243 pet load for coyote

stubbicatt

stubbicatt

New member
Just bought a 243 Winchester carbine length barrel bolt actioned rifle, and am trolling for what folks will agree is a very consistent combination of components for coyote.

Thanks guys.

Yes, I have loading manuals, yes I have read them, but not sure what is the better bullet weight range for this cartridge for use on coyotes, and unless otherwise advised, I think the Hornady 75 grain Vmax is where I will start. Again, what I don't know will fill the room on particulars of this cartridge, if there is a good "pet load" that you fellas would care to share to assist me in culling out what doesn't work from the data out there, I will thank you kindly.
 
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Not fur friendly depending on where hit. My never exit the other side if hit through bone but all will be DRT.
49g w760 55g vmax, 3886 fps
40g blc2 58g vmax or Zmax, 3700 fps
40g blc2 65g vmax, 3600 fps
 
i am using varget for my 75vmax,very very accurate.
havent shot a coyote with it yet so i dont know if its gonna tear it up.dosnt matter as long as it puts it down fast.
 
I personally like the 58gr Z-max's. They are CHEAP from Midsouth...
I do volume, but the load is about 43.8gr of CFE 223.
Not at home at the moment, but also have a load for this with Win 760. That second load gives single digit ES/SD.
 
Same as my deer load

95 gr Nosler Partition with 40.5 grs of H4350 powder...it shoots out of my Ruger Frontier exceptionally well and does a good job on any critter I've used it on.
 
I have two .243s one like 75 grain vmax with 40 grains of IMR4064 and the other likes 75 g. Vmax and 85 g. Game kings with 40 grains of Varget. But the loads are not interchangeable between rifles even though 4064 and Varget has identical burn rates.
 
I made one pass at the 75 V-MAX with Reloader 15 actually, and it never came together quite well enough for my tastes. I need to try it again with Varget, or 4064 or IMR-4350.

I think you want to be in the 70-87gr range for some nice long distance potential without too much wind affect and with enough payload when it gets there for one of these tough critters.

48.1 of Reloader 19 under a Nosler 70BT at 2.620" and lit by a CCI BR-2 primer is magic in my 243. Moderate load, 3250 fps or so - but can accurately hit plastic water bottles out to 325 yards with no problem. (20x44mm scope)

I really lack the explosiveness of the Sierra 80SBT (Blitz) bullet also. Very accurate at distance also, but definitely NOT the one you want to preserve hides.

Right now I'm playing with the Berger 87 VLD bullets with IMR-4064. 37.1 is published max in some sources, and it gave me a group with all 3 bullets touching at 100 yards on my first outing with these. But I've worked all the way up to 38.5 now, seating these loooong (2.795", and will be going to 2.800" this coming weekend as I shoot 38.4, 38.5 again, 38.6, and do at least a couple at 38.7 to assess pressure and changing POI). But these are very accurate and more of a big game type bullet so would probably be much more kind on coyote sized fur than say the 87 V-MAX.)

Back to the 75 V-MAX though, I didn't see where these destroyed ground-hogs all that badly. I had my load up to about 3450 fps too. I didn't think they were as explosive as the 70NBT's.

In general, I think a heavier weight HP style bullet will probably do better for you than a poly tip. I picked up a really old box (unopened) of 75 Speer HP's a while back from a gunsmith who was going out of business. I'm anxious to try these at some point as well. Sierra makes a 85HPBT that is also a very accurate bullet and it wasn't horribly explosive on ground-hog sized targets - nice dual purpose bullet.

I've tried Varget, and like I say RL15 which is very similar to Varget - hasn't done great in my 243. Now my 22-250 loves the stuff! So I'm kind of moving back more in the 4064 and IMR-4350 direction (4350 being similar to RL17 I believe). Some like H414 but where I measure out all of my charges one at a time and don't really care how the powder "meters", well... I just find the really fine ball powders harder to work with.

Let us know what you come up with.


Stephen
 
First off what twist rate does the barrel have? Second is my two pet loads both start with IMR 4350 the first is a 70GR speer TNT the second is a 75 GR HP Sierra they both shoot great out of my rifles.
 
There were several MACK DADDY loads that we used in Rem 700 243's on coyotes...slam dunk. With a good 243 load, you can hit them square in the stomach and they will be laying right in their tracks.

Rem brass on all loads:

41.5g of IMR 4064(work up to this load)
Fed 210 primer
80g Sierra BT Blitz
3500 fps

37.0-38.5g of win 760(h414)
Fed 210
60g Sierra HP
3700-3800 depending on the rifle

45.5-47.0g of H4350
Win primer
70g Nosler Ballistic tip
3600 fps at 47.0g if your rifle likes this load

45.5g of Win 760
70g Nosler
Fed 210 primer

39.0g of IMR 4064
70g Nosler
Fed 210

If I had to pick one load to start out on, it would be the 80g Sierra Blitz bt, starting off at 39.0g of IMR 4064 with the Federal 210 and work up. Best accuracy will be at the hottest load that is safe for the rifle.

Second would be the 60g Sierra HP, with 47-48.5g of Win 760 and fed 210 primers.

Third would be tie for second place starting out with 45.5g of H4350, Win primer, with the 70g Nosler ballistic tip.

We killed a butt load of coyotes with the 80g Sierra and the 60g Sierra in Mexico. The 60g Sierra is a tough bullet that will break both shoulders, hip joints, and penetrate on quartering shots. If you happen to run across a lion, it is plenty good enough for that bad boy also. When you hit a coyote with the 80g Sierra, it sounds like the bullet just smacked a solid brick wall....coyote laying right were he was standing...no runners, spinners, or gimpers.

Good luck!
 
Thanks guys. I was hoping that I would be able to find a use for the RL15 of which I have about 10 pounds in two, unopened 5# jugs. I guess I will see about that, or maybe 760.

I don't know the twist rate. I shall try to determine it in the near future.

I guess I will try the 80 grain Sierra Blitz to see how she fares.

Just now it only has iron sights, but I am in the process of finding an appropriate scope for this setup. Neat rifle though, for all that.

2012-09-13150407-1.jpg
 
One bullet I have used with great success is a Nosler 80 grain Ballistic Tip, That is if you are not keeping the fur.

Working on a load with the 87 Gr Hornady V-Max's and the Sierra 95 Gr. Matchkings.

DAB
 
Originally Posted By: stubbicattThanks guys. I was hoping that I would be able to find a use for the RL15 of which I have about 10 pounds in two, unopened 5# jugs.
A pal that has 2 .243s uses r15 and from the range time this week all were under .600" @ 100yds. I do not know his loads though, but recall him saying something about 38-40 grs, that was with a 55VM/55g NBT & 70G NBT.
 
I have had really good luck with the Barnes 80 TTSX bulllet out of my Rem. 700 SPS. Winchester cases H 4350 43.0 gr. and a win. primer. It hits hard and fur damage wise it was very good. I always had an exit from nickle to silver dollar size.
 
I shoot 58 gr Vmax producing 3860 fps...with 44.7 grs of IMR 4895 and 60 sierra hollow points...with 43.5 grs of IMR 4895 producing around 3800 fps... which are HOT in my book. I shoot them both . Haven't tried them on yotes yet...but hopefully I will this next month's trip out west.... hopefully it will be a lazer. My plan is to zero it at 225 or 250 yds...which should keep it on hair out to 400 yds...or close to it. Will
have to look at the chart again.
 
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I use the 58 grain zmax with 45 grains of varget. My 100 yard group is .25 in out of my remington 700 vtr. The zmax bullets are only about $70 for 500 and have performed just as good as the vmax.
 


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