Let's say you're after coyotes with a 243 pistol. Which load would you prefer: a 58 grain V-Max with a muzzle velocity of 3240 fps or an 87 grain V-Max with a muzzle velocity 2800-2900 fps?

Well that would depend upon many variables like what is the maximum distance you may be shooting, weather patterns (lots of wind)etc. Also speed does not always equate to a quicker kill when it come to bullets.
My 1 1/2 cents worth.

Also the size of the yotes they get pretty darn big here seen a couple that had to go at least 60 pounds id want the bigger bullet anyway for something that large always seems to be similar drop after a point and less wind drift id rather compensate for 5 more inches of drop that 5 inches of wind drift just how I feel also just to check my ballistics program shows 2 more inches of drop at 300 for the 87 but 3.5 inches less wind drift (10 mph) so personally id take the bigger bullet it'll hit harder 2 inches of drop is not noticeable but 3.5 inches of wind could be the difference between a quick kill versus a miss or worse wounded or lost animal from what I've seen I usually go with bigger bullets if your gun will stabilize it the amax is probably even better

Ok I checked the 87 would be my choice even over the amax. Just cant push the big bullet fast enough to gain an advantage in 15 inches of barrel.

Having hunted coyotes professionally back in the '80's/early nineties when you could (maybe)

make a buck on them my criteria was always pelt damage. My go to was a Rem. 788 22-250 pushing 52 Speer HP's or 55 Rem HP's.

Not being familiar with any loads at all in the .243 I can not give you an opinion.

Just my nickel's worth.

My goto in 243 is 85gr Sierra BTHP for everything. Works for deer, coyotes.

i was gonna say what i'd use, but the professionals have spoken. i don't know for coyotes, we use the .243 on elk.

TN LW
A few years back I load up the 58gr V-Max for my buddies 243 rifle, we called in a big coyote where he made a broadside shot at 100 yards. The dog ran off in a flash, we tracked it and found it still alive in a small rock overhang a finisher was needed. This coyote a male weighted in at 43 pounds. While his shot was spot on, it produced a 4? splash hit only blowing a hole in the hide with little internal damage. In a 244 Ackley Improved rifle my bullet of choice is the 70gr Nosler BT, accuracy and terminal performance has been stellar.
I setup an Encore SSK 257 AI 15? dual purpose rig ? Coyote/Deer. So far I?ve only had the opportunity to test drive this on deer using Sierra?s 100gr SPT Pro-Hunter with excellent results.
Good luck with your choice.
B.

Just telling my experience instead of my opinion.

Go with the 58 Grain V-Max, plenty of bullet for eastern coyotes. My son hunts them with his 6mmBR and uses that bullet. It does cause more pelt damage than I like, but he likes them so that's what we load.
My favorite coyote medicine is the .17 Rem using 30 grain bullets. A behind the shoulder hit drops them like a heart attack. Been using it since the early 80's and haven't felt the need to switch.

so which bullet did you recommend again?

tradmark, As has often been stated by others, the "ideal" fur bullet for coyotes is the one that kills instantly and does not exit.

Rick Jamison, another favorite gun writer, has done incredibly well on coyotes for the fur market, and if my memory is accurate, he used the 52 grain Speer hollow point out of his 22-250.

I have tried an assortment of bullets on the sound dogs out of my 22-250 and found that the Remington 55 grain HP also works well.

Now, having said that, here is an interesting phenomenon. The 52 grain Speer has the largest nose hole of any .22 centerfire bullet that I have seen. On the other hand, the 55 grain Remington HP has the smallest. Go figure.

I guess I can say that you can't judge a bullet by it's nose!

I have also killed quite a few 'yotes with my Contender .223 pistol using the 50 grain Hornady SX (super explosive.) That combo works extremely well also.

I have never shot a coyote with them, but I have been EXCEPTIONALLY pleased with the accuracy I've attained with the 87gr V-Max and it has worked well in head shots on deer. The latter not saying much as most anything would. But, that is the only experience I have to offer here. Great accuracy and it pops skulls.

I've used the 87 grain v-max and I switched to the 70 grain Nosler BT which is a fragmental Varmint bullet. I got better accuracy than the 87 v-max and the 70 grain Nosler of course dropped less and won't be as suspectible to wind drift. Just an alternative.

Get you some 88 gr Berger High BCs and try them seated way out on the lands with Varget or 4895.

If it is the v Max only go with the 87 if you plan to shoot past 200 yards.

I agree with most of the info already posted but wind speed with lighter bullets(common on Coyote hunts) would have greater affect on accuracy for distant shots. In my humble experiences lighter bullets at higher velocities also cause more plew damage, caliber also figures into this equation(ie:.223, 22-250, 243 etc). And lest we forget, bullet construction?
Steve

It's amazing on all game.