Looking for any and all input on pelt damage using 55gr Varmint loads in a .243. I do a lot of night hunting for fox, coyote and Bobcat and use a .17 HMR and Its a tack driver out to 125 yards. My friends try limit my shots to the Fox and Bobcat because of the limited pelt damage or any Coyote within 50-75 yards. They both hunt with .223 and feel the knockdown power is better than my rimfire especially on the Coyotes at any other distance. I have a .243 and 55gr loads but they both feel the pelt damage would be to heavy if i killed a coyote with it, so it stays home and I generally watch the action as the bigger dogs generally stay 100-150 yards out when they kill them. I am not looking to buy another rifle so any insight with pictures of the pelt would be great.

Thank You!

With current coyote prices I wouldn't worry too much about pelt damage. Get that 243 out and join the action. I used to shoot coyotes with a 25.06 because that was the only rifle I had at the time. I just had to sew a little more when putting coyotes up.

Shoot em in the chest with a polymer tip vmax and it usually dosent exit. I don't shoot many, less than a dozen in my life but the .243 works great massive internal damage one entrance hole. Also my fur buyer isn't taking any coyotes this year maybe yours is but I bet you couldn't lose 20 bucks if the pelt fell out of the truck on the way to the buyer, hole or no hole.

Shoot em in the head.