V-max or PSP .223 for coyotes ?

K

kyron4

New member
Hello, newbie here. I picked up a .223 Savage I plan on using for coyotes and red fox this fall. Trying to decide on what type of bullet to use that will anchor the dogs without excessive hide damage. I read good things about v-max and the 55gr. shoot excellent out of my Savage, but I have also read a lot about lost coyote when the bullets blows apart on a heavy bone. Are the PSP (soft points) a better option ? Dropping the dogs is number one, but a fox blown in half isn't much good either. Shots will be 200yds. and under and most likely 50-75yds. Any suggestions or opinions ? I don't handload so factory ammo and would prefer 55gr. as it shoots best in my rifle. -Thanks
 
Just about anything you shoot thru a 223 is going to be hard on fox, especially the plastic tipped fodder like the vmax and ballistic tip ammo.

I've shot coyote with spire point ammo and the results have been.. lets just say, not as expected. Plenty of those coyotes took a second or third shot to dispatch. Ballistic tip or vmax seem to work better and the 52gr Sierra HP bullets are excellent.

Have you considered a shotgun for the fox?
 
i ran winchester power points for years and had many runners. i tried several other bullets after that and finally settled on the v-max. now that is all i use for coyotes and fox and bobcats out of the 223. i have never had a 55gr v-max splash or fail to do its job on a coyote, ocasionally one will run off 20 or 30 yards but they are always dead and there is almost always a good blood trail if they do run. with poor shot placement i have still had good luck, the v-max does a good job of destruction of whatever it hits even if it is not the vitals. even a hindquarter hit will put them down long enough to get another shot in them.

i have not tried the every bullet out there, but with the results that i have had with the v-max i do not feel the need to.

i killed one fox this year, about 75 yards or so, perfect shot placement. only about a nickel sized exit. not bad in my book.
 
Well they are not 55gr, but we have done well with the Speer 52gr HP. Ultramax use to load it at around 3000fps, but they no longer list it. The Speer bullet is #1035, it has a very large HP. It has done well on coyotes and very acceptable on fox. This may be in part to the lower velocity, but it does the job. I have heard several people say the 52gr Sierra HP does well also, as Furhunter stated, but have no first hand experience with them.
 
As furhunter mentioned 223 is going to be tough generally speaking on fox.
The 52gr Berger and the 52gr Sierra will stay inside a coyote most times and will pass thru a fox with minimal damage again most of the time. None are going to be 100% for sure
 
I reload and shoot several different 223's, bolt guns and AR's. I play around with different bullets and powders in everything except one rifle, and in that one, the one I hunt with 90% of the time, I use the same load I have since the day I got it. I shoot a Remington Model 7 Predator, and use surplus 846 powder and the 50 grain VMax. It's a fairly hot load, but shoots extremely well in my rifle. I have never shot a fox with it, but have killed a pile of coyotes and a number of bobcats. I've never had this load ruin a bobcat hide, and I sell my hides, or give them away to be mounted. Now, maybe it's because I usually shoot the cats at fairly close range, and can place that bullet in a good spot. But, whatever the case, I have found the 50 grain VMax to be fur friendly. I did shoot one bobcat with a 55 grain PSP and practically cut it in half. As for coyotes, I don't save fur, so don't pay any attention to the size of the hole.
 
Hey friends, I use 55 gr vmax out of my m4 carbine. That gun is open sights so I keep it 200 yards and under. It anchors the furry devils on the spot. Never shot fox, but my friend used fmj thinking it would save the fur but at 50 yds they were fragmenting and still doing damage.
I hand load everything and I have a pet load that really screams.
 
A lot of the bullets and loads will work fine BUT guys he said he does not reload. He needs store bought load advice.I'd have to say the 55gr. V-max would be your best bet. I don't know about Fox though.
 


Write your reply...
Back
Top