Black Hills 223 70 grain TSX for coyotes.

M

musky01

Member
Good morning. Looking for some help. Im looking for a new round for coyotes to try and end the problem with runners. Im in Wisconsin and 90% of our shots are under 300 yards. Currently shooting 53 grain Hornady Superformance VMAX. Ive been hearing that the 70 grain TSX from Black Hills would be a better choice. Does anybody have any input ?

Thank you
Bob
 
I can’t provide any experience using the Black Hills you asked about. I wouldn’t think that a slower moving mono is going to solve anything for you though. That selection seems counterintuitive to me but, again, I’ve never tried them.

I’m on the other end of the spectrum for bullet selection with the 223. I run 40gr Sierra Blitz Kings or Berger Varmints at about 3600fps. Shot some 53 and 55gr V-max in factory offerings just to try and found they killed fine too. I shot the bulk of them well under 300 yards. Lots of them 80-150 yards type of range. Plenty out to 250 though and it hammers them. Like, legs out from under them and fall in a heap.

In all of the coyotes I’ve shot with this 40gr combo, I’ve only ever had one that I had run off. I know it died for sure but, maybe a half doz spins and it peeled off into a jungle. I’d have the odd spinner but, only ever that one that ran off. The sample size is large enough that I blame that on me, not the bullet.
 
musky01 said:
Good morning. Looking for some help. Im looking for a new round for coyotes to try and end the problem with runners. Im in Wisconsin and 90% of our shots are under 300 yards. Currently shooting 53 grain Hornady Superformance VMAX. Ive been hearing that the 70 grain TSX from Black Hills would be a better choice. Does anybody have any input ?

Thank you
Bob
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Bob first off you will need a 1-7 twist to handle the 70gr TSX . I have used them on hogs and they can be devastating. This was 100yds. and under. This twist is necessary for past 100yds. What I witnessed was groups spreading. A 1-8 will handle the 60gr fine and under.
Just a FYI the Barnes opens like a fan blade on a hog's tough hide and in some cases the exit sounds look more like a knife ripped a hole in the animal. Pics were on a phone that got broken. Important to note I have not used them on coyotes. Look hard at your velocities. You might get by with a lighter bullet, watch and feel the wind.
I hope you practice at 300yds, and an important suggestion is to use a tripod. A tripod helps you to be steady in case of a runner, and stop that runner.
Good luck to you, and hope you get this settled.
CT
 
I'm a big fan of Barnes bullets, and I use the 45gr XLC (handload) for coyotes out of a 22 Hornet.

With copper, you can usually go lighter in bullet weight and get great results. Look for the 55gr Barnes. You have to be prepared for richochets after they exit, and they will exit.

However, for a 223 class cartridge, try the 60gr Vmax, 50-55gr B-tips, or even a plain-jane soft-point, and put it in the right place.

My son shoots a 60gr Vmax out of his 223wssm, at about 3,700fps. It is not fur friendly, not even close, but it sure hammers them hard.

When I used the 60gr Vmax at about 3,200fps out of my 222RemMag, it killed them very well, but the extra 500fps from his rifle was very noticeable.
 
If you want a bullet that just melts the inside of a coyote but does not make huge exit holes, try the Sierra 55 gr HPBT (#1390). I am also a Barnes bullet fan and use the 36 gr Varmint grenade as well but I think they make it in a little heavier bullet. I would check them out as well.
 
Try going down in weight with copper bullets. You'll get 100% penetration with with 45gr TSX, 50gr TSX and 70gr TSX (Barnes recommends the 45gr TSX for antelope). So why not shoot the faster & flatter 45's or 50's at a significantly higher velocity for measley coyotes?
 
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