Coyote calling rifle
- Thread starter MarkS
- Start date
243
Never shot a coyote but by the looks of it, they are a well beefed up version of a Fox. I have used ballistic tips for foxes here in Aus for years. They work well. But if your after fur I would stay away from them. Currently using the Sierra 55gr game king spbt in an 8 twist 223. Very nice bullet for the job and I think the heavier construction might be good for coyotes. Running 3300-3400fps with 8208xbr.
snert
Silver $$ Contributor
Personally, though I have only shot about 8, all have been eastern coyote. I shot them with 357 Herrett, 7mm mag, 22.-250 and 6BR
While the 357 H and the 7mm thumped them good (overkill?) I have to say the 22-250 (55 grain bullets) did not impress. I do like the 6mm myself. BTW, every one of the ones I shot was over 38 pounds and one nearly 50. All winter kill except teh 22-250 shots and they were summer dogs, smaller. It just did not anchor them as I expected.
While the 357 H and the 7mm thumped them good (overkill?) I have to say the 22-250 (55 grain bullets) did not impress. I do like the 6mm myself. BTW, every one of the ones I shot was over 38 pounds and one nearly 50. All winter kill except teh 22-250 shots and they were summer dogs, smaller. It just did not anchor them as I expected.
That really depends on the distance you expect to shoot them and if you are going for pelts. Inside 300 yd I would choose the 223. I've killed more coyotes than I can count with a 22" sporter barreled 223 shooting 40 gr Noslers and a 4x12 scope ! In fact, probably more than all my other guns combined have fallen to this combo. It was light and very quick to the shoulder. I still regret letting a buddy talk me out of that one!
With longer shots, a 22-250 is great and further out, the 243 perhaps a bit better! I'm talking 500 yards and the dogs are HARD to hit at that range. The 6mm will have less wind drift but I've only ever connected on a half-dozen or so at that range. I used to take my 25-06 loaded with 75 gr Vmax bullets on occasion. It has spectacular performance and I've never had a dog run off after being hit with that! You will have a lot of hides to sew using that combo, but it's my personal favorite!
With longer shots, a 22-250 is great and further out, the 243 perhaps a bit better! I'm talking 500 yards and the dogs are HARD to hit at that range. The 6mm will have less wind drift but I've only ever connected on a half-dozen or so at that range. I used to take my 25-06 loaded with 75 gr Vmax bullets on occasion. It has spectacular performance and I've never had a dog run off after being hit with that! You will have a lot of hides to sew using that combo, but it's my personal favorite!
i got a 22-250 AI shooting 60gr varmint bergers... Drops em every time. Coyotes arent that tough to kill. A 6BR would be plenty too. Dont over complicate it. No since in a 24e when you can shoot a 6BR. We used to do coyote competitions a lot ever year. my whole team shot 22-250s.
if you want something different yet supurb, go 22BR
if you want something different yet supurb, go 22BR
I use many different rifles in many different calibers. My recommendation for those looking to buy their first coyote rifle is a Rem 700 in 223. Ammo is cheap if you don’t handload, brass is easy to come by, there are more parts for the 700 than any other rifle, and it will kill coyotes as dead as any other caliber. Once you get into coyote hunting you find a more taylored setup/caliber for your situation.
*** "well beefed up version of a fox" *** - lots of beef - When walking on a beach on the shores of Nantucket sound in Massachusetts while fishing for striped bass (more fun than shooting rodents) we saw what we thought was a dead German shepherd moving in and out with the waves. I thought I would drag it out on the beach, try to ID it with a collar and tag, bury and mark it with a stake and call town animal control so the owners could be notified. As soon as saw the pointy snout of the animal I knew it was a coyote (no tag). It was close to the size of my departed German shepherd at age 4-5 months, about 50 pounds.
So, I like .22-.250 68-75 grain or .243 87-95 grain. No doubt, the .223 will kill them also but individual tastes factor in. Should a shot opportunity happen over 400 yards, the .22-.250 & .243 will do it. Be sure to set your scope at the lowest power if a called yote appears less than 30 feet away.
Some time after that when hunting yotes out west, I heard that a 65 pounder (weighed on scale) was killed near we were hunting, possibly a wolf-yote mix. There are dog-yote mixes but these are not common.
MegaCanis
So, I like .22-.250 68-75 grain or .243 87-95 grain. No doubt, the .223 will kill them also but individual tastes factor in. Should a shot opportunity happen over 400 yards, the .22-.250 & .243 will do it. Be sure to set your scope at the lowest power if a called yote appears less than 30 feet away.
Some time after that when hunting yotes out west, I heard that a 65 pounder (weighed on scale) was killed near we were hunting, possibly a wolf-yote mix. There are dog-yote mixes but these are not common.
MegaCanis
Good advice.
A Remington is like a Chevy, any hot rod part you want is available.
I mostly use two rifles. One is a Remington 722 in 300 Savage with Barnes RRLP bullets. It is more than plenty for coyotes but there is a tiny (really tiny) chance of a mountain lion coming in. Second is a Contender rifle in 25/225 Win AI. It is light and if I am doing a lot of walking I grab it.
All my coyote hunting is under 100 yards.
M
I agree that the .223 would be ideal...I been using my accurized ruger mini 14 in .223. I have killed a few
over the years and this has worked for me...A good bolt rifle in .223 would be just as good. I used to call
coyotes with mouth call but just recently bought a foxpro e-call and having fun again pursuing coyotes.
over the years and this has worked for me...A good bolt rifle in .223 would be just as good. I used to call
coyotes with mouth call but just recently bought a foxpro e-call and having fun again pursuing coyotes.
WyleWD
Silver $$ Contributor
The fellow that I know of that shoots more coyotes than anyone I know uses a 17 Predator with 30gr HPBT bullets. That is similar to the 17 Rem.
For a coyote rifle my picks are Tie for first pick.. 6xc or 243 both in 10 twist using 75gr Vmax's, and a tie for second place....220 Swift using 50-55gr NBT or Vmax and 17 Rem using an accurate 30gr HPBT bullet.
Given the choices the OP has narrowed it down to .... toss a coin between the 22-250 and the 243 and forget the 223. JME. WD
For a coyote rifle my picks are Tie for first pick.. 6xc or 243 both in 10 twist using 75gr Vmax's, and a tie for second place....220 Swift using 50-55gr NBT or Vmax and 17 Rem using an accurate 30gr HPBT bullet.
Given the choices the OP has narrowed it down to .... toss a coin between the 22-250 and the 243 and forget the 223. JME. WD
long40shot
Gold $$ Contributor
My personal pick is a 22-250. All three are great cartridges though. If you plan on shooting the gun a lot, maybe go with the 223 to ease the cost of feeding it. And because barrel life would be longer. Both will be lighter on recoil than the 243, so you can keep on target to see your hits.
If you are going to sell the fur then take a consider at a plain old 204 shooting the 32 or 39 grain sierra Bk. Since 20 cal's are so accurate, on called in coyotes you can easly place your shots in the kill zone. If you are just going to kill them then anything 243 and up will work. A 22-250 shooting 60 gr sierra HP is DRT.
STOMP442
Gold $$ Contributor
I have moved away from a .22 cal for coyotes years ago. Reason being is that sometimes it worked and other times it didn't. I had way too many runners with a .223 or .22-250. I have since switched to the .250 Savage and haven't had anything run away from it yet. I am running 75gr Vmaxes out of my model 99 and 90 grain Blitz Kings in my bolt gun. Not pelt friendly but if you want dead coyotes accept no substitutes.
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
I've killed the most with my old 222, and next with the 218 Bee. I am a pelt saver, and a caller. Don't really need a cartridge to reach out beyond 200 yards, and usually not more than a hundred. We've killed a lot with the shotguns.
Our coyotes out here are around 35 pounders, and I've only killed a couple that were in the 50 pound zone. They were so huge as to be memorable, and are very rare.
I only shot a few with my 243 before I decided that it was waaaayyy too much gun for a guy who wants nice pelts.
For my style of hunting, it's a lot more important to use a rifle that I can shoot accurately off-hand at a hundred yards, than one that will reach out 500 yards. Been my experience that guys who talk about the five hundred yard thing don't really shoot all that many coyotes. No offense meant if you are one of those guys. I'm just saying that coyotes are pretty small that far away, and coyote hunting conditions are a little more difficult than prairie dogs or chucks for instance. jd
Our coyotes out here are around 35 pounders, and I've only killed a couple that were in the 50 pound zone. They were so huge as to be memorable, and are very rare.
I only shot a few with my 243 before I decided that it was waaaayyy too much gun for a guy who wants nice pelts.
For my style of hunting, it's a lot more important to use a rifle that I can shoot accurately off-hand at a hundred yards, than one that will reach out 500 yards. Been my experience that guys who talk about the five hundred yard thing don't really shoot all that many coyotes. No offense meant if you are one of those guys. I'm just saying that coyotes are pretty small that far away, and coyote hunting conditions are a little more difficult than prairie dogs or chucks for instance. jd
Upgrades & Donations
This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.
Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.
You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.
To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.