69gr. Sierra Match Kings on Coyotes?

Rock Knocker

Well-known member
I was wondering how well my match loads would work on coyote. Shooting through a 223 at 2975fps. I just want to make sure they make good kills and saving as much fur as possible would be nice.

Some pics would be great too!
 
Don't have a pic, but shot a coyote last week at around 70 yds with a 69 gr bthp. They are the Federal Gold Medal. Entrance was hard to find and exit was very small. Shot through the shoulders and dropped him in his tracks. It's my go to round out of my RRA.
 
Used the 69 Nosler Comp for awhile out of my AR 223AI, and found it killed very well even out to beyond 500 a couple times, though not extremely fur-friendly. I eventually switched to the 65 SGK though.
 
Shot two last week with the federal factory load Match Kings, one no exit, was standing facing me, the other was 250yds broadside, exit was about quarter size right behind the shoulder. Both just dropped.
 
shot a few with the 69's and 77's and had my fare share of spinners and runners, seem to punch right through, great on hogs more DRTs than on coyotes I went to the 60-V-Max for coyotes and the drts went up even with poor hits, but still the run the 69-77 smk for hogs when I can't get the barnes TSX .

in short, they work well with good hits but not as good as the V-max with a bad hit
 
No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to escape the facts that smaller holes=more spinners & runners and bigger holes=more DRT. You just can't have your cake and eat it too.
 
Originally Posted By: KizmoNo matter how hard I try, I can't seem to escape the facts that smaller holes=more spinners & runners and bigger holes=more DRT. You just can't have your cake and eat it too. A lot of people would disagree with your "facts". I think a lot of the time a fast light bullet that is designed for rapid fragmentation (Vmax) kills better (quicker and less damage/no exit) than a bigger slower less expanding bullet that passes straight through.
 
Originally Posted By: DiRTY DOGOriginally Posted By: KizmoNo matter how hard I try, I can't seem to escape the facts that smaller holes=more spinners & runners and bigger holes=more DRT. You just can't have your cake and eat it too. A lot of people would disagree with your "facts". I think a lot of the time a fast light bullet that is designed for rapid fragmentation (Vmax) kills better (quicker and less damage/no exit) than a bigger slower less expanding bullet that passes straight through. ...Seems to me things are getting a little convoluted between these two posts...

A fast moving bullet that fragments easily is more likely to expand and stay inside as long as a bone is not hit...A larger bullet that makes a small hole, but passes through is more likely to result in a run off or slow death...On the other hand, a light fast expansion bullet that hits a bone is more likely to leave substantial hide damage...It all comes down to shot placement....Overly heavy bullets will not necessarily provide quick kills in smaller animals...Blowing the hind leg off with a .44 magnum round is a prime example...
 
I have shot one coyote with the 69gr SMK. Small hole going in and very large coming out. I hit the offside shoulder and caused chunks of bone to exit. Never seen one do it like that. It is all my buddy used in his AR and he had mixed results. Some it wouldn't expand at all and others there would be decent expansion or fragmentation.
 
I think a hit in the vitals with a "small" light and fast fragmenting varmint type bullet from a 223/22-250 etc will kill quicker with more DRTs than a hit in the vitals with a bigger slower heavier less expanding bullet.

If it's not in the vitals then it's a MISS (why would you aim anywhere else?), so "hitting the shoulder" discussions don't interest me much since it ought to be a rare (never) occurrence. Pick your shot and take it. If you can't regularly hit the vitals, than yes a 50 BMG might be better for you than a 223 or 204.
 
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