41 mag or 357 mag for coyotes?

[MH WASH]

Both of these revolvers have short barrels making them easier to pack with a rifle. I am using a 215 gr hardcast in the 41, but have not decided on a load for the 357. I am thinking a fast lightly constructed hollow point  in the 357 would be better than the hard 41 mag bullet. If you have any recipies I would sure like to see them.

 Thanks Matt

[Sixgun]

If you can hit them with a 4 " handgun, either will kill them.  It depends on what you have on hand and how much weight you want to pack.

[Mikey]

MH:  Sixgun is right, either will do.  One of the othr fellas mentioned a preferance for 140 grainers in the 357 for such, or was it whitetail.  Doesn't matter, the 357 is more than adequate for coyote.  The 41 will punch right through them, but so will the 357.  I believe a lighter weight 357 may have a more 'expansive' effect on those small bodied predators but a standard weight 158 grain SWC will break major bone groups and penetrate through.  Your choice, really.  Mikey.

[MH WASH]

The reason for my post is I've heard other people having problems with to hard cast 44 cal bullets punching through and making for a long trailing job.

 Matt

[Raging480]

I also heard several experiences of men shooting coyotes with heavy handgun bullets, and the dogs would get knocked down, but get up a few moments later and run off, never to be seen again.  I am going to start hunting coyotes with my .357.  I bought some 110 grain hollowpoints, and i am going to follow my Speer reloading manual.  I think these type of bullets are better for varmints than the traditional large game handgun bullet.  Please note, I am not speaking from experience.

[JOE MACK]

Both of these revolvers have short barrels making them easier to pack with a rifle. I am using a 215 gr hardcast in the 41, but have not decided on a load for the 357. I am thinking a fast lightly constructed hollow point  in the 357 would be better than the hard 41 mag bullet. If you have any recipies I would sure like to see them.

 Thanks Matt

As much as I dote on the .41Magnum, I have taken coyote with my 6 inch barrelled Python. I used the 125gr. Sierra JHC. At 14 and 60 yards, I had complete penetration. The close one must have been the year before's pup as it stood looking as I made a frontal shot. Didn't recover either bullet and I'm not good enough with a needle and thread to salvage the furs.   :shock:  I switched to the 158gr. LHP and have been happy since. RKBA!

[Lloyd Smale]

as much as im a fan of cast bullets this is one place where a jacketed hollow point may be a better choice or at least a soft cast hollow point.

[S.B.]

I posted this on the "coyote gods" site and was yelled at(by the owner and moderators) forever but, anything that kills all the coyotes in my area is a good gun or club to use! Here in the bad lands of Illinois, we have a real problem with these devils. Hog farmers and deer hunters have been plagued by the coyotes, along with the pheasant rabbit and quail hunters. Most hunters of coyotes here (and this is what got me in trouble on the other site) shoot them just to get rid of them. Don't care how much the hide is torn up, or what it's worth  afterwards.

[JohnK]

The reason for my post is I've heard other people having problems with to hard cast 44 cal bullets punching through and making for a long trailing job.

Most likely because it just punched a hole the size of the meplat right through without doing much real damage.

A fast loaded 125gr JHP would probably be one of the best rounds for coyote, if it's one of the best "stoppers" on human size targets don't you think it would be great on something in the 30-50 lb range? Especially if you don't care about pelt damage since I can imagine the exit wound would be rather large with this load.

They're considered a pest in Washington state too, you can kill as many as you want, whenever you want and unless the law has changed this year with any firearm from 22 LR up.

[Del]

Which load to use should be dictated by if you want to save the hide or not!  

If you are looking to save the hide, I'd use a good hard cast semi-wad cutter.  If you don't really care if you punch a good size hole on the off side and want to reduce your tracking job, I'd go with a light for caliber jacketed hollow point (110-125/.357 or 170/.41)

That said, a friend of mine just shot a coyote at 100 yards w/a .243 & typical spire point hunting bullet - took it right through the heart.  The coyote took off on a "dead" run and still made it 50 yards!

Find a good accurate flat shooting load / bullet and just get out there!

Have fun & good luck, Del

[Larry Gibson]

MH Wash

Have seen numerous 'yotes taken with all sorts of handguns and bullets.  By far the quickest kills most always are from the light for cartridge, fast stepping, jacketed HPs.  In the .357 factory Fed or Win 125 HPs are excellent performers.  These loads can be duplicated with any of the 125 HPs.  I was using Win 125 HPs for reloading but have seen what the Speer Gold Dots can do on 'yotes out of the .357, I will use them next.  In .41 you just have a hard time beating the 170 gr Sierra HC.  You should get 1400+ fps with your short barrel and they work quite well in that range.  I was getting 1480 fps with a healthy dose of H110 in a 4" S&W.

All 'yotes are pretty tenacious and sometimes don't want to give up the ghost very quickly.  I have seen and shot several with SWCs at magnum velocities with both of these cartridges and they will kill 'yotes.  While some died quickly others took some tracking, even thoght solidly hit, and one was not found.  However, with the HPs I never saw one go very far with a good hit, not near as far as with the SWCs,  and never lost one.  If a shot at a 'yote presented itself and I only had the SWCs in the revolver I would take the shot as they will do the job.  But if hunting 'yotes I would stoke up with the light weight, fast stepping HPs.

Larry Gibson

[44 Man]

Saw one on the side of the road this morning a half mile from the house!  First time in ages that I haven't had my little 3" J frame Smith at hand!  I usually keep +p38s 158gr hp swc Federals in it and would have taken the shot in a minute!  But on this day I had dropped a KelTec .32 into my pocket so I passed up the 15 yd shot.  Live and learn!  You would think that I was old enough to know better!  Shot a deer a while back with 140 gr silvertip .357.  This was a chest shot and it just made jello of the lungs and should be great for a coyote also.  Good hunting.    44 Man