Can you make a 223 Fur Friendly for Cats and Fox? Yet still do the trick for a Coyote

champ198

champ198

Member
Just acquired a 223 AR recently that I would like to make my main calling rifle.
It's nothing fancy at all which is fine.
I was courioous though if you all have found a bullet possibly that works well for Cats and Fox that doesn't destroy the hide. Yet also is enough to put a Coyote down.
Would like to have one rifle for all if possible.
 
Hornady 55gr Vmax, never had a runner/spinner. Never had an exit hole. I have picked up a few and they sound kinda slushy inside!
The 223 was built around 55gr ammo, some like the 53gr. Try both and see which shoots best in your rifle.
 
Hornady 50 SX has been very good for me out of AR's coon,fox and coyote. Plus for me is no tip to take up mag room, actually can play with seating depth for better accuracy. And they are cheap,easy to find in stores.
 
I shot this huge guy with a 55gr Vmax @ approx 10yds.
I couldn’t find the entrance hole, not a drop of blood and zero exit hole.
That rifle had a 24” barrel, idk what velocity was. But I couldn’t believe the lack of damage.
20181031_224404.jpeg
 
dont try the 53 grain federal v-max loads on fox if you want the fur. i have had few, very few, that had little damage. the rest looked like they blew up.

i dont use it for fox anymore.
 
All those bullets above can have great results.... they can also easily blow them up ifyou hit them high in back or a bone near the surface. If anyone tells you a vmax, blitzking, or varmageddon, ballistic tip wont cause damage they havent killed very many with it. Sometimes it looks like they die of a heart attack, sometimes it looks like they were hit by a cluster bomb . It's a fine line, your better off thinking "kill coyote" hope for the best on bobs and fox. A fmj type bullet in 22 cal in lighter weights wont anchor them, you will loose a lot of hit animals. If you use a heavy target bullet you will cause less damage passing through with a large wound channel but the bullet wont usually come apart in the animal. , the weight will up the kenetic energy on impact and anchor them better. There is no perfect answer. A fox's skin is like paper and they are low mass. Coyotes are tough and more robust.
 
I just loaded up sierra 69g boat tail hollow points @ 2750fps they shoot like darts. Going next week for a 5 day calling and pheasant hunt will let you how much damage they do.
 
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