Long Range Coyote Hunting - What caliber?

[model 12 toby]

man that's a lot of gun isn't it?

 

[TheSnake]

man that's a lot of gun isn't it?

Yea, shoot em in the mid section and you would have two of them!

 

[sscoyote]

Got a buddy that's shooting an AR-10 243/87 V-Max combination and has made more 1-shot kills than anyone i've ever heard of at distance. He killed 1 at 785 dialed using atmospheric changes to his std. ballistics program on his I-Pod Touch, but most of his LR kills have been via Varmint Hunter reticle in his 6.5-20x--2 @ 650, 535, 500, several 400's including a couple badgers these past 2 seasons, 1 250-yd. bobcat that was not blown up at all.

I think your idea of the 243 is an excellent choice with that bullet as the BC is about as high as it gets for a dedicated varmint bullet (.4).

I also would like to have used a 6mm Super LR ( nice long neck) as suggested above twisted for 115 DTAC or Bergers. I have a bunch of those (Bergers) and may try it some day. I also have about 1000 of the old 117 DTACs that oughtta' be great for that app. out of the 243 cap. case.

I'm having a 25 SAUM built in an XP-100 handgun that oughtta' work well too with the 115 Nosler--can't wait.

My favorite LR coyote rig though was my XP-100 in 6.5-284--loved it. Look here-- http://www.longrangehunting.com/articles/coyotes-specialty-pistol-1.php

 

[mhiltz]

man that's a lot of gun isn't it?

yes it is, but it works. I have recently ordered a model 700 CDL in the 257 Weatherby to try this winter with the 115gr. Bergers. It should do every bit as good, and not cost quite so much to shoot (if I have good results with the resized 264 Win mag brass)

 

[FFL Medic]

I'm the friend of SScoyote with the AR10T in .243 WIN. I am hard pressed to think of a better varmint combination. The ease of reloading with readily available and inexpensive components, trajectory and terminal effect are hard to beat. The AR platform is a wonderful tool. I also shoot a .308 "T" upper as well. I'm 30 seconds away from a "new" rifle with another upper.

 

[kountryboy2]

25/06

 

[bozo699]

.300wm 210 grain vld's, 70 grains of RL-22, fully prepped Norma brass,...two coyote's a couple days ago, 15 mph switching winds, three shots, two dead coyotes, 869 yards on #1 and 881 on #2

There's no substitute for cubic inches
Wayne.

 

[00Scot]

I'm the friend of SScoyote with the AR10T in .243 WIN. I am hard pressed to think of a better varmint combination. The ease of reloading with readily available and inexpensive components, trajectory and terminal effect are hard to beat. The AR platform is a wonderful tool. I also shoot a .308 "T" upper as well. I'm 30 seconds away from a "new" rifle with another upper.

I like the way you think. I'm working on building the same exact set up. I just wish the 243 would work with the 15 lowers instead of the 10 lowers. It would make the project a lot less expensive

 

[LRPV]

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=398382

 

[00Scot]

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/default.aspx?productNumber=398382

Very nice! Thanks LRPV!

Too bad its a short. But I love the idea. I really thought that the Win Super Shorts were going to take off when they first came out. Not sure why they didn't.

I seriously will be considering this upper now! Thanks LRPV, something else I don't need to buy but will buy anyway! 8)

 

[00Scot]

I got out of shooting right when the Super Shorts came out. So what happened to them? Why didn't they take off like everything thought they would?

And....how hard is ammo to find for the 243WSSM right now? I'm sure I would be loading for it anyway. But I'm just curious to see how hard it will be to pick up a box if I am out hunting somewhere and get stuck without ammo.

 

[LRPV]

I don't know anything about them. I think they are extremely hard on barrels and the brass is terrible with very thick necks. I don't know what would happen if a guy used a custom reamer and thinned the necks.

 

[dennisinaz]

The VLDs will punch through a coyote at long range. If you want explosive hits, you need to use a more frangible type bullet. This would mean 22/6mm or 25s. I would use an SST or Vmax. I suspect the Amax would work well but don't have any personal experience with game bigger than a prairie dog with them!

If you want a short action, I would suggest you decide how far you want to shoot and pick your poison. I am really liking this 260 AI. Simply re-reaming my barrel and setting it back a few thousands, added 150 fps and cut my group sizes in half. A buddy told me that this would happen and I was skeptical!

I am getting ready to build a 243AI for a guy. I suspect this will be perfect coyote medicine. I have been bear hunting all week with my 260AI, something i wouldn't do with the 243. For me, it is the versatility that sold me on the 6.5.

For pure coyote work, the 6mms are hard to better.

 

[bozo699]

The VLDs will punch through a coyote at long range. If you want explosive hits, you need to use a more frangible type bullet. This would mean 22/6mm or 25s. I would use an SST or Vmax. I suspect the Amax would work well but don't have any personal experience with game bigger than a prairie dog with them!

If you want a short action, I would suggest you decide how far you want to shoot and pick your poison. I am really liking this 260 AI. Simply re-reaming my barrel and setting it back a few thousands, added 150 fps and cut my group sizes in half. A buddy told me that this would happen and I was skeptical!

I am getting ready to build a 243AI for a guy. I suspect this will be perfect coyote medicine. I have been bear hunting all week with my 260AI, something i wouldn't do with the 243. For me, it is the versatility that sold me on the 6.5.

For pure coyote work, the 6mms are hard to better.

Dennis,
I agree with your post here except the bear hunting with a .243what kind of bears are you hunting? I have killed many many black bears bears with a .243 Winchester. My boy killed a nice one with a 6brx and 107 SMK @ 605 yards this spring.
Wayne.

P.S the vld's may blow right through them I don't know I didn't walk up to check but in my upper cow pasture I shot two coyotes at the end of last month at 869 yards and the other at 881 yards with my .300wm and 210 vld's three shots two hits two dead coyotes

 

[jonbearman]

tHE ONLY THING WRONG WITH THE 243WSSM IS THE HARD THICK BRASS,IT HAS A TENDENCY TO CRACK WITHOUT ANNEALING FAIRLY OFTEN. iT WAS A GOOD IDEA BUT POORLY EXECUTED BY WINCHESTER IN THEIR DISTRESSED TIMES. I WOULD STICK WITH THE STD .243 OR 260REM FOR NOW AS THEY BOTH ARE OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS ON MEDIUM GAME AND VARMINTS.AMMO IS PLENTIFUL AND LAPUA MAKES BOTH TYPES OF BRASS AT THE MOMENT.KEEP IT SIMPLE AND ENJOY.YOU CAN ALWAYS PUNCH OUT TO ACKLEY IMPROVED IN THE FUTURE ON EITHER BARREL SHOULD YOU FEEL THE NEED TO DOIT.Sorry caps lock on. Jon

 

[ShaneG.]

Hit a small male yote this morning with my 260AI using a 140 match hpbt,it left about a fist size hole at 300 yards. I got some 95g vmax's loaded up to try out as well.

 

[JeffG]

OOScot, 6.5-284's will require a LA unless you single feed, and there's no need for that big of case for your original needs.

thank you for the reminder. I forgot that the 284 was a long action. I do want to stay with the short action family for this rifle.

284 with 120g or 140g NBT is not a long action any more than a .308 is

my coyote rig(s) are both Savage 99; in 250 Savage with speer 75g HP; in 243 with Hornady custom 58g moly. Long distance? my personal limit is 300yd, both work, 150yd is more realistic.


<center>


<center>
<a href="http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii249/Jeff518/99%20-%20243F/101_7122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii249/Jeff518/99%20-%20243F/th_101_7122.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" ></a>
</center>

 

[CJ6]

I have a Winchester Mdl 100 in 284 and it requires DEEP (below NK/Shoulder Junction)seating of 120gr. or heavier bullets(light as I've ever used in this rifle). A 95gr. Tipped/VLD bullet is approx. 1/4" or more (depending on brand) in a 6-284 (to feed from a Rem SA rifles magazine). If you want to get the MOST out of the 284 case size with the LONGER/Heavier bullets in a 284 derived case and feed from a Mag. a long action is what you're after. *a Winchester SA will give you SOME additional length.

 

[dan06]

I like my 6.5-243wssm upper from detech.....it shoots pretty well. and fits on an AR-15 lower. The only drawbacks that I can find is that the brass is too hard and thick and your limited to bullets less than 120grs unless you single feed. It pretty much duplicates the .243.

 

[maxscm]

.300wm 210 grain vld's, 70 grains of RL-22, fully prepped Norma brass,...two coyote's a couple days ago, 15 mph switching winds, three shots, two dead coyotes, 869 yards on #1 and 881 on #2

There's no substitute for cubic inches
Wayne.

Now that's some awesome shooting!
How many minutes at 881yds? 28??