30-06 load for Coyote's

[k9dude2010]

Here in the desert southwest and California I am able to hunt coyote all year long new to loading the 30-06 to small grain bullets any suggestions. I have shot a coyote with a 175 gr. JHPBT and it was not a good photo op after. Looking in the 110-130 grain range.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I loaded up about 40 110gr 30-06 rounds using a bunch of different powders at the end of the year. I didn't get to shoot any yet because it's so cold but when it warms up a bit I'm going to test them out. I was thinking of using my 30-06 as a varmint rifle too.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've never gotten as good of accuracy from the 110's as I have the 125's and130's.

If you think that going to a lighter bullet is going to reduce the damage to the coyote's, you're going in the wrong direction. The lighter bullets will expand faster due to ligher construction and higher velocities. Damage will be even more devastating.

The 125gr Nosler Ballistic Tip has given me excellent performance, likewise the 130gr Speer HP. The last time I was playing with the light bullets in the '06, the 125gr Speer TNT wasn't around. The 125gr Sierra is also outstanding.

For less damage to the Coyote's, I'd recommend using a heavier constructed bullet at a lower velocity. Likewise one of the 150gr FMJ's will ususally produce less damage, unless you hit major bones. In that case, anything '06 is going to do spectacular damage. I tried to take a fox one evening with one of my '06's I was deer hunting with. I shot it through the rib cage mid-torso. Bad idea. Fox was destroyed. Anywhere I'd have shot the fox with a lethal hit would have likewise devastated the critter.

For less damage, I'd recommend the 17HMR rim-fire. Even my .22mag tears up the smaller coyotes at ranges under 50yds. But then, the pelts are worthless in our part of the S.E. USA. Often, they have little or no hair on them from mange mites. I kill every coyote I see as I believe thats how I lost two of my squirrel hunting fiests to parvo-virus. Both had been vacinated, repeatedly but evidently got a variety of the virus they weren't protected against...... Neighbors have lost dogs to parvo likewise. I believe the coyotes to have left the scats with the "hot" virus that infected the dogs. Haven't seen nearly as many 'yotes in the last several years either.......

I've gotten best accuracy with the 125's and 130's with IMR4064 and Win748/BLC2.

 

[critter]

Less damage: heavy bullets made for big game.
More damage: use 150 grain flat point bullets made for the 30-30 loaded to full speed in the '06. The thin jackets will really come apart!

 

[dagger dog]

k9dude,

Try the Speer #1968 TNT 125 grain FBHP, you have to keep the velocity down below 3100 fps or they will come apart before they make it to the varmint.
They have a very thin jacket at the nose and it is scribed for extreme expansion.

You will have to find a powder charge for the velocity that will cause the bullet to enter and not exit.



If you want to PM me and pay the postage I can send you a few to try.

 

[rcmodel]

It depends on what you want to do?
Kill them DRT, or take pictures of them in undamaged condition?

If the former, it would be hard to beat the 110 grain Hornady V-Max for explosiveness.

I have also had good results with 125 - 130 JHP from Sierra & Speer.

In my experience, you can't get any of them going fast enough in a 1/10 twist 30-06 to have any problem with them coming apart before they get to the target.

rc

 

[Harley Quinn]

I think the 150 is a good round also...Bullet in right place is a killer and less damage to the pelt if wanting it

Some claim, if not to far away, some good hits with the 110 grainer...

The twist in barrel is a big determination to weight and length of bullet for good accuracy that you will use...Best one is most accurate IMHO...

Takes some testing and practice is nice

 

[amlevin]

Has anyone used the "Accelerator's" in their '06 for varmints? A 55gr in a sabot traveling up to 4,000 fps seems to be more in line with "varmint" rounds. Shouldn't tear up a coyote as much as the larger bullets.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

I'll second that -- in .30-06 I like a 150 grain bullet with a max charge of H414 for general purpose use, coyotes, deer, groudhogs and so on. (For dedicated deer use, mulies and elk, I switch to either 165 or 180 grains.)

You really don't gain a lot going lower than 150 grains, particularly shooting at longer ranges -- the lower BC of the lighter bullet tends to negate the advantage of higher muzzle velocity.

 

[rcmodel]

A 55gr in a sabot traveling up to 4,000 fps seems to be more in line with "varmint" rounds. Shouldn't tear up a coyote as much as the larger bullets.

It wouldn't if they would shoot straight so you could hit a long-range varmint.
But they don't.

Some claim, if not to far away, some good hits with the 110 grainer...

My old 03A3 sporter will shoot Sierra 110's into 1 1/4" all day.

125 - 130's slightly better then that.

I have killed coyotes, and even crows at 350+ yards with them.

They are a heck of a lot safer in cattle country then winging 150's at them when they hit the ground and keep going across two sections!

rc

 

[chris in va]

Careful with lead ammo. Just watched that show on (Discovery/AP?) with the California Fish and Game rangers. Some guy was hunting with an M1 carbine and FMJ ammo, got ticketed for FMJ *and* using lead ammo.

I don't know if it's just certain areas doing that nonsense, check local laws first.

 

[BigBob3006]

K9dude,

Pick up some cheap FMJ 147gr or 150gr. Load them a little light and have a ball.

 

[SPW1]

There is no 30-06 load that will not badly tear up coyotes on occasion. Your best bet is a heavy bullet or a FMJ at moderate to low speeds and even then should you happen to hit bone more substantial than a rib the chances are good it will be messy. Given that is the case I wouldn't worry to much about bullet choice beyond finding out what shoots the best. Your not going to find anything that is particularly fur friendly with any sort of consistency anyway.

 

[NCsmitty]

When I had a 30'06, the Speer 130gr HP provided good accuracy and devastating results on woodchucks. Never shot a coyote with it, but chances are, the far side of one would be tore up and missing.



NCsmitty

 

[Sunray]

"...the "Accelerator's"..." Accuracy is too poor for hunting anything. They were developed to get shooters to use their deer rifles for varmints, but the accuracy is abysmal.
You planning on keeping the hides? Any SP will blow big holes in the hide. A 135 grain Matchking or a 150 grain FMJ will not. Commercial FMJ's are not the same as a milsurp bullet. Jackets are thinner.
Mind you, if you don't care about the hides and/or are shooting in the summer when the hides aren't worth keeping, you deer load will do nicely. Varmint hunting is fabulous practice.