243 for yotes. Need your opinion

[Gutpile]

Last year I bought a T3 light in .243 for coyotes. I love the rifle but am torn on the caliber. Let me start off by saying I've only shot 3 coyotes with this rifle but I'm just not impressed so far. It's hard to judge with only three kills so thats why I'm posting here. I'm running 55 grn B-tips at 3700 fps (chrono'd). I've shot two of them broadside and unlike a centerfire .22 they ran after the hit. One yesterday made it a good 70 yards before piling. Another that I think I hit got away. I think I hit it because it ran off, fell and rolled, then got up and ran again. I couldn't find blood but being colorblind thats extremely difficult for me. So my question is; do you guys actually get bang flops with the .243 on broadsides? What loads are you using?

Oh, BTW the frontal yesterday at 100 yards exiting. It was quartering hard towards me shot was perfect but did exit. Never would have with a 22-250, 220 swift, or a .223

Think I'll set the .243 aside until shots are longer later in the season or I'll use it for snowy weather only. Kind of bummed though as I wanted the 243 to add a little long range punch. Hope I didn't make a mistake.

[stumprat]

Maybe on the couple you have shot were shot placement issues.
The guys that I have called with that use a .243 have sworn by them.

I hear you on the color blind tracking issue

[Bofire]

 :)wrong bullet, might as well use a 22-250. I use 80 grain soft points meant for deer, kills them quick and punches a 1-2 inch hole right thru. from any angle. In my opinion a much better killer than my 22-250.
Carl

[HighCountryHunter88]

I use a 6mm and love it. 85-87 boat tails puts em down hard with no pelt damage

[VarmintVentilator]

Gutpile, you might try the 65gr. V-max.  I use the 55gr. B-Tip in my 22-250 and it works excellent, but your packin a whole different punch with your 243.  Good luck.

[Gopher]

Agree.......I'd go up to a heavier bullet.

[FALFire]

I used my 243 on one last week using the Nosler 70gr Ball. Tip. It dropped dead in it's tracks at about 80 yards broadside, never flinched. I have some 65gr V-Max bullets loaded up for my 243WSSM AR and have yet to test them out, I'll try to let ya know how they do.

[demontang]

Ive only killed two yotes with the 243 so far. first was a 55gr nosler pushed to 3900fps and it was a kind ofquarting towards shot, no exit and the coyote spin twice before it went down. The second was the 95gr nosler which was pretty nasty , I hit it in the throat and it tore the side of the face and neck off but it was drt not even a twitch. You might try moving up in bullet weight.

[gottatree]

I use a .243 for yotes maybe just a slightly heavier bullet.

[tlbradford]

In my opinion the goal for coyotes should be no billet exits.  If you consistantly do this, you will save fur if you are interested in doing so, and kill quicker.  For me calling coyotes, that is why I prefer the .204 and the vmax or berger bullets.  I don't like thru and thru's because they run farther.  I had way more runners with my .25-06.  I know there are a ton of reloaders out there that have a formula for the .243 to get an entry and no exits.  I am not one of those guys, but that should be the goal you wok towards.

[Gutpile]

In my opinion the goal for coyotes should be no billet exits.  If you consistantly do this, you will save fur if you are interested in doing so, and kill quicker.  For me calling coyotes, that is why I prefer the .204 and the vmax or berger bullets.  I don't like thru and thru's because they run farther.  I had way more runners with my .25-06.  I know there are a ton of reloaders out there that have a formula for the .243 to get an entry and no exits.  I am not one of those guys, but that should be the goal you wok towards.

I agree tl. Thats why I went with the light bullet. I'm surprised to see them run so much with this set up.

 I appreciate everyones response. Wonder though, do the heavier bullets blow the dogs apart? I'm not interested in that. Heck I've got 10 other rifles that'll do that. I'm surprised too that the light fast frangible bullets won't drop them better than the heavier ones. that doesn't make sense. Oh BTW the two broasides that ran were about as good on placement that you could ask for. With any centerfire .22 they'd have been DRT.

Well keep em coming boys and girls.

[LittleJohn]

I have 4 seasons on my Tikka T3 .243 with a 55 gr Nosler BT at a little over 3900 fps. I have had amazing results with it. I would keep using them. I think with just 3 kills you might of got un-lucky on some shot placement. I have found them very damaging to the hides. Huge exit holes if I get into any bone at all. I am not sure on a number of kills but well over 50 in 4 years. I will not change bullets or calibers. Good luck. just my

[FALFire]

I should have added that the dog I shot last week with the 70 grainer made a smalll hole on the exit side, no blow-up, just a bullet sized hole.

[Gutpile]

I should have added that the dog I shot last week with the 70 grainer made a smalll hole on the exit side, no blow-up, just a bullet sized hole.

I'll try the v-max too after I run these out. That wssm must be a smoker. How fast is the load?

[FALFire]

I haven't had time to speed check them yet but the WSSM is a 20" tube and the bolt gun in 243W is 24 so I'm guessing 3300ish???