Bullets for Small Game

Am Shooting Journal ^ | 3/29/2021 | P Massaro

[w1n1]

Top loads for Popping Winter/Spring Predators and Varmints.
With our big game seasons winding down, it's time to turn our attention to the predators in the later winter and the varmints in the spring. Where the strong, stiff premium bullets – with their bonded cores, monometal construction and partitioned cores – are the darlings of the big game world, the small-bore cartridges that best handle the furbearers and varmints are the opposite: maximum frangibility is a benefit. I enjoy hunting both coyotes and foxes in January and February here in New York, when the fur is prime, and both species are beginning their breeding seasons. We have no lack of coyotes, and as they feed on wildlife and domesticated animals equally, they are actively hunted.

Many hunters also take them as a target of opportunity during deer season, as they will often be seen cruising after deer or cleaning up gut piles, and taken with the deer rifle in hand. But for those who actively pursue coyotes and foxes, specialized rifles, cartridges and bullets are the norm. Popular centerfire cartridges for these species include the .223 Remington, .204 Ruger, .243 Winchester, .22-250 Remington and .17 Hornet, and among the rimfire cartridges, the .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire, .17 HMR and .17 WSM are favorites. All of these cartridges have the energy and trajectory to cleanly take the furbearers within their eective ranges, though that range will be a bit different for each of them.

The muzzle velocities and bullet shapes will dictate sensible uses – for example, the bullet shapes and velocities of the .22 Magnum will limit its range, especially in comparison to the speedy .22250 Remington – and some of them can do double duty on deer and similarsized game. Where many deer are taken each year with the .243 Winchester, those 90 and 100 grain bullets that excel on whitetails and pronghorn antelope aren't exactly what you want to use on varmints and predators. Yes, they’ll work, but not with the same dramatic eect as that of a thin jacketed 55 grain bullet at a higher velocity from the same cartridge.

THE IDEA BEHIND the varmint and predator loads is not complex: a high-velocity bullet of frangible construction, capable of pinpoint accuracy and that delivers a whole lot of hydrostatic shock to an animal of smaller stature than their big game counterparts. These species are thin-skinned, have lighter skeletal structures and (most) have a nervous system that can be rapidly switched by that hydrostatic shock.

Some of my favorite varmint/predator bullets include the Nosler Ballistic Tip Varmint, the Speer TNT, Barnes' Varminator, Sierra's BlitzKing and MatchKing (more about that in a minute) and the Hornady V-Max. All of these have the properties any varmint/predator hunter wants, and all are capable of creating the fabled "red mist" when hunting woodchucks and prairie dogs. They all either have a polymer tip or hollowpoint design, and most oer a boattail variant for maximizing downrange energy and minimizing wind drift. Let’s take a look at them individually to get a better feel for what might work best for you. The Nosler Ballistic Tip was the first American bullet with a polymer tip, used to maintain a consistent ballistic coefficient as well as acting like a wedge to initiate expansion upon impacting the animal. Read the rest of small game bullets.

[Democrat = party of treason]

“I enjoy hunting both coyotes and foxes...”

While I fully understand the necessity to control wild animal populations, my mind is still unable to comprehend what “enjoyment” can be had from killing a living creature doing nothing other than what it has to do to survive. That sort of “enjoyment” is as foreign to me as anything liberal minds “think” or enjoy.

[gundog]

Said he enjoys hunting.

[Red Badger]

50 cal ought to do it...............

[cweese]

"50 cal ought to do it..............."

With a cpl of 30mm chasers to be sure.

[Ikeon]

He has never had to deal with what a coyote or fox can do to many small domestic animals in a urban or suburban setting.

[freeandfreezing]

If you have witnessed a pack of coyotes kill your beloved pet dog you might have a different opinion.

[Magnum44]

Maybe you are reading too much into that expression. I can comfortably say I ‘enjoy’ prairie dog hunting. They are varmints that destroy grazing land and their tunnels make it hazardous for grazing cattle and horses. I also enjoy hunting big game. One clears a nuisance, the other puts meat in the freezer. Both require mastering a skill set with an appropriate firearm.

So part of the enjoyment is getting a clean kill, not maiming the animal.

Part of the enjoyment is knowing that what you are doing is wildlife ‘management’, not killing for the sake of killing. In many cases, uncontrolled herd growth will lead to starvation due to insufficient food sources.

Part of the enjoyment is the gratification of mastering a survival skill.

And part of the enjoyment is just getting into the outdoors.

[gundog]

Yeah. A noob trying to stir the pot.

[Seruzawa]

40mm M-79 frags. Just to be sure.

[SaxxonWoods]

“I enjoy hunting both coyotes and foxes...”

While I fully understand the necessity to control wild animal populations, my mind is still unable to comprehend what “enjoyment” can be had from killing a living creature doing nothing other than what it has to do to survive.

The sentence started: “I enjoy hunting...” Nothing was said about enjoying killing. Non hunters never get this distinction.

[Red Badger]

We got BIG squirrels..................

[Democrat = party of treason]

“Maybe you are reading too much into that expression. I can comfortably say I ‘enjoy’ prairie dog hunting. They are varmints that destroy grazing land and their tunnels make it hazardous for grazing cattle and horses. I also enjoy hunting big game. One clears a nuisance, the other puts meat in the freezer. Both require mastering a skill set with an appropriate firearm. So part of the enjoyment is getting a clean kill, not maiming the animal. Part of the enjoyment is knowing that what you are doing is wildlife ‘management’, not killing for the sake of killing. In many cases, uncontrolled herd growth will lead to starvation due to insufficient food sources. Part of the enjoyment is the gratification of mastering a survival skill. And part of the enjoyment is just getting into the outdoors.”

I have been through a couple of hunter safety programs, and both of them taught the wildlife management information. I have been hunting with family and friends at times, but other than for wildlife management or food, I do not see the point of it. And yes, predators do invade areas where they are unwanted at times and must be removed in some way. I was not referring to any of that. My reference was to the idea that there are people who actually “enjoy” killing animals, and I find that disgusting.

[Larry Lucido]

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[Magnum44]

Killing for the same of killing is not a healthy attitude. I didnt read the full article but i did not get the impression that that was being advocated.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Ever seen a hen house after a fox has visited?

[Democrat = party of treason]

“Ever seen a hen house after a fox has visited?”

Pretty sure that if I had a henhouse, I would make as certain as possible that a fox was unable to gain entry into it, if I cared about the hens.

[gundog]

[SaxxonWoods]

“Pretty sure that if I had a henhouse, I would make as certain as possible that a fox was unable to gain entry into it, if I cared about the hens.”

Pretty sure you’ve never had a hen house.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Pretty sure that if I had a henhouse, I would make as certain as possible that a fox was unable to gain entry into it, if I cared about the hens.

Yep.

Never seen it and never kept livestock.

You are forgiven for being ignorant.

Try not to make a display of it.