Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Best bullet for furbearers in a 5.56

Looking for an accurate bullet in a 7” spun M4 AR 5.56 that will hammer coyotes and other vermin without totally f’n up the hide. Thinking VMAX of some sort likely a 50-55 grain. I’ve shot a ton of vermin with it just did it with heavier bullets that blew right through. Mostly 63 grain bonded stuff. Great for deer but not so much for pelts. Never gave a rip about hides before but I’d like to start keeping them now if for nothing else some nice decorations. Just looking for some quick and easy tips from those of you that know from experience. Thanks.

40gr Varmageddon tipped. They’ve been very accurate and very effective for me on a bunch of stuff from crows to pigs. Usually no exit on coyotes and bobcats. Sucky BC if that matters to you.

+11111

Had excellent results out of a 55 or 60 grain V-Max.

Loaded to around 3000fps. Exit is rare on a coyote.

My experience with lighter, more frangible bullets is that they can splash and not kill effectively and may tend to blow large holes on impact.

I did field testing for a major ammo/bullet company with various highly frangible bullet designs they were wanting to cross over and market to predator hunters. Even had a few of the key corporate people down when testing, and showed them the results... Told them there was a big difference in coyotes and prairie dogs, and showed them first hand results, but they marketed that ammo/bullet for predator hunters anyway. Guess marketing matters...

Interesting side note is that the ammo/bullets were intended for special forces and tactical police situations, and they were looking for crossover uses into the hunting market.

All in all, I firmly stand by my recommendation of a 55 or 60gr V-Max at 3000fps as the greatest killer of DRT coyotes that I ever used. This opinion is based on roughly 1500 or so coyotes, with a few other animals sprinkled in.

Agree on the 55 Vmax for coyotes, but it can be a bit strenuous on bobcats ,and can really tear up a fox. If you just plain want to keep a hide or two I'd go with the 40 gr NBT, Goes in and has few exits, works on most fur bearing sized critters.

Ive shot most of my coyotes with 223’s using 55BT’s. Can’t remember any being super torn up.

years ago I earned a fair chunk of my living shooting for hides. One bullet I can to like a lot for fur was the 50 grain Hornady SX fired from a 22" SAKO in 222 Remington. From a 16" 5.56 AR the velocity is probably going to be identical or so close it would not matter. Those bullets would kill instantly and most times not exit a big Nevada or Idaho Coyote.

Also keep in mind that velocity is not necessary your friend when it comes to making money. I would use a 22 LR of fox because of that very reason.

Load for accuracy and forget about speed. As long as it shoots well and will operate your AR's action call it good and go make some money.

For saving fur the 40 NBT is the best thing I have used in 5.56 ARs.

The 69gr Sierra TMK does well (coyotes) for being heavy as it expands very fast and offers better long range ballistics.

The fast twist of most ARs does reduce penatration in the fast expanding bullets.

I have killed a few truckloads of coyotes with 52 grain Sierra Matchkings over the years. Very accurate bullet and doesn't tear stuff up.

Pretty good chance that SX will make it about 3' out of the barrel and be reduced to a vapor.

Have you tried those from a 7 twist??

I have some 223 loaded with 40 grain Blitzking and want to try them from my AR but the 7 twist has me hesitating.

The Varmageddon Tipped is the Nosler BT. Has a solid base where the Blitzking is standard cup/core with a thin jacket.

Varmageddon has no solid base. Is standard cup n core like a Blitzking.

Ballistic Tip and Varmageddon are 2 different lines. Varmageddon is offered in both tipped and HP models.

Thanks for that info.

Yes they’ve been fine. The 50gr SX has too for that matter. I’m not cranking them too fast with the 18” barrel but I’ve never had one puff.
Shot a little pig below the eyeball with a 50SX and everything above the eye socket was completely gone. Gave him a flat top!

👍🏿👍🏿

I know first hand a 1-7” twist can be brutal on varmint bullets. Actually, the only bullet I’ve had trouble with is the 55 gr Speer. They can’t handle the RPMs but the 55 Nos Varmegeddon bullets shoot fantastically in my rifle.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/17175429/1

Todd

Vmax. Won't exit. Blitzings are easy on fur too.
If you want minimal, go 40 grainers.

Thanks all. Seems like the easy button is 40-60 tipped Vmax or similar. Should be good to go as I have a variety from 35 to 60. The 35’s I had I loaded light for a bolt gun. Doubt they’ll work in the AR. Just never got serious about fur and never paid attention to the damage. Just dumped them and left them. Yeah sounds horrible and a waste but I’m changing my evil ways. I plan on targeting them (coyotes and such) around January to see if I can get prime coats. Thanks again for the advice.

Why not plain old 50-55 gr FMJs?

I've shot coyotes, but I'm not a coyote hunter, so my experience is limited.

On two of my African hunts my "list" included some little guys that I thought my regular big game hunting bullets would tear up too much of the hide so...

On one hunt I borrowed a .308 Win with 150 gr FMJ cartridges from my PH, and one FMJ bullet dropped a Cape Grysbok on the spot with only a .30 caliber entrance and exit holes.

On another hunt I wanted an African Civet so I worked a load of 150 FMJ bullets for my .300 Weatherby, and again one bullet dropped him on the spot with only .30 caliber entrance and exit holes.

No 10 gauge the 50 Gr SX doesn't break up from 222s or 223s at least not with 1-14, 1-12, or 1-9 twists. His 1-7 may be something different but loaded at 2900 to 3000 I personably think he'd be OK. . It can do it when they are fired from a 22-250 (I know, I have done it)

The Hornady SX 50 grain was actually made around the ballistics of the old 222 Remington cartridge. But the old rifles were also made with 1-14 twists for the most part. The majority of American made 222s had 22" barrels and most European 222s had 24 inch barrels. MV is about 3200 FPS. They only come apart in the air at about 3500+
A 223 in a 20 inch will not blow them up unless the twist is too fast.

But I don't think a 16 inch, even with a 1-7 twist would do it either. Especially if you take my earlier advice and don't try for max velocity. It's worth a try. I have shot them in 223s with 1-9 and done fine, but I have not with a 1-7. The only way to know for certain is to try some.

Just shoot them fast enough to operate the action well, and if my guess is correct and they hold together I can say on coyotes they work just fine. Another thing to consider is to go to the 55 grain if for no other reason than to slow them down a bit more.

If his AR will not blow them up mind-air I can say how in the past they were one of the better hide-hunting bullets I tried. The 16 inch 223 is actually a slight bit slower then my 22" 222.

One thig is certain, if he trys some he'll know inside 5-10 shots if they will work for him or not. No hole in a paper at 50 yards means you were right and I am wrong.

Mid South has those for $16.99 a box of 100. Awful tempting.

I was speaking strictly on the 7 twist in the AR.

I have 5 or 6 boxes at the house and 100 of em loaded for my 222. Also have the Blitz Sierra 50s. Ready to see how they puff a crows feathers.

I'm running the Nosler 70 gr AB in the 22 Nosler.
That load flattens woodchucks, coyotes and bobcat. Exits are not too bad on coyote and cats.

40 and 50 grain VMax bullets have worked for me

The 52 grain Vmax was Taylor- made for coyotes. From a 14 twist i always got exits, an 8 twist was a different story.
I think the 7 will be better yet.

I don't shoot a coyote unless it's prime and I don't waste a prime coyote. I've killed hundreds of coyotes and I've tried quite a few bullets in arriving at what I feel is the best .22 caliber bullet. A 55 grain soft point in a .223 or 22-250 will almost never force you to spend a bunch of time sewing. My next choice would be a 55 grain ballistic tip, but it's a distant second. V Max bullets are pretty close to 50/50 as to whether you're going to have a mess. Often, even if you don't blow a massive hole, the hide is terribly bloodshot. A frontal shot at 100 yards plus with a 55 grain SP gives you a little entrance, no exit, and no bloodshot hide. All bets are off when they're on the run.

For the 220 Swift, I presume?