Hunting & Fishing How are the 75 and 80 A max on fur?

[supercorndogs]

Having found a new source that gives me a decent price for furs. I am putting together another 22-250 for a fur rifle. I have been shooting a 223 for coyotes for the last couple years, and haven't really been serious, mostly letting dogs without mange pass and looking for cats. Before that I hunted furs pretty hard and always used the 55 v max and 55 sierra hpbt, for their ability to almost never exit, and leave a clean little entrance that is very tough to find when properly sewn. I put together a 1 in 7 22-250 last year but shot it out before I hunted any coyotes with the 75 or 80 a max. So what kind of fur damage are people seeing with the 75 and 80 a max? Or does anyone want to discuss any other aspect of what I wrote?

 

[Yoteski]

I know this isn't what you wanted, but I've shot several with the 75 grain bthp out of a 223. It's like a 50/50 chance of getting any expansion. Sometimes they hit like a hammer, other times they just zipped through.
As per the short barreled thread I started in the bolt action section, I'm really leaning towards another 6mm caliber for coyotes. Every 6mm cal I've ever shot coyotes with has always anchored them far better than a .22 cal. Probably the sectional density of the available bullets. My 6x45 AR15 with an 18" barrel absolutely destroys coyotes with both 70 grain Nosler BT and 87 grain Hornady BTHP. I mean it's crazy how much harder it hits with far less velocity than say my 22-250,

 

[FireShooter]

I've killed many with 75 a max out of a 223 this year, if you hit them lengthwise it's a good fur round. If you hit them broadside within a couple hundred meters it's makes a pretty good hole on exit. Let me see if I can figure out how to post some pics if I can find time.

 

[supercorndogs]

I've killed many with 75 a max out of a 223 this year, if you hit them lengthwise it's a good fur round. If you hit them broadside within a couple hundred meters it's makes a pretty good hole on exit. Let me see if I can figure out how to post some pics if I can find time.

What kind of velocity are you guys running?

 

[Mordamer]

I hunt with FireShooter and he is lying about hitting any coyotes. However, he does get to watch me shoot dozens of them.

FireShooter is running the 75 and 80's at 2,800 FPS out of a garbage Tikka with an 18" barrel .223. I am running 75's at 2,950 FPS out of a 24" barrel .223. We probably killed over 50 coyotes combined this last season but we don't save the fur.

If you are shooting to save fur I would not use 75 or 80 amax (ELD-M) out of a .22-250. They will leave massive holes on exit and sometime on entrance. They are bad enough in a .223. Add another 300 or 400 FPS with the .22-250 and you will be making a real mess. If I was trying to save fur I would try to shoot a bullet that either wouldn't exit or wouldn't expand. The 75 and 80 grain bullets have a high sectional density and that gives them great penetrating ability. They will almost always exit a coyote unless you hit them lengthwise.

(Full disclosure: I witnessed fireshooter kill a coyote at 560 yards with his garbage Tikka this season with his first shot)

 

[supercorndogs]

The no exit is what I look for. The 3-400fps may make them expand better. Even it does sounds like up to 3000fps they are pretty tough on hides. Thanks for the input guys. I imagine the 53 v max is going to be the ticket for me.

 

[MarkCO]

Sierra 77 TMKs are worth a look too.

 

[Mordamer]

Sierra 77 TMKs are worth a look too.

If they are anything like the 69 TMK's then they would be pretty tough on hides also. I have made some 2 inch exit holes with the 69 TMK's.

 

[skinney_7]

Depending on your range, I'm assuming your wanting the 75 -80 grain rounds to shoot well past 400yds? IF so use them, hit your target in the shoulder you'll be fine.

 

[erikc641]

I shoot the 80 ELD out of a 22-6mm at around 3400-3500 and it is not good at all (for the coyote). I haven't had a shot on one out past about 225 with it yet though.

 

[knockemdown]

75Amax @ 3600 out of my 22-243AI...

If ya hit one broadside thru the ribs, or chest on, you won't see the carnage. But if ya hit bone, what ya see is what you'll get...

 

[knockemdown]

Same bullet, same load, impact in the ribs, here's the exit:

 

[knockemdown]

Same bullet, same load on a double. Bottom one hit chest-on (no exit), top one shot broadside (middle body exit)

 

[supercorndogs]

That is about the same problem I always had with the 243 with 70g varmint bullets.

 

[knockemdown]

That fast twist hot rod is a wicked killer/contest rifle.
If I were saving pelts, would carry my .17Predator (.17-233 Improved) 30gr @4100 fps. Gotta shake one upside down just to find the entry hole from that little laser...

 

[supercorndogs]

I get about the same results from the 40-55 class .224 bullets that I use. Not that I haven't hit one with a 22-250 that looked like a grenade went off in it.

 

[Dogsniper]

Try the 65 gr sierra game king. I have killed everything from totes to cats to badgers. It is fur friendly and predictable. Unlike the vmax, amax, and hollow points I have used in the past.