.223 bullet for coyotes?

[wanderinwalker]

I'm looking to pick up some expanding .224" bullets to load in .223 for my 16" AR carbine for just-in-case coyote and varmint dispatching (I live on a horse ranch currently and the property is part of a large pack's range). I've loaded thousands of rounds of .223 but always used either FMJ or match hollow-point bullets, never anything designed specifically for use on varmints and game.

Right now I'm leaning toward trying out the 55gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. Noslers have been my go-to match bullet for years, it seems like it would be pretty straightforward to swap these out in place of the 55gr FMJs I use for plinking. They may even shoot to the same POA/POI as my plinkers, but I would obviously check at the range first.

Any other bullets I should look at trying? Given the rifle I'll be shooting them out of, I'm not expecting to be able to tell the absolute accuracy difference between Brand X and Brand Y. I just want something reliable feeding and with reliable expansion on 40-50 pound animals.

 

[rcmodel]

I use 55 grain Nosler BT and Hornady V-Max exclusively and interchangeably for coyotes.

Either one is as accurate as match bullets, and explode dependably inside a coyote.

rc

 

[BigBore45]

Speer 52 grain hp.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I'd go cheap. Or whatever happens to be in magazine when Wiley appears.
If pelt hunting, 33-35 gr, to lessen damage. Otherwise, most any .22cal bullet will work. Local environment will dictate otherwise.
Midway Dogtown or Midsouthshooterssupply varmint nightmare are hard to beat. The hollow point versions will give immediate stops, soft point 55gr will do anything you'll need to do.
I've also had good performance from bulk Hornady and Winchester, though accuracy of bullets with cannelures isn't as good usually as those without.
Besides, most of my coyote kills have been while deer hunting. The 55 gr Spt's have worked well in that regard, too.
Not saying anything wrong with premium bullets, just they aren't necessary. Coyotes aren't praraie dogs at 500yds. But then I use the cheap bulk bullets on them too.

 

[Sunray]

What's the rifling twist in that wee barrel? You may want to think 60 plus grain hunting bullets depending on the twist. Really makes no difference which one. Unless you plan on keeping the hides.
Then your current load will do nicely. Wiley isn't any more armoured than any other beast, but the match bullets or FMJ's won't blow big holes in the hides and Wiley will be just as dead.

 

[witchhunter]

A Ballistic Tip or a V Max will both dump coyotes. Both are explosive on varmints. Both are very accurate.

 

[NWcityguy2]

Look at the Midsouth Varmint nightmare bullets. They are repackaged Hornady, Nosler and/or Sierra bullets. They are accurate enough to be a non-match hunting load, but cheap enough to be a plinking load. The only downside is that they are flat base and take a bit more effort to seat in the case.

I use the 55gr SP, with is the Hornady 55gr SP w/c, only cheaper. They are solid 1 to 2 moa bullets, which is plenty for a non-match AR.

I have no experience with Dogtown, but imagine the same advice applies.

 

[gamestalker]

I've been running the Speer 52's also, I love em. They're affordable, they shoot very accurately, and best of all they splode on impact.

The 55's, part# 1032 are also really good for them pesky varmints.

Guess I should have mentioned that I run them from a 22-250 though.

GS

 

[KansasSasquatch]

I use 55 grain Nosler BT and Hornady V-Max exclusively and interchangeably for coyotes.

Either one is as accurate as match bullets, and explode dependably inside a coyote.

rc

Yep. Or the 60gr versions of those two bullets.

 

[ZGunner]

I use mostly V-Max in the .223. Very good accuracy out of my bolt gu s and ARs.

 

[stubbicatt]

I have found that the 55 grain Vmax is a good choice. To ease seating, I use a Lyman M die.

 

[entropy]

A Ballistic Tip or a V Max will both dump coyotes. Both are explosive on varmints. Both are very accurate.

+1 I was strictly a Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint man, but my son has done some wonderful things with V-Max. I might have to try some.