Coyotes with a .19-223 Calhoun

[bline]

I have killed a lot of groundhogs with this 19-223 but now I am switching to coyotes and I would like feedback on the wisdom of such a small caliber on a coyote as opposed to a groundhog. For groundhogs I have used 32 and 40 gr bullets with excellent results in terms of accuracy and killing power. I understand that bullet placement is critical but my concern is not having, as Robert Ruark would say, "...enough gun" when it comes to coyotes.
I can have the chamber and barrel rebored and so I am considering a 22-250 or perhaps a 6mm is the 19-223 is not going to be a good choice.
Your suggestions will be appreciated.

 

[AckleymanII]

Action and bullet types you are using would help to know.

Since you like wild cats, the 22-204 with a 24" barrel is shooting 1/4-3/8" groups with 55g at 3670-3700, and 53g V max does not suck. As your shots get beyond 200, bullet weight helps in spades. This choice would allow you to stay with the same action, just make it a switch barrel rifle.

 

[Mark M.]

I have killed a lot of groundhogs with this 19-223 but now I am switching to coyotes and I would like feedback on the wisdom of such a small caliber on a coyote as opposed to a groundhog. For groundhogs I have used 32 and 40 gr bullets with excellent results in terms of accuracy and killing power. I understand that bullet placement is critical but my concern is not having, as Robert Ruark would say, "...enough gun" when it comes to coyotes.
I can have the chamber and barrel rebored and so I am considering a 22-250 or perhaps a 6mm is the 19-223 is not going to be a good choice.
Your suggestions will be appreciated.

You're 19-223 is going to be almost identical to the 20 practical,
With those excellent double hollow point bullets Calhoon offers should make a great coyot gun

 

[20VarTarg]

Plenty of folks have been killing coyotes with the 17 Remington for decades. I doubt you won't have enough gun. Place that hollow point in the right spot and the Coyotes will drop!

 

[Dave Berg]

I can have the chamber and barrel rebored and so I am considering a 22-250 or perhaps a 6mm

How do you do that? I would think a much simpler approach would be a new barrel? Not saying it can't be done but I've never known anybody that had a barrel re-bored and re-rifled to a larger caliber. You'd also need to have the bolt face opened up, mag and feed ramp modified, etc.

As far as the 19-223 for coyotes it's plenty of gun and works fine assuming you're not in this for the pelt. Jim's 40 grain DHP at 3,700+ fps can sometimes leave a fair size exit wound.

 

[Bill K]

your present set up, with either of the bullets you use, will do just fine on coyotes.

 

[AckleymanII]

Our coyotes back here run on the large size, 45 lbers are not uncommon, most are Coy Dogs. I shot one that was 63 lbs, pard killed one in the same area the next week that was 70+ lbs. Coyotes of this size can drag down any full grown deer, run them to death also.

One thing for sure, use what you got, till it does not work anymore.

Shots that teach:

Hits on the shoulder blade
Hits on a solid rib
Hits on a hip joint
***hits behind the diaphragm***

I have killed more than a few with a 17 Rem with 25g Rem hp and 25g Berger HP match, 17 Mach 4 with 25g Berger Match. As distance grows, so do the floppers, spinners, nippers, and get the heck out of dodge runners once they figure out they are not dead.

Use enough gun, learn to shoot them walking, trotting, and running...leade and follow through...

 

[bline]

Thanks to all. There were a lot of things mentioned that I did not take into consideration; especially relative to the rechambering and having the barrel rebored and such. What was I thinking?
And I can always use my .222, which is something I had not thought of.

 

[Webster]

I have killed a lot of groundhogs with this 19-223 but now I am switching to coyotes and I would like feedback on the wisdom of such a small caliber on a coyote as opposed to a groundhog. For groundhogs I have used 32 and 40 gr bullets with excellent results in terms of accuracy and killing power. I understand that bullet placement is critical but my concern is not having, as Robert Ruark would say, "...enough gun" when it comes to coyotes.
I can have the chamber and barrel rebored and so I am considering a 22-250 or perhaps a 6mm is the 19-223 is not going to be a good choice.
Your suggestions will be appreciated.

If a 223 will kill a deer why would you think a 19-223 wouldn't kill a coyote? What kind of speed do you get with 40 gr bullets. 22RF was always the favorite cartridge that deer poachers used.

 

[bullseyeshtr]

I know there are some that say a 204 is a tad light for coyotes. I have probably killed 50+ over the last 3years at night with the 204. Bullet selection and shot placement is the key. Killed them from 50yds to 400yds and in my opinion it hits better than a 223. But then again it comes down to bullet selection and placement again. I would run the 19-223 with out even giving it a second thought. Behind the shoulder and high center chest shots straight on and you should have no issues at all.

 

[bline]

If a 223 will kill a deer why would you think a 19-223 wouldn't kill a coyote? What kind of speed do you get with 40 gr bullets. 22RF was always the favorite cartridge that deer poachers used.

I get something over 4200 fps with the 40 gr bullets. I get your point with the small caliber bullets being killers and it's a widely known fact that the caliber of choice for Murder Incorporated was the .22 LR for certain situations. Probably for the same reasons that the deer poachers you mentioned found it favorable for their criminal activities.