20 cal coyote bullets, need real life experiences

I had a huge stock pile of 204 Ruger components for my build. I would build a 20 practical if did not, just to use Lapua brass. I was also concerned my sons would grab the wrong ammo for their 223’s. This is another reason I went with proper head stamped brass that will not load in a 223.
 
I’ve been using the 35 grain Bergers in my .204 Rugers for Coyotes since it came out 20+ years ago. Killed more Coyotes than I can remember and it has always been a consistent killer out to 300 yards. The only down side to the bullet that I’ve seen is the low B.C when I first started buying them they were listed at .191 now they list them at .178. It would be better for that bullet if they were in the .230-.250 range.

Good Hunting Chad
 
Utahcaller said:
I’ve been using the 35 grain Bergers in my .204 Rugers for Coyotes since it came out 20+ years ago. Killed more Coyotes than I can remember and it has always been a consistent killer out to 300 yards. The only down side to the bullet that I’ve seen is the low B.C when I first started buying them they were listed at .191 now they list them at .178. It would be better for that bullet if they were in the .230-.250 range.

Good Hunting Chad
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HSM , uses a 35 Berger in their flat base hollow point loading , this is a great loading and worked well, except when the wind blows, and in Montana,it blows,not so bad in Ohio but in open areas it can be problematic. Point being, I no longer use that low of a BC bullet, the 40 gr Hornady at 275 BC just flat out bucks wind and performs.
 
Yeah I bought 1000 39 grain Sierra Blitzkings with a .287 B.C awhile back to try out but haven’t gotten around to loading them yet. I still have about 80 of the 35 grain Bergers loaded up. After I’ve shot them up I’ll probably try the 39’s and see how they perform.
 
On the winter coyote here, by far the best(consistent) terminal performance I have seen is with the BIB 40 gr hp. Extremely accurate bullet also. The slightly lower velocity from a 20p vs the 204R does help performance on some of the tipped varmint bullets. Running hot loads in my 10 twist 204R, the 32 and 40 vmax or 39 BK just don't penetrate well at closer ranges or on frontal angle shots(often called coyote). The 39 gr TNT seems interesting, but I just haven't tried them since I have plenty of BIB 40 and 40 NBT. I'll probably try the TNT in the 20p first, I should be able to run them above 3500 fps.
 
39 gr BK has a very thin jacket. Prairie dog round. Boutique bullet makers come and go like the wind. This was the death of all the 17 cal rounds. 20’s are not far behind. Kindler, Nagel, Walt, and many more are gone or quit.
 
spotstalkshoot said:
On the winter coyote here, by far the best(consistent) terminal performance I have seen is with the BIB 40 gr hp. Extremely accurate bullet also. The slightly lower velocity from a 20p vs the 204R does help performance on some of the tipped varmint bullets. Running hot loads in my 10 twist 204R, the 32 and 40 vmax or 39 BK just don't penetrate well at closer ranges or on frontal angle shots(often called coyote). The 39 gr TNT seems interesting, but I just haven't tried them since I have plenty of BIB 40 and 40 NBT. I'll probably try the TNT in the 20p first, I should be able to run them above 3500 fps.
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BIB 40 grain YES!
 
Many bullet manufacturers "aged" out(retired). Bullet jacket availability has made it hard for younger individuals to justify purchasing the available equipment to continue making proven custom bullets.
 
my main attraction to 20P was (basically) free brass and ability to load better bullets. As far as I know, HSM is the only manufacturer that loads 35gr berger HPs for instance. I figured if I’m going to have to handload, it might as well be for something where I can cut cost on brass… beyond that, I just thought it was a cool cartridge

Although…since I’m a low volume shooter, if I bought 100 204R brass I’d likely be set for life
 
I will add… With a 20P, I won’t care about slinging brass out through the brush in the darkness/snow. If I use a 204, I think I would be more likely to try to find my spent brass.
 
40 grain Bergers at a pretty good clip makes them look like they've been hit by a lightning bolt. Pretty much the same results with 35 grain Bergers with less exits. Pretty hard to beat 39 grain Blitzkings also.
 
I haven't dusted off my 20 practicals in a while but I found in the one that could stabilize the 40vmax it did an amazing job putting down coyotes with chest shots. The one shooting 32's didn't do as well and had some spinners here and there.
 
I started using .32 gr. Sierra Blitzkings and they shot well but many injuries on Chucks. I went to the .39 gr. Sierra blitzkings and they were much better. Accuracy was better and better kills.
 
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