If you were setting up a rig for "sniping" coyotes at the longest possible ranges what would you pick for a bullet/crtridge, and what would be your range limit for said purpose? Been brain-storming this for many years now and have some thoughts myself but would be interesting to see what others have "BS'd" also. No BS please...HA! Gots plenty of thread for sewing big holes so let the fur fly with no regard for how big holes might be.
Best LR Bullet/Cartridge for Coyotes
- Thread starter sscoyote
- Start date
CatShooter
A family member asked me to watch over her place while calving season was going on - ranges were looooong against coyotes and feral dogs.
I spoke with Hornady about 30 cal A-Maxs, and the "rep" assured me that they had the same jackets as V-Maxs, so I took my 1,000 yard 300 Win Mag target rifle, loaded with 178 A-Maxs.
The 30 Cal A-Maxes do NOT workie like V-Maxs... they slipped right through. 'Yotes spun and ran, neighboring ranchers complained
Plan "B"... For the following season, family member ponies up for a spankin' new Rem M-700 Sendero-II in 264 Win Mag, with a Nikon 6.5-20x44 Monarch.
Gun is very accurate, and loads with 95 V-Maxs actually work like V-Maxs are supposed to. The smash factor on feral dogs and coyotes must be seen to believed - a major terminal ickie!! She doesn't have the ranch anymore, but I still have the rifle... for bigger canines.
I don't think there is one caliber that will do what you want, there are a bunch. But if shots are out in the 800 to 1K area or a bit further, I would recommend something bigger than a 243, and don't waste your time with long needle bullets - they sip right through at long range, and it is amazing how resilient yote and ferals are... if you don't break them, they spin twice, and they are gone!
.
I think a 6mm-06, or 6mmx284, with 87gr V-Maxs would be a minimum place to start, up through the large cased 6.5 - 264 calibers,, like the 6.5-06, the 6.5x284, 264 Win Mag, etc... in a 11 to 15 pound rifle that is (maybe) a no turn chamber, but NOT a benchrest or F-Class rifle... it needs to be a true field rifle.
I spoke with Hornady about 30 cal A-Maxs, and the "rep" assured me that they had the same jackets as V-Maxs, so I took my 1,000 yard 300 Win Mag target rifle, loaded with 178 A-Maxs.
The 30 Cal A-Maxes do NOT workie like V-Maxs... they slipped right through. 'Yotes spun and ran, neighboring ranchers complained
Plan "B"... For the following season, family member ponies up for a spankin' new Rem M-700 Sendero-II in 264 Win Mag, with a Nikon 6.5-20x44 Monarch.
Gun is very accurate, and loads with 95 V-Maxs actually work like V-Maxs are supposed to. The smash factor on feral dogs and coyotes must be seen to believed - a major terminal ickie!! She doesn't have the ranch anymore, but I still have the rifle... for bigger canines.
I don't think there is one caliber that will do what you want, there are a bunch. But if shots are out in the 800 to 1K area or a bit further, I would recommend something bigger than a 243, and don't waste your time with long needle bullets - they sip right through at long range, and it is amazing how resilient yote and ferals are... if you don't break them, they spin twice, and they are gone!
.
I think a 6mm-06, or 6mmx284, with 87gr V-Maxs would be a minimum place to start, up through the large cased 6.5 - 264 calibers,, like the 6.5-06, the 6.5x284, 264 Win Mag, etc... in a 11 to 15 pound rifle that is (maybe) a no turn chamber, but NOT a benchrest or F-Class rifle... it needs to be a true field rifle.
Interesting comments guys--appreciate 'em. Cat--that's about what i'd thought. Interesting your shooting the 95 6.5 V-max's. I have a 6.5 WSM XP-100 handgun i may revisit soon. I better get some more thread though--huh? Actually convinced a guy to shoot the 87 V-max out of his 243 AR-10, who uses the tech stuff for longer ranges, and i don't think i've ever seen anybody hit and kill them so far out as he does with a surprising amount of regularity.
Also interesting your comment on VLD-types not delivering the terminal effect needed. I'd often thought that myself, though i haven't taken that many that far out to really have a grip on it. THKS!!
Also interesting your comment on VLD-types not delivering the terminal effect needed. I'd often thought that myself, though i haven't taken that many that far out to really have a grip on it. THKS!!
Keith Glasscock
Gold $$ Contributor
I have to agree with Catshooter about Amax bullets. I've shot a couple of coyotes with 30 cal 155 Amax bullets at short range (80-120 yards) from a 308. Launch velocity was 2850 fps.
The first was a large female slightly angling away. Bullet didn't do much until it encountered the off-side shoulder. Destroyed the shoulder and she fell. It wasn't instant by any means.
The second was a young male. at 80 yards, shot him in the chest. Bullet entered just behind the shoulder and went through both lungs. He ran 50 yards or so before hitting head-first into a small tree. The red stripe of blood was a good 3-4 feet wide all the way to the tree. On examination, the bullet had passed between two ribs and the exit wound was about 3/4"
I won't use them against soft targets any more. V-maxes work very well at short range (out to 450 or so).
Back to your original question, I would recommend the various 6.5's for coyotes out to 700 in good conditions. Beyond that, a solid hit is not a sure thing in field conditions. Any time a solid hit is not a sure thing, cartridge and caliber doesn't matter.
The first was a large female slightly angling away. Bullet didn't do much until it encountered the off-side shoulder. Destroyed the shoulder and she fell. It wasn't instant by any means.
The second was a young male. at 80 yards, shot him in the chest. Bullet entered just behind the shoulder and went through both lungs. He ran 50 yards or so before hitting head-first into a small tree. The red stripe of blood was a good 3-4 feet wide all the way to the tree. On examination, the bullet had passed between two ribs and the exit wound was about 3/4"
I won't use them against soft targets any more. V-maxes work very well at short range (out to 450 or so).
Back to your original question, I would recommend the various 6.5's for coyotes out to 700 in good conditions. Beyond that, a solid hit is not a sure thing in field conditions. Any time a solid hit is not a sure thing, cartridge and caliber doesn't matter.
CatShooter
slm9s said:Heck, a 7RM with a 180 berger would work waaaay out there.
The problem with anything larger than 6.5mm is the lack of fragile bullets of a decent BC. A 7mm Mag with 180's brings you back to the "zip through" problem. Might as well stab them with an ice pick!
Now, there's a dog without a fire hydrant
95 grains of powder through a .26" hole - barrel life of ~400 rounds.By the time you have worked up a load, you need a new barrel.
abishai said:
You need more rangefinder....
Years ago I tried a 300 Win Mag for long range coyotes with 110 V-Max back when we didn't care about hides. They were very, very accurate out at 100yds but the bc was so low they weren't accurate enough in my rifle past 300 yds. But Catshooter is right--those V-Maxes will literally blow a coyote up, weather you hit bone or not.
So I had a purpose built rifle made up for long range antelope, coyote ,wolf. All thin skinned animals. Rifle is a Rem. 700, heavy Bartlein 8 twist barrel, thumbhole stock in 6.5/284. Cat is right again- long, pointy bullets on thin skinned game don't work very well. Neither do small caliber, super high velocity bullets as they will often "splash" on contact. Really large surface wound but not enough to put them down. So we need a bullet that will have a good bc and still disrupt at long ranges and the 95g V-Max certainly fits that criteria. Especially at the velocities the .264 Mag will generate.
The rifle has worked out quite well on coyotes out to 500 yds. and antelope out to 600 (although I use a heavier bullet for antelope) and should work well on wolves should the opportunity arise. I have no doubt that it will work much farther out but you start running into lots of other problems past about 500yds. If the critter happens to be standing still (as in feeding off a kill) it's one thing, but if that critter is moving through the sage-brush it can be difficult to dope your shot. Then you've got to find it after the kill. Past 500 yds. those sage-brush start to all look the same Always take the high ground when you can ( but not too high). Hope this helps with your decision. dedogs
So I had a purpose built rifle made up for long range antelope, coyote ,wolf. All thin skinned animals. Rifle is a Rem. 700, heavy Bartlein 8 twist barrel, thumbhole stock in 6.5/284. Cat is right again- long, pointy bullets on thin skinned game don't work very well. Neither do small caliber, super high velocity bullets as they will often "splash" on contact. Really large surface wound but not enough to put them down. So we need a bullet that will have a good bc and still disrupt at long ranges and the 95g V-Max certainly fits that criteria. Especially at the velocities the .264 Mag will generate.
The rifle has worked out quite well on coyotes out to 500 yds. and antelope out to 600 (although I use a heavier bullet for antelope) and should work well on wolves should the opportunity arise. I have no doubt that it will work much farther out but you start running into lots of other problems past about 500yds. If the critter happens to be standing still (as in feeding off a kill) it's one thing, but if that critter is moving through the sage-brush it can be difficult to dope your shot. Then you've got to find it after the kill. Past 500 yds. those sage-brush start to all look the same
Always take the high ground when you can ( but not too high). Hope this helps with your decision. dedogsCat makes some very good points.
I'd think hard about the 6.5x284
I'd think hard about the 6.5x284
I`m a wildcat fan and have been playing with the 224 TTH and the 6-284 for long range coyote hunting. I stay with the smaller cal`s. to keep ricochets down. The 22 cal. 80 gr. SMK bullet pushed anything over 3,000 fps make a good varmint bullet. The 224 TTH or the 22-243 Middlestead will do well over that. As for the 6-284 I have 2 rifles shooting now and neither do well with heavy bullets, so I am limited to around 600 with those guns. I do have a Shillon with an 8 twist that I have not got around to putting on and action that should do better. Eather of these round leave big holes, unless they just cut them in 1/2, not for hide hunters.
NCVarhtr
Gold $$ Contributor
Steve,
The 6mm 105 Gr. A-Max works very well at long range also. A couple of years ago, I was Ground Hog Hunting with Lynwood Harrell (Harrell's Powder Measures) in Virginia and he/we were shooting Hogs at 700 to 840 Yds. We killed 3 one afternoon just over 700 yds. and one around 840 yds. He had tried several different bullets, including the 105 Gr. Berger Hunting Bullet. The 105 Gr. A-Max worker perfectly...They opened up very quickly and killed instantly. He was using the 6X47 Lapua Case in a custom rifle . That would be my first Cartridge/Bullet choice for long range Coyote Sniping....He also used a Nightforce scope and dialed up for elevation. This is a great combination---I'm sure there are other good choices out there--I just happen to have some direct experience with this combination... George
The 6mm 105 Gr. A-Max works very well at long range also. A couple of years ago, I was Ground Hog Hunting with Lynwood Harrell (Harrell's Powder Measures) in Virginia and he/we were shooting Hogs at 700 to 840 Yds. We killed 3 one afternoon just over 700 yds. and one around 840 yds. He had tried several different bullets, including the 105 Gr. Berger Hunting Bullet. The 105 Gr. A-Max worker perfectly...They opened up very quickly and killed instantly. He was using the 6X47 Lapua Case in a custom rifle . That would be my first Cartridge/Bullet choice for long range Coyote Sniping....He also used a Nightforce scope and dialed up for elevation. This is a great combination---I'm sure there are other good choices out there--I just happen to have some direct experience with this combination... George
My 338 edge raises hell with coyotes at any range. I don't know if the bullets are expanding or just zipping through, but there is always a 3" hole in and out. I do have a gun at the smith getting a 1-8 dasher barrel put on . It was a 6br 1-12 twist but I didn't like it past 500 yards on dogs. Anyhow I guess I would have to vote for a dasher since that is what I finally settled on.
I agree with NCVarhtr...I've got a 243AI, a 6x47 Lapua, and just recently sold off a .243. The 6x47 Lapua will do everything the .243 will do...and likely more accurately. However...my .243 barrel was fortunately as accurate as my 6x47 Lapua...I think if you will be seriously surprised at the energy available with the 105Amax...run the numbers and compare.
MQ1
MQ1
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