Slumps over

Hunter55

Hunter55

Active member
Night for last went out shot one about 200yds, and couldn't find him. A farmer text said she was having coyote problems, killed 4 yorkies, 7 goats, chickens, & geese. I went down and done a meet and greet, and went back tonight for a hunt. It's a small place about 32 acres VERY rolling hills & pasture bordered by THICK timber, the kinda brush you can't walk through and your thermal looks like you're in the clouds or fog. Anyway was just setting up and they blew up a bunch of them, I hit pup distress and before I could get settled into my chair they were on me, about 6 of them. One started to take a dump & another walked up from behind so I got a two for one shot on those guys. Another was in a walk path into the woods, lowered the hammer and hit him too. About 9:30 another walks across the same path and I hit him as well. Every darn one of them made it to the darn jungle brush and I couldn't find any, did find blood & lost bowels, but the brush is machete thick stuff.
 
Spurchaser said:
What gun/caliber are you shooting?
Click to expand...
I'm a bolt guy ,usually I shoot a .204. However, I ordered a 20" upper .223 Wylde for my AR and some SIG 40gr. varmint predator. I done a 100yd field tested zero and was having issue shooting high at 200, WAY high. Back to the range I went, and now I have a field tested zero of 200yds. When the weather clears back to the range again to find where in the heck this thing is actually shooting @ 100yds again. Somethings amiss here, shot 5 coyotes and never found a one, and I know I hit them without doubt. I'm shooting like I always have, hold your breath, and squeeze, the 4th coyote I made darn sure I was NOT screwing up. If you have ideas I'm all ears
 
I've never used a 204, but from what I have gathered from people that have and from lots of reading...

It's definitely a round that needs to be put in the right spot and the bullet choice is very important.

With that said. One of the reasons I wanted to switch from the 223 to something a little bigger is because here in SC if a coyote doesn't fall dead within 20-30 yards a lot of times there's a good chance you won't find it.

With the 204 you are probably going to have to try to take higher percentage shots instead of just putting the crosshairs on them and pulling the trigger.
 
DoubleLungRage said:
I've never used a 204, but from what I have gathered from people that have and from lots of reading...

It's definitely a round that needs to be put in the right spot and the bullet choice is very important.

With that said. One of the reasons I wanted to switch from the 223 to something a little bigger is because here in SC if a coyote doesn't fall dead within 20-30 yards a lot of times there's a good chance you won't find it.

With the 204 you are probably going to have to try to take higher percentage shots instead of just putting the crosshairs on them and pulling the trigger.
Click to expand...
the rifle I'm actually having issue with is the AR with a 20" upper.
Bullet choice may be the issue?
I'm also unsure if you have to zero my scope on base magnification and I've started a thread on FB Infiray to find an answer to that question.
The timber is so thick on this place if they ran 20-30 yds you wouldn't find them at night.
 
i use an AR with a 20 inch wilson combat super sniper barrel in .223 wylde. i use federal factory 53 grain v-max, when i do my part it shoots 1/2 inch groups at 200 yards off the bench. only ever had one run off, the rest dropped right there or ran a little ways. i would think 40 grain is kind of light, depending on your rate of twist.

wilson recommends the following

  • .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO

    1-7: Match or hunting bullets in the 68gr – 80gr range

    1-8: Match or hunting bullets in the 50gr – 77gr range (best all around choice)

    1-9: Match or hunting bullets in the 45gr – 69gr range
 
Hunter55 said:
the rifle I'm actually having issue with is the AR with a 20" upper.
Bullet choice may be the issue?
I'm also unsure if you have to zero my scope on base magnification and I've started a thread on FB Infiray to find an answer to that question.
The timber is so thick on this place if they ran 20-30 yds you wouldn't find them at night.
Click to expand...

There's a lot of guys on here that can give you advice on bullet choice. I'm sure they will chime in throughout the day.
 
bohunr said:
i use an AR with a 20 inch wilson combat super sniper barrel in .223 wylde. i use federal factory 53 grain v-max, when i do my part it shoots 1/2 inch groups at 200 yards off the bench. only ever had one run off, the rest dropped right there or ran a little ways. i would think 40 grain is kind of light, depending on your rate of twist.

wilson recommends the following

  • .223 Remington/5.56mm NATO

    1-7: Match or hunting bullets in the 68gr – 80gr range

    1-8: Match or hunting bullets in the 50gr – 77gr range (best all around choice)

    1-9: Match or hunting bullets in the 45gr – 69gr range
Click to expand...
I'm using a 20" Ballistic Advantage DMR barrel with a 1:8 twist so, going with a little heavier bullet may be the key. When I sighted this in @ 200yds. I was shooting a piece of 2"x2" HVAC tape so I know the gun will shoot. Think I'll look at a some of those 53gr Vmax...Thx
 
I'd switch to 55 grain Softpoint bullets or Hornady 52 grain BTHP or 60 grain Sierra Varminter HP's if you reload. If not I'd just pick up a few boxes of the 55 grain SP's and see if your rifle likes them. They'll leave holes through both sides of them if they're standing broadside. In my opinion more holes is better, especially if you do have to track one. More holes for stuff to leak or fall out of. But if you're hitting them in the ribcage with those bullets you won't have to anyways. I've killed over 100 coyotes with Softpoints out of my .223 and offhand I can only recall losing 2 due to shot placement. One I hit in the shoulder and blew a strip of hide about a foot long off of it. The other I shot while it was running off and I hit it in the guts. 5 of its buddies got hit and didn't go anywhere.

In my opinion it's best to stay away from the shoulder with anything in .223 unless it's a bonded bullet like a Nosler 55gr E-Tip. That's about the only plastic tipped bullet I care much for.
 
Last edited:
I think I’d pick another caliber. From reading your post you’ve lost every coyote you’ve shot. I could understand shooting what you shoot if you’re saving fur, but that’s not working either. Pick a caliber that anchors them based on your hunting area.
 
OKRattler said:
I'd switch to 55 grain Softpoint bullets or Hornady 52 grain BTHP or 60 grain Sierra Varminter HP's if you reload. If not I'd just pick up a few boxes of the 55 grain SP's and see if your rifle likes them. They'll leave holes through both sides of them if they're standing broadside. In my opinion more holes is better, especially if you do have to track one. More holes for stuff to leak or fall out of. But if you're hitting them in the ribcage with those bullets you won't have to anyways. I've killed over 100 coyotes with Softpoints out of my .223 and offhand I can only recall losing 2 due to shot placement. One I hit in the shoulder and blew a strip of hide about a foot long off of it. The other I shot while it was running off and I hit it in the guts. 5 of its buddies got hit and didn't go anywhere.

In my opinion it's best to stay away from the shoulder with anything in .223 unless it's a bonded bullet like a Nosler 55gr E-Tip. That's about the only plastic tipped bullet I care much for.
Click to expand...
Never shot a Barnes bullet before but these were on clearance and I'll see if this helps. These are the Barnes 55 gr TSX FB they were out of some of the other choices. Yes I reload however I want to find a better bullet before I start reloading a bunch of them.
Barnes hollow points.jpg
 
Spurchaser said:
I think I’d pick another caliber. From reading your post you’ve lost every coyote you’ve shot. I could understand shooting what you shoot if you’re saving fur, but that’s not working either. Pick a caliber that anchors them based on your hunting area.
Click to expand...
I'm switching to a heavier bullet a 55gr. Barnes TSX FB hollow point, and see if that works.
 
I think you'll have better results with the 55 grain TSX. The only downside is the price of those compared to others. I'd venture to say you won't lose 5 out of every 5 coyotes you shoot with them but it could get pricey if you're shooting a bunch. Shouldn't have to worry about hitting a shoulder bone with those. Most likely it'll punch through and knock them down.

I haven't shot that particular bullet so I can't say that with 100% certainty that will happen. But I guess there's only one way to find out.
 
Back
Top