I'm just beginning to play with my new 220 swift and want to work up a good coyote load. I'm found of the Bergers in 17 and 20 so I'm looking at the 52s. All else being equal, would you work with the target or varmint variety for saving fur? any real word experience here?
IT WANT BE NO FUR SAVING WITH THOSE OUT OF A 220 SWIFT 4 SURE I SHOOT THOSE AND 52 GR SIERRAS MATCH OUT OF A 223 AND THEY MAKE MAJOR HOLES IN THE FUR SOMETIMES BUT I 'VE TAKEN SOME NICE COYOTES WITH THOSE BULLET THERE ACCURATE FOR ME YOU NEED SOME 60GR SBT SIERRAS FOR THAT SWIFT IF YOU TRYING TO SAVE THE HIDES
My coyote hunting partner uses 52 gr match bullets in a 223. Kills them like they were struck by lightning. No exit wounds even when hit far back. BUT he doesn’t have the speed you have in your swift. Give them a try you may need to slow them down if you’re blowing holes in them.
I use berger 52 varmints in 22-250 and 2250AI. Makes yotes melt in thier tracks. My fav bullet. Shoot deer with em too. Ive never noticed exit holes. Small holes in then they blow up inside the dog. Thats what theyve always done for me...
I’ve shot quite a few coyotes with 52 Bergers. I’m currently running them at 3800fps. At this speed I’ve had meixed results with the match bullets. They are great for killing, usually like they have been struck by lightning. I’ve had a couple leave nasty holes but they were shots on the point of the shoulder. Overall it’s a good bullet, however I think it’d be great at around 3600-3700. Having said that, I’ll personally stick with the higher speed.
that's been my experience with the 17 and 20 cals. one hole, even on fox sometimes. I shot a 18 lb bobcat a couple years ago with the 17 rem doing about 3800. took me 15 minutes to find the entrance hole. so far it sounds like a wash target vs varmint. Only difference I can see is the BC, but it looks like the varmint may have a bigger HP.
The varmint 52 gr bullet is a hair more accurate than the target 52gr. Fwiw. Shot enough of em to know. The varmint does have a tad bigger hollow point on it.
I have a set of Rorschach carbide dies that make a 52 grain bullet that is virtually identical to the Berger 52 match. I’ve shot several hundred coyotes over the last 40 years with them and it’s hard to imagine a better bullet for coyotes. Facing shots almost never exit. Side shots exit with a nickel size hole if they exit at all.
Sierra 52 and 53 work exceptional, also. Berger's are a tad more explosive than the Sierra's. AA2700, around 44g is magic with a 9 1/2 primer. Check out the heat index of AA2700, you will be very pleased in using this powder in a swift. As you are looking for exceptional accuracy, Sierra's match line plus their 55g BTHP and 55g BTSP all have jackets sorted for concentricity. Sierra's 50g spt is a high velocity bullet also, 44.5g of AA2700 gives me 4000 fps and bug holes, and is an excellent coyote killer. I killed a lot of coyotes in Mexico years ago with a Ruger 22/250 and 52g Bergers, they performed well as a "softer" bullet.
The Sierra 65 Gameking is a helluva bullet, and fairly tough as well...now at Swift velocity, it would probably still be pretty explosive.
