Pelt Dammage .243

whitetail_fanatic · 12-27-2009, 04:52 AM

Will be using my 243 on coyotes, will a 100gr. cause considerable damage to the pelt. Just wondering if its worth dropping to a 50-60 gr. since I will probley be mounting. FWIW I am looking at a .223. Thanks

Howler · 12-27-2009, 07:03 AM

The chances are "mostly likely" that you will have conciderable damage from ANY bullet out of the .243. It's a crap shoot at best.
Even the .223 can and will cause conciderable damage from time to time, but not nearly as much or as often as the .243.

whitetail_fanatic · 12-27-2009, 07:06 AM

Thanks for the info, any suggestions on another caliber then, I'd imagine a .22 mag wouldn't be sufficient for a clean kill.

Sheridan · 12-27-2009, 11:48 AM

FMJ where legal is your best bet...............Or a needle and thread !!!

mike300wm · 12-28-2009, 01:25 AM

Winchester makes a 55g that may not pass thru,it runs 3910fps ,mike300wm

Ridge Runner · 12-28-2009, 03:43 AM

I shot a yote with a 6mm in ky this fall with a 6mm rem and a 95 gr ballistic tip, damage was minimal, its the one in my right hand. exit was the other side but was only dime sized.

RR

Howler · 12-28-2009, 05:54 AM

No one, and I repeat NO one should be using FMJ for any hunting. PERIOD!! There are too many good choices to even conceder them.

One of my local coyote calling partners uses the 55 gr. ballistic tipped winchester rounds, and sometimes he gets pass throughs with minimal damage on the exit, sometimes he gets a softball sized hole. Every now and then, he has no exit with them. I've used 75 hp's out of my .243 wssm. and had the same results. I've seen a few shot with soft point 100 gr. bullets, and they always exited, but sometimes the exit wasn't much more than a silver dollar. It's a crap shoot.
The .223 with the right ammo. is a pretty good choice. The .22 mag. will and can work, but you'll be limited to shot distance and you better make the shot count when you take it. Expect a few to run off, like the wind, and then die with very little blood to trail. You won't have to worry about exit holes, BUT you might not find all the ones that you hit.

Rammer · 12-28-2009, 07:42 AM

I have shot alot of coyotes with my 243, and once I found the 60gr Sierra HP the damage went away. I actually wreck less furs with that load than my 223s do. As long as you don't hit a major bone 90% of the dogs I've shot with my 243 you can't even see a hole, alot of them don't even make blood on the snow. I have those lil bullets cranking at 3600fps.

I've also shot alot of dogs with 95gr Combined Technology BTs and as long as you stay away from shoulder blades I only get about 1-1.5" exit holes.

whitetail_fanatic · 12-28-2009, 07:48 AM

Thanks guys, ordered some Hornady 58 gr. along with a foxpro FX3.

ADVWannabee · 01-04-2010, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whitetail_fanatic

FWIW I am looking at a .223. Thanks

FYI, Virginia requires 23 caliber or larger for deer.