7mm Bullet Suggestion

[qmurphy]

Looking for some suggestions for a bullet to load in my 7mm Rem Mag. I'd like to use it for hunting coyotes this winter. Something light, that hopefully won't cause ridiculously major damage when it hits.

Currently I'm shooting some Hornady 120 gr HP's. What else should I be trying? Thanks.

[elkhunter11]

In general, lighter bullets will cause more destruction. You might consider a monometal bullet like a TTSX or GMX to reduce the damage.

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

In general, lighter bullets will cause more destruction. You might consider a monometal bullet like a TTSX or GMX to reduce the damage.

Agreed.
There is no fur friendly bullets in 7mm.
Going heavy may work, but hardly!

[Metalmike123]

I can't even think of a bullet coming out of a 7mm rem that won't tear a coyote i half besides a fmj or maybe a monometal bullet. I might be wrong, I haven't shot a coyote with a 7mm, but I agree with the above monometal suggestion.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Dick284

Agreed.
There is no fur friendly bullets in 7mm.
Going heavy may work, but hardly!

X2

The damage is partially about displacement, when you use a large bullet on small thin skinned game like a coyote the bullet and high velocity which it strikes a target starts to displace what it hits....and it is violent in a smaller animal....think of what happens when you shoot a gopher with a .22lr....then a .223, then a .220 swift....you go from a solid killer to an explosion.

I tried using my 270 as a fur friendly firearm....it didn't work either, a 7mm will work poorly also if you plan on keeping hides.

Best to get something in a 22cal for fur friendly....even then a high velocity will cause major damage, stay away from bone and shoulder hits.

LC

[qmurphy]

Thanks for the cold hard truth guys. I think I'll try going with a heavy bullet and see what happens. The idea that the lighter bullet will cause more damage, totally makes sense when you think about it.

I realize that the 7mm isn't very fur friendly, but I'm probably not going to make my living hunting coyotes anyway.

[Huntsman]

Have a read here, some good info. This guy has put a lot of studies into this and many other cartridges such as the 280 Rem which I just aquired.

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Know...on+Magnum.html

[Hotwheels81]

I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that a 7mm 139gr interlock from even my lil 7-08 is NOT fur friendly.

Dropped a yote with one a while back and the damage was boarder line gruesome... Or quite humane depending on how you look at it.

[wally338]

I use 168gr VLD's in my 7mm, the damage is impressive. There is no saving the fur if shooting a coyote with a 7mm, but you sure can reach way out there.

[Rockjockey]

Barnes makes a banded solid in 140gr. Would be good on yotes but good luck finding them.

[Lefty-Canuck]

I never liked the idea of using FMJ or solids on varmints....they will almost always pass through and a lot of the time coyote hunting is done on frozen grounds....those style of bullets can travel a long ways through the target and down range.....skipping and ricochet are a high possibility.

Lighter more frangible bullets might be harder on pelts but are inherently safer IMHO.

LC

[Lefty]

I'd tend to stick with a 160 grain bullet and like mentioned earlier either a tsx or gmx bullet. Possibly a partition or grand slam would work too.

[lone wolf]

Originally Posted by Dick284

There is no fur friendly bullets in 7mm.
Going heavy may work, but hardly!

x2

If you want to salvage the fur, buy a cheap .223

[heretohunt]

I have shot a few over the years with the 7mm. Usually cuts em in half.
If you aim a little further back and center punch em it's not so bad. Shooting coyotes is the best possible practice with your rifle, so to ruin some fur is worth it in my opinion.

[Jordan Smith]

I load a 100gr Sierra HP at 2060 fps using BD, which works well on grouse and other targets of opportunity while hunting big game. About the same speed as a .22 Mag, but with twice as much bullet.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by Jordan Smith

I load a 100gr Sierra HP at 2060 fps using BD, which works well on grouse and other targets of opportunity while hunting big game. About the same speed as a .22 Mag, but with twice as much bullet.

Neat idea!

LC

[sdeviation]

i ran SIerra 100gn hollow points at 4000fps in a big 7...
my closes yote was 50 yards...he just puffed up to twice the size and rolled over....

[bradh]

I'm of the opinion that the bullet weight isn't going to change the damage inflicted by the 7mm. I think the caliber will contribute more to the size of the extra post mortem surgery. I've hit 'yotes with a 25-06 that were rendered useless for the fur auction.

I would probably find a 22 center fire for the coyote days.