Calling in Southside VA

22magnum22 said:
Hey Ramb, tell us about this coyote you recovered. There has been a lot of talk here lately about rifles, velocity, bullet weight, type of bullet all focused on what we call splash at point of impact. You said yours got away but you obviously went back and was successful in finding it. Give us all the particulars, rifle caliber, ammo type and weight, distance to coyote and the picture shows impact in the exact area many attribute to bullet splash. Was there any sign of bullet pass through?
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I shot this coyote at approximately ~200 yards, shooting a 223 53gr VMAX out of an AR with a 18” barrel. The coyote only ran 50-60 yards from where it was shot, just couldn’t find it in the dark last night but easy to find this morning. These are factory loads from Federal that use the 53gr Hornady VMAX bullets. I don’t think it splashed, entrance wound looks larger because buzzards had been picking at it.
 
Ramb said:
I shot this coyote at approximately ~200 yards, shooting a 223 53gr VMAX out of an AR with a 18” barrel. The coyote only ran 50-60 yards from where it was shot, just couldn’t find it in the dark last night but easy to find this morning. These are factory loads from Federal that use the 53gr Hornady VMAX bullets. I don’t think it splashed, entrance wound looks larger because buzzards had been picking at it.
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So you had penetration but no exit?
 
Yes, I believe it penetrated enough to hit lungs as there is blood in the mouth and the coyote didn’t make it far, but no exit wound.

@22magnum22
 
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I quit on the Vmax bullets several years ago. It became a joke on how far they would run after being hit.
I use bonded bullets now and have much better success on anchoring them DRT or within a few yards. I do still have a runner or 2 but nothing like we had with the Vmax's.
Also, we use visible lasers to mark last seen point and that really helps in locating a runner.
 
1trkyhntr said:
I quit on the Vmax bullets several years ago. It became a joke on how far they would run after being hit.
I use bonded bullets now and have much better success on anchoring them DRT or within a few yards. I do still have a runner or 2 but nothing like we had with the Vmax's.
Also, we use visible lasers to mark last seen point and that really helps in locating a runner.
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I’ve been thinking about changing to bonded and/or a heavier grain. I typically only have problems on longer shot coyotes. Foxes, bobcats, and coyotes <100 yards are never a problem.
 
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