your favourite .20 cal bullet for varmint and coyotes

40 gr Nosler BT's usually leave a dime - nickle sized exit on broadside coyotes.
I use 35 gr V-Max on PD's as I like the explosive results.
The V-Max's will shoot 1" higher than the Noslers @ 100 yds for me (easy compensation)
 
I had settled for a custom made 38 gr. bullet on drawn down .224 J4's, at ~4300 fps. Not very fur friendly but solid bang flop city and frozen rope flat. Just about every other bullet I tried at that kind of velocity had horrific splash issues - one exception being the Hornady 45, but it's such a bowling ball of a BC, I just didn't like the ballistics. I'm going to try slowing down some 39 BK's to 3900 - 4000 this year and see how they do. Will be trying the same 38's at the lower velocity too. Might pick up some fur friendliness, hopefully without losing the bang flop factor. Will obviously lose some trajectory magic.

- DAA
 
I'm really hoping that the 32 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip is my new go to bullet in my new CZ527 .204 ruger. I have had great luck with the 35 grain Bergers, but they seem to get harder and harder to find in stock. I also hate how Berger keeps changing their bullets. They started out with a B.C of .191 now I see where they are only .176. I hope to get alittle more velocity with the Noslers along with a better B.C. Not to mention the Ballistic Tip seems to be a little stronger constructed bullet than the rest. With the exception of the 45 grain Hornady soft point that Dave mentioned. Which I had great luck with in one of my other .204's.

Good Hunting Chad
 
Originally Posted By: WhoCaresI've been using 26.0 of IMR 8208 and getting plenty of velocity & accuracy . My problem is blowing up the fur upon exit. Not sure if it's bullet or velocity related as everyone seems to think the 35 Bergers are perfect. I am going to slow a batch down in a 16" barrel and I just ordered 200 of the Sierra bullets Bobtails suggested. I will try them in my 22" as well as th 16" and see what works better. Thanks for the help guys!

Is that in the 204 Ruger? Or a 20 tac?
 
Originally Posted By: BOBTAILSI have only had a few that have put more than a quarter sized hole in coyotes. Most it's a 20 cal hole and blows up inside. Never had a splash. Also never had a pass thru.

Just to be clear the quarter size wounds and a few bigger are on entry or exit? I would consider tears on entry of any size bigger than .20 at least a slight splash. Or did you mean they are on exit and that you have never had a caliber size pass through? Very interesting, the first five or so years the .204 ruger came out everyone was saying no matter what don't shoot the 32's for coyotes. Always wondered at least about the 32gr nbt but never would have thought the 32gr bk would work so well.
 
Originally Posted By: Displayed NameOriginally Posted By: BOBTAILSI have only had a few that have put more than a quarter sized hole in coyotes. Most it's a 20 cal hole and blows up inside. Never had a splash. Also never had a pass thru.

Just to be clear the quarter size wounds and a few bigger are on entry or exit? I would consider tears on entry of any size bigger than .20 at least a slight splash. Or did you mean they are on exit and that you have never had a caliber size pass through? Very interesting, the first five or so years the .204 ruger came out everyone was saying no matter what don't shoot the 32's for coyotes. Always wondered at least about the 32gr nbt but never would have thought the 32gr bk would work so well.

It is on entry that I am talking about, I would not consider it splash but just when you hit bone versus inbetween a rib or elsewhere it tends to give you a larger hole than your bullet diameter. I am exagerating on the quarter size. Maybe its a dime.
 
K that's what I figured and that is what it sounded like too. Makes me want to get another .204. I had a few but they didn't stay very long as I didn't care for the particular rifles once I had them in my hands.
 
I have a CZ American in .204, great little rifle. I tried all the usual bullets. Punching paper the 35gr Berger and the 39gr BK usually were the best. After a few not so desirable results using those on critters I abandoned them. For killing critters at all angles I had the best results with the 40gr Nosler BT and the 40gr Bergers. The Noslers didn't group as well as I hoped but it didn't seem to matter when I hunted with them.
 
That's why I am hoping the 32 grain Noslers BT's work out. I think that the solid base on the Ballistic Tips will help with the angles and surface splashes. And I like the fact that I can get more speed out of it, I really hope I can get the groups out of it that I want. I even like the price, I can get a 250 box for around $45.00.....

Good Hunting Chad
 
Well I loaded up some 39blitzkings for my old mans rifle and tested them on a coyote and the only coyote I got with a .20 cal. That's when I was hooked. So that's where I'll be starting,
 
Anecdotal/personal experience:
Have owned 204R builds for many years and shoot regularly at 400 meters, plus and minus. Over 400 presents a whole new dynamic of mojo (lack of) with a 204. Get 400M worked out and you can do a lot with a 204R. Per longer ranges, doping wind, fur friendliness, bullet construction and energy...nothing does it as easily as the 40 Ballistic Tip overall. The Berger 35 and 40 are decent to a point, 45 Hornady doable if a 1/10 twist. All others can leave big holes too often. 40BT a bit over 3600 fps is my favorite, anyway.
 
Originally Posted By: UtahcallerThat's why I am hoping the 32 grain Noslers BT's work out. I think that the solid base on the Ballistic Tips will help with the angles and surface splashes. And I like the fact that I can get more speed out of it, I really hope I can get the groups out of it that I want. I even like the price, I can get a 250 box for around $45.00.....

Good Hunting Chad

if you're looking for bang for your buck... shooters pro shop has 32gr varmageddon blems at $8.95/100. they may not be fur friendly - i havent had a chance to test them on meat - but if nothing else they may help build a cheap practice load for you to plink with. their flat rate shipping policy makes quantity buying the most efficient... 1k of them will run you 101.50 delivered.



i will be testing them on critters this summer
smile.gif
 
Last edited:
Forgot to include that Nosler BTs, 32 and 40, and Bergers seem to match up with their published BCs. The BCs stated by some other .20s don't match up w/ real world trajectories.

Also keep in mind that even though the 32 will win the 100 meter dash, the .20 cal 40 BT is aerodynamically superior to any of the 32s; all without the blow-up speeds.
 
That would be a good deal. But the Nosler varmegeddon bullets are probably just like the Vmax and Blitzkings. To explosive for what I'm looking for. The Nosler Ballistic Tip has a solid base which I hope will help with quartering shots or the bone hits. We'll see how it works out.

Good Hunting Chad
 
Back
Top