Are 52-53gr .224 Match bullets suitable for coyote hunting?

Webopper were you shooting the MKs out of a .223? Looks like you were from the load data on the targets? Seems like the take home may be that the match bullets work better at higher velocities coming out of a Swift, 22-250, or similar. But then these rounds probably work better with any bullet.
 
Yes, those are out of a .223. Beautiful groups, but way too many runners.

I have seen some folks that have pretty good luck with them out of the .223 also. Might be a faster twist rate or something like that also. Who knows about this stuff sometimes.
 
Originally Posted By: Rosco2469 I shoot a 45gr BT Noz bullet and it stops them in there track with my .223. it is a fast load. I have killed lots of deer with this and they just drop.

45gr Nosler BT and deer? If I may ask, where are you aiming? I love the BT's for coyotes, but I dunno if I'd choose them for deer. If they work for ya, that's all that matters I suppose.

My dad has killed many of coyotes with black hills 52gr MHP, they tend to work damm good. Unless he had a bad shot, runners we're non-existent. They are actually pretty devastating out of his 223.

I've always liked my bullets with a plastic tip.
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funny, a couple years back there was a thread very similar to this about 69gr sierra matchkings. back then many people were claiming them to be the best hunting bullet they had used.

i usually just take the manufacturers word for it when the box says the bullets are not made for hunting.
 
not a match bullet but I have used it for 30 years,shot coyotes deer antelope and one crippled cow,never had anything go more than 20 yards.don't laugh it is the winchester 55 grain soft point.it used to be the cheapest bullet you could buy and I bought them by the thousands
 
Originally Posted By: pdog2062not a match bullet but I have used it for 30 years,shot coyotes deer antelope and one crippled cow,never had anything go more than 20 yards.don't laugh it is the winchester 55 grain soft point.it used to be the cheapest bullet you could buy and I bought them by the thousands

I know I posted a pic of a dead dog as proof that 52 BTHPs can kill coyotes, I purchased 200 60 SPs to replace what I shot last year.
 
Velocity and twist rate sure make a difference. I used the 60gr Sierra Varminter for one season with a 1/9 twist 24 inch barrel and had really good results. Then I used them in a 1/10 twist 20 inch barrel and starting getting pass-thru’s and runners. Just slowing them down in both speed and spin rate made a great bullet a marginal one.
I would guess from what I have read above if you push them 3600-3900 they may work OK but slowing them down to 3100-3200 not so much.
I know on the 52gr Berger I run them in a 1/9 twist at 3300fps as well as in a 1/12 twist at 3900 fps and they do a fine job.
 
Originally Posted By: KTM300I've shot 52gr match kings out of my 22-250. Never lost one that was hit solidly.

Same here. Even a relatively poor hit put the critter down for good. Back in the Dupont days I used IMR 4895. Hodgdon now makes it and it isn't quite the same powder so I've been using IMR 4064 and recently switched to IMR 8208 XBR and get very good results. Like I said, though, they didn't work well at lower velocities.

Back in the day when I started reloading there weren't as many bullet choices as there are now. I got one of the very first factory made 22-250's and tried a number of bullets. First one I tried was the Sierra Spitzer Blitz. Velocity was so high the jackets spun off when they left the barrel. Regular Spitzers shot well at the range but sometimes entrance holes on critters were more than a little spectacular and the smallest twig deflected the bullet. I had been shooting the 52 gr Sierras out of my 222 and lost a few animals so I thought maybe they'd do a good job in the 22-250. They did. Over the next 6 years I killed a whole bunch of coyotes and bobcats with the bullet and never thought about using anything else. I don't hunt nearly as much as I once did but I still like the bullet.

If you ask Sierra they will tell you it isn't a hunting bullet and if you're using it in a lower velocity round like the 222 or 223 they'd be right. It's a good bullet choice for the 22-250 and the 220 Swift, though.
 
Originally Posted By: pk1
If you ask Sierra they will tell you it isn't a hunting bullet and if you're using it in a lower velocity round like the 222 or 223 they'd be right. It's a good bullet choice for the 22-250 and the 220 Swift, though.

All my dang .223 rifles must be spitting those 52gr Sierras out at Swift and 22-250 speeds. They've worked very well for me on coyotes.
 
Originally Posted By: shankbone
I know I posted a pic of a dead dog as proof that 52 BTHPs can kill coyotes

Hogwash. A dead dog don't prove nothing. Dogs die easy.

Go kill a coyote and take pics of it and we might believe ya.
 
Originally Posted By: doggin coyotesOriginally Posted By: shankbone
I know I posted a pic of a dead dog as proof that 52 BTHPs can kill coyotes

Hogwash. A dead dog don't prove nothing. Dogs die easy.

Go kill a coyote and take pics of it and we might believe ya.

I'm not sure I follow you...
 
Originally Posted By: shankboneOriginally Posted By: doggin coyotesOriginally Posted By: shankbone
I know I posted a pic of a dead dog as proof that 52 BTHPs can kill coyotes

Hogwash. A dead dog don't prove nothing. Dogs die easy.

Go kill a coyote and take pics of it and we might believe ya.

I'm not sure I follow you...

What's there to miss?

Dogs die much easier than a coyote.

This is a well documented fact.
 
I have had several AR's in .223. All of them would shoot sub MOA at 100yds with Hornady Superformance 53 gr VMax. It is devastating on coyotes and IMO will group well in 1-8 or 1-9 twist.


Originally Posted By: rynokronThe Hornady Superformance 53 grain Vmax shoot nice groups from my AR and tip the coyotes over good too.
 
Originally Posted By: brainedOriginally Posted By: shankboneOriginally Posted By: doggin coyotesOriginally Posted By: shankbone
I know I posted a pic of a dead dog Canis latrans as proof that 52 BTHPs can kill coyotes

Hogwash. A dead dog don't prove nothing. Dogs die easy.

Go kill a coyote Canis latrans and take pics of it and we might believe ya.

I'm not sure I follow you...

What's there to miss?

Dogs die much easier than a coyote Canis latrans .

This is a well documented fact.

There, I think I fixed it for everyone. There shouldn't be any confusion now.
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I am shooting the Hornady 52 gr BTHP match out of my AR. Have been using them to kill coyotes for the last 5 years and I have not itentions to change. I have not had to track one coyote I have hit with them. In fact I dont remember having one run any distance at all. My daughter used the same bullet in my 22-250 to kill her first deer. Hit it in the neck right behind the head. Dropped it in its tracks. I know they dont recommend match bullets for hunting but they do work.
 
Originally Posted By: doggin coyotesOriginally Posted By: pk1
If you ask Sierra they will tell you it isn't a hunting bullet and if you're using it in a lower velocity round like the 222 or 223 they'd be right. It's a good bullet choice for the 22-250 and the 220 Swift, though.

All my dang .223 rifles must be spitting those 52gr Sierras out at Swift and 22-250 speeds. They've worked very well for me on coyotes.

Okay.......I have my hip boots on. Please proceed.
 
5.56mm 52 grain amax @ 3450 FPS + coyote at less than 200 yards = big mess.

5.56mm 75 grain match king @ 2750 FPS + coyote at less than 200 yards = bigger mess.

7.62mm 150 grain match king @ 2850 FPS + coyote at less than 200 yards = to disturbing to post pics.
 
I have used the Hornady and Sierra Match Grade BTHP's in 52g with good accuracy and OK results but I do not think that either one was as explosive as the VMax (55g & 40g) or the Nosler BT. The 40g Nosler BT or the 40g Hornady Vmax were my favorites. They shot flat and were very accurate in my gun, a slow twist Rem 700 HB. It did not like to shoot bullets in the 60g+ weights. The last Coyote that I shot with a 40g BT was at 275yds and it dropped in its tracks. This was a broadside shot as it skirted the tree line seeking to get downwind. I think my guns groups the 55's a little better but the difference in accuracy is small. They are all
 
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