243 win loads for coyotes

[aulrich]

I am pondering this years Yote load, and I would like to keep the fur saleable so I am looking for load for 243. The first option of full metal jacket is out purely for safety reasons and questionable killing ability.

The second option would be the 55 gr Noslers, a bullet my gun seems to like. But at at full power (44.5 gr H4895) the load  is listed a 4000fps, even at min listed the load is giving 3600fps. I could get a lower velocity if I use H4895 (Hodgdon says you can go down as much as  60% of max).  I was thinking 3000- 3200 should get me to 300 yards

So do I push them a max and hope for no exit wound or a lower speed hopefully giving a minimal exit wound. Another thought was to use a light deer bullet the theory being that a tougher bullet would have a more controlled expansion (preferably almost none on a rib shot) minimizing pelt damage but not ricocheting as much as a full metal jacket.

Since I don't have the bullets in inventory I am open to other bullet selections. I have heard that the 70 gr V-Max is very fragile rarely giving exit wounds, can anyone confirm this.

[victorcharlie]

My heavy barreled Ruger likes Remington cases, sierra 85gn bthp's, with 46 grains of IRM4831.  It will shoot almost the same hole at 100 yards with this load.  Neck size only after trimming the brass, and seat the bullet out till it just touches the lands on the rifling.  A wilson bullet seating die will give very little run out.  This is a very accurate load, but on crows at 200 yards, the only thing you'll see is his ghost as they vaporize!  If you don't want pelt damage, I'd try loading down one of the 100 gn bullets to around the 2300 to 2400 fps range.  Sorry, don't have a load for that.....

[Rmouleart]

I have found using my scoped Remington 700 all weather using Hornady 100gr Interlocks SP either FB or BT work very well, using either 7828/H4895 these particular powders worked very well, I favor the H4895, using Fed GoldMatch GM210M primers, lee factory crimp, shoot clover leaf all day. Aim small hit small. RAMbo.

[aulrich]

This weekend I had a bit of a brain storm  wy not run two loads since my gun is a break open H&R switching loads on the fly would be simple. I was thinking a reduced load would go in first and if the coyote hangs up or on follow up shots I would pop in a full house load.  I would store round in a but stock sling and color code the primers

So what I am thinking is to use the Sierra 60 gr HP The full steam load would be near max of h4895 (~ 42 gr giving ~3700 fps) the light load could go down as far as 25.2 (60% max as per hodgdon documentation).

I would sight in with the full power load then tune the low power load to give a reasonable point of impact (which could be the tricky part). According to Hodgdon the 60% load should produce a load that is 1500 - 2100, I am thinking that 2500 (70% - 75% as a swag) should be about  perfect, as it would be fast enough to expand out to about 150 but not too much energy.

[bgjohn]

Forget the light bullets and worry about the ENTRANCE wound not the exit wound. Those light bullets at high velocity will blow up on entrance.  Instant death but nothing you want to take home with you. It's 100 gr bullets or nothing. Too much gun.
JM

[aulrich]

With any luck that will happen during deer season. if I find one in the wrong place at the wrong time i'll test it out.   but I think early in the season the light load should be good see that hey are mayby slightly more that a 22 hornet and later when the ranges get longer then the higher speed will be useful.

But the bigger bullet at moderate speed is definetly an option. The fun starts in about 3 weeks.