Hunting & Fishing Coyotes - 55g FMJ?

[TheGerman]

I was wanting to get ahold of some 55g VMAX for coyotes but right now find myself with only regular 55g FMJ or M193 at home. This would be with a 16" AR.

Is this still doable on coyotes at night, or will they simply punch through and I'd need a good/lucky vitals hit in pitch dark for it to drop the coyote? Obviously the VMAX is superior, but how does 55g FMJ fare on them at distances of <100 yards?

 

[Killswitch Engage]

I've killed em with about everything. It's not an optimal bullet but will work. Make the shot count and put it in the boiler and should be fine. If you could get one to rattle through the brain housing group even better

 

[BuzzBoss915]

No, especially at night, you want the animal to drop in it's tracks or you could be spending an hour's hunting time looking for one that ran off and died somewhere. I use the VMax in 223Ackley. Not a fur friendly bullet, if that worries you. But, a little damage is preferable to losing an animal because you are using a bad bullet. You owe it to the animal to recover them, or you are just shooting, not hunting.

It's important to gear your equipment to the task at hand. Just one example of many: a 22-250 with 55 gr. Nosler Ballistic tips is a sure killer but the jacket is a little thicker so it doesn't explode and usually passes through with maybe a quarter size exit on average size coyotes. Unless you hit heavy bone, but that's your job to make sure it doesn't happen.

It's poor economy to use a FMJ in a hunting application, just because you have them on hand. Go buy a suitable bullet. And, stick with 55gr. or heavier. The 50's are for prairie dogs, no matter what the key board experts tell you. Good luck. BB

 

[Delta4-3]

I was wanting to get ahold of some 55g VMAX for coyotes but right now find myself with only regular 55g FMJ or M193 at home. This would be with a 16" AR.

Is this still doable on coyotes at night, or will they simply punch through and I'd need a good/lucky vitals hit in pitch dark for it to drop the coyote? Obviously the VMAX is superior, but how does 55g FMJ fare on them at distances of <100 yards?

Neck or heavy bone like the shoulder, and they are downskies.

 

[Killswitch Engage]

Meh....I don't owe coyotes shit whether I shoot em with 55gr fmj or a slingshot.

 

[TheGerman]

haha

Well, I got lucky and found some 55g VMAX locally for cheaper than what Midway/Wideners/Sinclair had them for. Will try to load some of them tonight with some Benchmark and get back out tomorrow night.

 

[exracr]

depends on if you want to keep the fur or not... how many yards your willing to shoot. How your gun shoots with what bullets?

If it's under 125 yards and I want to keep pelts.... I give them the 17 HMR. My savage 17 hmr with 2 stage trigger and a 3-9 scope will shoot the lights out!

 

[DIBBS]

With a FMJ, they may run a long ways after the shot. I like Amaxes/Vmaxes/boolitz that expand violently. This coyote was shot @ ~360 with a 105 Amax. If you hit them on the point of the shoulder with a fmj, you may have similar results. It's been my experience on the .224 centerfires that Vmaxes expand more violently than Nosler Ballistic tips.

 

[TheGerman]

With a FMJ, they may run a long ways after the shot. I like Amaxes/Vmaxes/boolitz that expand violently. This coyote was shot @ ~360 with a 105 Amax. If you hit them on the point of the shoulder with a fmj, you may have similar results. It's been my experience on the .224 centerfires that Vmaxes expand more violently than Nosler Ballistic tips.

I'm going to give a loading of the VMAx's a shot. My issue is that I usually hunt in the middle of the desert/mountains, in pitch black at night with a PVS14.

While I can see around me, have an illuminator and anything else I could want, chasing a hit animal is probably going to be iffy at best at night while alone. I'd rather hit them and be done. During the day is a different matter and I'd probably use a bolt gun from >400 yards whereas at night I am shooting (or trying to get them) within 100 yards with mostly obstructed shots due to the immense amount of bushes, vegetation and terrain here.

 

[gaphighpower]

Agree with previous posters. Just about any .22 bullet will do..


FWIW, my 16" OBR laser-beams the 69g SMK so that's what I use... day or night.

I hit em tip-o-shoulder... they drop where they stand/stood... a couple of kicks.... the END. Rarely see an exit wound.

Enjoy your hunt(s)!

 

[piglatinhater]

Some nice coyote pron guys!

 

[base]

FMJs with do with proper placement. I have always hunted with V-max or Ballistic Tips. I want the yotes to drop and not run to a lingering death.

 

[RTH1800]

Need a fast opening bullet on coyotes for quick kills. I have used a 77 grain SMK for several years. It is only fair. Very few in the tracks kills. It is very effective on deer, just too tough for quick kills on coyotes.
I use it due to accuracy and low wind drift at long range.