Bullets for Coyotes?

[Jakeway]

I'm looking to work up a light bullet load for my .260 Rem...something for shooting 200-300 yard metal gongs, longer-range plinking and paper punching, and occasionally taking out some coyotes on my friend's farm.

What bullet style would you guys recommend? Varmit class or light-for-caliber soft points?

My deer load is 140 gr Hornady Interlock SP (flat base) with medium charge (41 gr) of IMR 4350, out of a Ruger M77 Compact with 16.5" barrel, so I'm only getting about 2400 fps. I'm thinking of 100 gr softpoints with a medium charge of 4064 or H335 would give me about 2800 fps and very low recoil. I want to keep the recoil low for easing my grandkids into shooting.

[lefty o]

unless your saving pelts , any expanding bullet will work just fine.

[samuel]

You shouldnt have any trouble with any of the lighter bullets such as 85gr hpfb at 3200fps or 100gr hpfb at 300fps,or better yet,my favorite Sierra Matchking 107gr hpbt at 3000fps.Where the problem comes in is your desire to slow them down thus lowering the rpm,s and possibly losing stability.This is one I never really got into and you would have to contact the bullet mfg of your choice to get their views.A better way to me is start at minimum load in your books(average if you have several books)and work up to an accurate load that fills your need.I use the matchking because it is the most accurate I have found and it will flatten a coyote way to he** and gone out there.By the way I am talking .260 remmag,not .264 winmag which I dearly love too.If possible always work up an accuracy load.Pay little attention to fps/ft,lbs. sam.

[Jakeway]

Thanks guys.

I guess my main question was regards to varmit bullets like V Max. I always thought of them as for small varmits like prairdogs and rock chucks. I was wondering if they expanded/exploded too quickly for fairly large size coyotes.

This coyote I shot last deer season with my .270 with 130 gr Ballistic Tip sure is bigger than a prarie dog! I don't want to load my coyote shells with lighter weight NBTs, becasue I don't want to accidentally use them for deer.

[lefty o]

VMAX's will work well.

[sell33]

if you shoot a yote in the head i'm sure it will go down with any bullet lol. in other words whatever is most accurate.

[samuel]

If you plan on saving pelts when using higher powered rifles such as the .260mag it is best to use heavier hunting bullets that do not expand easily on small,thinskinned animals like coyote because it is about impossible to stop full penetration and any varmint bullet will cause considerably more pelt damage even at lower velocities that would greatly reduce the range due to the light bullet.In other words say you reduce an85gr bullet to 1500/2000fps you would have a drop table at 0 to 100yds comparable to the droptable of a 120/140gr bullet between 300 and 400yds,about 15" to 20" in 100yds.The next 100yds drop would be in the 5ft range.You must have velocity to have a flat trajectory. sam.

[Jakeway]

Good points, Sam.

I'm shooting a .260 Rem, not a .260 mag. Trajectory doesn't concern me much, either. The place I hunt is wooded hills with lots of brush. The only "Open" shots are across a 50 yard wide powerline, and down a few logging roads that seldom run straight for over 50 yards. I'm hoping to get a light-bullet round with approx the same point of aim as my hunting round, so I won't have to hold over/under too much. I think I'll just load some 120 grain SP to approximate the trajectory of my 140 gr loads, and use them when practicing off-hand shots and shooting left-handed.

I'm not too interested in the hides, either. I ran trap lines for about 20 ears in my youth, and I'd just as soon not skin any more critters escept those I intend to eat.

[andrew cochran]

The V-max will do the job!