Hornady BTHP coyote medicine?

2

257bore

New member
Has anyone ever used the Hornady boat tail hollow points looking at the 68 grain in a 223 as I'm currently shooting a Nosler ballistic tip around 3,700 feet 50 grain however I lost three coyotes this weekend and all three of them look like near side shoulder just got blown off or the bullet blew up on surface. Had lots of blood but after 300 yards of tracking/no longer had permission on neighboring property to continue the track them. I've tried the spear TNT and also the Vmax in a 50 and 53 grain and they would not shoot well out of my rifle and the Nosler ballistic tip shot break is why I was using it over the other bullets. All shots were under a hundred yards and looked similar to this picture on all three impact locations.
 

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If you're talking the 68gr match hp, that's all I have been using for many years in several different lenth and twisy barrels. Currently a 10.5" 8 tw.
 
crapshoot said:
If you're talking the 68gr match hp, that's all I have been using for many years in several different lenth and twisy barrels. Currently a 10.5" 8 tw.
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Yes BTHP match. If you don't mind me asking what velocity are you getting out of those and are you using a 223?
 
Yes, 223. I've run them in a 16" 9 twist and a 10.5" 8 twist. Also used them in a 10.5" 7 twist. Haven't run them over chronograph but I would guess rather slow comparatively speaking due to short barrels.
I'll chronograph them the next time I go to the range.

All ARs.
 
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Sounds like my winter last year @257bore! Same load practically too. Nosler 50 gr BT bullets shoot good but for some reason don't have the expansion! Lost a couple last winter under 100 yrds and the shot was placed well....I thought anyway.
 
Yeah and here in utah im getting $100/head so I dont like to not be able to find em after I shoot em. Sounds like im moving in the right direction my next step was gonna be a controlled chaos or a ttsx. My other gun i use a 25-06 with 75gr vmax around 3900fps and it doesn't let many get away from it. I try to only use it on the stands im gonna be shooting 150+. Anyone using the BTHP notice if they are sensitive to seating depth? Basically got them seated just under mag length for reliable feeding.
 
....What crapshoot said ^ If I was getting a $100/head I'd be toting the bigger gun, regardless of range!

however, a long time ago I tried some James Calhoon bullets cast from aluminum (I think with a lead core) made for pelting. Accuracy was decent to 100 yrds but sketchy thereafter. If you are determined to use the 223 for close range those might work, they had a wicked gapping HP. :D
 
Well its my night gun and I use the 25-06 for day hunting. Sorry I dont think I specified that. I also have a 243 that im seriously contemplating making it my night gun over the 223. I've shot lots of coyotes with it with 103 eldx and they dont usually get up from that. But I would probably load a 75 gr vmax or NBT. I guess I should just go for the 243 and keep the 223 for plinking and rabbit hunting
 
257bore said:
Well its my night gun and I use the 25-06 for day hunting. Sorry I dont think I specified that. I also have a 243 that im seriously contemplating making it my night gun over the 223. I've shot lots of coyotes with it with 103 eldx and they dont usually get up from that. But I would probably load a 75 gr vmax or NBT. I guess I should just go for the 243 and keep the 223 for plinking and rabbit hunting
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85 gr sierra hpgk #1530 I believe... its terminal.
 
257bore said:
Well its my night gun and I use the 25-06 for day hunting. Sorry I dont think I specified that. I also have a 243 that im seriously contemplating making it my night gun over the 223. I've shot lots of coyotes with it with 103 eldx and they dont usually get up from that. But I would probably load a 75 gr vmax or NBT. I guess I should just go for the 243 and keep the 223 for plinking and rabbit hunting
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I use 87g vmax out of my 243 drops them were they stand. It can be a little messy depending on shot placement.
Don't think I've gotten any runners yet. But it could happen.
 
When I ask to hunt a new-to-me ranch, I always take my 243. It will anchor coyotes from near and far, and I figure the landowner will be more impressed with body count in the back of the truck, than with a story of "I didn't shoot because the coyote was too far, or I lost him".

Shooting coyotes that will generate $100 each? Yeah, I want the body count too, lol.
 
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