.223 coyote bullets

[30xs]

I am looking at purchasing a .223 for coyote hunting and was wondering what bullets have worked the best for some of you guys. I will also be hunting bocat with this rifle, mostly coyote though, but I would like to not tear up the hides too bad. Would I be better served with a different choice of caliber? Most shots will be inside of 150 yards. Also, does anyone have any experience with pentax scopes? Looking for a decent light gathering scope that if something happens to it I won't be out much, hopefully that never happens. Don't want to go overboard on a coyote specific rifle, won't be dual purpose.

 

[brian923]

hello there. i have had a lot of good luck with 55grn moly v-max's out of my AR, but you say that you dont want to much damage, so i would maybe go with a FMJ. would go clean through, two little holes. i dont know of anything that would only go in, and not come out.,edit:see below, 22LR) there is the new 17 fireball that uses light bullets. with good shot placment, the little v-max bullet would go in, and blow up, and not come out. i think. but there is a lot of velocity, so it still might come out on the smaller sized coyotes,. not to shure though. but might be worth looking into. i have ued
22 lR on coyote out to 75 yards, and dropped them right in there tracks, with almost no pelt damage to speak of. i would not hesitate to take a coyote at longer distances even. great thing with the 22LR is cheap! cheap! cheap! lots of shooting, and the wallet still has money in it at the end of the day. its also a versitel round, that can be used for numorus things.

hope this helps, brian

 

[Macs]

I also agree with the 22LR for bobcats but where we live my buddies & I use 22-243's, I also have a friend that shoots a .204, he says he's never had a bullet exit. He's shooting Berger bullets but I,m not sure how heavy. Not much info but I hope it helps.

 

[jb77]

40 grain V-Max at 223 velocities is a good ticket for coyotes crows and other varmints. I have never shot a bobcat with one but they never exit on coyotes.

Consider the Nikon scopes they are less expensive than the Pentax and have heard a lot of positive things about the Sightron scopes.

 

[brian923]

so maybe the .223 could be a good bet. could be more than a coyote specific rifle.

have you cosidered an AR type rifle?? i have a colt compititon/target hbar that i use the 55 grns in, and it is very very accurate. it shoots sub moa i i can do my part. AND... with different uppers, you can change from .223 to .204 ruger to6.8scp to 7.62x39 to 6.5 grendal to .50 beowulf, and those are only a few. if you are into wildcatting, the list goes on and on. just a few. 17 remington, 17 fireball, 20 pratical, 6mm/223, 300/223 also known as the .300whisper
6mm woa,wildcat on the 6.5 grnedal) which is getting 100grn bullets up to almost 2900 fps out of an AR-15, 30 HRT wildcat of the 6.8 spc, 7 mm tcu, 338 specter, .458 socom, 450 bushmaster,now availible in a factory rifle) .50 beowulf and even the .50 BMG! thats right, .50 BMG! that would get those pesky coyotes! but, i think it might penitrate a litle to much

now,, i know that i have missed a few, but iwas just trying to state the point that its an awsome rifle, and that with one lower, you can have over 20 differnt types of rifles. and they are all exceptionaly accurate.

 

[30xs]

JB77. The Pentax Gameseeker was the scope that I was looking at. You can buy the 4-16X50 for around $140. I'm not worried about an exit hole in the hide and long as it's not too large. I also forgot to state that I will be hunting eastern coyote, which does have a larger body size. If I am hunting for bobcat only I do have a Remington 597 22 mag., that should be good medicine for whatever comes close enough. I will also use the 597 at night since it is the largest I can legally carry. Anybody have any experience with the Stevens 200, for a $225 rifle it looks tempting. Tim

 

[2506]

The Stevens 200 is just the old Savage 110, the one without the accu-trigger. They are good shooters but the triggers need a lot of work.

 

[30xs]

Savages have a good track record for accuracy just wondering if the stevens were as good? The trigger is nothing that worries me. I'll try to stone it to get it where I want it, if not an adjustable trigger is easily have for under 100.

 

[jb77]

30xs I didn't realize that the Pentax's were that cheap. A buddy of mine out in Ga. just put a Pentax on his Kimber 84 and the scope cost him 800.

Plus 1 on the Savage 200 even if it is a dog you can rebarrel with a prefit Shilen and upgrade to an aftermarket trigger.

If you aren't worried about exit holes in the hide i would try some of the 55gr Sierra Varminter and Berger makes a great 52 grain bullet that is most accurate in both my 22-250 and my 223.

I use the 55gr Sierra Varminter a lot as we have lots of wild hogs in my area and they will respond to varmint calls at night. We also see lots at night while spotlighting. The varminter penetrates enough that we can use them on pigs.

 

[alf]

My choice in factory trim for coyotes

Remington 700 SPS

22-250

40gr. Nosler

Not fur friendly for fox or small cats.

Center punch a yote and he'll look like he's been trapped.

Remington might be a bit more money, but you won't have to replace the trigger and barrel. Look down the bore of a Remmy w/ a bore scope. Most look like a Kreiger compared to a Savage. Won't guarantee a shooter, though.

Al

 

[30xs]

JB77. The Pentax Gameseeker is their bottom of the line but have heard some good things about them. Your buddy must have mounted a Pentex Lightseeker, those are expensive. They also offer a Poineer, I believe it's called, that I am not sure of the price.

 

[30xs]

alf. I would prefer a Remington 700. I own a couple and and pleased with them. I don't have a borescope, or access to one. I have never owned a Savage but the ones I've been around will shoot, even if it only shoots 1" it will easily hit a coyote. The only thing that keeps me from the Remington is the price tag, almost double the Stevens.

 

[Macs]

Stick with the savage, you can't go wrong. If you look and ask around they are the most consistantly accurate out of the box rifle money can buy.That's just my opinion!

 

[AckleymanII]

You are trying to have it all. What is excellent on a coyote will blow a bob cat to hell...choose what will be your main species and go with it.

Sounds like you need a 17 Rem, but they are a pain...period, unless you go with a custom barrel with a minimum spec chamber...big bucks. Only a very experienced reloader goes with a 17 Remington.

 

[rstreich]

What's so tough about a 17 Remington?

You best bet for a 150 yard coyote rifle would be the 17 Fireball with 25 gr. Bergers.

robert

 

[brian923]

i think that someone else suggested the 17 fireball.............

 

[AckleymanII]

Everytime I hear of how great the 17 Rem is, am reminded of the two Sako Vixens in 17 Rem that I owned plus the 4 Remington 700's that were all copper fouling mother lovers. They kill like crazy, and will drive you crazy on load developement and cleaning techniques.

A 223 loaded with 12.0-14.3g of Blue dot with a 40g what ever is miles ahead of a 17 Rem, unless you just have to be different.

I say screw being different. Being different is like being a pioneer that crossed the frontier. Many times a poineer ended up with arrows in his back!

 

[Zale]

XS. I shoot a 223AI which is a little faster. I shoot 50gr Sierra spitzers #1330. This bullet really works well on coyotes. It is tough enough to get through some grass and yet seldom exits. I mostly call them so ranges are not usually too far. It turns out the lights, at least this is my experience an a good many yotes.