Here in Az I seem to get under 100 yard, or 400-600 yard shots on coyote and always seem to be over or under gunned. Im stuck between a 6 or 6.5x47L. I just cannot seem to make up my mind. It will be a 20" barrel max length if that helps. Im really leaning toward a 6x47L and 87gr vmax at the moment. Any thoughts? Im also open to a 22x47. Right now I alternate between a 17fb, 223, 204 and 6.5cm.
Mid range coyote caliber?
- Thread starter vmaxpro
- Start date
I would lean heavily towards either the 6x47 shooting 105’s or the 22x47 shooting 75 or 80 grain pills. Better yet build both! Especially since you already have a 6.5 cm.
22x47 would be perfect. Fast twist to shoot 75-80's. Brass will last forever
For out to 600 yards... and ONLY deciding between the cartridges you listed, and the 20 inch MAX barrel, I am hands down saying that the 6.5X47 is the best choice. With that length barrel you're limiting the awesomeness of the 223 and other .224cal, certainly taking away the 204's strengths. Sure some .243 could do the job but my preference when choosing such a tiny barrel is for something with more bang. The 6.5 bullets are heavier and with the 47 case you have enough powder to get them going. If I had to say something outside your parameters, a 270win shooting 110gr vmax or something in the 110range, maybe a barnes bullet 
Edit: it's really personal preference also. Some factors I take into consideration when thinking: what powders does the gun(s) I have now use? Can I use those powders with any cartridges I am looking at? What bullets am I attracted to? What is the cost for components? Will my reloading stuff transition and if not what new would I need? What factory rifles am I narrowing down to? Long term plans for gun? Stuff like that and not so much capabilities. I could give a complete run down with every cartridge/powder/bullet/primer/etc combo for ballistic optimizing at 100-600 yards but truth betold ALOT of different combos work.
Edit: it's really personal preference also. Some factors I take into consideration when thinking: what powders does the gun(s) I have now use? Can I use those powders with any cartridges I am looking at? What bullets am I attracted to? What is the cost for components? Will my reloading stuff transition and if not what new would I need? What factory rifles am I narrowing down to? Long term plans for gun? Stuff like that and not so much capabilities. I could give a complete run down with every cartridge/powder/bullet/primer/etc combo for ballistic optimizing at 100-600 yards but truth betold ALOT of different combos work.
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Mark W
Gold $$ Contributor
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
I'm sitting here thinking that killing coyotes at a hundred or less yards, and at 400-600 yards, should be done with two different rifles. 
I've killed a lot of coyotes, but I guess that 600 yards is about 300 yards out of my league.
jd
I've killed a lot of coyotes, but I guess that 600 yards is about 300 yards out of my league.
jdOh, there are all kinda of neat-O hotrods that'll make ya grin from ear to ear for coyotes, out to 350yds, or so. BUT...
Once ya get to 400yds+, you're pretty much relegated to either holding over via reticle, or dialing your elevation turret. Given that, cartridge selection becomes less 'specialized'...simply because you're either dialing or holding, regardless!
The 6x47L you speculated on would be a dandy from a 20" barrel, but necking it down to .224 might be wanting a few more inches of tube to eeek the speed out. I'd stay @6mm, given your barrel limitation. Tough to have your cake and eat it, too, when skimpin' on barrel length...
87Vmax is a nasty bullet, and will surely make a big mess out of a <100yd ~20lb AZ desert coyote. But it'll get out there and shoot OK @ 600yds, too...
Good luck and have fun!
Once ya get to 400yds+, you're pretty much relegated to either holding over via reticle, or dialing your elevation turret. Given that, cartridge selection becomes less 'specialized'...simply because you're either dialing or holding, regardless!
The 6x47L you speculated on would be a dandy from a 20" barrel, but necking it down to .224 might be wanting a few more inches of tube to eeek the speed out. I'd stay @6mm, given your barrel limitation. Tough to have your cake and eat it, too, when skimpin' on barrel length...
87Vmax is a nasty bullet, and will surely make a big mess out of a <100yd ~20lb AZ desert coyote. But it'll get out there and shoot OK @ 600yds, too...
Good luck and have fun!
If a 243 is just to plain Jane a 6SLR would do the trick.
A friend is getting 3020 fps out of a 22" with 105 hybrids out of his 6x47L, hope that info helps. It's a warm load but not max.
That does help, thank you. This might be what I go with. Im pretty sold on the 6mm for the best all around coyote gun for me.
I know the feeling! My 223ai I shot for a long time was my number one for many years. 20" barrel i pushed the 75 amax at 3050 with ease, and 40 vmax's at 3850-3900 which was a ton of fun.
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