6 Best 22 250 Rem Ammo Loads For Coyotes That Minimize Pelt Damage

The pre-dawn air is still and cold, the only sound the whisper of the wind through the sagebrush. You let out a series of rabbit distress calls, and a minute later, a shadow detaches itself from the far ridge. The coyote trots in, cautious but committed, and you settle the crosshairs of your 22-250, timing your shot for the perfect broadside presentation.

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Why Bullet Choice is Critical for Coyote Pelts

Imagine walking up to that hard-earned coyote only to find a massive, fist-sized exit wound on the far side. The pelt, the primary reason for the hunt, is ruined. This is where your ammunition choice becomes one of the most important gear decisions you can make.

The central challenge is a balancing act. You need a bullet with enough energy and terminal performance to ensure a quick, ethical kill. But you also need that bullet to expend all its energy inside the animal, preventing a destructive pass-through that tears up the hide.

For pelt hunters, the ideal bullet is one that is highly frangible. Unlike a big-game bullet designed for deep penetration and controlled expansion, a good coyote bullet should hit the target and violently fragment within the chest cavity. This massive energy transfer results in a humane kill while minimizing the chance of an exit wound.

Hornady 55gr V-MAX: The Classic Pelt-Saver

When you’re glassing a vast prairie and a coyote pops up at 300 yards, you need a bullet you can trust to fly flat and perform on impact. The Hornady V-MAX in 55-grain is that benchmark round for a reason. It’s a load that predator hunters have relied on for decades.

The magic is in the design. The red polymer tip isn’t just for looks; it improves the bullet’s aerodynamics for a flatter trajectory and, upon impact, forces its way back into the lead core. This initiates an instantaneous, explosive fragmentation.

The result is a bullet that essentially detonates within the coyote’s vitals. All that energy from the screaming 22-250 is dumped right where it needs to be, dramatically reducing the likelihood of an exit hole. For a reliable, widely available, and effective pelt-saving round, this is often the first and last stop for many hunters.

Nosler 50gr Ballistic Tip for Flat Trajectory

Picture a coyote hanging up just out of comfortable range, forcing you to hold over. A flatter trajectory can be the difference between a hit and a miss. The Nosler 50-grain Ballistic Tip, loaded to blistering speeds in the 22-250, is designed for just such a scenario.

By dropping down to a 50-grain projectile, manufacturers can push the velocity even higher. This translates to less bullet drop at extended ranges, simplifying those long shots across open country. Like the V-MAX, the Nosler Ballistic Tip uses a color-coded polymer tip to protect the bullet shape in flight and initiate violent expansion on target.

This load is an excellent choice for hunters in wide-open terrain where shots are frequently past 250 yards. The combination of high velocity, a superb ballistic coefficient, and explosive terminal performance makes it a top-tier option for saving pelts while reaching out across canyons and fields.

Winchester 55gr Varmint X: Rapid Fragmentation

Sometimes the best gear is the gear you can actually get your hands on. The Winchester Varmint X line is a common sight on store shelves, and it delivers performance that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with more boutique options. It’s a workhorse round for the serious predator caller.

This ammunition is purpose-built for one thing: rapid fragmentation on thin-skinned game. It combines a polymer tip, a thin alloy jacket, and a soft lead core into a package that comes apart violently upon impact. It follows the same pelt-saving principle of dumping energy internally.

Don’t mistake its availability for average performance. Winchester has been loading ammunition for a long time, and the Varmint X is a consistent and accurate load in most rifles. It’s a fantastic, no-nonsense choice for hunters who want reliable results without having to special-order their ammo.

Barnes 36gr Varmint Grenade: A Lead-Free Option

Hunting in a state with lead ammunition restrictions, or simply choosing to go lead-free, doesn’t mean you have to compromise on performance. The Barnes 36-grain Varmint Grenade is a completely different approach to the problem, and it’s devastatingly effective.

This bullet features a frangible core made of a copper-tin composite. It’s designed to be lightweight and incredibly fast. When it hits a target, the core disintegrates into a cloud of dust-like fragments, causing massive internal damage with virtually zero chance of an exit on a coyote-sized animal.

The tradeoff? The extremely light-for-caliber bullet can be more susceptible to wind drift at long ranges. You also need to ensure your rifle’s barrel twist rate can stabilize such a light, fast projectile. For hunters in lead-free zones or those taking shots inside 250 yards, it’s an explosive and highly effective pelt-friendly option.

Federal V-Shok 55gr Nosler BT for Accuracy

You’ve done the scouting, your calling sounds perfect, and the coyote is presenting a perfect shot. In this moment, nothing matters more than accuracy. Federal’s Premium V-Shok line, loaded with the 55-grain Nosler Ballistic Tip, is built for this moment of truth.

Federal has a stellar reputation for loading ammunition with exceptional consistency. They use high-quality brass, primers, and powders, which translates to minimal velocity variations from one shot to the next. When you pair that manufacturing quality with a proven projectile like the Nosler BT, you get a round that can produce incredibly tight groups.

This is a premium load, and it often carries a premium price tag. But for the hunter who demands the utmost in accuracy from their rifle and ammunition system, the cost is justified. It’s about removing variables and having absolute confidence that the bullet will go exactly where you aim.

Speer TNT 50gr HP: An Explosive Hollow Point

Not every great varmint bullet needs a fancy polymer tip. The Speer TNT 50-grain Hollow Point (HP) is a classic design that delivers truly explosive results. It’s a fantastic choice for hunters who do most of their work over a bait pile or call coyotes into close-to-medium ranges.

The TNT’s design features a thin jacket and a soft lead core exposed by a deep hollow point. This construction allows it to expand with incredible speed and violence, even at slightly lower impact velocities. It lives up to its "TNT" moniker, fragmenting aggressively inside the target.

While it may not have the sleek, long-range profile of a polymer-tipped bullet, its aerodynamic disadvantage is negligible inside 250 yards. For the Eastern woods hunter or the Western caller who brings them in close, the Speer TNT offers devastating terminal performance that anchors coyotes on the spot and keeps hides intact.

How Shot Placement Impacts Pelt Damage Results

You can have the most advanced, pelt-friendly ammunition in the world, but it won’t save a hide if your shot placement is poor. The bullet is a tool; your marksmanship is what makes it effective. The best gear in the world can’t make up for a bad shot.

The ideal shot on a coyote is broadside, aiming directly behind the shoulder. This sends the bullet through the heart and lungs, allowing it to expand and fragment in the chest cavity, away from the valuable parts of the hide. This shot provides the largest margin for error and ensures a quick, ethical kill.

Avoid these shots at all costs if you want to save the pelt:

• The Shoulder: Hitting the heavy bone of the shoulder blade can cause a bullet to deflect or expand prematurely, often blowing a massive hole on the entrance side.
• The Gut: A shot to the abdomen is often fatal, but it’s slow, unethical, and creates a horrific mess that makes skinning a nightmare.
• Frontal/Rear Shots: These angles present a poor target and almost guarantee damage to the hide. Wait for the coyote to turn broadside.

Ultimately, patience and discipline are your most important tools. Waiting for that perfect shot will do more to save a pelt than any specific brand of ammunition ever could.

Choosing the right 22-250 load is a key step, but it’s only part of the puzzle. The real work is done through scouting, practice, and patience in the field. Focus on your marksmanship, wait for the right opportunity, and the pristine pelts will follow. Now, get out there and enjoy the chase.