fredhorace77 said:
I'd like to hear what you all think.
I've put a lot of thought in this same subject for quite awhile......
I used a 22-250 for starters a long time ago, standard 14 twist varmints with the usual 55 grain slugs. Tough on fox, but drop coyotes well, still hard on hides, which wasn't a concern then.
Move up to a 22-243, but built it wrong, as the damn thing weighed 13 1/2 pounds alone. Was a lazer though, 55's at 4100, just never killed much with it due to not carrying it much.
Never played with the 243/243 AI's at all. Still a favorite for the contest guys, where hides are second to killing numbers.
I had a couple of 22 Dashers. Shot strictly the 40 Ballistic Tips at 4200. Killed 40+ and only had two exits, due to shot placements, one too high, the other too low. It's just a 22-250 in a different package. Both fed like shitt through a goose.
I'm down to (up to?) three favorites for coyotes.
I built an 8 twist 22-250 Ackley a couple of years ago. Really like this one, but then most will turn into a favorite when they're as accurate as this one. 75 grain VLD's are the pill of choice now. Started with the 75 A-Max, and had a nasty blowup that turned me off of them, so have yet to drop a dog with the VLD's.
I put together a 6 Dasher also, so to me, it replaces the 243. Running 95 VLD's at just under 3100, and is a coyote's worst nightmare. Can be tough on hides on a shoulder shot, small exits on broadside shots, and only an entrance on frontals. This one is scary accurate as well. I've done several 6 Dashers and they have all fed just fine. A requirement, of course, for a calling gun.
My latest new favorites are 22-204's running 75 VLD's at 3075. Killed a couple of handfuls this past winter, and these two, at this point, will be the last to ever be sold. A twin to a 223 Ackley performance wise, but no fireforming. Another big reason is I feel I built them right. 22" 8 twist # 2 barrels, McMillan Classic stocks, Talley rings/bases, and Leupold 3.5-10 CDS's. Weights come in around 7 1/2 pounds.