Coyote Hunters: How often do you need a 2nd shot? Is a single shot bolt action enough?

[sundance]

If the question is "Do I need another rifle" the answer is always YES!

 

[AckleymanII]

Every dedicated coyote hunter needs a 223(55g Sierra lead tip blitz at 3475), 22/250 AI(22 Creed)(55g Sierra @4050 fps), 243(80g Sierra blitz BT@3400), and 6 Rem AI(long action with 70g Noslers at 4100)). A Rem 700 in 270 Win shooting 90g Sierra hp at 3550 or the 110g V max at 3300 is icing on the cake!

 

[mike a]

1 shot, 1 shot, 1 shot, 2 shots. Helps to have a repeater. Mike

 

[BenPerfected]

1 shot, 1 shot, 1 shot, 2 shots. Helps to have a repeater. Mike

....and a wife that supports Coyote shooting.

 

[Brians356]

Every dedicated coyote hunter needs a 223(55g Sierra lead tip blitz at 3475), 22/250 AI(22 Creed)(55g Sierra @4050 fps), 243(80g Sierra blitz BT@3400), and 6 Rem AI(long action with 70g Noslers at 4100)). A Rem 700 in 270 Win shooting 90g Sierra hp at 3550 or the 110g V max at 3300 is icing on the cake!

You skipped over a 25 caliber. 250 AI (short action, 87g Speer TNT @3500).
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[Brians356]

@AckleymanII: "reflective" tape on the barrel?

I put non-reflective camo tape on any glossy barrels.
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[AckleymanII]

I had a two 25/284's. I have always wanted a 250 AI to shoot that very bullet.

 

[Brians356]

I had a two 25/284's. I have always wanted a 250 AI to shoot that very bullet.

I've followed you for years, but I always assumed Ackleyman would already have a 250 AI.

Today I might instead opt for a 25 Creedmoor. But I like a 40-deg shoulder, so how about a 25 Creedmoor Ackley (semi-)Improved?
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[std7mag]

I've had several instances where more than one came in. Follow up shots help for that, or if your partner should miss.
Personally i'm using a Ruger 77MKII in 257 Roberts, and a rebarreled Stevens 200 in 250 Savage. Bullet of choice is the 90gr Sierra BlitzKing.

This year we were calling with a fawn in distress, and elk in distress. Saw heads popping out of the cover & start working in.
Then the blackbear popped out of the woods, and the race was on to get to the call (me!).

Since we bear hunt (season only in fall of the year), we didn't want the bear relating the call to gunfire.

A shot before, then wait and call works well too.

 

[bluealtered]

That is a very good point to remember, when you call, (ring the dinner bell) you are inviting every single predator out there to dinner. Unless your using a good back rest like a tree or big rock, or thick bushes you making a basic mistake.

 

[drano38]

I've only shot 1 coyote, but I got it with an AR and a 30 round mag. Hit it on the first shot, then was stupid for a bunch of shots, and finally got it.
Having multiple shots is good. Just have more discipline than I did.

 

[AWS]

If your hunting a small area and don't mind if some get away yes a single shot is fine. I have no problem using a single shot of a sort, mostly combo guns with a single rifle barrel and single shotgun barrel . I have taken two on a stand with one but they came in over a period of time and did miss one twice with a single shot but the stupid coyote kept coming back to the call and killed him on the third try.

One of the things I see are folks complaining that the 223 doesn't put down coyotes very well. I also find that most of them are shooting AR's and don't pay enough attention to the first shot knowing they have 29 more to back it up.

Most of the time after the first shot the rest are just noise.

 

[CJ6]

A single shot is all you need. Even my repeaters have sleds in them for coyotes.

 

[Matt_3479]

Well for me, I can’t hunt with an ar but a repeater bolt has helped me nail down a double. I’ve had 2 that needed finishing off. Both were poor shots on my part unfortunately. First one hit a little high so a follow up was required, and second was a running yote that I opened up like a zipper. Both would of killed, but I believe in quick dispatching so a follow up was my choice

 

[AckleymanII]

I could not count the number of doubles and triples we have called in, quite a few stands with 4, several stands with 7, and one where we picked up 17 on one stand that took 1 1/2 hours. Low Pressure front moving in, falling barometric pressure, hunt, hunt, hunt...light rain and snow, makes it even better.

I shot out a Rem 700 Varmint in 25/06, Sako Varmint, and Ruger 77 Varmint in 25/06....coyotes, chucks, and jack rabbits. I shot 90g Sierra bthp and 100g Sierra btsp.

Coyotes see movement, hence a single shot is more noisy and slower. The coyotes are racing to the call from different directions at times, they see movement. Eliminate goat ropes where you can.

 

[OmegaRed]

I think everyone is missing the logical answer. Just wait until they stand in a line. 2 or 3 in one shot

 

[HillbillyLongRifle]

20 TAC for a Repeater is my choice! 40 gr BIb works wonders

 

[David Milisock]

Go to the dark side and build or purchase a AR. You might not find a better platform for coyotes. 20 inch barrel unless you pick a caliber that needs more.

I agree, today I'd chamber 6MM ARC but the 5.56 will suffice 98% of the time.

 

[AckleymanII]

Guys, I have hunted coyotes since '76, hunted in a lot of competitions. My mentors in the late 70's were some of the greats in Varmint calling.

These good men, taught me a lesson that I have never forgot: When you kill one coyote, start the stand all over again, expect multiples....they were right!

You do not need a fancy this or that to hunt coyotes, just a dependable rifle that will group 1" at 100 yards. Use a bullet that will penetrate both shoulders or good penetration from quartering angles coming and going.

 

[mike a]

Y

Guys, I have hunted coyotes since '76, hunted in a lot of competitions. My mentors in the late 70's were some of the greats in Varmint calling.

These good men, taught me a lesson that I have never forgot: When you kill one coyote, start the stand all over again, expect multiples....they were right!

You do not need a fancy this or that to hunt coyotes, just a dependable rifle that will group 1" at 100 yards. Use a bullet that will penetrate both shoulders or good penetration from quartering angles coming and going.

Yep, funny how the gunshot doesn’t always scare the others off.