bullets when shot at velocities of 3900 fps plus. I would really appreciate any comments..Cris

Based upon the explosive results they have given me at 3400 - 3500 FPS on ground squirrels, I would think they'd be a bit fragile for coyotes. But I haven't shot a coyote with one (and I don't plan to unless it is a close range target of opportunity.)

[ 05-22-2003, 03:02: Message edited by: Calif Hunter ]

Well i have probably shot ten or more eastern Oregon coyotes with the 40 gr. hornady v-max MOLLY COATED bullets. I have a
savage 12fv 22-250 that i use for varmints and coyotes primarily. My load is 36 grains of varget in winchester brass cases and WLR primers. The velocity is just at 3860 or so and its a real accurate load. I shot a dog at 390 yards "range finder" and it only took one shot, dropped it. I think i hit it in the backbone as the dog didn't move and the sound was unusually loud. Anyway i have also shot dogs as close as 70 yards with this load and it has performed flawlessly. Even when hitting bone"shoulder, back etc" it does the job. I think it only exited once, the rest it just turned their insides to jelly!!

Great bullets i wouldn't hesitate to use the 40 grainers on coyotes, from my experience they work just fine. I have also used sierra 52 grain matchkings for coyotes and they also worked well, but exited more often.

52 grn matchkings on coyotes!!!??? everyone knows you can't use matchkings for hunting (actually, i'm working on a 70 grn matchking load for my 6 PPC, and yes, i plan on it doing lots of damage to the local vermin population. good huntin...bud

Budiceale: I just checked my brand new Sierra manual and they still DO NOT recommend the Sierra Matchkings for Varminting! Neither do I !!!!
They ricochet with significant regularity. Yes they are splendidly accurate and affordable but so are many other much better suited Varmint bullets. Including the wonderful 50 and 55 grain Blitz bullets in 224 caliber and the 70 grain BlitzKings in 6mm caliber! I find these bullets (among many many others) are just not conducive to ricochets! I have (way in the distant past) even had the 52 and 53 grain Sierra Matchkings pass through Varmints and THEN ricochet into the distance. I recommend against their use for safeties sake! And if they are used then they must have empty hills in the immediate background to stop the ricochets! If not then their use is simply not safe!
There are just to many other equally accurate bullets that are much more frangible and therefore safer to use in Varmint situations. For instance I am also obtaining excellent accuracy in the specifically designed, highly frangible Speer 52 grain 224 caliber Hollow-Point Flat Base bullets. If you need a 52 grainer try these - please!

(Reference - "5th Edition Sierra Bullets Reloading Manual" - pages 40 and 47).

Good luck!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

varmintguy...thanks for the heads up. i had not heard that about these bullets. i'll have to be careful. bud

I also have used the 40 grn Nosler, they are great. However I am just working on a load with the 50 grn Nosler. From the feedback I get, it is supposed to be a better round for large varmints.

Da Grizz, Did you use the 40 gr. on Coyotes or on smaller varmints?? Cris

While I just love the 40 grain V-Max for use in my .223 Remington for small varmints, I have found it a little too fragile for coyotes.

I have shot a few with it and have never lost one, but the darned things came apart big time. One coyote was shot in the shoulder and it killed him but the bullet blew up pretty much on the surface.

I have had a good deal better luck with the 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. I is constructed somewhat tougher and works well.

In fact, my dad shoots coyotes pretty often with a 22-250 AI using 40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips at a muzzle velocity in excess of 4500 fps. It always gets inside before coming apart. And man, let me tell you, those coyotes go down!

R F

A pair of hunters did an extensive test and published it in a Varmint Hunter magazine, within what I think is the last year. I think the test was between a 40 V-max and a 50 Ballistic tip, regardless it was a 40 vs 50 grain battle.

The 40 grain bullets easilly won the fight. They had data such as shooting distances and run after shot distances for each. Think the test was over 100 dogs. Doubt I can look it up, but maybe someone more organized than I has it in the nice leather binder. I use whatever's handy and don't worry about ricochets. I would think a 100 grain bullet out of a .257 whatever would ricochet more than a 40 or 50 grainer, and people still use those.

cris284w
I have usedthe Nosler 40 grn on fox and coyotes, it does a real number on them. I am just working up a load on the 50 grn to try as well. Everyone says I will be happier with the 50.
I guess time will tell, so far 36.5 grns of Varget gets the best group. Back to the loading bench.

Varmintguy My serria manual says "although designed primarily for accuracy, these bullets are a favorite choice of thousands of varmint hunters for use at higher velocities." Sure dosen't sound like they are saying don't use them on varmints. Lists optimum range for varmint hunting as 50 to 400 yards. efective vel 2400 to 4000 fps most 22 cfs well reach that.

My .02 worth: .222/.223 class cartridges...there is only one weight for varmints...40 gr and equipped with a polymer tip, brand of your choice.

DigitalDan, Have you used the 40 gr. on Coyotes? At what distance? How many? Please give me some specifics>>>>Cris284w

Chris, see the posts by R Flowers and Screamin' Weasil. I can't say anything different. Dead is dead. The .222 class cartridges just have better ballistics and terminal performance with the 40 grainers inside of their effective range which for yotes is 300-350 yds. Most of the 45 gr bullets are intended for Hornet velocities and their integrity gets iffy around 3600 fps. Too they are mostly flat base bullets. When you use the 50 gr bullets velocity suffers, trajectories start to grow and maybe they don't do what you expect(terminal performance) at the longer ranges. If you up the powder capacity you may want a heavier bullet, such as with a .22-250...maybe not depending on application. Check the manuals for BC/velocity/traj./energy/drift. A .223 Rem with a 40 BT is good stuff for smaller varmints at longer ranges than most think. I would not consider 500 yds on P. Dogs unreasonable on a calm day.