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Author Topic: 357 MAG FOR COYOTES  (Read 1905 times)

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Offline HARDCORE

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357 MAG FOR COYOTES
« on: September 07, 2004, 12:52:23 PM »
Hi guys,

I'm thinking of getting a new rifle for predator hunting and want to get a lever action because i love my Marlin 336 30/30 for deer hunting. Now if i was'nt worryed about pelt damage i would just use the 30/30, but i want to sell the hides. Do you guys think that the .357 rifle is a good choice for coyotes and what would be the max yardage to get a clean kill?
More than likely the furthest shot will be 100 - 150 yards. Do you think 125 grain hollow points would be the ticket?

Thanks, HARDCORE    :D
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Offline Hooker

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357 MAG FOR COYOTES
« Reply #1 on: September 07, 2004, 02:42:09 PM »
Hardcore I use my 357 for deer and varmits coyotes included. As far as pelt damage I'd go with hardcast bullets in heavier weights. Those 125s do alot of damage at closer ranges even at handgun volocities.

Pat
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Offline sand draw JAKE

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357 MAG FOR COYOTES
« Reply #2 on: September 07, 2004, 05:08:58 PM »
I do a little ranching, in one of the places that you can still carry a rifle 24-7-365, and for the last several years, my ''truck gun'' has been a Mod. 1894 in 357 mag. I don't worry to much about the pelts, as we shoot them for preditor control, but a 125 gr. 357 will turn the lights out on a coyote at 100 yards plus like you wouldn't believe, so I'm sure the hard cast, in a heavier wieght, would do what you want, with very little pelt damage...
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Offline Gregory

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357 MAG FOR COYOTES
« Reply #3 on: September 08, 2004, 01:44:09 PM »
I don't really want to talk you out of a new gun if you really want one but, a 30/30 using cast lead bullets would be ideal for coyotes with minimum pelt damage.  Besides a 30 cal hole is smaller than a 35!
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Offline Old Griz

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357 MAG FOR COYOTES
« Reply #4 on: September 08, 2004, 05:45:29 PM »
:cb2: If you really like the way the 125-gr. bullet shoots in your gun, you might try a JSP instead of a JHP. A FMJ scares me with coyotes. I'm afraid it'll punch a clean little hole, and that tough old critter will run off and die somewhere I can't find him.
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Offline Jerry Lester

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357 MAG FOR COYOTES
« Reply #5 on: September 08, 2004, 06:58:35 PM »
A good 125g SP bullet started at about 1500-1700 fps will do nicely up to about 100 yards. You're going to get an exit most times, but unless the range is "very" close there shouldn't be a huge hole left in the hide.

A 125g HP will definately blow big holes in the hides of nearly any predator(especially foxes), unless you just luck up, and it doesn't exit.
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Offline HARDCORE

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357 MAG FOR COYOTES
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2004, 09:51:57 AM »
Thanks for the feed back guys.  I'll probably try the hard cast bullets and see how they do.

                                          Thanks again  HARDCORE
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Offline bfpgw

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357 MAG FOR COYOTES
« Reply #7 on: January 18, 2005, 05:27:55 PM »
This a slow reply given the date of the original post, but here goes:

I've shot 8 racoons (+1 by my wife) with my 1894 .357 and 2 yotes.  All the coons had big exit wounds (baseball size at 75+ yards) but one from 125 jhp to 158gr jhp.  That one was shot with Sellier & Bellot 158gr jsp. One coyote was shot with 158 jhp and dropped right there with little exit wound.  The other yote was shot with .38 fmj.  (I had been at the range the afternoon before and must have reloaded it at home with the fmj in instead of the .357 jsp.  That sunday morning a yote was patroling the goat pen while I was making coffee.  Jumped out on the deck in my early morning sweatpants and mocassins.  Shot it with the fmj and it looked like I had kicked it in the hips and it kept going.  I got dressed and tracked it for nearly two miles in the snow (good blood trail) and gave up before I found it.  When I got back I unloaded the gun and found the wrong bullets inside.  I figure I drilled a vent hole through it's thighs and it got away.

Lesson 1 - don't put the last target/range rounds back in the real ammo box if you use the gun for prowlers of any kind.

I like the Remington 180gr sjhp for deer hunting, but the deer hid when I had it with me this past season so no proof is available yet.  Tried Federal's 180gr hard cast at the range.  The accuracy was inconsistent compared to the Rem sjhp 180s so the last of 50 will get used for target practice amusement.

The S&B rounds are very accurate.  Besides, they are the hottest factory loads I've shot in the 1894 or my DW 6" SS revolver.  I don't have to change the sights from Rem 180 back to varmint S&B 158 rounds.  They are pretty reasonably priced at Natchez too.

BFPGW
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