11 replies to this topic

[clw499]

I just got a new AR-15 and want to use it for coyotes. Is a regular soft-nosed bullet good enough or do I need a ballistics tip?

[youngdon]

Soft points will work just fine, the ballistic tip (varmint bullets) are highly frangible, very often not exiting and may be a more desirable choice in an area where pass throughs may be unwanted.

[ebbs]

You can find Fiocchi .223 ammo at Cabelas with a 50gr V-Max ballistic tip for about $24.99 per 50 at Cabelas. Just saw them in the Cabelas circular I got in the mail yesterday for that price. My buddy and site creator Chris Miller just got back from Texas where he gave that round quite a workout through his AR with 4 Coyotes down and a Bobcat and it performed beautifully. I don't think you'd be disappointed with it.

[bar-d]

I prefer ballistic tips, V-Max, Nosler BT, etc. and hollow points. I have shot a lot of coyotes over the years with soft points though. I don't care about the pelts, just as long as it is not running off.

[huntfishski]

I love 55gr. ballistic tips. I think that nosler is now making the Accubond in a .223 55gr. might be the perfect bullit

[Cliffy]

Accubond is a bonded lead to copper bullet designed not to fragment, so if Nosler comes out with such bullets in 55 grain .224" caliber (.223 Remington) great! These should compete directly against Speer Trophy-Bonded Bear Claws as deer fare bullets. Bear Claws are pricey bullets. Can Nosler produce a similiarily-priced bullet of equal quality? These are not varmint-bullets, as they are true toughies designed for bigger than Coyote-sized fare. Perhaps well-suited to Gray Wolf hundred-fifty pound muscular status, yet overkill for mere coyotes at 25-45 pound statute. Still both fares must show superiority or equal venerablity to the awesome 60 grain, .223 Remington, Nosler Partition bullet, originally designed as deer harvesters. It just gets more interesting and exciting each year as American free-market competition excelerates in ingenuity. Cliffy

[Cliffy]

For coyote hunting, superTOUGH bullets need not apply for consideration. Fifty-five grain .22 Centerfire bullets: such as Speer T-N-T HPs, Nosler Ballistic-Tips, Hornady V-Max can readily apply as coyote-cullers. Even Barnes Explosive Varmint Grenades apply. Sierra has varmint fare that can apply, but BONDED bullet are not for small-fry shooting, as they are too tough for SMALL Game shooting. JUST MY Personal Opinion, Cliffy

[ebbs]

Cliffy said:

Even Barnes Explosive Varmint Grenades apply.

Cliffy, I've been curious about these bullets for a while now. Have you had a chance to load them and see what they do? They seem pretty interesting to me.

[Chris Miller]

ebbs said:

Cliffy, I've been curious about these bullets for a while now. Have you had a chance to load them and see what they do? They seem pretty interesting to me.

The guys were talking about those Varmint Grenades in a couple other posts. Here is a link to the tag:

Search Results - PredatorTalk.com - Predator Hunting Forums, Blogs, Hunting Logs and Articles.

[Bigdrowdy1]

I shoot the 55 gr spire piont and have not been disappionted in them. Is there better ammo possibly but these are tried and proven. This is not to say they are the best but being an old timer they are what I use. The price for a damaged fur is minimum in Texas . I want to know the animal went down ethically amd humainly for the shot placed. When I have used up my supply of bullets I will be willing to try something new. Truth be known more animals have been taken with a spire point than any other bullet style to date.

[shot1187]

That bullet would work fine. You might want to try a few different rounds off the shelf in your gun to see what works best. .223 is a good all around caliber. If you reload you have alot of chices to try out.

[LoCountryHunter]

I love the 40 gr V-max in my AR and they are accurate.