.223 Fur Friendly Loads

[MTLabrador]

In order to beat cabin fever, and because we currently have a great abundance of coyotes, I want to get into coyote hunting a lot more this winter. I like coyotes and I’ve been pretty soft on them lately after a youth spent killing every one I saw year round. My better half has also asked me to get her some good fur for garment tanning and decorative purposes, so I don’t want to cut them in half like I usually did with my .22-250 loads.

I want to primarily use my .223 Tikka,
20” 8 twist. I have 12 pounds or so of Varget and some assorted IMR 4064, 4895, and 8208 XBR. I’ve heard great things about H335 with lighter bullets in the .223, are there any other good recommendations or should I stick with the Varget?

I also have a pile of 60 grain Hornady spire points and 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. I’ve never had much luck keeping either inside a coyote and have actually used both for deer. Leaning towards the 50 or 53 Vmax, and I want enough velocity out of a 20” barrel to keep it point and shoot to 300 or so.

There’s a decent amount of wolves around my best coyote spot close to home, and I would have no reservations about shooting a wolf with the 55 grain BT. I’m sure the Vmax would work just fine on wolf as well.

Thanks for the recommendations as we enter the long, dark off season. I also want to shoot one with the .22 mag single six if I can call one in to 50 yards or so, which will be a fun goal to work towards.

 

[Nick87]

Can't help you with the handload or powder end but v-max have always been great on coyotes for me. Tiny hole, no exit and they never take a step if you keep it off the shoulder. 50 and 55 grainers out of a .22-250. Good luck.

 

[Hunting Wife]

Also no help on hand loads, but I use the 55 grain V-max in my .223 and have never had issues with pass through. Very little sewing with those most of the time.

 

[Nick87]

I also want to shoot one with the .22 mag single six if I can call one in to 50 yards or so, which will be a fun goal to work towards.

Never thought about that before. Calling them in and taking them with a shotgun is a blast. Especially if you can double.

 

[MTLabrador]

Never thought about that before. Calling them in and taking them with a shotgun is a blast. Especially if you can double.

I’ve used a 12 gauge with #4s and a killed a lot of them with various .22s including the old .22 pistol, but never when calling for them.

 

[Jnasa]

Not very many pass through with V max. I used to use 55 grain regularly. I currently shoot 55 grain Nosler BT but haven’t shot a coyote yet. If you have them already can try them on a coyote first before investing in Vmax.

I would be a bit more confident with the Nosler on a wolf than the vmax. Vmax would probably be fine though.

 

[Nick87]

I’ve used a 12 gauge with #4s and a killed a lot of them with various .22s including the old .22 pistol, but never when calling for them.

It's spendy but hevi-shot dead coyote with an extended choke will roll coyotes at distances that are jaw dropping.

 

[Jnasa]

It's spendy but hevi-shot dead coyote with an extended choke will roll coyotes at distances that are jaw dropping.

I wouldn’t consider it exactly fur friendly though.

 

[Nick87]

I wouldn’t consider it exactly fur friendly though.

T shot doesn't tear them up too bad at all. At least the ones I have shot.

 

[rogerthat]

Most fur friendly bullet I have ever shot is the Sierra 52 gr hpbt. Keep them below 3500 fps which I think is pretty fast for a 223 anyway

 

[shb]

Sierra bthp 52/53/55gr


Can't go any better.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

My .223 is a 1:9, but for years have used 24.5 gr of H335 and it’s been easy/great. I use it for both 60 vmax and 62ttsx. My barrel was 22 but I recently chopped it to 16.5 and haven’t measured the velocity yet. I was getting about 3100.

If you not opposed to trying new bullets instead of using what you already have - maybe try the new 69gr ELD-VT. I want to try them but think they’d probably be better out of a 1:8.

 

[D4570]

I have not found any 22/250 bullets that are "Fur freindy" most of the time, a 223 sure. Better yet, a 17 Hornet.

 

[Sask hunter]

Vmax in 223 is pretty good. I load up 50 grain Nosler ballistic tips in my 22-250 and they do good. Usually an exit but not too much to see

 

[Sask hunter]

I should also say vmax in 22-250 the one I box I tried was very splashy. One time my brother shot a coyote with 22-250 with some cheap herter 55 grain soft points. Was only one but I was impressed they were very fur friendly. Obviously need more then one coyote to make that call tho

 

[Nameless Range]

My better half has also asked me to get her some good fur for garment tanning and decorative purposes, so I don’t want to cut them in half like I usually did with my .22-250 loads.

Not to derail your thread, but you oughta take up trapping. No holes in the hide, tons of fun.

 

[Gut Shot]

A Sierra Game king 55gr BTHP in front of 37.5-38.0gr of H380 is what I've always used in the 22-250. They generally expand on impact and leave a baseball sized wound channel under the skin with no exit. I use the same bullet over Win748 in the 223, can't remember the powder weight though.

 

[44hunter45]

I also want to shoot one with the .22 mag single six if I can call one in to 50 yards or so, which will be a fun goal to work towards.

Story time.

We had a big female here 20 years ago we called "Screamer". She took several chickens and Muscovey ducks from us. She would then set up right behind the house and let out these bloodcurdling screams all night. She got really bold. She would come in the yard any time without fear.

I decided I needed to end her. I set up with my back to a Ponderosa pine behind the house. I had my Mini-14 with 55 grain somethings. I don't remember the bullet. Just throw away loads. I had a good open shooting space in front and "impenetrable" brush behind.

Long story short. About the second or third wounded rabbit squeal, she came in silent to my right side. Through that brush. I didn't see her until she was WAY too close. I turned my head to the right and there she was, watching me from a few feet away. I couldn't get the Mini swung around on her. She just sat on her haunches with a knowing coyote smile while I did my best "Oh crap" dance. Long before I got the rifle swung around, she ghosted back into brush. Ever since then I lay a handgun beside me on the right when I call turkeys or predators.

Screamer did get taken down, but not by me. I let my neighbor run his trap line over onto us. He caught Screamer about a week later.

I haven't called coyotes in a while. This thread has me wanting to get back into it. I have an AR build in my head in 20 Practical/Tactical.

 

[shb]

I have not found any 22/250 bullets that are "Fur freindy" most of the time, a 223 sure. Better yet, a 17 Hornet.

Sierra bthp 52/53/55gr


Can't go any better.

.224 entrance, no exit. Thats as friendly as you can get.

 

[MTLabrador]

Not to derail your thread, but you oughta take up trapping. No holes in the hide, tons of fun.

I’ve been meaning to, I think it would be a lot of fun in the winter, especially for bobcats. I’ve been around trapping a lot, but never did it myself.