20 vartarg on coyotes?

[Matt_3479]

Still debating on picking one up to play little brother to my 20 tac and 204 ruger. Anyone have any luck with them on coyotes? Where I live there is no prairie dogs or ground hogs so I'm pretty much using them on standard pest control (crows, foxes, coyotes, coons, and skunks).

[ramos]

Matt, I dearly love my VT. If you look at the ballistics, the numbers don't look bad as long as you keep the range reasonable on coyotes. However, it's the 204R that I always grab for coyotes and that same rifle lives in my daily driver. Probably just me playing head-games with myself but, since I have the 204R, that's what I use for dogs. Anything smaller will see me grabbing the VT as it is a supreme joy to shoot.

Besides, if I did not use the 204R for coyotes, I would not be able to justify owning one. That silly VT does everything else so well!

[df06]

I have taken one of my 20 VTs on several hunt but have only had one decent shot at a coyote with it. That was about 150 yards standing broadside. I used a 32 grain Ballistic tip over 19.3 grain 4198.
The coyote dropped and never quivered. That's not enough data to make any conclusions, but with proper shot placement, I think your are good to 250 yards. I sold that Vartarg but had another built. I am now shooting 35 grain Berger bullets.

[bburrell]

Matt, where do you live and how far is a typical shot? I have had coyotes run off with a solid hit from a r204 at 35 yards, and others drop dead with a single shot at 350 yards. Shot placement and bullet selection are important at any range with any caliber. Seems like every time I take out my 204r, I wish that I had my shotgun. When I take out my shotgun, I wish that I had my 204r. Just look at ballistics on the 20vt. I have shot coyotes with my 17 hornet out to 200 yards with good placement. If you are typically finding shots of 300 to 500 yards then take your 204. If you are typically shooting a coyote under 250 yards, then he will never know the difference between a 204 and a 20vt or ?????? just about anything else. you are making this decision too tough. If you already have a 204 and a 20 tac, then it is not about killing a coyote, you are just trying to justify something you want that you don't have. You have my permission to feel good about buying another gun even if it won't kill a water buffalo on your next safari to Africa. Burt

[ab_bentley]

Which is faster?
204R 40gr @ 3800fps
20vt 40gr @ 3800fps

Adam

[Bill K]

\ Have only shot two, so far with my 20 SCC, which is your 20 VT improved, both dogs about 80 to 125 yards, hit in the lung/heart area and both dropped in their tracks. 32 grain bullet. Bill K

[L Cazador]

In my experience none of the 20's or 17's or 223's are coyote weapons. In the last 30 years, I've had just as many run off as I dropped dead right there with these calibers. You're just educating the coyotes with these small calibers. Get a 22/250 or a 243 and a shotgun for those close in multiple shots. I don't like taking shots at coyotes beyond two hundred yards but if you must be sure you're not just going to educate them. My favorite weapons are my AR in 243WSSM and my 12ga with #4 buck but my Savage Varmint in 22/250 is a close second to the 243.

[jpstratton]

Originally Posted by ab_bentley

Which is faster?
204R 40gr @ 3800fps
20vt 40gr @ 3800fps

Adam

Sent you a PM.

[DAA]

Originally Posted by L Cazador

In my experience none of the 20's or 17's or 223's are coyote weapons.

I disagree .

- DAA

[jkmola]

Originally Posted by ab_bentley

Which is faster?
204R 40gr @ 3800fps
20vt 40gr @ 3800fps

Adam

What powder should I be lookin at for this? All I can find in the mfrs sites is 40 grainer in the VT topping out at about 3400? Love to be able to get a 40 in or around that neighborhood