50 Grain TNT hollow point

[Loki_762]

I have recently been reloading 50 grain v-max bullets for rockchucks and coyotes in my Savage .223, and they shoot quite well for my gun.  However, I have also been thinking about getting some of the 50 grain TNT hollow points to see how they shoot.  Now, I know that these bullets are supposed to be pretty explosive, but so are the v-maxes.  Are they too explosive for coyotes?  Are they better at punching through muscle and bone than the v-max?  I am sure that they will do a number on the rockchucks, but I want a good dual purpose load.  Does anyone have any experience with these bullets, and if so, would you recommend it for my intended purposes?
Thanks,
Loki

[Ladobe]

7-8 years ago I got tired of the bullet shuffle thing and buying so many different ones for all of my .22 cal rifles and pistols, and decided to pick just one that shot accurately and worked well in all of them.   Been shooting thousands of TNT 50's a year ever since on everything from smaller diggers on up to and including coyotes.   Hammers all of them just fine.   Have shot them in the 22 Hornets and 22-250's (prefer 33 & 55 gr. for these), but they are my bullet of choice now in all of my 221's, 222's and 223's.

[Greg Zeilinger]

Hi.I'm quite an avid coyote hunter and i experimented for about 2 winter seasons with tha 50gr TNTs and after i shot about 50 or so coyotes with it i stopt using them as they were pretty severe on those coyotes.At short range the entry hole was about fist-size and several times the critter needed another shot to put him down.Not good,when you want to sell the pelt and i prefer to kill any game instantly.I'm using 55gr v-max now and i'm very confident in them and after 200 plus coyotes,i would not go back to using TNTs.Of course,on gophers the TNTs are superb but so are the V-max.Accuracy-wise,the TNTs always shot a tad better.To answer your question i would try some V-max or some 52gr A-max. :grin:

[SD Handgunner]

I have shot more Prairie Dogs and other small varmints with the 50gr. TNT than I care to count. I was always totally satisfied with them, that is until I tried the 52gr. Speer Flat Base Hollow Point. With the 52gr. Speer Flat Base Hollow Point I found the same bullet performance, same accuracy, and could use it in both the .223 & .22-250 I had at the time. Most of the time on Coyotes shot with the 52gr. Speer Flat Base Hollow Point do not produce an exit wound, and they drop in their tracks.

SD Handgunner

[varmit_master]

i think the TNT would be ok for P dog but for a coyote and a long range one no i would try the BT or V-max bullets i shoot crows with Hornady SPSX out of my 22 250 a 50gr and you talk about making feathers fly :eek: good luck VM

[Questor]

It depends on the velocity. From something fast like a 223, at ranges under a couple of hundred yards, I wouldn't use the TNT on a coyote. They expand explosively.  They are great for prairie dogs, where explosive expansion is good.  I use them in a 221 fireball pistol at 2350fps and I think they're fine for coyotes at that velocity.

[Sourdough]

The .22 TNT was designed for P-dogs and groundhogs, too explosive on anything else.  Also the 125gr TNT in 30-06 is too explosive on foxes, but is fantastic on Wolves.  With a fox it will literally blow them in half.  With a Wolf it explodes inside violently, instant kill, and they don't go anywhere.  Even if you make a bad shot, as long as you hit the body, the neck, or the head, it's down and usually dead instantly.