Cheap ammo for dogs

[chiefsimms9]

Just purchased some Hornady .223 REM 55gr FMJ-BT training ammo and was wondering if anyone else had used this ammo for predator hunting? Also was wondering if you were happy with the results?

[Backwoods7]

Only works on headshots.. Fmj dosnt expand if you hit em in the chest/sholder just zips right through and forget about a blood trail you'd never get more than a drop. If you don't wanna keep the pelt go balistic tip(nosler,sst,vmax,balistic silvertips) those drop em on the spot but will tear a hide up but if you wanna keep the pelts I like 55gr Winchester PSP dosnt do too much damage but will expand some.

[homers brother]

I've used them before, not having anything else handy. A club or a rock might have been more effective. Multiple shots were required. Even a coyote deserves better.

If you're not a reloader, I'll second the thought of using standard soft-point factory ammo. The premium factory stuff I've used is great for prairie dogs where explosive terminal results are desireable, but not so great for coyotes or foxes if you're saving the pelts. If you reload, there are a number of other options you can begin to consider.

[Hurricanespg]

Never worked well for me.
When I am trying to keep a hide I go with Hornady VMax bullets. Small entrance hole, massive damage inside, and usually no exit hole.

[skb2706]

Just my observations with full metal jacket bullets.

cons - they richocet horribly. They tend to be less accurate than standard fare BT or SP bullets. They make poor hunting ammo and were never designed to kill with. Everybody seems compelled to try them once

pro - they are cheap.

[Nomercy448]

The other guys have mentioned the slightly weaker accuracy, higher ricochet risk, and NO expansion, so I won't elaborate other than to agree...

One random example. A prairie dog hunting trip, I had a .223 AR-15 with hollow points, and my buddy had his Winchester SX-AR .308 with FMJ's.

There was NO mistaking when I made contact, but several of the dogs he hit would run. When we walked the p-dog town after the day was done, we found several that he had hit that had made it back to the mouth of the hole, a blood spot on the right, and blood spot on the left. It looked like they'd been shot with an arrow. Counting empty shells compared to carcasses, he had some "unconfirmed kills". I was spotting for him, and we accounted for MISSES, but most of what he hit ran off, and some made it down the tube before they died. And that's a .308 on a P-dog.

On the other hand, the head of a coyote is as big as a P-dog's body and their heart is about as big as a fist, so if you can guarantee head or heart shots, then FMJ's are fine. But you have to be ready to pass on shots that aren't perfect.

Since you have them, then you can make them work, but they're FAR from what I'd consider "choice ammo" for hunting ANYTHING except paper.

[coyote#68]

better check your state regulations on shooting fmj ammo at anything but paper targets,here in ky you cant hunt anything with them not even coyotes.You could get fined and your gear seized by the warden.....always go to a state sight and check dont ask other people about your states laws and you can get some better ammo for hunting.Soft point bullets work good for me in 223 and a lot of times dont exit the other shoulder on shoulder shots,hollow points do good but will rip fur if they exit,just find a bullet that shoots good in your gun and hunt with it and save the fmj's for target practice....