Coyote calling rifle
- Thread starter MarkS
- Start date
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
We hunted competitively in Predator calling contests for many years.
Out West, the average shot when calling on the ground was 75-125 yards, depending on what state or the part of Mexico we were hunting in.
The bullet choice can make a huge difference as we took shots quartering, coming and going. You simply have to have a bullet that is constructed well enough to penetrate.
We killed hundreds of coyotes with a 223 loaded with 26.5g of Win 748 and a 55g Winchester soft point with a muzzle velocity of about 3100 in my 788 and Rem 700's(excellent hide saving load). When hunting In Mexico, we would kill between 13-52 animals in a three day weekend, depending on weather fronts. We shot various 22/250's, 243's, and 6 Remingtons since military calibers are illegal to bring into Mexico.
With all 22 calibers, if you hit them behind the diaphram, they will get back up and run off on you. 243's and 6 Remingtons Anchor coyotes HARD with a 60g Sierra Hp(3800-4000fps), Sierra 75g HP, and 80g blitz bt loaded to the max accuracy node at 3400 and 3500 fps, they simply will NOT get back up, even when shot solid in the stomach.
I am a firm believer that bullet choices make a coyote calling gun, accuracy first, then an ability to penetrate bones and get to the vitals.
When hunting in Mexico, we were allowed 50 rounds per gun only, and they would LOCK YOU UP for carrying extra ammo. I would try different bullets with the same load in what ever rifle was on my gun permit.
In the 22/250 while hunting in Mexico were you could shoot 20 or animals straight on one trip with the same bullet, this is what I liked:
55g Nosler ballistic tip
55g Sierra spt
55g Sierra spt bt
55g Sierra BTHP
55g Hornady sp with the cannalure
Shots ran from point blank to 350 yards as a general rule.
243 Caliber bullets I prefered:
60g Sierra hP
75g Sierra HP
80g Sierra Single shot pistol bullet
80g Sierra BT Blitz- my all time favorite in 243 and 6 Rem with hot loads of IMR 4064
There is a wide variety of opinions in what folks like, I like to kill coyotes outright. Many shots are taken on moving coyotes, so you hit them further back than you would often like. The bullet has to create a LARGE temporary wound cavity, disrupt arteries, turn undigested food and bone particles into secondary projectiles.
Nosler was the only company with a plastic tip bullet out at that time, and in a 22/250, I liked the penetration of the 55g Nosler BT. Shots between 275-350 is where most of us really make a screw up on trajectory calculation, thus you hit them low...not a good thing.
Use enough gun, and try to be objective about your results. When your hits result is flopping/flipping coyotes or coyotes getting back up, time to get a different caliber.
The OP asked about three calibers, 223,22/250, and 243. My choice would be a 243 with 60g Sierra hp(Varget or Win 760*3700-3800) or 80g Sierra Blitz bt(IMR 4064-3400 fps).
Concerning the 243, the 80g Sierra blitz with a hot load of IMR 4064 is amazing in how accurate it is, and gives the loudest WHOP sound I have ever heard coyotes being shot with....lots of shock put on the animal. Even if you do not leade a running coyote enough, hit him in the rear hip joint, his whole azz end will be shot off, and he will be laying right where he lands when he stops rolling to a stop.
Out West, the average shot when calling on the ground was 75-125 yards, depending on what state or the part of Mexico we were hunting in.
The bullet choice can make a huge difference as we took shots quartering, coming and going. You simply have to have a bullet that is constructed well enough to penetrate.
We killed hundreds of coyotes with a 223 loaded with 26.5g of Win 748 and a 55g Winchester soft point with a muzzle velocity of about 3100 in my 788 and Rem 700's(excellent hide saving load). When hunting In Mexico, we would kill between 13-52 animals in a three day weekend, depending on weather fronts. We shot various 22/250's, 243's, and 6 Remingtons since military calibers are illegal to bring into Mexico.
With all 22 calibers, if you hit them behind the diaphram, they will get back up and run off on you. 243's and 6 Remingtons Anchor coyotes HARD with a 60g Sierra Hp(3800-4000fps), Sierra 75g HP, and 80g blitz bt loaded to the max accuracy node at 3400 and 3500 fps, they simply will NOT get back up, even when shot solid in the stomach.
I am a firm believer that bullet choices make a coyote calling gun, accuracy first, then an ability to penetrate bones and get to the vitals.
When hunting in Mexico, we were allowed 50 rounds per gun only, and they would LOCK YOU UP for carrying extra ammo. I would try different bullets with the same load in what ever rifle was on my gun permit.
In the 22/250 while hunting in Mexico were you could shoot 20 or animals straight on one trip with the same bullet, this is what I liked:
55g Nosler ballistic tip
55g Sierra spt
55g Sierra spt bt
55g Sierra BTHP
55g Hornady sp with the cannalure
Shots ran from point blank to 350 yards as a general rule.
243 Caliber bullets I prefered:
60g Sierra hP
75g Sierra HP
80g Sierra Single shot pistol bullet
80g Sierra BT Blitz- my all time favorite in 243 and 6 Rem with hot loads of IMR 4064
There is a wide variety of opinions in what folks like, I like to kill coyotes outright. Many shots are taken on moving coyotes, so you hit them further back than you would often like. The bullet has to create a LARGE temporary wound cavity, disrupt arteries, turn undigested food and bone particles into secondary projectiles.
Nosler was the only company with a plastic tip bullet out at that time, and in a 22/250, I liked the penetration of the 55g Nosler BT. Shots between 275-350 is where most of us really make a screw up on trajectory calculation, thus you hit them low...not a good thing.
Use enough gun, and try to be objective about your results. When your hits result is flopping/flipping coyotes or coyotes getting back up, time to get a different caliber.
The OP asked about three calibers, 223,22/250, and 243. My choice would be a 243 with 60g Sierra hp(Varget or Win 760*3700-3800) or 80g Sierra Blitz bt(IMR 4064-3400 fps).
Concerning the 243, the 80g Sierra blitz with a hot load of IMR 4064 is amazing in how accurate it is, and gives the loudest WHOP sound I have ever heard coyotes being shot with....lots of shock put on the animal. Even if you do not leade a running coyote enough, hit him in the rear hip joint, his whole azz end will be shot off, and he will be laying right where he lands when he stops rolling to a stop.
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Downhill
Gold $$ Contributor
I use a Tikka T3 Varmint in 223 with a fixed 6 power scope. Run the Hornady 55 Vmax. Made kills past 350yds. Only problem is the weight. Pain in the butt if your walking and making a lot of sets. We hunt several contests a year and the team mates always grin when I uncase it.
WyleWD
Silver $$ Contributor
+1 EXACTLY! Excellent post with great observations. WD
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Interesting reply's......
I am using a 17 Fur Ball (1:9) on light wind days or where wind is not a factor shooting out to 250 or so with 25 gr HP stuff at about 3750 or so. If the wind is up a bit I go to the 6MM BR (1:10) shooting 75 gr V-Max at between 31 to 3200 fps. Just added a 22 PPC (1:12) for the wife (and me) shooting 50 gr Combined Technology molly at about 3500.
All of these produce DRT if we hold our shots right.
We are shooting with a lot of deep woods around fields so shots are usually 250 and in. All these loads perform quite well at these ranges. I know the BR can stretch out and sometimes I wish I had a faster twist barrel so I could shoot the heavier bullets but when those situations arise I go to the 6.5 Creedmoor or the .270. They can get the job done. It can be messy....... This is with the 270.... 140 gr BTSP Hornady at about 120 yds.
I really think one needs to decide on what their shooting requirements are based on cover and distance and then build or buy a rifle/scope to match those needs.
That being said.... 223 for shooting inside 300 with the right loads and saving fur..... and 243 if you have no worries about fur (I done save it) and just want to put them on the ground DRT at any range. Bullet selection is critical with either based on your desired outcome.
Just my thoughts
__________________
Single shot shooters only shoot once.....
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Bruce A. Hering
Program Coordinator/Lead Instructor (retired)
Shotgun Team Coach
Southeastern Illinois College
SCTP Collegiate Coaches Chairman
NSCA Level III
Somethin about the little 17's just flattens them. I got another one tonight with 20gr vmax. But to the OP, cant go wrong with any 3 you listed IMHO. Im all for watching the hits so Id lean towards the 223.
Sniper, Is your 250AI a single shot or repeater? I am curious if the 40 deg shoulder causes any problems in feeding
repeater. feeds from an AI mag
Sniper Do you know if the 250AI would feed from a standard BDL follower or would I need an AI mag set up?.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
250 AI feeds just fine with std BDL follower.
I cant honesly say, never done it with a BDL.
MarkS
Silver $$ Contributor
If I were to build one it would be a 6BR or 6BRX. I am going cheap on this one. I have gone to the Dark side ( shotgun clay shooting), I have been shoot sporting clays with my wife. Shotguns cost alot also.
Mark
204 Ruger and my 28 inch 870 express with a mixture of #4 and #1 buckshot for close encounter.. when i'm surprise by a sneaky b@st@rd.
We hunt (my girlfriend and i) mostly for removing the pressure on our deer spot so.. we don't care much for the pelt..
When the 204 is done i'll rebarrel 20 practical.
We hunt (my girlfriend and i) mostly for removing the pressure on our deer spot so.. we don't care much for the pelt..
When the 204 is done i'll rebarrel 20 practical.
I recently stumbled upon Les Johnson ( youtube) Predator Quest. National Coyote Calling Champion.. Les uses a Thompson Center Predator in 22-250 / with Hornady 52 BTHP..
He has some really good instructional / entertaining videos. My opinion only..
Granted I've never pulled a trigger on a yote..
He has some really good instructional / entertaining videos. My opinion only..
Granted I've never pulled a trigger on a yote..
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timeout
Silver $$ Contributor
You can't go wrong with a 22-250 shooting yotes. Lots of good calibers to get the job done, but the 250 is somewhere near the top. Les often carries a shotgun with also for close ups.
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
I use a combo of a .223 bolt gun, A/R's in .223 and .20, a .17 Hornet, a .243 and a 6BR. They all are wonderful for respective ranges and conditions being shot - but if I were to use only one, I'd get a .223 if your range being shot is under 450 yards or a .243 if your range runs to and over that regularly. My Remington 700 .223 has more kills on it than the others combined. Using 50-grain Barnes Varmint Grenades and sometimes 70 TSX's. I don't save pelts. If I did, I'd not use the 70's, as very messy usually. The 50's usually only pass through if very short range.
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