Sierra 70gr Matchking .243Win performance on coyotes?

[JimG]

I understand Sierra does NOT recommend the use of Matchking bullets on big game. However has anyone used Matchkings, preferably 6mm/.243Win, on coyotes? If so what has your experiences been? I can get possibly a large quantity of Sierra 6mm/.243Win 70gr. Matchkings very cheaply. Looking for a good use for them. Do the Matchkings blow up or simply act like fmj's on game?

[Catfish]

I haven`t tried them yet, but I have a 6-284 and some ammo in the truck now waiting to see one. I have taken a coyote with the 80 gr. SMK from my 22-6mm. At 314 yrds. it left a great big hole, fur buyer didn`t want it. If you look in your Sierra manual they do say that the 70 gr. bullet is used alot from varments.

[JimG]

Coyote pelts are worthless here. Can't find anyone who wants them. We have an over abundance of 'yotes. Property owner where I hunt wants them removed ASAP. It's nothing to spend an hour in a deer stand and see 2-3 'yotes. I've seen game cam pics of 'yotes cornering and killing mature whitetail deer on nearby properties. It's bad here. So no, I could care less what damage it does to the pelts. This is nothing more than pest removal at this point. I do however want ethical quick kills.

[243dave]

I shoot the 70gr matchkings but don't coyote hunt.  It puts big holes in turkey and does well on small deer.  On deer with a perfect broadside shot it won't exit if the range is too close, at about 150 yards it will leave a 50 cent exit hole.  I haven't shot anything past 200yds except paper so I don't know for sure what kind of expansion you would get.  I load the the matchking on top of a max load of varget in a couple 243's and had no trouble getting moa in sporter barrels.  In my experience the 70gr matchking expands more like a big game bullet than a varmint or FMJ, if your hunting coyote past 300yds you might want a varmint bullet just to make sure you get enough expansion.  I really like these bullets but I no longer use them for deer, there are much better bullets for them.  If your getting a good buy, I say snatch them up they are good bullets and would work well out to medium range on coyotes IMO.
Dave

[LanceR]

MatchKing bullets have thin jackets and a small airspace just behind the tip.  They are stone cold killers on small game.  Due to the accuracy and how violently they expand in coyotes I use 70-77 grain MKs in a fast twist AR15 for varmint work but at stated already they are not friendly to hides.

I've never had a coyote move from where he was hit unless it was due to rolling/skidding from his momentum.  They may quiver and shake a bit but they don't go anywhere.

Lance

[1sourdough]

 I shot one coyote with a 70 grn matchking bullet. This particular bullet 'penciled' right on through. Yes, we got the coyote but I didn't see any expansion from this shot, close range, soft tissue. They do shoot good though.

[shot1]

From what everybody has written put all together is what I have found when using Match King bullets on game. I have used the 69 gr .224 in my AR 223 Rem and still do for ground hogs. I have used 150 and 168 MK .308 on deer. Findings: About 90 to 95% of the time they really come apart and leave BIG exit holes if they exit. 5 to 10% of the time they will act like a FMJ. When they do this it is my thought that the nose of the bullet just crushes down or bends sideways and does not allow the jacket to rip apart.  If you put the bullet through the vitals even if it acts like a FMJ the critter is dead. If you want a 6mm bullet that is cheap and will work 100% of the time get you some Hornady 75 gr V-max.