What is the best coyote bullet for my .243?

[Z7shooter]

Does anyone use a .243 for coyotes??

What is the best bullet choice for my Browning Varmint Special .243?

Im looking to set it up with a bullet that is as fur friendly as possible. I know there are a lot of others on here that are more knowledgeable than I. Any help is greatly appreciated!

[super7mag]

243 and fur friendly are a tough combo, it's still what I use the most.
I've switched to using the mono metal bullets in 80 gr.
I've used 60 gr seirra hp and the 75 gr seirra with mixed results, I tried the 55 &70 gr ballistic tips left some big holes. I've tried the 58 gr, 65gr,75gr V-max line my best results were with the 75 gr vmax I probly put down a dozen or more with a dime entry and no or small exit. Then I shot 2 in row with huge exits and they were at distance not close.
The monos are my latest experiment, they exit every time but holes are not big so far , again I've only wacked about a dozen so far with them.
Most guys will tell you to drop down in caliber to one of the .22 centerfires.
Of course a lot of this depends if you reload or not.

[overhere]

Ill tell you NOT to use varmint grenades entry is small exit is softball or bigger... just my experience i havent tried any others yet

[J0HN_R1]

Originally Posted by super7mag

The mono's are my latest experiment, they exit every time but holes are not big so far. Again, I've only whacked about a dozen so far with them.

What particular bullet are you using ? A copper solid, you mean ?

I debated using them for coyotes in my .243, but at $1 per projectile that's a bit too much for song-dogs... For me, anyway.

I'm still using 58gr Vmax. For now...

[West O'5]

Originally Posted by J0HN_R1

What particular bullet are you using ? A copper solid, you mean ?

I debated using them for coyotes in my .243, but at $1 per projectile that's a bit too much for song-dogs... For me, anyway.

I'm still using 58gr Vmax. For now...

At $80 pelt/avg if you put up and ship your own fur to auction,$1 per bullet vs. $.30/ bullet is chicken feed......my truck burns more then $.70cents worth of gas driving to next range road/calling set.

[Albertaguide]

Originally Posted by overhere

Ill tell you NOT to use varmint grenades entry is small exit is softball or bigger... just my experience i havent tried any others yet

Imho I have to disagree. I used 62gr varmint grenades all last season and found if the shot was placed in the ribs there was no exit at all. But if too far back (eg abdominal) well let's say it resulted in extensive exit.

[super7mag]

Originally Posted by J0HN_R1

What particular bullet are you using ? A copper solid, you mean ?

I debated using them for coyotes in my .243, but at $1 per projectile that's a bit too much for song-dogs... For me, anyway.

I'm still using 58gr Vmax. For now...

I have both 80 gr ttsx and the 80 gr GMX on hand , they are both less then 1$/bullet when I bought them. Using the same load for deer . Small sample size so far but hope to keep testing them!!

[roger]

imo, if your only after great hides then 17 gr in the 17hmr is 'best' for fur friendly. not the best choice for the 150yards and up shots.
243 is a lot of gun for a little dog.
happy hunting with whatever choose!

[Redrider]

I use 95gr SST ,, small hole in and out

[tchardy1972]

I have used the 80gr ttsx for years with great success. Damage is always minimal.

[J0HN_R1]

Originally Posted by super7mag

I have both 80 gr ttsx and the 80 gr GMX on hand , they are both less then 1$/bullet when I bought them.

Using the same load for deer. Small sample size so far but hope to keep testing them!!

Both Hornady & Barnes copper solids are $50 per box of 50 pcs, everywhere I've seen them.

I'm a firm believer they do less damage to pelts, but...

[Battleriverman]

My friend uses a 58 grain & has no trouble . He had some factory & now uses handloads . They are excellent for coyotes ! You can always sew the hole up. I wouldn't worry too much about it . The 58 gr are pushing 3850+ feet per sec & are deadly on coyotes ! Shot my first moose with a 243 & 100 gr bullets ! An excellent calibre for deer , antelope, coyotes etc.

[58thecat]

One that groups well and doesn't do pelt damage.

[nube]

Sell it and buy the 204........

[ForwardBias]

Originally Posted by super7mag

I have both 80 gr ttsx and the 80 gr GMX on hand , they are both less then 1$/bullet when I bought them. Using the same load for deer . Small sample size so far but hope to keep testing them!!

I'm gonna try those bullets in my 243. It would be nice having a dual purpose loading.

[kingrat]

Originally Posted by Albertaguide

Imho I have to disagree. I used 62gr varmint grenades all last season and found if the shot was placed in the ribs there was no exit at all. But if too far back (eg abdominal) well let's say it resulted in extensive exit.

Any bone contact resulted in severe damage from the 3 I tried them on I pulled the rest and switched to Barnes 80 ttsx after that and they were 100 times better just about always a small exit.

[Nordegg2]

55 great ballistic tip. Pushed as fast as you can. Small entry and very seldom a exit hole.

[buckbrushoutdoors]

Ive been using the 90gr gmx handload out of my 257wby this year and im very impressed with the minimal pelt damage. Ive torn them up worse with my 223. small entrance quarter sized exit from 30yards to 338yards

[Thunder/FX]

65gr Hornady V-Max mildly handloaded.
Kills well and minimal damage

[Marty S]

NO... NO... NO... AND NO!!!!

Please... no more ballistic tips, no more v-max and varmint grenades and all these stupid things that "are supposed to stay in the carcass and not exit. WHEN they exit, it is almost always catastrophic damage, and the fur industry is not interested in buying and using such damaged coyotes!

Yes, there are exceptions, some of the very disciplined callers that never intentionally take a questionable shot can get it done properly with such ammo, in fact one of the areas best callers used to use a Calhoon Double Hollow Point, but he always shot his coyotes "face front" in the chest.

But to those that huck lead at coyotes, please no more explosive bullets, perhaps .204 and .17 Remington excluded, and outside of these calibers, no more Lightning speed bullets. These are the worst things going, when they come out because they do come out often enough.

A .243 can be one of the most fine coyote calibers that I have seen, but only when slowed down, such as with the heavy bullets. Deep penetration ammo is best, that which will punch through and not fragment. Same goes for most of the 22 centerfires.

When catastrophic bullets hit bone, the end result is always a disaster. Pelvis hits, spine, leg bones, shoulder, and even the head and you have nasty results, and then if you sell them, then some poor sucker has to skin hat mess??? And you actually think you are entitled to money for that kind of coyote???

This guy is onto something...

Originally Posted by Redrider

I use 95gr SST ,, small hole in and out

And yes, my opinion is qualified.

The smartest fish cop in the whole world once said...
"...everybody is entitled to a qualified opinion..."

[Marty S]

Also, for the guy that just wants to buy ammo and have his best chance at clean shooting coyotes, try Federal Classics SP bullets. I know this is a good bullet, but similar stuff in Winchester and Remington is a little harsh.

[Ranch11]

95 grain SST, 80 grain GMX, 58 grain vmax

[Xbolt7mm]

Originally Posted by Z7shooter

Does anyone use a .243 for coyotes??

What is the best bullet choice for my Browning Varmint Special .243?

Im looking to set it up with a bullet that is as fur friendly as possible. I know there are a lot of others on here that are more knowledgeable than I. Any help is greatly appreciated!

Anything that lets the wind outa those deer killers

[700-223]

Glad to hear the SST's are good. Have my 243 zeroed for them from deer season but haven't had a chance to use them on coyotes yet. Like the idea of one load for coyote/deer and will try for wolf this winter too.

After I use these up, will give the gmx a try. My tikka compact lite didn't really group well with the ttsx. Haven't had great results with the superperformance hornady in my other rifles. Really impressed with it in this rifle though, best grouping ammo so far. Gets a chrono'd 3090 fps from a 20" barrel too.

Hopefully I'll have time to start handloading in about a year or so...

[kujoseto]

From my experience, near max handloads of 75 gr vmax are NOT fur friendly haha. But they are deadly accurate and devastating of that's what you end up going for. I can't imagine it's the best cartridge for fur friendly application on yoties

[AlbertaAl]

My experience using a 6PPC (.243 bullets) with 58gr. Vmax @ 3231fps and 62gr. Berger @ 3100 fps has been similar outcome with both bullets on coyotes. Under the 200 yards - the exit wounds are from 1"-2" on the pelt. Further distances, the bullets don't exit.

I've developed a reduced load for distances up to 100 yards using TRAIL BOSS powder and 58 gr. Vmax @ 1900 fps which are very accurate, very quiet, and very fur friendly. This load will never exit and always kills !

You might want to develop a reduced load and a long distance load for your rifle as one load isn't ideal for all distances or situations.

[243 wild cat]

I am using the 58gr Vmax very impressed with the bullets on coyotes. Under the 250 yards - the exit wounds are none if not small on the pelt. Further distances, like 350 to the bullets don't exit. But i will say that a 100yd or closer with a front shoulder hit on bone entry hole looks like a 338 took it down

[Fordevr]

I just got a T/C Icon .243 and am excited to try it 300yrds +
I currently us my .204 and factory 32 gr Hornady. If it is fur you want then shoot a .204 with 32gr vmax at 100-200 yrds and they go in and not out. I shot a couple at 40 and the entrance hole is a unbelievable 2-3 inches. Now I have a semi auto Stoeger 3500 12 gauge for the 5-40 yard shots Loaded with Hornady Coyote BB.

[Salavee]

Originally Posted by Fordevr

I just got a T/C Icon .243 and am excited to try it 300yrds +
I currently us my .204 and factory 32 gr Hornady. If it is fur you want then shoot a .204 with 32gr vmax at 100-200 yrds and they go in and not out. I shot a couple at 40 and the entrance hole is a unbelievable 2-3 inches. Now I have a semi auto Stoeger 3500 12 gauge for the 5-40 yard shots Loaded with Hornady Coyote BB.

This system seems to work best in my Tac .20 as well. The first round is a 33 gr Calhoon followed by 40 gr Berger Varmint HP's. Pelt damage is just part of the program with any shot Coyote in my experience. Darn seldom I don't get some with any bullet. I really don't care as long as they go dead.