Sierra's Blitz 80 grain SBT .243 dia., is making a name for itself in the varmint fields. With target accuracy and thin jacket design, it makes a top choice from prairie dogs to coyotes. This fragile bullet will also be a welcome addition in the more settled areas where ricochets could be a problem. With the boattail design giving a higher B.C., this Varminter is a good choice where wind is a factor. If you are looking for positive expansion at all ranges, this is a good bullet choice.

Figure leads from heart/lung area on fox and coyotes. Coyotes and deer can run up to 40 mph. Use the length of the animal at longer ranges to determine the length of a foot for the lead. This is a bullet/load combo for coyotes and red fox. 

The 80 grain Sierra Blitz Spitzer Boat Tail (SBT) bullet has a .319 B.C., I'm trying it out to see how accurate it shoots in my rifles. It also has a much better .194 Sectional Density for coyotes, it is "a lead core tipped high fragmenting bullet."

The 55 grain Nosler BT bullet has a Ballistic Coefficient (BC) of .276. When it isn't too windy I'm going to use the 55 NBT or the 80 grain Blitz bullet in my .243 Winchester with a 4 by 12X scope for coyote hunting. We nearly always have a 10 to 20-mph wind in the winter during the daylight hours in Wisconsin. I'm also going to try the 80 grain Blitz in my 243/06 Wildcat rifle.

Sectional density is the same irrespective of bullet shape, here is a list of 6mm SD's: 55gr .133; 60gr .157; 70-gr .169; 75gr .181; 80gr .194; 87gr .210; 90gr .218; 95gr .230; 100gr .242. Here's the SD equation: SD is the ratio of bullet weight to the square if the bullets diameter.
Example: | .243 X's .243= .059049 (65-gr  / 7000 grs per pound= .0092857 / .059049= .157-SD) Figure your own caliber/bullet SD.

The 6mm 55 grain Nosler bullet ( .133-SD) has a higher BC than the 55 grain bullet .224 bullet which has a higher .157-SD; 60-gr  is .171-SD. Otherwise, it's my 243/06 wildcat 95% of the time on coyotes, with the 87 grain V-Max bullet, SD .210, BC .400. 

The 55 grain NBT is a better performing cartridge/bullet combination than the 220 Swift or 22-250 combos. In my 243/06 Wildcat I tend to prefer the 87 grain Hornady V-Max varmint bullets as they are better in the wind and hold their velocity and energy better than the lighter 55 grain bullets. The 55 grain Nosler bullets, in the past, have been accurate in my old 722 Remington bolt action rifle. The recoil calculator says: recoil velocity is 8.61 fps | recoil energy, 8.63 ft/lbs | using 50.5 grs. H-414 powder, MV 3900 fps. That is mighty low recoil!

With the 55 gr. bullet, and 44 grs. of H-414 powder, the 220 Swift comes the closest in velocity at 3,833 fps | Recoil energy is 7.37 ft/lbs, recoil vel. is 7.95 fps, which is close to the 243 recoil figures. The range of bullet weights and total versatility allows the 243 Winchester to effectively cover the .224 or 22 centerfire cartridges! My late Uncle Viv Duncan loved the 220 Swift for shooting red fox, and could nail them on the run with regularity. Back in the 1960's he shot well over 100 red fox during some of those winters with it using a 40 grain bullet.

 I'm going to use the 250 yd zero for everything, it's too easy for me to misjudge the range and shoot over fox and coyotes with a 300 yard zero. judging range on coyotes in varied terrain can be tricky stuff.

These charts will give you a general idea of what it takes to gauge the speed, angle, and approximate lead required to make a killing shot on a coyote or on that once in a lifetime trophy buck that is headed for thick cover, and that will get away if you don't drop him in his tracks.

There ought to be variable speed moving targets on every rifle and handgun shooting range. The target system should be movable to various ranges and run at various angles. Practice is essential to improve those shooting skills and to further determine each individuals range limits on running game. Remember that nearly everything that is shot, with a shotgun's shot pattern, is running or flying and those shooting skills vary a great deal between individuals due to numerous factors, with practice being a major one.

Start at the shorter ranges until you become proficient and move up, limiting yourself to reasonable shooting ranges. Red foxes were running targets par excel lance in the 1960's

Darrell     udarrell   

A Page full of my links
  http://www.udarrell.com/my_pages2.htm