Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles 55 grain V-Max

Are 55 grn V-Max okay for coyotes or are they best used for priaire dogs,crows,& woodchucks? I would like to use something that will minimize pelt damage if possible.

We used to shoot fox with 12 gauge #2 lead with very little damage.

Pmd: You did not mention which caliber you would be using the 55 grain V-Max's in but if you have a 22-250 or a 220 Swift Rifle I have used the Speer 52 grain hollow-point flat base bullets with good results on pelts from those two calibers.
Give these a try and I am sure you will be happy with the results.
And make sure you use the "flat base" Speer 52 grainers and NOT the "boat-tail" 52 grainers.
Good luck.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

pmd, I have shot lots of coyotes with the 50 grain Vmax out of my .22-250,,.22-250IMP, and Swift...they are great killers, but as I remember they can be damaging to pelts..but I just wanted the coyote down with out worrying about pelt damage..lately ours haven't be worth a great deal...

I am using a .223 Rem
24 grains H-335
Rem Brass
Win primers
honest 1/2" groups @ 100 yards

July Fur Fish Game Fur Market Report says that Coyote may be in the $40.00 to $60.00 range this year.

I was just thinking that it would be a shame to ruin a pelt if they will be fetching those prices.

I've killed a few with 50's and 60's. They work pretty good on our big dogs but if you hit bone, just like every other load, you're likely to have a mess. We shoot way more fox than yotes and a v-max pretty much destroys a fox at 223 velocities. I went back to the cheap hornady soft points. I'd rather have one hole to sew than 20 little ones.

As long as I dont hit bone then the 50's I use just make one tiny hole. The 55's are flat base and a pain to seat.

I would think that those prices are for whats considered Prime pelts. Last few years I havent seen many Prime pelts due to mange, and lack of cold hard winters. I just whack the suckers and I am doing them a favor. Mange is a slow way to go. 50 to 55's should do just fine.

Swifty

I like the 55's in my 223. Loaded to 3180 fps w/4895.
Cheers

25gr Benchmark and a 55gr VMAX in .223 is my goto load for p-dogs.

I have shot many coyotes with thr 55g vmax without blowing holes out the other side. Great round for them IMO as well as the 50g VM. I now run the 58 & 65 G VM in my 6x45 and have yet to have one ruin the hides.

For coyotes, cheap 55g Hornady Soft points are very good! They shoot 3/8" groups out of my custom 223 and 223 AI.

I'd probably agree with Keith. I have shot a number of coyotes with 50 and 55 VMs and every one had a crater on one side or the other. Lights out, but not fur friendly.

I might as well add to the confusion: I've been loading the 55 gr V-max DOWN to about 2800 fps with 23.7 grains of 748 in my .223. BTW, that's the published velocity per the Hornady manual; I have yet to chrony this thing.

I arrived at this charge via the "Ladder" test, and 23.7 grains proved to be the sweet spot for my barrel. While I was a bit disappointed at the relatively mild velocities, the load turned out to be not only extremely consistent, but also very fur friendly on coyotes, and in the end, that's what I was really after.

Of course, I've also been fortunate to have had mostly full frontal shots over the years, so there haven't been many exit wounds. The few through and through broadside shots I've had produced minimal hide damage (quarter-sized holes). Most of my shots on called coyotes are well under 100 yards, longest was ranged at a little over 230.

I'm happy so far, but am now planning to try the 52 grain Sierra match bullet loaded as fast as I safely can. Rumor has it this bullet pretty much self destructs in a coyote if you can push it fast enough... no exit wounds on broadside shots. Then again, that might just be rumor. We'll see.

Ulvejaeger: I have had splendid accuracy in several of my 223 Remington Rifles with handloads made up with H 4895 powder.
It has also worked very well in several of my friends 223's when I suggested they try it.
Long live SW Montana!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy