I share Dean's sentiments almost to the letter, with one exception regarding killing coyotes...
The 'wildcat experience' of loading & testing, the convenience of super flat trajectory & excellent ballistics are all priorities, as is hitting target "x" with the first shot. The exception being, for coyotes, I want to enjoy all of the above with a cartridge that allows for minimal recoil & muzzle blast. That precludes just about anything larger than .243 caliber, and even the larger .243 cals generate enough blast to ruin the show...
Only way to counteract recoil is to install a good brake, or build a heavier rifle to minimize felt recoil. Brakes on stand are rude & annoying, and too heavy a gun becomes a chore if you're making stands with any frequency.
Alas, this is why I'm stuck on hotrod .224s for coyote calling! The thrill lies in the challenge of calling and excitement of fooling them into rifle range. I could see where a larger caliber/heavier rifle would be cool for sniping/shooting over bait, or other fixed position type shooting, but that ain't how we roll. For calling, laser fast & flat trajectory, easy to carry, and minimal recoil are the recipe to having the "ultimate" coyote round. Fun quest, hope it never ends!!!