SmallCaliberCentral

What is everyone's opinion on what is the best bullet that is fur friendly for shooting coyotes (grain and make of bullet please)? I've read that some Sierra bullets have to thin of a jacketting for killing coyotes very effectively. And I've also seen stories that say polymer tips are known to have problems if you hit bones with wrecking the hides when using this calibre. I've read good reports on the hollowpoints by Berger. Most reports with the .204 are very favourable with what they can do though.

My dad recently bought what I'm told is a limited edition .204 rifle made by Savage (apparently only 50 were made). He wants to use predominantly for shooting coyotes (the other day we saw at least 5 within 1/2 mile from his farm not to far from the road). Right now he is using Hornady's 32 gr V-Max, but a friend warned him that there is a chance they could damage the hides (I've seen pictures of it when it hits bone, but he is also worried about what kind of exit holes there might be). So he he is looking around to see what there is out there for bullets. So I figured I'd come on here and see what the opinions of user's are, and the experiences (good and bad) they've had with the different rounds.

So far I've found the following types of ammunition for this calibre:
40 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip
32 grain Hornady V-MAX
40 grain Hornady V-MAX
45 grain Hornady Soft Point
32 grain Sierra BlitzKing
39 grain Sierra BlitzKing
34 grain Winchester Super-X® Hollow Point
32 grain Remington AccuTip-V
40 grain Remington AccuTip-V Boat Tail
30 grain Berger Match Varmint
35 grain Berger Match Varmint
40 grain Berger Match Varmint
50 grain Berger Match Varmint
33 grain Calhoon Double Hollow Point
Please let me know if you know of any others as well please.

Also he is looking into possibly reloading as well. So what are your opinions on the best loads to use when reloading this round?

Also feel free to tell your stories of using this calibre on other animals besides coyotes if you want as well.

35 bergers! never tried them, but many people say they are the best!

I am shooting factory 40gr vmax from hornady. Thats what grouped best in my cz. I shot 2 coyotes last weekend with them. First was about 100 yards. I shot her just under the chin in the neck. It left about a baseball size hole. It did not exit. The next coyote was about 90 yards and I shot her in the lungs. It did not hit a rib going in but it did on exit. The enterence hole was 20cal. bullet size. and the exit hole was the size of a nickle. The pics I have dont show the holes. But if you would like to see them I sure can post em. Hope this helps ya.

I can tell that it knocked them coyotes dead. I was very impressed.

I have had pretty good luck again so far this fall with the 35 grain bergers. couple days of calling last weekend

Does any factory ammo come with Bergers?

My gun seems to shoot very good with 32gr V-max, but I would like to try something different.

Outlaws-- HSM ammo from Cabelas has the 40gr Bergers. HTH

Here you go.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ ... hasJS=true

ummm....thats a lot of rounds for something I don't know if my gun will like lol.

But thanks for the suggestion.

Outlaws - Cabelas has the HSM load with 40 gr. Bergers in boxes of 50 in their stores, if you live near one. I got a box and they shoot well in my Ruger. I don't see them in their catalog or on line.

hello HSM makes the 204 in 33gr dbl calhoon you have got to try them they are the best i have found for dropping dogs very few run after a hit even over 200 yards

Calhoon also makes a 39 gr dbl hp.Anyone try these.