55gr Vmax not dropping coyotes???

T

TwistedJake

New member
So, I'm pretty new to all this but after several incidents I had enough of the coyotes on my property and decided to start thinning them out a touch.

I'm using a suppressed short barrel AR, 55gr Hornady Vmax, IR laser, IR illumination, night vision, and thermal imaging. I've basically found a spot on my property where I have a good view and have scoped out where I can and can not safely launch a round. All shots would be within 100 yards from this point. I stand there and wait and usually within an hour or so one comes stumbling by.

First night out, I wasn't ready, was more scoping the area in the dark, after about 2 minutes a coyote walked up in front of me. As I said, I wasn't ready and as soon as I racked a round in the chamber he took off. I put two shots at him running from me but don't know if I got him.

Couple nights ago I had one walk near me. I watched him walk by cause I wanted to be in a safer zone for the shot. He must have heard me cause he started hopping/running but when he turned to look at me one more time I put the laser between his eyes and sent a round. I heard a yelp, thought he dropped, went searching and never found him. He was less than 50 yards from me when I shot and even with the thermal I couldn't find him.

Last night, same spot, same situation, I heard something in the tall grass and waited, coyote popped out on to the "road" I was standing on about 30 yards from me. He was broadside and stopped to look around. I was very slow and very quiet, took my time, laser on the heart, sent a round, he yelped and went tumbling, stood back up so I sent another round at him and he bolted through the field never to be seen again. I know I hit him twice, I'd bet good amounts of money on it. I know I'm human and missing happens but I have a crap ton of experience with an AR and know how to operate one efficiently, I know they were hits.

Is it common for these guys to just run on adrenaline or something? We've had them dropped in the day with .17hmr before so it would sure seem that with an .223 VMAX it should drop. Am I missing something?
 
Originally Posted By: Tim Neitzke"Am I missing something ?"

Yes, putting the bullet where it needs to be.

I am thinking that is the exact problem. Most people tend to aim to far back and actually gut shoot them. In those cases, yes they will run a long ways. You say you know you hit them but do you know where?
 
At what range is your AR zeroed? Are you taking into account the extreme POA to POI shift on shots inside your zero that are inherent to AR's? DRT kill zone on a coyote is awfully dang small, especially a summertime coyote.


Chupa
 
I would definitely recheck your NV scope zero w/some night paper targets.
I would dial it in for 100yds & then shoot 50 yds and see where you may need to hold for close ones.
I use the 55g vmax and it slaps em right down to the ground, DRT w/my AR15 &/my D740 NV scope.
Rack your round into the chamber before you get to your setup also.
Welcome to PM
 
Originally Posted By: 5spdI would definitely recheck you NV scope zero w/some night paper targets.
I would dial it in for 100yds & then shoot 50 yds and see where you may need to hold for close ones.
I use the 55g vmax and it slaps em right down to the ground, DRT w/my AR15 &/my D740 NV scope.
Rack your round into the chamber before you get to your setup also.
Welcome to PM
+1
 
The zero is on. I zero all my AR's at 50 and verify them out to distance. This particular one has the Aimpoint (which I am not using at night) zero'd at 50 which puts me about 1.5" high at 100 yards, dead on at 200 yards, and about 4" low at 300 yards. Bottom line is that within 100 yards the POI is within an inch of POA and the laser witnessed with the dot plus the couple inches of mechanical offset. I have verified on paper and steel.

Again, not to boast or claim to be the best marksman but I have a lot of time operating an AR, this one in particular, and have proven to be pretty accurate with it. I understand mechanical offsets and have practiced/trained at all distances from 10 yards on out and have a pretty good understanding.

I'm not doubting however that shot placement could have been off. Even though these critters are pretty still for me on the first shot it is a bit different working with a laser and a NV eyepiece strapped to my helmet. Plus depth perception is non existent. I have a pretty good idea distance though based off of trees and other small markers I can compare to.

I'd take them with my .260 at distance but it isn't set up for the NV, I don't run it suppressed, and that is a hot round to launch around here. I'm in the country but don't want to risk a round going where it shouldn't. If I had a simple way to throw an IR laser on my shotty I'd probably take them with that honestly.
 
You "missed".

You may have hit him, but not where it counts. If you did, he would not have run off.

This is NOT where you're supposed to hit them, unless you like watching them run away...

coy_zps4f2c86c3.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: Chupathingy DRT kill zone on a coyote is awfully dang small, especially a summertime coyote.
Chupa


Does it get bigger in the winter chupa?
whistle.gif
 
Originally Posted By: doggin coyotesOriginally Posted By: Chupathingy DRT kill zone on a coyote is awfully dang small, especially a summertime coyote.
Chupa


Does it get bigger in the winter chupa?
whistle.gif




lol.gif
 
some good advice. i was surprised at the dif when I encountered a close coyote with my first AR. Just lucky for follow up shot.
 
Originally Posted By: doggin coyotesOriginally Posted By: Chupathingy DRT kill zone on a coyote is awfully dang small, especially a summertime coyote.
Chupa


Does it get bigger in the winter chupa?
whistle.gif




Wasn't worded very well, was it? I meant they are small to begin with, and only scrawnier during the summer. A summer time coyote around here is only about the diameter of a large mans fist once you get the hide off'em.

Chupa
 
Originally Posted By: 5spdI would definitely recheck you NV scope zero w/some night paper targets.
I would dial it in for 100yds & then shoot 50 yds and see where you may need to hold for close ones.
I use the 55g vmax and it slaps em right down to the ground, DRT w/my AR15 &/my D740 NV scope.
Rack your round into the chamber before you get to your setup also.
Welcome to PM

I have a round chambered before I walk out the door. Just happened that night I totally wasn't expecting to see anything and was just out checking gear real quick. Go figure huh.

I'm not running a NV scope. PVS 14 on ballistic helmet with a DBAL on the rifle. I literally just scan with my rifle at a rested low ready and when I spot the animal slowly bring the rifle up to not make noise and put the laser on target.
 
Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOGYou "missed".

You may have hit him, but not where it counts. If you did, he would not have run off.

This is NOT where you're supposed to hit them, unless you like watching them run away...

coy_zps4f2c86c3.jpg


In your humor I think you've probably nailed it. I know these yotes aren't real big and it doesn't take much I guess to put a round off the happy spot. As I said, I'm new to this and didn't realize how tight of a drop kill zone there is. I'll have to rethink things a bit and work on head shots only. I'm honestly not a fan of the laser or red dots, my brain works so much better with crosshairs.
 
Forget a head shot, to small & to much of a bigger chance of missing. Put your laser on the front shoulder & it will drop pretty much on the spot.
 
Originally Posted By: TwistedJakeOriginally Posted By: DiRTY DOGYou "missed".

You may have hit him, but not where it counts. If you did, he would not have run off.

This is NOT where you're supposed to hit them, unless you like watching them run away...

coy_zps4f2c86c3.jpg


In your humor I think you've probably nailed it. I know these yotes aren't real big and it doesn't take much I guess to put a round off the happy spot. As I said, I'm new to this and didn't realize how tight of a drop kill zone there is. I'll have to rethink things a bit and work on head shots only. I'm honestly not a fan of the laser or red dots, my brain works so much better with crosshairs.

You don't have to specifically target the head to be effective. I'll try to make this make sense(I'm not very good with words, hardly ever use them.) I try to imagine where the scapula is and aim for that. The reason is twofold, one the scapula on a coyote is very very small and if you do happen to hit by chance, you just took out its running gear and two, if and when you penetrate the scapula, all the vitals are right behind it. Don't let the scapula scare you, break that sucker if you can and watch your bang flops increase.


Chupa
 
I was not being humorous. Many "new" coyote hunters aim where I drew that red target, then wonder why the coyote spun in circles, yipped, then got up and ran away. It's called a poor shot.

Head shots are pretty tough unless conditions are just perfect, which they usually are not. Train for it just in case, sure, but don't plan on using it very often (ever).

I prefer neck shots or right in the arm pit for INSTANT kills.


 


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