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

I just started using a 52 grain Sierra Match King. Worked up a quick load that was real accurate. I've killed 6 or 8 coyotes this month and all were flop dead. However, 2 had large entry wounds about he size of a tennis ball and no exit.They didn't run but they flopped on the ground for a good while. Made me a little concerned about them working reliably . The rest were either little entry and no exit or exit the size of a softball . Im shooting them out of a 22-250.
 
i have used 52gr.HPBT for 44 plus years and killed around 2000 coyotes so yea they work.these were hornady and sierra match bullets,i use more bergers now and shoot my 17.rem less sewing .i sell my fur.my avatar is a picture of some
 
Last edited:
I havn't shot any coyotes with the 53gr Hornaday match but shot some smaller critters with them (old stock 53's before the AMP) out of a 223 this past year & found it to be surprisingly soft. Maybe not quite as explosive as vmax but pretty dang close. I would not be afraid to give it a try at 223Rem velocities on coyotes or whatever.
 
If you had good luck with the soft points I would be reluctant to change. I have several blow ups with 52 grain bullets. I changed to the 60 grain vmax and never looked back. They have been so expensive I bought 500 Hornady 60 grain soft points to use when I run out of vmax's Shoots the same. Coyotes don't care.

Pack
 
Here's some followup on the 53gr Sierra HP question. It was challenge howl, 20 sec later running coyote, bark twice, coyote stops as if to say "Huh?", scope on, POW, PLOP, dog down. It got up and ran 30 yds then piled up. Small entry, 2" exit @~150yds.
I'd post the photo but don't see how to attach (I don't do photobucket).
 
I shoot the 53gr vmax out of a t-c venture 22-250 and so far every thing it touches goes down where its hit.From big german sheaphard(killing sheep) down to chipmunk.
 
Back
Top