17 vs 20cal coyotes - 250 yards and under

[ohlongarmisle]

Boils down to shot placement & bullet selection IMHO. Op has a lot of good to great considerations for a coyote slayer IMHO. They All can work. I have 3 or 4 favorites in that list. 9 twist 17 REM & 17 Fireball would do very well with non, plastic tip 25 to 30 grain bullets that are rather slim in availability these days. I am stocked up on 30 gr Bergers so the 17 FB is my personal favorite on the list for the task at hand.

20 VT & 20 practical very good choices as well for task at hand as well. Personally & would steer clear of the plastic tip offerings to reduce potential for a splash on contact. 20 vt would be my preferance here. If you want the most cost effective brass there will be nothing wrong with the 20 practical or 20 tactical IMHO.

Here's a splash plastic tipped. She didn't go 1 foot. That's the exit. I've had tremendous results with the hornet. If things go south, the 204 steps to the front after 250 yards.

 

[jlorenzo]

17 hmr on coyotes is way too light, coyotes take some killin, unless you can head, neck shoot, i'd pass you'll have more runners,and non recoverable yotes than hands on DRT.

I had to put down a wounded goose that was stuck on the iced over lake.
Hit it with a 17 hmr from about 100y, it took 4 or 5 shots to put it down. The final shot severing the spine. I was using CCI 17gr Tnt hollow points.

The 17 hmr is great for birds, squirrels, prairie dogs, etc. Anything much bigger ethically requires a larger caliber.

Unless you're inside of 50y and can get a guaranteed shot on the heart or head, the 17 hmr is an insufficient round for coyotes.

 

[varmit_hunter]

I love my 204 ruger fur hunting. Using 35gr Berger bullets. I have been killing hogs with the setup. I also have been looking at the 17-223 round

 

[ohlongarmisle]

I love my 204 ruger fur hunting. Using 35gr Berger bullets. I have been killing hogs with the setup. I also have been looking at the 17-223 round

A 204 will kill a deer at 400 yards. Ask me how I know. One was taken at 330 yards with a 24 grain NTX Hornady, cruising at about 4400 fps, neck shot dropped DRT, lasered with my rangefinder. The 400-yard shot was with a Hornady 45-grain soft point. He made it about 75 yards after hit,DRT.

 

[Jrjones]

A 204 will kill a deer at 400 yards. Ask me how I know. One was taken at 330 yards with a 24 grain NTX Hornady, cruising at about 4400 fps, neck shot dropped DRT, lasered with my rangefinder. The 400-yard shot was with a Hornady 45-grain soft point. He made it about 75 yards after hit,DRT.

I loved that 45gr sp.

 

[Hal]

A 204 will kill a deer at 400 yards. Ask me how I know. One was taken at 330 yards with a 24 grain NTX Hornady, cruising at about 4400 fps, neck shot dropped DRT, lasered with my rangefinder. The 400-yard shot was with a Hornady 45-grain soft point. He made it about 75 yards after hit,DRT.

He made it about 75 yds after hit. And DRT. .. Are not the same. 75 yds is far from DRT.

75 yds difference.

 

[ohlongarmisle]

He made it about 75 yds after hit. And DRT. .. Are not the same. 75 yds is far from DRT.

75 yds difference.

He was DRT at 75 yards.

 

[varmintshooter]

204 would be a better choice in my opinion. Better bullet selection and will work better at longer range. I don't get very many opportunities and don't want to lose one. Several years ago I got a 17fb and had less than stellar results on both ghogs and fox but never shot a coyote with it

 

[nakneker]

If 250 is your max range and your reloading you can tone it down a notch if you want. 35 grain bergers was recommended to me years ago for less pelt damage and it’s been a solid bullet for that purpose, occasionally they can cause damage but that’s not the norm if your not hitting shoulder bones or the spine. My current favorite 20 cal is a 20-222, accurate and easy to load for but most 20 cals would work just fine if your not loading them for top speeds.

Sierra is offering a new bullet this year, 35 or 36 grain 20 cal, I’m gonna try some when they hit the shelves.

17 calibers are fun. My personal experience has been some spectacular kills and some solid hits that made me shake my head. I sold off all my 17 cals mostly because of cleaning that tiny bore. I just prefer the 20 caliber bore. To each their own, good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[S&sprecisionTx]

In my arsenal guns I have two options my 20 ack hornet 32vmax or 20-223 Ackley 40vmax

 

[Jrjones]

If 250 is your max range and your reloading you can tone it down a notch if you want. 35 grain bergers was recommended to me years ago for less pelt damage and it’s been a solid bullet for that purpose, occasionally they can cause damage but that’s not the norm if your not hitting shoulder bones or the spine. My current favorite 20 cal is a 20-222, accurate and easy to load for but most 20 cals would work just fine if your not loading them for top speeds.

Sierra is offering a new bullet this year, 35 or 36 grain 20 cal, I’m gonna try some when they hit the shelves.

17 calibers are fun. My personal experience has been some spectacular kills and some solid hits that made me shake my head. I sold off all my 17 cals mostly because of cleaning that tiny bore. I just prefer the 20 caliber bore. To each their own, good luck with whatever you choose!

100% w ya on that.

 

[varmit_hunter]

A 204 will kill a deer at 400 yards. Ask me how I know. One was taken at 330 yards with a 24 grain NTX Hornady, cruising at about 4400 fps, neck shot dropped DRT, lasered with my rangefinder. The 400-yard shot was with a Hornady 45-grain soft point. He made it about 75 yards after hit,DRT.

I have some of the 20 cal 45 gr hornady bullets . What powder are you using? Every hog i have shot has dropped. I have a Nikon Buckmaster 6x18x40mm target dot scope on my 204. But that target dot on the base of a hogs ear. It will drop. But I have also shot them behind the front leg. And dropped them. I like that Berger 35gr bullet .

 

[ohlongarmisle]

I have some of the 20 cal 45 gr hornady bullets . What powder are you using? Every hog i have shot has dropped. I have a Nikon Buckmaster 6x18x40mm target dot scope on my 204. But that target dot on the base of a hogs ear. It will drop. But I have also shot them behind the front leg. And dropped them. I like that Berger 35gr bullet .

I only shoot factory ammo.THX