Hey guys just wanted to reach out regarding bullet options for predator hunting and varmint hunting for the 25-06 this is primarily my coyote hunting rifle as it is extremely fast and flat I am currently shooting a 75 grain VMAX at 3900 feet per second however yesterday I was able to shoot a coyote at 470 yards and I got him just a little low and it really opened him up and I have concerns with this bullet being as explosive as it is and I have not shot a coyote under 400 yards with it to see the damage it does at closer ranges but I can only imagine what it does at close range as I've seen what it does at 4 and 500 yards not sure if going to like a Barnes lrx 101 grain that I can push around 3350. Hornady 90gr cx or another varmint bullet that is not quite as explosive maybe a sierra 70-90gr blitzking. I'm not super concerned with saving the fur however gutting a coyote a 500 yards is not really on my agenda either
.257 bullet options
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AWS
Custom Accessory Maker & Retired PM Staff
I've shot the 75gr V-max out of my 25-204 and it is one of the most destructive bullets I've used on coyotes. the only way I could keep from spreading coyote around the county is to shoot them lengthwise, it usually stayed in. I don't even use the 25-204 unless saving fur is off the agenda. I really like the 85gr NBT.
In your experience are the 85gr NBT less explosive as the Vmax? Im with you on shooting them length wise thats how other coyotes have been shot using this load. And no exit but this was the first broadside shot I've had and man was it something. The ball of hair drifting in the wind was all the assurance I needed that I hit the coyote.
IndexFinger
Custom Accessory Maker
Dude shooting 45 ? 50 ? grn. of powder in a Longaction, and 3900 fps Vel. ...LOL, that about as vicious as it gets on hitting coyote and 75 vmax's.
If you wanting less nuclear. Slowing it down a little on the Vel. with using 90 grn weight on the Blitzkings .
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If you wanting less nuclear. Slowing it down a little on the Vel. with using 90 grn weight on the Blitzkings .
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Yeah out here in Utah I get $100 per coyote on the bounty and only need the lower jaw so for me maximum forgiveness is the name of the game. Just looking for a bullet that will keep the flat trajectory but not spread him out accross the landscape as bad.
60.5gr of a very good Hodgdon powder shoots 3/4". It is currently loaded to maximun potential. Was shooting a bit faster before I cut 3 inches off barrel for my suppressor that im still waiting on unfortunately. I'll have to run some ballistics on the 90gr Blitzking and see if there's any gains or how much giving up a little speed will increase bullet drop
IndexFinger
Custom Accessory Maker
do you have the twist to go heavier ?
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wolverines
Well-known member
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crapshoot
Well-known member
If you're not saving fur and dead coyote is what you are after and only to collect the bounty then what you are shooting works great! You're only feeding the buzzards carrion and they appreciate not having to work so hard to get to the rich gooey center of that tootsie pop.
I've also used 75gr hornady hp's and speer 100gr hp's in my 25-06
I've also used 75gr hornady hp's and speer 100gr hp's in my 25-06
It's a standard 1:10 twist. This gun also shoots 120gr partitons great. Just not as flat as the vmax. I could definitely go heavier but will sacrifice speed and bullet drop/forgiveness. My main thing im leaning towards would be a 90gr blitzking or something that I can still keep above 3500fps and maintain 300 yard zero while staying inside a 5" point blank range
I agreed dead is dead and the vmax definitely leaves a dead coyote
I seldom shoot coyotes but something I found with my own 25-06 on deer is don't shoot light bullets. I tried with 100gr Hornadys a couple years and every deer I shot with it got mangled. Moved up to a 117gr Hornady and the destruction stopped. Simply to much velocity in the 25-06. In my 243 I like 75gr v-max bullets. very very distructive but you hit something with it and its dead. Like destruction on varmint's and pests. Makes sure the animal is dead real quick. If I had it to do over $I'm thinking a better hunting cartridge would be a 250-3000.