First off we have two types of coyote hunters. One group just wants them dead on first shot like guys who hunt in contests.
The other group are fur hunters and what I going to talk on.
When calling or hunting coyotes your choices on Calibers and bullet choices are limited if you want to save the fur or have to make fewer stitches and even though the market is down, I still don't change what I use mostly.
I want a rifle and cartridge that can put a coyote down clean out to 400 yards, one shot, and want a bullet that is accurate and gentle enough to dump all its energy on inside. coming out just creates another hole to fix.
Most any rifle chasse will work if its accurate, under 1/2 groups IMO. I prefer a bolt action over anything else in factory or custom build. I like to tune my rifles with aftermarket triggers, good comfortable fitting stock, David Tubb firing pin and spring (lock time), if bolt little sloppy from ware, then I get them sleeved. I sort of bring some of the BR stuff into a hunting rifle build or upgrade as I want best I can get. Targets can be few and small at times so I want something that can give me a edge.
I like solid one-piece bases but also like the Warne two-piece base with quick release as I have a few favorite scopes I like to move from one rifle to next.
Bullets: I like a med weight bullet for whatever caliber I plan to use, too light tends to be too fragile or explosive and just makes surface- splashes. Too heavy of a bullet is just that too heavy it tends to go through and through thus another hole to fix but would be a good choice for out past 400 yards.
Cartridges; There is a pretty good choice but there is a limit. For an all-day gun killing all day at ranges from 100-400 yards some cartridges just don't get it done all day they have a limit and yes, I know little Johny kills coyotes with a 22 l.r. at 50 yards but what does Johny do when the coyote won't come to 50 yards and coyote just sits and laughs at Little Johny..
First cartridges are in 17 center fire line up.
17 rem. with a 25 gr. or better yet a 30 gr. bullet best from 100-300 yards and gets risky after that but yes it can be done but not reliable always. Key Vel. is 3800-4000 fps.
204 ruger, or larger 20 cal. centerfires with a 35 gr. or 40 gr. bullet in H.P., key vel. is 3800-4000 fps.
224 caliber; 22 BR, 22-250, 22-250 imp., 224 Valkrie (62 gr. VLD), 220 swift. Shooting 52 gr. H.P. Berger or Sierra, or 52 gr. ELD.s, some of the 60 gr. bullets work well also by Berger or Nosler. Key vel. 3700-4000 fps. and 3200 fps for 62 in Valkrie.
"There are other cartridges that will also apply if they can shoot bullets mentioned and in same Vel. range." Some plastic tip bullets work, and some just don't as far as being reliable on expansion. I'm just listing things that have worked for me in past and still keep working so why change. Through years I tried many bullets and weights and now stuck with what has worked very well.
6mm; 243 win. and 6mm Rem. is mostly what I been exposed to and there may be other choices. 58 gr. V-max was preferred choice and also 68 gr. V-max. Not the greatest though as you get mixed results, but the choices were limited for good fur bullets. I also consider a 6mm to be a bit over bore for coyotes when saving fur. The 6mm BR. might be the best choice but have not worked with one.
This is all about saving hides and making clean one-shot kills and similar to target contests of putting bullet in one hole or one small group it applies to saving fur as well.
If a guy is just out to kill a coyote, then use what cartridge/bullet you like long as you do it cleanly, splatters suck as well as through and throughs.
Many of the contest hunters are just after kills and their cartridge of choice is 22-250, 22-250 imp. 220 swift and the 6 mm, its a number game for them and how you win it.
On a side note, shooting competitions have a caliber limit or choice as well as bullets of choice and cartridges so why should fur getting be any different.
The other group are fur hunters and what I going to talk on.
When calling or hunting coyotes your choices on Calibers and bullet choices are limited if you want to save the fur or have to make fewer stitches and even though the market is down, I still don't change what I use mostly.
I want a rifle and cartridge that can put a coyote down clean out to 400 yards, one shot, and want a bullet that is accurate and gentle enough to dump all its energy on inside. coming out just creates another hole to fix.
Most any rifle chasse will work if its accurate, under 1/2 groups IMO. I prefer a bolt action over anything else in factory or custom build. I like to tune my rifles with aftermarket triggers, good comfortable fitting stock, David Tubb firing pin and spring (lock time), if bolt little sloppy from ware, then I get them sleeved. I sort of bring some of the BR stuff into a hunting rifle build or upgrade as I want best I can get. Targets can be few and small at times so I want something that can give me a edge.
I like solid one-piece bases but also like the Warne two-piece base with quick release as I have a few favorite scopes I like to move from one rifle to next.
Bullets: I like a med weight bullet for whatever caliber I plan to use, too light tends to be too fragile or explosive and just makes surface- splashes. Too heavy of a bullet is just that too heavy it tends to go through and through thus another hole to fix but would be a good choice for out past 400 yards.
Cartridges; There is a pretty good choice but there is a limit. For an all-day gun killing all day at ranges from 100-400 yards some cartridges just don't get it done all day they have a limit and yes, I know little Johny kills coyotes with a 22 l.r. at 50 yards but what does Johny do when the coyote won't come to 50 yards and coyote just sits and laughs at Little Johny..
First cartridges are in 17 center fire line up.
17 rem. with a 25 gr. or better yet a 30 gr. bullet best from 100-300 yards and gets risky after that but yes it can be done but not reliable always. Key Vel. is 3800-4000 fps.
204 ruger, or larger 20 cal. centerfires with a 35 gr. or 40 gr. bullet in H.P., key vel. is 3800-4000 fps.
224 caliber; 22 BR, 22-250, 22-250 imp., 224 Valkrie (62 gr. VLD), 220 swift. Shooting 52 gr. H.P. Berger or Sierra, or 52 gr. ELD.s, some of the 60 gr. bullets work well also by Berger or Nosler. Key vel. 3700-4000 fps. and 3200 fps for 62 in Valkrie.
"There are other cartridges that will also apply if they can shoot bullets mentioned and in same Vel. range." Some plastic tip bullets work, and some just don't as far as being reliable on expansion. I'm just listing things that have worked for me in past and still keep working so why change. Through years I tried many bullets and weights and now stuck with what has worked very well.
6mm; 243 win. and 6mm Rem. is mostly what I been exposed to and there may be other choices. 58 gr. V-max was preferred choice and also 68 gr. V-max. Not the greatest though as you get mixed results, but the choices were limited for good fur bullets. I also consider a 6mm to be a bit over bore for coyotes when saving fur. The 6mm BR. might be the best choice but have not worked with one.
This is all about saving hides and making clean one-shot kills and similar to target contests of putting bullet in one hole or one small group it applies to saving fur as well.
If a guy is just out to kill a coyote, then use what cartridge/bullet you like long as you do it cleanly, splatters suck as well as through and throughs.
Many of the contest hunters are just after kills and their cartridge of choice is 22-250, 22-250 imp. 220 swift and the 6 mm, its a number game for them and how you win it.
On a side note, shooting competitions have a caliber limit or choice as well as bullets of choice and cartridges so why should fur getting be any different.
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