cascadedad

Was just wondering if any of you have a recommendation on factory 243 ammo for coyotes. I am 99% sure I am going to purchase a Savage package gun tonight and would like to pick up some ammo at the same time.

It would be great to have 3 or so different loads to try to see which one shoots better out of the gun. I have a Dillon reloader that I have never set up or used (got from Dad). Will eventually get that set up and work up my own load.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

KansasHunter5

I would try something from Hornady or Federal.
Hornady has 58gr nosler ballistic tip ammo.

My Savage .243 likes the 100gr. ammo the best.

I shoot Federal Premium 100gr. Sierra Gamekings. Shoots great with my setup.

Soilarch

Are you wanting to save pelts and reduce exit-wound damage or wanting to get the most accuracy out of your gun?

cascadedad

Dang, I knew someone would ask that question. I really don't know the answer yet. Actually, I would like to get the most accuracy AND save pelts, but understand they may well not go hand in hand.

Actually, I think I would like to save pelts at least that will be my goal. I just have to find someone to show me the ropes.

Thanks for any advise.

Soilarch

Well for handloading I would imagine that some light Nosler Varmint ballistic tips wouldn't exit. If they're legal you can always go the FMJ route. .243hole in...and .243 hole out. Until you get the reloading stuff set up see if there's a "white-box" winchester offering in .243. My 22-250 will actually shoot those as well as anything and they cost almost half of what other stuff does. (They come in boxes of 40 instead of 20 for the 22-250). I would imagine that, if they exist for .243, they would be targeted for the varmint hunter and expand/fragment readily since varmint hunters are nortorious for high volume shooting and would be looking for "cheap" ammo. That's definantly what the .22-250 is marketed towards.

dhnut1973

I have only shot 1 coyote with my savage model 10 and I was using 80gr win cpx1 ammo that they sell at wal-mart. it was cheep, shot under an inch and didn't blow up the coyote. I shot her head on at 200 yards and it exited below her tail. that was alot of penetration so a broad-side hit may have been more destructive. I am thinkin of tryin federal fusion deer ammo nextso I don't have to re-zero for different seasons. this load may just punch right though and not cause too much fur damage.

Rammer

I shoot a lot of coyotes in a season with my 243, and I use a handload of 75gr Hornady HPs and very rarely get an exit wound. I load them under max load in the manual and they shoot .5MOA.

Dsquared

Rammer,

Have you measured the muzzle velocity of this load?

Just curious, I hunt with a Ruger #1 in 6mm Rem, I have been using the 75 gr Seirra Match King BTHP with good results on the range. I am getting ready to do some crono work next.

Don

Rammer

No, I haven't measured the muzzle velocity on that load. I really need to invest in a chrono. Maybe for Christmas that will be my present to myself. I shot a fox at right around 200 yards yesterday with the load and the bullet did not exit.