Coyote Hunting with 223. HELP!

[Sensei]

I have recently purchased a Weatherby Mark IV Varmiter 223 Rem. but I am still experimenting with the rounds and bullet wts. Powder etc. that won't destroy a Coyote hide. Suggestions of tried and tested loads please would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,

[Lawdog]

Really need more information on the loads you are currently using.  Lawdog
 

[Sensei]

Law Dog,
Thanks for your reply.  The question that I am asking is do you know any loads for a 223 Rem round with a 12" twist. that you have tried (field tested) that will not mess up the hides of the Coyote? If so I apprecaite your help. Thanks

[Weatherby223]

I use 55gn V-Max on Foxes and if the bullet is placed well damage is bugger all and considering your targets are much bigger, i cant see there will be much damage at all.
the load i use may be no good for you as i use Benchmark 1 powder made by ADI in Australia. I cant find a chart on the net  that can tell me what American  powder is the same as BM1 to give you an idea of a copy. Sorry! I think the V-Max should fit the bill anyway its loaded..
Mick

[varmit_master]

Hi i am using Accurate 2015 powder 25.5grs of powder and a 50gr BT 3387fps it will make a hole VM

[Larry Gibson]

Phil Little

"The question that I am asking is do you know any loads for a 223 Rem round with a 12" twist. that you have tried (field tested) that will not mess up the hides of the Coyote? If so I apprecaite your help. Thanks[/quote]"

I have killed many, many coyotes over the last 30 years with the .223 in a 1-12 twist M700V, AR15 and M70XTR (amoung others).  My load is the Hornady 55 SX over 26.5 gr of H335, military cases with WSR primers.  Accuracy is sub MOA out of the bolt guns and 1.5 MOA out of the AR (I actually prefer the 52 gr Speer HP in the AR with same load as the bullet tips don't get beat up -pelt damage is the same, very little).  I very seldom get an exit on a chest shot out to 300 yards.  Death is always quick and sure.  I have tried a lot of bullets in .223 bolt guns with 1-12 and 1-14" twists but always come back to the 55 gr SX for varmints, especially coyotes and rockchucks.

Larry Gibson

[handirifle]

LMG
While I personally have not "field" tested it yet, many others on the former NEF forum had.  My most accurate load in my NEF 223, with 1 in 12 twist, is 27.3gr of H335 pushing a 40 gr Hornady V-Max bullet.

I was looking vor a bullet that would stop them but not exit.  This was the most highly recommended load.

I'll let you know if I get to see the actual results for myself.

[Bugflipper]

The best bullets I have found are the hornady or remington bulk 55 gr soft point. They are cheap and generally don't exit, just a small 22 cal entrance. I have had v max 55 gr just make a small entrance, others have blown an apple size entrance. Don't go over a 55 gr, your 1-12" won't stabalize it. If you can find 50 or 55 gr hollow point speers at a good price they perform as well as a sp (non tnt type, sometimes they fragmentate on impact creating a big wound). A near max to max load of hodgdon 380 is what other loads are measured by in the 223. In a pinch blc-2 a few tenths of a grain under max will give almost the same result.
 Aiming point is more crtical than anything, almost any expanding 50 or 55 gr bullet will explode on a shoulder blade, aim for the front 1/3 of the coyote dead center for a lung shot. You will generally be able to get inside the ribcage befere the bullet expands to much. As it passes through the organs in its's opened up state it either expands greatly or defragmentates and usually doesn't have enough muster to push through the other rib cage.Most of the bullet will be on the inside of the far rib cage.

[223Shooter]

I too use a Hornaday 55gr SPSX, just like LMG. They are every accurate in my NEF Handi .223. Dont know (yet) just what they will do to mr.Coyote...BUT will find out soon.  

[Larry Gibson]

handirifle

"LMG
While I personally have not "field" tested it yet, many others on the former NEF forum had.  My most accurate load in my NEF 223, with 1 in 12 twist, is 27.3gr of H335 pushing a 40 gr Hornady V-Max bullet.

I was looking vor a bullet that would stop them but not exit.  This was the most highly recommended load.

I'll let you know if I get to see the actual results for myself.[/quote]"

That may work, let us know.  Back in my younger days i was looking for a "magic bullet" also.  I tried all the 40-45 gr Hornet bullets at upwards of 3600-3700 fps.  What I found was; "ain't no such thing as a Magic Bullet, i.e. one that will never exit.  There are big coyotes and little coyotes, some are wrapped tighter than others and you won't always hit them all in the same place.  I found that at close range (muzzle to 100 yards) I got about the same amount of exits and damage with the lighter bullets as with the 55 SXs.  However beyond 100 yards the lighter bullets did not fare as well.  No the SX is not a perfect bullet and will exit sometimes.  Let me know if you've found the "perfect" bullet.  BTW; going to take a fair amount of dead coyotes shot from all different directions and ranges to make the case.  Reportedly the 40 gr V max type bullets do as well.  Guess we shall see, good luck hunting.

Larry Gibson