.223 Fur Friendly Loads

[brockel]

Benchmark and 53 grain vmax. 20” tikka 8” twist should get you to 3400fps. H335 works good with 50 grain and down but meters like shit and has temp swing issues. It’s not fur friendly on Fox or bobcats though but very few centerfires are

 

[MTLabrador]

Benchmark and 53 grain vmax. 20” tikka 8” twist should get you to 3400fps. H335 works good with 50 grain and down but meters like shit and has temp swing issues. It’s not fur friendly on Fox or bobcats though but very few centerfires are

Hadn’t thought of Benchmark for some reason, but it’s available here, I’ll have to try it. That looks like way better velocity than I could get with Varget.

For fox and bobcat I’d just stick with the .17. I made the mistake of shooting a really nice fox with my .22-250 once and will never do that again.

 

[brockel]

Hadn’t thought of Benchmark for some reason, but it’s available here, I’ll have to try it. That looks like way better velocity than I could get with Varget.

For fox and bobcat I’d just stick with the .17. I made the mistake of shooting a really nice fox with my .22-250 once and will never do that again.

You will probably need a drop tube to get enough Benchmark in

 

[MTLabrador]

You will probably need a drop tube to get enough Benchmark in

The satisfying crunch of seating a bullet into a .223 case stuffed full of Varget must be how the mountain men felt tamping down a patched round ball.

 

[ImBillT]

50gr Nosler BT’s @2900 from my .222 were excellent on fur. They always got in before damaging hide, and never exited. The only exceptions I had were hitting low. A leg bone would open it up, then it would exit the leg and wreck the hide on the chest.

Hornady’s tended to blow early. Higher velocity from my 223AI were rough on hide with every bullet I tried.

My sample size is probably under 100.

 

[brockel]

50gr Nosler BT’s @2900 from my .222 were excellent on fur. They always got in before damaging hide, and never exited. The only exceptions I had were hitting low. A leg bone would open it up, then it would exit the leg and wreck the hide on the chest.

Hornady’s tended to blow early. Higher velocity from my 223AI were rough on hide with every bullet I tried.

My sample size is probably under 100.

Did you happen to try the 53 grain vmax? I’ve had issues with the 40,50, and 55 grain vmax opening early and splashing occasionally but not the 53 grain vmax. I think its shape helps it. From what I’ve been told it is a 75 grain eldm match with the base cut down. I’ve pushed them 3700 out of a 22-250 and still had good luck on fur

 

[ImBillT]

Did you happen to try the 53 grain vmax? I’ve had issues with the 40,50, and 55 grain vmax opening early and splashing occasionally but not the 53 grain vmax. I think its shape helps it. From what I’ve been told it is a 75 grain eldm match with the base cut down. I’ve pushed them 3700 out of a 22-250 and still had good luck on fur

My 12 twist 223AI was toast before they came out. They won’t shoot at all in my 14 twist 223AI or 12 twist 222. They shoot great from my buddy’s 12 twist 223AI, but, no, I never shot one on an animal.

I’m surprised Hornady didn’t put anything on the label. That is a very long bullet for 53gr, and only marginally stable in a 12 twist. My buddy shoots them .5MOA or better at 100yds and somewhere between 300 and 500 they go all to heck and won’t shoot 5MOA. He’s lucky to even get them on target.

 

[DFS]

Fur isn’t worth anything this year again is it?

 

[brockel]

Fur isn’t worth anything this year again is it?

If you want to finish them and send them off to a tanner and then wait 6+ months to get them back and then sell them online you can get alright money for them. But you have $25-$35/hide wrapped up in tanning fees. Plus your time finishing them.

 

[MTLabrador]

If you want to finish them and send them off to a tanner and then wait 6+ months to get them back and then sell them online you can get alright money for them. But you have $25-$35/hide wrapped up in tanning fees. Plus your time finishing them.

If it was all for selling them I’m not sure I’d care, but I’ve been instructed to get a few for the wall and for some unknown fur projects. I’ll do my duty, I’ve been asked to do a lot more tasks that are a lot less fun.

 

[Forelix]

By switching to a dedicated varmint bullet, you'll be amazed at the difference in pelt quality. The coyote will drop in its tracks with a small entry and often no exit, leaving a prime hide for your better half.

Good luck beating the cabin fever. This is a perfect winter project.

 

[psinclair]

Following closely...

I've been searching for that combination, (cartridge/bullet) for 50 years.

Frontal shots, yeah, most of the time if you center up the shot the bullet stays in. Broadside rib shots not so much, with anything large enough to consistently kill a coyote from 250 and out...

I use a 22 CM, 20" 1-7" and shoot 90gr Hornady Atips at 3100. My 2nd choice is the 85.5 Berger Hybrid.

 

[Jbotto]

Benchmark and 53 grain vmax. 20” tikka 8” twist should get you to 3400fps. H335 works good with 50 grain and down but meters like shit and has temp swing issues. It’s not fur friendly on Fox or bobcats though but very few centerfires are

Why does H335 meter badly? I used it years ago with just a beam scale and always figured it would pack a powder drop cylinder very uniformly?

 

[brockel]

Why does H335 meter badly? I used it years ago with just a beam scale and always figured it would pack a powder drop cylinder very uniformly?

Might be just my powder measure I have but it binds it up something terrible. Stick powders I don’t have a problem with.

 

[Caseknife]

Anybody try the 35 HH? I have them clipping along around 4-4100 out of both my 223AI and 22-250, would that be too much for clean hides? To confess, have never killed a coyote, may have to change that now that I have more time.

 

[brockel]

Anybody try the 35 HH? I have them clipping along around 4-4100 out of both my 223AI and 22-250, would that be too much for clean hides? To confess, have never killed a coyote, may have to change that now that I have more time.

If never used small coppers like that but I’m guessing you will end up with an exit though it might only be a quarter to fifty cent piece exit hole

 

[Wind Gypsy]

Following closely...

I've been searching for that combination, (cartridge/bullet) for 50 years.

Frontal shots, yeah, most of the time if you center up the shot the bullet stays in. Broadside rib shots not so much, with anything large enough to consistently kill a coyote from 250 and out...

I use a 22 CM, 20" 1-7" and shoot 90gr Hornady Atips at 3100. My 2nd choice is the 85.5 Berger Hybrid.

Have the Atips and LRHTs performed consistently terminally for you? Or just consistent enough to get stuff killed if you put it in the boiler room?

 

[psinclair]

Have the Atips and LRHTs performed consistently terminally for you? Or just consistent enough to get stuff killed if you put it in the boiler room?

The 90's have worked very well for me. .600 G1, and I use a .307 G7 in my Swaro EL Range binos. It's actually higher than what Hornady claims.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

The 90's have worked very well for me. .600 G1, and I use a .307 G7 in my Swaro EL Range binos. It's actually higher than what Hornady claims.

.307 G7 @ 3100.. Sounds an awful lot like a 140 hybrid at 6.5 SAUM velocities with a lot less recoil.

 

[psinclair]

When a deer hunt turns out to be a coyote call stand….
90’s used here.