V-max's are V-max's. Well.........no they are not really all the same. I agree that the 40's and 50's leave a lot to be desired when it comes to coyotes. But the 55 is a whole different beast. I use my own custom bullets, but one of my hunting partners has killed hundreds of them with the 55 and I can't say that I've ever seen a bullet that I thought performed any better. There's a big difference between the various weight bullets in the V-max line.

Kino, obviously everyone has their likes and dislikes in bullets and everything else too I guess. I believe one of the reasons I've had very good results with the 50's is that I'm not pushing them at 22-250 speeds. In my 16" barrel AR, they are running about 3,200 fps at the muzzle and I believe give better penetration at the slower speeds I'm shooting. I did shoot a lot of 58 V-max in my 243 pushing them pretty hard and they always did a good job for me. I shot the 55 Nosler Ballistic tips in my 6x45 and they did well also, but the 70 gr. Nosler BT's are almost a one-hole bullet in that rifle for me.

27 grains is about as full as it gets with varget, your definitely crunching powder

I listened to a podcast with two of the hornady ballisticians, and if i understood correctly they designed this bullet with no weight in mind they just picked all the best variables that they wanted and what became of it was the 53 grain v max. I'd definitely be misleading you if I tried to recall what they were but its definitely worth a listen i believe it was the Eastman's predator pros one

As someone who will freely admit to being a huge vmax fan I can say from what I have seen that getting proper performance really depends on the speed in which you push them. It seems once you start reaching higher speeds the splashes and under penetration really become an issue.
I run an accuracy load in 222 with 40s moving barely 3000fps and although they don't work as a long range killer the under 200 dogs all die instantly with zero fur damage. The 50s in 22-250 I find can't get over 37-3800 without becoming splashy and messy.

What bullet do you recommend for coyotes?

What bullet do you recommend?

If your not dedicated to the Vmax, any of the name brand 55gr SPs. My favorite is the Speer 52gr flatbase HPs, I shoot it out of my 222, 223, 5.6x50R, 22-250 and 22-250AI. In the 1980s I used the 50gr NBT after I ran out of Herters SPs in the 223 and still use the 40gr NBTs in my 22-204 for coyotes. All seem to be pelt friendly if I stay away from the edges and drop them quite well.

Who has experience with the 50 grain superformance in 22-250? I didn’t realize they were boat tails. The performance looks good but do they hold together at 4000fps? I’ll be shooting them out of a suppressor so don’t need them coming apart…

I've seen WAY TOO Many horrible results with vmax bullets in .22 cal.


Let's say your out calling and have 3 come in hard. You take on front on, great probably a dead coyote.
2 turn and run. You have great running shots at 2 runners.

You gonna trust a vmax to bust down a hip shot coyote and anchor it dead while swinging on the 3rd?
9
Didn't think so...


I've hunted with alot of guys that use them and unless a frontal or a perfectly placed broadside shot, spent WAY TOO many miles/hours tracking down coyotes shot with them.


You don't need to shoot a 1/2" group to kill a coyote.

A soft point shooting 1" groups at 100 yards will net you way more coyotes in the long run.
And if I gotta tone down my 22_250s to .223 speeds, may as well buy a .223. WAY cheaper!!


Sorry for rant but I'm a confessed (light_for caliber) vmax hater here.

It's funny i think hunting style is often forgotten when talking about stuff like this. I love my vmax BUT I will agree with you that anything but perfect shot placement will cause issues with mess and runners.
My hunting style is all about precision shot placement and staying patient enough to wait for the right shot. I'm a terrible running shot so I don't even try. If I were to be taking less than perfect shots I wouldn't be running vmax.

In my experience I haven't found a bullet in a .223 or 22-250 either one that is great for running shots. By that I mean running straight away. Hitting them in the rear end. I can only think of one that I shot that was hit straight up the poop shoot that died where it was shot. And it didn't die instantly. It was just too hurt to get up and go. I shot it with a Hornady 52 grain BTHP. I've shot 40,45,50,52,53,55 and 60 grain bullets of different types in my .223 and I've come to the conclusion that it is a "perfect shot" cartridge. Meaning if you get them anywhere behind their rib cage they're probably gonna need shot again. And I've only shot one bullet that would reliably punch through the shoulder without ever blowing up on it and causing them to run. That was the Nosler 55gr. E-Tip. They'd get thumped and run or spin at times but they wouldn't make it far. But I never saw a bullet failure because of bone. I can't say I haven't with 55 grain Softpoint. I've seen a few get hit in the shoulder and get knocked over, only to stand up and take off. Each time was a similar thing that happened. It took the skin from the point of impact and peeled it off all the way to that saddle between the shoulder blades and blew it off. Scalped them essentially.

I've shot coyotes running straight away with the 22-250 using Softpoints and never didn't have to shoot them again. Hollowpoint bullets and V-Max too. That little high speed bullet ends up in guts. The only ones I've ever killed instantly with any bullet out of either the .223 or 22-250 that were running were running to my left or right broadside shot or quartering away from me and I got it under the last rib into their chest cavity. Or the ones I've hit in the neck or the back of the head unless they just happen to be jumping as the bullet that was meant for their head got them between the shoulder blades. I've spined a few and they died fast but that trashed their pelt.

Probably won't be a real popular opinion but any fast moving .224 diameter bullet sucks for running shots depending on where you hit them. Anything that misses an artery and just hits hip bone and guts is a no go. It ain't reaching the good stuff. I've shot them from 50 yards to 300 with that shot placement. Never didn't have to shoot again. When I'm shootin them running straight away that first shot is just to stop them so I can shoot them again. Basically I've just found that the softpoints are just a little more destructive and it takes them longer to get that second wind. They might not look too pretty when it's done but it's more likely that you'll be dragging them back to the truck rather than looking for them.

This is why I hate vmax.

This fox was shot poorly with 3 65gr SGK, 1st shot was running hit high in the back, 2nd shot spinning hit in the rear leg(rifle covering) and 3rd shot was to the head.
[url=https://flic.kr/p/2ksRao5]IMG_2019-

This coyote was hit with one 53gr Vmax on the side its laying on, it was 30 yards away, I was laying prone and it was perfect shot placement to the vitals but the shoulder was angled towards me.

[url=https://flic.kr/p/2i1evCe]

My old camera would only take blurry night pics.

The coyote ran 300 yards, pelt ruined, blood everywhere head to tail and the picture shows the clean side, not an ethical hunting kill. I believe that was the last coyote I shot with Vmax. I had pretty much the same results or a bit worse with 52gr Berger varmints.

If a bullet for 223 wouldnt be considered at all for deer or hogs I wont use it for any hunting.

Vmax are only guaranteed with quartered away shots and a head on shots to the chest, that will be DRT and no exit, but every fox, coyote and deer ive shot head on to the chest has been DRT no exit no matter the bullet or caliber. Angled shots with Vmax are no go, and broadside shots can be perfect but if they exit, which happens at times, they tear holes and if they're loaded for coyotes they're going to destroy fox.

My 65SGK shoot more accurately in my gun and with a full charge of CFE223 they will be just fine for light deer and hog hunting, and they dont destroy fox and cat size animals.... one bullet to do it all.

A couple of these might work if you want dead from any angle......

https://hammerbullets.com/product-tag/224/

I thought 53gr Barnes TSX were discontinued... I just searched and found they're actually available now. My gun loves them and so do I.