50 gr VMaxes on coyotes

Coyotejunki

Coyotejunki

Well-known member
I went to AZ the week before thanksgiving. Decided to use two Kimber Montanas, a 223 AI and 6 BR. Because of Skinny I decided to try the 50 Vmax's. I usually use the 50 Nosler BT. Well those vmax's worked so well I used that rifle the whole trip. In fact, most of the rounds were regular 223 and were not fireformed yet. Think I may try them in an AR15 now. Between my brother and I were got almost 20 coyotes in the 5 days we hunted. SO we had some fun.
 
Sounds like a good trip. What part of AZ? I use the 75 gr Vmax in my .243 and like em. And with the slim pickings on the shelf lately, as one dealer told me, they’re available because the deer hunters want 100 gr or more.
 
Sounds like a great time!

I admit, I've never given the 50 Vmax much if any chance on coyote. But I'm surprised they are working so well. But, like I said, never gave them a chance myself. I did run 55 Vmax in a .22-250 back when the Vmax was a new thing, on about 30 coyote, and didn't like them. Never really ever considered the Vmax a coyote bullet ever since.

Which only means, I haven't ever actually used them much on coyote. Glad they are working so well for you!

I've been using 60 B-tips in my .223 AR. Talk about a pokey slow load. But it's a close in type application for me and I've really had nothing to complain about with them for killing coyote. They'll break through a near shoulder or break an off shoulder. Good hits kill good.

- DAA
 
Well the few I shot worked out great, but in reality it was a small test for me. Years ago I shot a few coyotes with them, but my shot placement wasn't so good and I got splashes. So I try to stay off bone with them. I guess the old 55 Nosler BT and Sierra 55 SBT are the basic bullets I compare against.

I hear you Dave, I just have a bunch of these 50's for a prairre dog rifle I had built, and thought I would try them again. I have had pretty good luck with the 60 VMAX also.

I generally only shoot in close. 300 yards is a Long poke for me. I shoot paper out to 600, but animals is another thing. Again most of my shots are around 50-150 yards.
 
I’ve been using 50 grn vmax in .223 for 30+ years
Mostly in a 1-9 twist
Exit side has always been a gaping hole and I tell my hunting partners to bring a sponge…
 
When I shoot them out of my 22-250, I get weird exits. Like broadside behind shoulder entrance, sternum exit between legs. Coyote will run a short ways even though heart has damage? Hydrostatic shock?
 
I'm 100% honest with what I use, and I've tried more than quiet a few, not just on a couple Coyotes either. The Raptor line from CEB was really good on Coyotes, BUT for the average Joe they weren't because they were a little more difficult to reload for.

The vmaxes are stupid simple to load for, and we have such good luck with the lock up tip over done right now hydrostatic shock kills. Those rounds are violent by nature but if you have proper shot placement they don't ruin fur and anchor the Coyote in its tracks.

My POA is front shoulder though or head. IF I mess up and hit them back behind the shoulder they almost always run a little, whether it's double lung or heart, but that's with any round.
 
The most accurate bullet I ever shot out of my Ruger M77 MarkII Compact was Fiocchi 50 grain V-Max. I could hit the bar code on a pop can at 100 yards with those. Don't remember ever having but one run off after I shot it with those. And that was my fault. I hit it in the hip as it was running straight away from me.
 
I have killed stacks upon stacks of coyotes with the 50gr VMax from a 223AI. I have never experienced any sort of splash or issues with losing dogs. They are quite messy when they hit bone on occasion, but I am not a fur saver, so zero issue there.

I just loaded a hundred rounds yesterday in preparation of bringing the 223AI out of retirement.
 
So many variables, what has worked for me, might not for you.

But my very considerable experience with the 50 Vmax (for colony varmint rifles - I've shot many thousands of them), is they don't like much jump. I've always had the best accuracy with them by getting them either just off, or fully into the lands. If I have had to jump them, they haven't seemed to tune in until the jump gets pretty big. And then they have been hyper critical of seating depth - a couple thousandths either way opening up groups. At .005 off, or fully into the lands they have been far less critical of a few thousandths either way. Less than .005 off doesn't seem to work with any bullet all that well, when that close, better to jam them. Too easy for one to just barely touch and another to be just barely clear.

- DAA
 
Dave, that would/might explain why they shoot great in my Kimber bolt action and not that great at magazine length in my AR15. However I am sure they shoot great in some peoples AR's.
 
My RRA ATH .223 shoots the 50 Vmax almost as good as anything else. It shoots the 40's just a hair better though. And 60 gr. B-tips about the same as the 40 Vmax.

Nice thing about the 40's, the Fiocchi factory load shoots as good as any handload I've ever tried in it, and I bought a couple thousand of them when Trump was in office for less that Tulammo goes for now.

I use the 40 and 50 Vmax on pretty much everything that's not a coyote. And the 60 B-tips on coyote.

- DAA
 
Gents
Has anyone used them in a 22-250? In particular a Ruger No.1V or Remington 700 VLS also 22-250?
Thank you.
Merry Christmas to all!!
Soup
 
Yes, I don't like them out of a 22-250 for coyote. Nosler 55 BT is a MUCH better coyote bullet. They are great prairie dog bullets out of my 22-250's, very accurate and explosive.
 
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