Coyote calling rifle

[Shep1]

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.

 

[Shep1]

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.

 

[onelastshot]

I have shot them with a little bit of everything and have settled (for now) on a 6x47L shooting 105 VLD’s at ~ 3100. The 22-250 AI shooting 55 grain ballistic tips at 4150 is my next favorite. I have not shot a 20 cal that drops them consistently in their tracks.

I'm also an advocate of the 22-250AI. Blistering speed with 55 grain bullets which provides exceptional extended POI on the yotes. It's exceptionally deadly providing the red mist effect, just be sure you don't want to keep the fur. Keep in mind those who make Coyote hunting an active pastime typically call them well within 200 yards and all too often end up shooting them with a shotgun when they happen to appear out of nowhere within a stones throw of the caller.

 

[fredo]

I'm also an advocate of the 22-250AI. Blistering speed with 55 grain bullets which provides exceptional extended POI on the yotes. It's exceptionally deadly providing the red mist effect, just be sure you don't want to keep the fur. Keep in mind those who make Coyote hunting an active pastime typically call them well within 200 yards and all too often end up shooting them with a shotgun when they happen to appear out of nowhere within a stones throw of the caller.

Excellent points!

Just to add...
Those hunters who take coyote calling seriously don't drive hotrods for those 'easy' shots. They drive a hotrod to help mop up the mess when thing don't go like they posta go on stand...
Rolling up a runner, dropping one hung up across the draw, making a less than perfect hit, etc. it's all about NOT letting them get away!!! Man, there's nuthin worse than letting a coyote get away on stand

Added horsepower and increased MPBR make for more effective 'cleaning up', is all. And that 22-250AI makes for a good mop...

 

[Toddmack]

Excellent points!

Just to add...
Those hunters who take coyote calling seriously don't drive hotrods for those 'easy' shots. They drive a hotrod to help mop up the mess when thing don't go like they posta go on stand...
Rolling up a runner, dropping one hung up across the draw, making a less than perfect hit, etc. it's all about NOT letting them get away!!! Man, there's nuthin worse than letting a coyote get away on stand

Added horsepower and increased MPBR make for more effective 'cleaning up', is all. And that 22-250AI makes for a good mop...

Fredo Wins!

 

[daniel brothers]

Always be prepared and trained for those shots past 300 yds, and those closer shots will become more like chip shots.... which they should be anyways.

Don't you always spool on more fishing line than necessary... you never know when you might need it.

 

[fredo]

Don't you always spool on more fishing line than necessary... you never know when you might need it.

I like the way ya put that, Dan!

 

[1lessdog]

For me its the 6MM Ackley improved, pushing a 65 gr Vmax at over 4100. It makes for a easy 450 yd shot with no hold over. More knock down power than a 22-250 AI. I have shot them all in 45 yrs of calling and can truthfully say nothing will beat the 6mm AI for Coyotes.

If I was going to shoot just for the fur it would be a 20 Practical. If im shooting tournament I want the fastest most accurate rifle and its the 6mm AI. Knock them down where they stand,so you dont have to chase or track them.

 

[CoyoteTan]

6.5 grendel, anchor them down every time

 

[Jagermeister]

I am looking to get a Calling rifle. It will be a bolt gun. I have not settled on what round to get. it's down to 223, 22-250, or 243. What do you use?

Mark

I have been a avid varmint hunter since the early 60's. First of all get a rifle that you feel comfortable carrying. I would stay away from .20 calibers and not even consider a .223 or something similar. For years I used a Rem 700 Varmint in the 22/250 caliber. It was excellent to 350 yards. The bullets that I used in those days was Sierra 52 gr. hollow points. They were friendly with furs and I shot 100's of fox and coyotes with them. It could be a little hard on fox furs on warmer days. On heart shots or lung shots coyotes might run as much as 400 yards before they were dead. After that I went to a 22/250 AI. There was a period in there that I used a .222 for fox and then a .243 for fox and coyotes. The .243 worked great for coyotes but a little tough on fox. In the most recent years I went to a 6MM. They are tough on fox hides as well but I don't shoot fox anymore. The 6MM will kill coyotes at a quarter of a mile with well placed shots. I don't like carrying the big varmint barrels anymore and I can make running shots better with the lighter barrels. For what it is worth there are many calibers that will work and this is my experience.

 

[FatOldMIHunter]

My experience with killing coyotes is very limited. One with a shotgun, one with 6.5X55 Swede, and one with a 7mmRM while deer hunting. That one had a blood trail but I lost the trail in thick brush. I'm not interested in pelts. I just want them dead. Many around here have some amount of mange anyway. I've tried calling in the evenings, but eastern coyotes are tough to call and often don't respond until after dark. We're limited to rimfires or shotguns after dark so that means close shots. I have friends in Massachusetts who use ARs with 5-rounds of .223 on shooting sticks because if multiple yotes happen to come in they fling lead until they're all dead. They have one guy run the caller and one or two other shooters. Because of their success with multiple shooters and semi-auto actions, I have been considering using a Remington 742 .30-06 with saboted .224 bullets for summertime evening calling on younger and dumber ones. It's too bad that there isn't a better resonably-priced semi-auto action.

 

[swd]

I have picked a gun. It is a 223AI in a Win 70 Varmint, I built 20 years ago. I sold it to a friend and it have been a safe queen, so I am getting it back.
Thanks for the help.
Mark

Have you had an opportunity to use it since you got it back?

 

[Brody Oldfield]

If you want to keep the fur I like a 204 or a lighter bullet and a 22-250. If you just want them dead try a 243 or 6.5 creedmoor. Don’t overkill it on the scope. 4.5-14 or so. Most people overkill it with magnification.

 

[rr2030]

Killed at least 50 coyotes on the ranches here(when we hd ranches). Shot most if not all right behind the shoulder with 22-250, 55HPBT out to 400+ yards. They all fell over like a fireplace poker.

 

[6xcshooter]

If you want them to explode use a 6.5 x 47 lapua loaded with a 95 gr vmax going around 3300 FPS. The most devestating load I’ve ever seen.

 

[DownWindPredatorControl]

Savage .223
Hornady Superformance 53grain is all I need.

I think.........wait! It’s all I have currently!

 

[Plumsask]

For me its the 6MM Ackley improved, pushing a 65 gr Vmax at over 4100. It makes for a easy 450 yd shot with no hold over. More knock down power than a 22-250 AI. I have shot them all in 45 yrs of calling and can truthfully say nothing will beat the 6mm AI for Coyotes.

If I was going to shoot just for the fur it would be a 20 Practical. If im shooting tournament I want the fastest most accurate rifle and its the 6mm AI. Knock them down where they stand,so you dont have to chase or track them.

I did a lot of research before I picked what to build. I went with a 6mm A.I. 26” with a 8 twist, I have worked out a load with a 87 berger hunting VLD- very very accurate at 3450 FPS- and this is by no means a stout load. I’m in southern Saskatchewan- lots of flat open land and it happens from time to time that they hang up on us- we also have a ton of windy days. I also think a 22-250 AI would be a great choice with a 8 or 9 twist

 

[7887mm08]

The best caliber to use is the one that's in you hands when the coyote shows up. Don't overthink it, just shoot!

 

[daniel brothers]

plumsack... I built a 22-243Ai for shooting 80 amaxes at open country long range coyotes... if you need any help up there, I would love to come up there and shoot some long range doggies... and you can have all the hides... and I'll pay all the gas.

 

[Varmint Shooter]

Never heard of a gun calling coyotes, always thought the hunter did the calling, and the
gun a means of getting them?