Fur Friendly Coyote/Bobcat Cartridge bullet

[Greg Duerr]

Out here in Nevada Cat pelts bring $250 + Fur prices have dropped a lot since the High of $ 600 Still $250 is what it is
I had my sights set on getting a 17 Remington but after talking to Todd Kindler, of the Wood Chuck Den, who makes the 25gr and 30gr bullets for the 17 and leaning that he sold he bullet making equipment........... I'm not so sure.
Berger and Hornady along with Remington and Nosler still make the 20's and 25's but I have no idea of who will be making the 30gr Gold in the future.
Have read that the 20cal like the .204 and the 20 Tactical leave big exit holes ......turning a $250 cat into a $50 one.
I wonder and maybe someone knows how the Barnes Varmint Grenade bullets perform on Coyotes. Was looking at the 20 Vartarg using the 26gr Barnes.
Right now my 17 Hornet works OK as long as the distance and bullet placement all work together.

Any opinions and experiences would be appreciated

 

[6mm06guy]

A friend of mine has a 17 wsm and a 17 hornet, I have shot both rounds out to 330 yards, personally I like the hornet better.

 

[EXPRESS]

.204 Ruger or .17 Remington.

Personally I prefer the .204.

 

[WildRose]

The original Barnes X was the only bullet that would hold up well at extreme velocities when we got out first 17 Rem in the early 70's. My dad still had over 500rds loaded up for it when he passed away and I think it was the same original Barnes X that they were loaded with.

In the .204 you are right it can leave a big ugly hole in a bobcat shooting bullets like the Varmageddon or Amax inside of 200yds. Even on prairie dogs though from 200yds on out the 32-36gr Remington Accutips and Winchester Supreme loaded with the CTB's tended to shoot straight through them without popping them. I can't remember off hand shooting any bobcats with them but I did shoot a lot of coyotes and had I been pelt hunting those would have been fine.

If good pelts are the primary concern you'd be better off shooting something like the 17hmr since you'll rarely have an exit hole at all shooting between 100-300yds.

I did some looking and it doesn't look like Barnes is making the .177's we used anymore. If you can find a non expanding solid that might be your best bet but if they bend and start tumbling it won't produce a good pelt.

These days I'm mostly shooting coyotes with the .223 70gr solids or the .220 Swift using 55gr Berger's. Close shots on them are usually going to start around 200yds and if I get it into the chest cavity I have yet to see an exit from the latter and the former just tends to go through like an ice pick.

 

[RevJim]

I would suggest either the 17 HMR or a 22 magnum.

 

[MudRunner2005]

.223 Rem, .222 Rem, .204 Ruger, .17 Remington, .17 Remington Fireball, and .17 HMR would all be good.

 

[WeiserBucks]

If quality pelts are your only concern, .223 with FMJ's. They will kill , just not the bang , flop most are used to . I know a few old timer pelt hunters and all they use are surplus FMJ's due to zero pelt damage .