270 for coyotes

[Kurt505]

I just bought my first 270, and first Tikka for that matter. I was originally going to buy a 204 or 22-250 but figured I might as well buy something my son can use for big game, he's got a 243 but I want him shooting something bigger if we go for elk. I first thought 7mm-08 but the Tikka Superlite isn't offered in 7mm-08, at least not at Cabelas so the next step up from the 243 was a 270.

I've never loaded .277 bullets so my question is, what grain of bullet should I be loading for yotes? The smallest I found at Cabelas was 100gr hornady varmint bullets, but are there bullets lighter than 90gr available for the .277? I've read a bit of load data and see they have data on 90gr bullets, is that as light as they get?

Here is the new coyote rig, I have a VX-6 3-18x44 on order, should be here in a week or so.

[Ronji]

That will spank them nicely. I shot many with the 90 grains, and they would blow right through, and not expand at all, but move them about 10 yards from where they were standing.

[Bushleague]

Load whatever you want, I haven't found a bullet that wont blow them apart. You get roughly the same effect as when you shoot a jug full of water, their bodies just cant handle that much energy. May as well just use your deer load and get familiar with what you will be hunting big game IMO.

[BigChevy]

A friend of mine just put together a 270 for preds and he loves it. Lots of hitting power compared to the 22 cals at further distances for sure. I wouldn't hesitate to load up the 100 gr and use them on yotes and on deer and elk.

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by Bushleague

Load whatever you want, I haven't found a bullet that wont blow them apart. You get roughly the same effect as when you shoot a jug full of water, their bodies just cant handle that much energy. May as well just use your deer load and get familiar with what you will be hunting big game IMO.

Would something like a TTSX or GMX still blow them appart?

[BigJon]

When shooting dogs with larger calibers, not hitting bone is the only way to avoid large holes. You will still sometimes see big holes, so it's not a sure thing.

I've poked a number of them through the ribcage with 270s, 30-06s and had loonie or so size exits. Hitting shoulder, spine, sternum...then all bets are off.

[Big Sky]

Looks like a nice rig. Is that a B&C stock on it?

I've used the 100 gr Hornady with success. Hit 'em in the ribs and there shouldn't be much damage. Try not to let 'em get in too close.



For the 243, I use 70gr NBT. Great results for me. It's my go to for 'yotes.

[coy coyote]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

I just bought my first 270, and first Tikka for that matter. I was originally going to buy a 204 or 22-250 but figured I might as well buy something my son can use for big game, he's got a 243 but I want him shooting something bigger if we go for elk. I first thought 7mm-08 but the Tikka Superlite isn't offered in 7mm-08, at least not at Cabelas so the next step up from the 243 was a 270.

I've never loaded .277 bullets so my question is, what grain of bullet should I be loading for yotes? The smallest I found at Cabelas was 100gr hornady varmint bullets, but are there bullets lighter than 90gr available for the .277? I've read a bit of load data and see they have data on 90gr bullets, is that as light as they get?

Here is the new coyote rig, I have a VX-6 3-18x44 on order, should be here in a week or so.

If you can fire a 100 or 105 gr berger vld with your rig go for it. Hawkeye on here is using 105gr vld bergers and those coyotes are awesome to skin pencil holes in and out.

[243 wild cat]

Originally Posted by BigChevy

A friend of mine just put together a 270 for preds and he loves it. Lots of hitting power compared to the 22 cals at further distances for sure. I wouldn't hesitate to load up the 100 gr and use them on yotes and on deer and elk.

Same Brother-in-law has one and he uses 100gr. He is not a fur keeper so it keeps it equal for big game no messing around one gun does it all. Nice rig great caliber.

[silver lab]

I have used 110 gr acubonds for everything from dogs to elk. They shoot good, fast and flat.

[Lefty-Canuck]

I used to shoot the 110gr vmax in my .270....works but don't even consider keeping pelts.

LC

[Bushleague]

Originally Posted by Kurt505

Would something like a TTSX or GMX still blow them appart?

I never used a TTSX from the .270 on a coyote, but I once shot a coyote with a 180 grain TSX from a 30-06, slightly bigger caliber but less speed as well. I doubt that the bullet even mushroomed and I could put my boot through the exit wound. Like I said, water bottle effect.

I haven't tried FMJ's but short of that, light and fragile to heavy and tough bullets I still blow coyotes apart. Not a bad wolf gun but for coyotes its too big. In either case theres little point to loading down IMO.

[buckman]

Originally Posted by silver lab

I have used 110 gr acubonds for everything from dogs to elk. They shoot good, fast and flat.

A little light for elk perhaps.How many have you killed with that bullet?

[tchardy1972]

I would use a tough 150 or 160 grainer if you can get them.

[BigChevy]

Originally Posted by buckman

A little light for elk perhaps.How many have you killed with that bullet?

Well placed shots kill. A friend of mine dropped his elk two years ago with an 80 gr bullet from his old 6mm. There's nothing wrong with a 110 out of a 270.

[gerby]

never had an exit hole on coyote's with .270
only a massive entry hole

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by Big Sky

Looks like a nice rig. Is that a B&C stock on it?

I've used the 100 gr Hornady with success. Hit 'em in the ribs and there shouldn't be much damage. Try not to let 'em get in too close.



For the 243, I use 70gr NBT. Great results for me. It's my go to for 'yotes.

Yes it is a B&C stock, I don't like the factory stock that comes with the superlite. The B&C stock is about 7oz heavier so after the swap it's around the same weight as the T3 lite.

Thanks for all the advise guys. With the deer to yote ratio being so one sided in favor of the yote, my primary objective is population control, if I can save a few pelts that'll be a bonus.

[ATE]

I have been shooting nothing but a .270win for 16 years. I use it on everything I hunt and have tried many loads from 110g to 150g on coyote, deer, bear, elk, moose and African plains game.
-The 110 g sierra bullets where awesome flat shooters, made neat holes in coyotes and worked on an elk. But lacked some energy for the big game.
-I have mostly used 150g hornady SST, made a fairly large exit hole on coyotes but it was always not too bad if you didn't hit shoulder blade. (I skinned them all and averaged $80 each on 10 shot w/.270 in 2013)
- I am now trying 140grain loads. On Paper they are the most efficient bullet weight for .270 win, and if you use a lower drag bullet you will get great trajectory(speed) and hard hitting power from a very economically practical gun.
- My #1 piece of advice is to not make a variety of loads for the same gun to use for different animals. Pick a load and get to know it well. If you are switching loads constantly in the same gun for different purposes you will never get as good of a conection between you and the rifle as you should and will eventually make a mistake. This spring I saw a PH hit a meter under a gemsbok at 300yards. It ran off and when he checked his shell he said "Damn it those where my light loads!". Pick one load and get to know it. I love the .270win and with the 140/150 grain bullets I find it an ideal rifle for varmiting and big game out to 4-500yards. If you want more than that you need a different gun.

[silver lab]

Originally Posted by buckman

A little light for elk perhaps.How many have you killed with tht?

Bullet construction means everything. I would also look very hard at the 110 gr ttsx. Despite what people think elk die when shot.

[20shadow05]

I'll tell you how things are going if I am able to get out to the range. Have been playing with 110 grain Accubonds (6.8=.277) in my 270 with Varget and have been getting some nice groups. Will hopefully wring it out to 200 and 300 yards. I'll agree with the poster who said try and find one bullet. I know this one will work on coyotes and should hold together well if I use it on deer.

Now, hopefully the weather holds.............

[JTRED]

I've only shot one coyote with my 270, I shoot 150gr Federal Fusions for everything they are not great for frontal shots through the sternum of a coyote. Kind of a waste of a pelt the entrance hole was tiny the exit through the spine(he was sitting facing me) was unreal I think I could have literally put the whole cartridge box in it.

[super7mag]

Originally Posted by silver lab

Bullet construction means everything. I would also look very hard at the 110 gr ttsx. Despite what people think elk die when shot.

I was thinking along those lines too , be an interesting experiment. Load the 110 tsx ( little tougher) use some starting loads to keep velocity reasonable and punch a few.
I have been trying mono metals on yotes this year and last in 6mm Cals with mixed results . Seems 1 in 5 will have some good sized exits. The others have punched right thru.

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by silver lab

Bullet construction means everything. I would also look very hard at the 110 gr ttsx. Despite what people think elk die when shot.

This is what I've been thinking too. A TTSX or even a GMX might hold together long enough to punch a small hole on the way out. I know I've shot deer where they never opened up, was thinking it would be even more likely that would happen on a coyote as well.

[coy coyote]

I see a trend with guys using big calibers and wasting pelts or leaving them lay. It's illegal to do so on public lands . All pelts must be salvaged.

[Kurt505]

Originally Posted by coy coyote

I see a trend with guys using big calibers and wasting pelts or leaving them lay. It's illegal to do so on public lands . All pelts must be salvaged.

I'm hunting private land, and I'm not in it for the pelts. If they're salvagable that's a bonus. I give them to the Hutterite colony, seems most yotes I shoot are on their land anyway.

With the deer population as low as it is, and the yote population as high as it is, nobody's calling the cops over a dead coyote in my neck of the woods. They do have some really healthy looking coats this year tho, I might cash in on them myself.

[clarki]

I shoot 130 gr core lokt out of my .270. crushes coyotes and only a golf ball sized exit if hit in the boiler room. im also not in it for the pelts and I hunt private land. its great practice to use my big game gun and ammo on a small target like a coyote


M

[buckman]

Originally Posted by BigChevy

Well placed shots kill. A friend of mine dropped his elk two years ago with an 80 gr bullet from his old 6mm. There's nothing wrong with a 110 out of a 270.

Never said it couldn't be done just that its a little light.I prefer a 130gr partition at least from my 270 for elk.

[Johnno]

How much do you get for a pelt in good condition?