Dave R

I'm looking for advice on a .234 load that won't do a lot of pelt damage to yotes or bobcat.

I hit a #35 yote in Pa @ 85 yds w/ a 100 gr Game King and blew the hell out of the far side shoulder.

My new Savage Mod 11 doesn't group the 60 Sierra polymer tipped bullets too well.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

thanks,


dr

tomt53

Sierra has a 90 gr. FMJBT P.N.# 1535 that should just punch a hole right through.

Dave R

Thanks Tom ! -

That may be the ticket. I'll try some out and let you know what's up.

Do you have a favorite load / power type/ for that round that you'd recomend?

SecondChance

Yeah, it will punch right through and not open up, allowing the 'yote to go how far before expiring, and not be recovered. You can try the Hornady V-Max rounds and they have a tendancy to blow up inside and not exit. I shoot them in my 22 centerfires with GREAT success.

harter66

You might try the TNTs too . Id use something in the 60-75gn standard hp class ,we shot some Serrias a few years ago,75s,to good affect.

emtrescue6

I developed a load for my brother for his 243 for Yotes...as a fur bearer he also wanted to save the hides. I used the Hornady 80g FMJ's, in front of 38.5g of IMR 4064 and Remington 9 1/2 primers in Remington cases. It's a Savage 110 Youth and shoots these @ .7" 100 yard groups. The yotes sometimes run a little but not too far when well placed shots are made.

Corey

JoeHarley13

Most any 243 load is going to blow thru a coyote with a profile shot. Just too much velocity and energy. V-max, TNT's, they usually are still going to make a mess, hard to reliably keep them in there. 35 - 40gr vmax from a 22 centerfire usually will stay in, so it may be a better option if that is available. Otherwise, you may want to try a Remington 80gr Soft Point. Keep velocity low, at least this bullet won't blow up like so many of the Varminter/Blitz/V-max bullets. Should offer better performance than a FMJ, but if it is still too much exit hole, then precise shots with a FMJ.

If you're very careful and skilled reloader, research "google" Blue Dot 243. This is a handgun powder and must be used very carefully to prevent double charges (which would likely blow up your rifle and injure you), but with it, you can get down into the 2000 fps range to minimize expansion. I have found it to be very consistent and accurate. I've loaded 223's, 243's and 30-30's with it. 223's I've loaded down to 22 Mag performance levels (40gr going 2100 fps).

homers brother

Although the .243 is one of my favorite calibers, it's not one I'd recommend if you're saving coyote pelts - and CERTAINLY not bobcats - at standard velocities.

If you don't have the luxury of another, lighter caliber, I'd also look to downloading the .243 significantly. If it weren't for 250-yard shots I often encounter with coyotes, my "ideal" pelt rifle would be the .22 Hornet. If you can push a 6mm at similar velocities safely, that'd be where I'd start.