Byron,
I must agree with your assessment that the 60gr V-Max is the best coyote bullet for a 223. It penetrates quite well and doesn't have splash problems. Also seems to anchor them right away. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
The bulk of my coyotes have been shot with "deer bullets" out of 243's and 308's and they have performed great for me. I've never had a splash and it's extremely rare that they make it over about 10 feet before expiring. Our fur here is worthless but these bullets are also "fur friendly" leaving small exit holes.
I also agree that "light for caliber" bullets are a poor choice for coyotes for just about any cartridge. Use 'em only if you wanna go to "splash city".
I've also had the same experience with 17's. There is a guy near here called "The Coyote Man" and he charges to rid hunting leases of coyotes.
I finally got to hunt with him and his "Mighty 17" a couple of days. Five coyotes killed.... Two were splash hits and both coyotes were found after using dogs to track them down and a shot from my 308 to finish them.
He swore up and down that he'd never had that problem before. Maybe so.... I might just be bad medicine for 17's.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
I'm probably the only hunter you, or anyone else here, will ever meet that swears by the 308 150gr Nosler Partition (also my favorite deer bullet) for coyotes. It kills them like a lightening strike and will fully penetrate from ANY angle easily and leaves slightly larger than caliber exit holes with scrambled innards if you care to autopsy the nasty things. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif
$bob$
