Best coyote caliber for pelts

[xswanted]

My personal favorite is the 17 R.E.M. Running either the 25 or 27 Kindler bullets. Very good killing bullet and I've never had a blow up.

As the year progresses and the hide gets thicker I like switching to a 204 Ruger running the 50 grain Bergers or now Unmussigs since Berger discontinued the 50s.

I can run the 50s at 3500. They shoot quite flat and anchor late season coyotes where they stand. No fur damage either. They seem to work well to 500 yards.

 

[sscoyote]

I don't worry much about exit wounds anymore. I just sew them up. Used to run a 22-250 AI at 4350 with the 40's. That was a good one. Now I use a 17 FB XP-100 with 25 V-Max, soon to be running a 20 BR XP-100/50 Bergers. Killed a few coyotes last year with my 223 AI AR/69 TMK with small exit wounds.

 

[boltfluter]

My favorite for many years has been a .22BR shooting a 40 Vmax at about 3850. For the most part no exits, and they just drop like struck by lighting.

Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[6xcshooter]

here are 2 of the best : 222 rem with sierra 52 gr hp match (Very seldom exits) and the 20 vartarg with sierra 39 gr blitzking, you can"t do better

 

[rifleman700]

Which chamberig are you coyote hunters using if you want to save pelts these days ?

Thread title is caliber but post question mentions both chambering and caliber, so here we go.

Caliber - 17 caliber, makes smaller holes with no exits.
Chambering - I use a 17 Tac but have used 17FB. Any 17 would be good.

 

[GR5150]

Thread title is caliber but post question mentions both chambering and caliber, so here we go.

Caliber - 17 caliber, makes smaller holes with no exits.
Chambering - I use a 17 Tac but have used 17FB. Any 17 would be good.

For fur ... 17 rem with a 25 Horn HP. I prefer the old Berger 25 HP match that Berger in their infinite wisdom discontinued. Recently I have been shooting the 25 VMAX and have killed 5 with that combo ... one @ 309 yds ... NO exits or splashes. I am only running the VMAX at about 3850 FPS. Prefer the higher BC of the VMAX. I have a new to me 17 FB in a SPS varmint Im going to play with this year. For fur ... 17 cal centerfires are the way to go. For straight up killing ... the options are infinite.

 

[TZaun]

I see this thread is a few months old now. Greg, did you get your Mach IV up and running yet? If so, how has it performed? A very good friend of mine had a Mach IV built back when fox hunting was really good up here in ND. The mange cleaned them out and the coyote population blew up shortly after that. He was having a hard time getting clean kills with his. He tried hitting them in different spots, tried different bullets, but just didn't like the job it did. I started out with a 22-250 and 40 gr. V-Maxes and was experiencing similar results. I switched to the 52 gr. Berger Varmint and that has been perfect, for me. I call all mine in so they are usually well under 100 yards and I always shoot for the chest or the shoulder. When hit in that area, that bullet never exits. Usually there's no blood to be found anywhere. They are dead before they hit the ground. I don't know if our coyotes are a little bigger, or the hide is a little thicker up here, or both? Obviously many guys are using .17s on them with great success. I'm just curious as to why they don't work the best up here? Last winter I decided to try the 65 gr. Sierra that I loaded up for my daughter to shoot her doe with. Big mistake!!! That bullet tore a big hole in that coyote. It did what it was designed to do, push right on through.

 

[WindSurgeon]

.17 WSM or .17 Rem. Tiny holes and most of the energy is released in the vitals from my experience and little damage on the far side.

 

[284winner]

Inside of 150 yards the 17 hmr enters and blows up inside and never leaves the body. Just shuts the coyote off immediately. IMO, beyond 200, I don't think the bullet will expand reliably or consistently.

 

[WindSurgeon]

Inside of 150 yards the 17 hmr enters and blows up inside and never leaves the body. Just shuts the coyote off immediately. IMO, beyond 200, I don't think the bullet will expand reliably or consistently.

That's where I think the .17 WSM shines in the rimfire class. Just a bit more velocity for a slightly longer shot.

 

[284winner]

That's where I think the .17 WSM shines in the rimfire class. Just a bit more velocity for a slightly longer shot.

Yes and possibly better expansion at those longer ranges. Contemplated a purchase of a 17 wsm but as accurate as my Marlin 17 hmr is, I hate to give it up. Can't see a purpose for two 17 rimfire. That 17 wsm is a smoker for a rimfire.

 

[sscoyote]

I actually don't mind sewing them up some (6mm AI--don't remember which bullet)--

 

[daniel brothers]

If I were to turn into a fur saving... non-sewer... then it would HAVE to be a 17 or 20...no doubt. Call them into under 300 yd ranges... and either one will save you a lot of stitches. A stitch in time saves nine... so just get a hot 17 and go for it... or a milder 20.... then your done.

 

[WindSurgeon]

Yes and possibly better expansion at those longer ranges. Contemplated a purchase of a 17 wsm but as accurate as my Marlin 17 hmr is, I hate to give it up. Can't see a purpose for two 17 rimfire. That 17 wsm is a smoker for a rimfire.

I purchased the Savage in .17 WSM the first week it was shipping. My property is in a no-rifle area and the coyotes I was calling seemed to all hold up out of shotgun range and the .22 mag I used to own just couldn't get out there far enough for some. The WSM has changed all of that by putting them all in reach where I hunt. Longest shot I would have to take there is right around 200 yards.

There are a lot of better options for rifles now and Hornady's ammo is a lot better than Winchester's. I don't have an HMR, but I know it is a very accurate round. Would be curious if anyone has a comparison between the two using comparable rifles.