If I slow the V-Max bullet down would the pelt damage decrease?

[RussellJ]

I went predator hunting in Texas a couple weeks ago, used a .223 AR-15 for the long shots and 12ga #4 buck for close range. I was shooting factory .223 Hornady 55grn V-Max Varmint Express bullets at 3062fps out of my 20” AR-15 barrel. I shot three bobcats with this load and all were 120 to 150 yard shots, I believe I got lucky on the distances of the shots because the pelt damage wasn’t bad. If the shots were closer, I believe pelt damage would have been excessive. Question, if I slow the fps to say 2900fps, would I decrease the chance of destroying a pelt? My thinking is that I’m on the edge of excessive pelt damage, if I slow down the bullet terminal damage would decrease also?

 

[hogpatrol]

Under no circumstances would I be using Vmax bullets if I was concerned about saving pelts. Use a target bullet and pencil hole them.

From Hornady's website, their ad copy for the Vmax

"The industry's leading varmint bullet with polymer tip and streamlined design results in ultra flat trajectories. The industry-leading concentricity of the match grade jacket design provides maximum accuracy at all ranges as well as explosive expansion, even at velocities as low as 1600 fps."

 

[RussellJ]

Under no circumstances would I be using Vmax bullets if I was concerned about saving pelts. Use a target bullet and pencil hole them.

From Hornady's website, their ad copy for the Vmax

"The industry's leading varmint bullet with polymer tip and streamlined design results in ultra flat trajectories. The industry-leading concentricity of the match grade jacket design provides maximum accuracy at all ranges as well as explosive expansion, even at velocities as low as 1600 fps."

Well the other problem is the thick thorny brush of Texas. I just isn't any fun walking in the Texas Brush. It has been two weeks and I'm still pulling stickers out of my own hide form the little looking we had to do.

 

[msinc]

Full metal jacket bullets...if you can find any that will group these days are even better. Last year I shot a gray fox at 75 yards with a 69 grain match king out of a 223. The hide was ruined. It looked like if I had kick it he would have been in two pieces.
You can forget Hornady FMJ bullets...they might group in at 3" or so if you do a real precise job reloading. Winchester used to make some and Natchez Shooters sold them in bulk. They were spot on, but that's been a while, I am sure they don't make/sell them anymore...anything that works good just cannot be tolerated.

 

[drover]

My experience with bobcats has been nil but for coyotes I use the Nosler 40 gr ballistic tip, they have a thicker jacket than the V-Max and it evidently delays expansion enough that they blow up inside. I have never ruined a coyote hide using them, generally I have to hunt for the entrance hole and have yet to have an exit hole.
I may be all wet though because a bobcat is generally quite a bit smaller than a coyote but I believe it would be worth a try for you.

drover

 

[Toby Bradshaw]

My experience with bobcats has been nil but for coyotes I use the Nosler 40 gr ballistic tip, they have a thicker jacket than the V-Max and it evidently delays expansion enough that they blow up inside. I have never ruined a coyote hide using them, generally I have to hunt for the entrance hole and have yet to have an exit hole.
I may be all wet though because a bobcat is generally quite a bit smaller than a coyote but I believe it would be worth a try for you.

drover

I'm shooting coyotes with a .222 and 40gr NBTs, usually within 100 yards but occasionally out to 200+. On frontal shots the NBTs usually don't exit, but on side shots they do exit roughly 25% of the time. The exit holes aren't huge, though -- 1"-2" for the most part. Here are a couple of representative exit wounds:

 

[swd]

You just never know. The last bobcat I shot was a small one at about 60 yards. 55gr Ballistic Tip at 3800 out of a 22-250. Wen I pulled the trigger I figured it would blow it in 2 but when I got to it there was just one small entry hole and no exit. If your really looking to be fur friendly the 17's are the best choice.

 

[vmaxpro]

I love my 17 fireball for coyote and bobcat. Not a drop of blood so its good for kids. Im not really into showing my kids a blown up coyote lol

 

[J P Brown]

I think twist rate has a lot to do with it, using your ar15, I'm guessing it's fairly fast twist. Sure the vmax won't help, but with a slower twist I bet it would be better.

 

[hogpatrol]

Not so sure about the .17FB. This was a 25 grain "fur friendly" bullet on this guy.

 

[OKyote73]

Not so sure about the .17FB. This was a 25 grain "fur friendly" bullet on this guy. View attachment 1004213

Hogpatrol, what the h..l is that?

 

[hogpatrol]

Hogpatrol, what the h..l is that?

That is a springhare. You hunt them at night, in Africa. Just when you get them in the scope, they jump six feet. Scan the fields with a spotlight and it's eyes all over the place. During mating season, it's a frenzy. Great varmint hunting from the truck. I don't but the locals eat them.

 

[swd]

Not much left to eat on that one

 

[vmaxpro]

Not so sure about the .17FB. This was a 25 grain "fur friendly" bullet on this guy. View attachment 1004213

LOL!!!

 

[Sniper338]

The vmax at 2400-2500 fps still tears stuff up. Cant use this bullet if you care about pelts

 

[Brians356]

FWIW I once shot a badger just behind the shoulder, downhill, with a 223 Rem launching a 40 BT from about 80 yards. No exit hole.
-

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

That is a springhare. You hunt them at night, in Africa. Just when you get them in the scope, they jump six feet. Scan the fields with a spotlight and it's eyes all over the place. During mating season, it's a frenzy. Great varmint hunting from the truck. I don't but the locals eat them.

Haha epic fun shooting them.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

Shot lots of critters with the vmax. Yes, slowing it down will tend to decrease pelt damage on average. You can go down to 1200 fps with Blue Dot, but Blue Dot loads will not cycle the AR. H4895 is good for reduced loads that will cycle the AR, but likely not below 2000 fps.

Will the damage be low enough? Dunno. But slow them down and it will be less.

 

[boltfluter]

Russell,

You need to go to a 40 V-max which will limit penetration and increase expansion. I have literally shot hundreds of coyotes with this combination and it is the best that I have ever used. Bobcats have very thin skin and bullet placement is critical. At all costs try to avoid shots where the animal is 45 deg to you. Straight on shots, if placed dead center , will never exit. Behind the shoulder may exit but most of the time the exit is 1" or less. Easily sewn up. If you have the animal facing you at a 45 deg angle and must take the shot, place the bullet precisely between the shoulder and the neck. If done correctly this will never exit. If you hit on or behind the shoulder it will not be pretty. Many coyotes gave their lives in the name of research to figure out these shot placement strategies. Good luck with your Bobcat safaris, and keep us posted as to your results on shot placement and your results. All in the name of research of course. Lol.

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[RussellJ]

Russell,

You need to go to a 40 V-max which will limit penetration and increase expansion. I have literally shot hundreds of coyotes with this combination and it is the best that I have ever used. Bobcats have very thin skin and bullet placement is critical. At all costs try to avoid shots where the animal is 45 deg to you. Straight on shots, if placed dead center , will never exit. Behind the shoulder may exit but most of the time the exit is 1" or less. Easily sewn up. If you have the animal facing you at a 45 deg angle and must take the shot, place the bullet precisely between the shoulder and the neck. If done correctly this will never exit. If you hit on or behind the shoulder it will not be pretty. Many coyotes gave their lives in the name of research to figure out these shot placement strategies. Good luck with your Bobcat safaris, and keep us posted as to your results on shot placement and your results. All in the name of research of course. Lol.

Regards, Paul

www.boltfluting.com

Thank you for the information....