Big hole, Small hole?
 

I've got a .243 Winchester and coyotes. I'd say thats a good combo. But I don't want to blow the pelt apart when I hit it, so what bullets do I use. I have some 55gr.BST bullets. I have heard some people say that 85gr. Sierra BTHP bullets work well on deer and coyotes. Also, my pal says you can get 45gr. factory loads for the .243.
Minihuntur

I seen a coyote hit with one of those 55 gn. bullets. It almost cut it in 1/2. With a .243 there is no bullet that is going to stay in, so you have to go woth bullets that don`t expand much to limit hole size if your worried about holes.

Your only hope is a deer bullet, like 100gr soft point of some type. And dont hit a bone. Just punch the ribcage.

Its not a fur rifle at all.

The only two guys I personally know who pelt hunt coyotes regularly:
one uses a 22hornet with solids, the other uses a 22-250 with solids, both go for head shots only.

Me I use a .243win or 8mm mauser (really knocks them for a loop)
but it does tend to tear them up.

If you want to use the 243win for a pelt gun you might try heavier bullets and try to stick to full length body shots, stem-to-stern or vica versa.

just my .02

I asked my pal and he said that the 55s wouldn't tear up the pelt, but would blow up inside. P.S. what about those 87gr. Barnes Varmint Grenades going 3900 FPS?
Minihuntur

I shot one this morning with 95g partitions out of my 6mm (aprrox 3200fps) only one hole... But I have had others that were pretty messed up...

Your pal is either full of it or has never actually done it. It wont happen. Not very often anyhow.

You might be right about "full of it". He shoots a 7MM STW at whitetail!
Minihuntur

The angle at which you hit the coyote and where you hit it have alot to do with the holes you leave. I loaded uo some 55 gn. varment bullets in .223. I shot a coyote through the chest from the side only hitting ribs and left a 4 in hole in the far side. Gene hit one at more of an angle from the frount and the bullet stayed inside. Both shots were at abt 75 yrds. If your shooting a bullet that has enough penitration to kill with a shot from the rear it will blow through from the side, period.

it seems a good solid bullet would leave a small hole entering and exiting...

years ago, i hit a coyote with a .303 soft point and it nearly destroyed the animal completely.