.22-250 bullet and pelt damage

mgaines

mgaines

New member
Hi all...
I just joined Predator Masters today and already have a question:
I called in and bagged my first bobcat this past weekend. I'm shooting a .22-250 with factory Remington Premier Varmint 50gr accu-tip. This load shoots 1/2" groups at 100yds (great). The bad news.....The bullet blew apart upon impacting the right shoulder and did considerable pelt damage. The cat was very close, too, which I know had a lot to do with it. I'm having him mounted and the taxidermist said he can fix it, no problem. But I don't want to do this again. I have shot coyotes before with this load that ranged from no pelt damage to considerable pelt damage if I hit a bone.
Does anyone know of a good factory load for a .22-250 that will cut down on my pelt damage? I would expect to shoot from 10 to 250 yards. I don't shoot lots of rounds through this gun so I quit reloading. Also, I could not match the accuracy of this factory load in my gun.

Thanks in advance for any assistance!
 
Of the distant that you are talking about - 10 to 250 yds, it's going to be only one choice that I could recommend and that would be a Full Metal Jacket bullet
 
I'm not into reloading yet so I tried several loads. The best accuracy came from Winchester's 40 grain ballistic Silvertips. I felt that they would lack in the accuracy department, but it shoots 1/4" at 100 yards. Secondly, I was scared to shoot up close on yotes, but to my surprise I have not had one tore up coyote. I shot coyotes between 40 to 250 yards and the bullet either blows CLEAN thru or doesn't even exit. You might try them out, but it will depend on what your rate of twist is. Joel

If that fails you should try what coyote control said.
 
I'm not into reloading yet so I tried several loads. The best accuracy came from Winchester's 40 grain ballistic Silvertips.

I shot coyotes between 40 to 250 yards and the bullet either blows CLEAN thru or doesn't even exit.


I once contacted winchester about the Ballistic Silvertip, they said that the round was actually designed for heavy skinned animals such as you would find on safari, and would not deform on light skinned targets. I know what your thinking "Who would take a 22-250 on safari" thats not my point, I mean the Ballistic Silver tip in any caliber was designed to not fragment. Is this true? I don't know, but thats what was told to me by the source. It didn't matter to me as I could not group them for squat out of my .223 so I never used them out on stand.

Better check your game laws on the use of FMJ's most states it's illegal. That could be one expensive coyote.
My suggestion would be too find a round that is heavier and slower and still groups well. Speed will make the projectile fragment more violently.

Hope that helps.
 
If I remember correctly the Winchester Silvertip is designed for thick skinned animals in larger calibers. However most are shooting Winchester Silver Ballistic tip for coyotes. This is a Nosler ballistic tip varmint bullet with Lubalox coating. I have had good accuracy and good results with this bullet in 50 gr.
For consistant damage from a .22-250 the 55 gr pointed soft point works pretty good even at close range or when it hits bone.
 
I also use the 40 gr winchester ballistic tip in 223 cal.

TRY FINDING SOME NOW !! I was told that Winchester is discontinued this round as well as the 40 gr ballistic tip for the 22-250. My Rem 223 shoots 1/4 inch groups with this round..And rarely an exit on coyotes, puts em down right now. I hope im wrong about the "discontinued" story but I cant find a box of it anywhere.
 
Mgaines,

I shot a .22-250 for years and seldom had any significant pelt damage. I used handoladed Sierra 52gr HPBT smoking along about 200fps under the max (that is what my gun liked).

There are so many factors to consider such as bullet, velocity, range, and point-of-impact. After registering several kill with the rifle, it may be that it normally does not damage fur.

Of course, in todays politically correct society, the predators may have become more "thin-skinned" since I last shot one with my old .22-250...lol..
 
I use to buy the winchester silvertips. Best group out of my gun. I was not impressed with them at all. Every coyote had a huge splash didnt matter where it was hit. I had a box of remington 55gr softpoints layin around. Not the greatest accuracy but no big holes or splashes. I started reloading just a month ago and have had great results with the speer 52 BTHP. Some people like the ballistic tip im not one of them. Good luck
 
I used to use a 22-250 for varment, but I always had a 12 Ga along for them real close in shots # 4 Buck with a mod or imp choke works great for bob or fox under 75 Yards usually or in real heavy brush. They both have a tendancy to sneek up if they have the cover although if you run into a fox in yote country it don't wait long I have had them just about run into the blind with me too. Bob is usuallyt seen at night . That is when you want a good light on the shotty.
 
Thanks Blinddog. That's exactly what I had in mind. In fact, I patterned my Mossberg 835 this weekend and was surprised to see that the improved cylinder patterned buckshot the best. However, packing the .22-250, shotgun, and e-caller all at once is going to be interesting.
I was also thinking of getting a rifle/shotgun combo, like a Remington SPR 94 or a Savage. Anybody have any advice on these? I've heard that if you mount a scope, they are hard to keep zeroed in due to the recoil of an occasional shotgun blast. (??)
 
Good post!

It has been my experience that some of the most accurate bullets on the market make some of the worst hunting bullets imaginable. While I have shot the vast majority of bullets available for a 22-250 and .223 I have found that anything that has a platic tip on the pointy end is not for my liking(expecially if the bullet is black and the pointy end is silver). I will take a heavy hollow point over anything with a plasic tip any day. Although you will have pelt damage with them from time to time also, it will be considerably less. It is hard enough to make a "good shot" on a coyote sometimes, when the bullet doesnt do its job on these shots I have little time to waste finding a new one.

As many of you know the "perfect" shot in predator hunting is (alot of the times) a hard thing to come across. I prefer a bullet that is not only good for a perfect broad side lung shot, but rather good enough to ancor a coyote from any angle, most plastic tip bullets suffer greatly in this regard. The pelt damage that I have seen from a heavy hollow point is while looking at a very dead coyote, I much prefer this over a very wounded coyote!

Take care,

Todd
 
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