I use a 6 Dasher with 87gr vmax at 3246mv. Scope is a Redfield Revolution 4-12 with their range finding reticles. I don't think the glass is as good as my Leupolds but its works fine and the reticle is easy to use. I use a 200 yard zero and have only shot it to 300 yards so far and it was 1.5 inch low at that range. The farthest I have ever shot a coyote here is 200 yards. Barlow
Who uses a 300 yard zero when hunting coyotes?
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Phil
Gold $$ Contributor
I set mine up for MPBR.
With a 4" k-zone on a coyote i don`t want my bullet`s path to be more than 2" either above or below point of aim.
Whatever that range is, is what i zero my rifles at.
Also,it makes it easy to lazer objects and know if your quarry is in range, point and shoot.
Phil.
With a 4" k-zone on a coyote i don`t want my bullet`s path to be more than 2" either above or below point of aim.
Whatever that range is, is what i zero my rifles at.
Also,it makes it easy to lazer objects and know if your quarry is in range, point and shoot.
Phil.
With a coyote being 10 inches from belly to backbone, 4 inches is cutting it short, isn't it? I would think 6-8 inch kill zone would be fine.
Phil
Gold $$ Contributor
Agree with Phil.
4" is what I'd use for a coyote.
That means keeping bullet path +/- 2" from line of sight.
Remember, you're shooting at a very mobile critter from sometimes awkward positions, so that 4" helps account for some 'wiggle room', too...
Use a ballistic solver to determine what your optimal zero would be, using your rifle/load.
For most 'generic' varmint cartridges, a 200yd 'zero' makes good sense. Simply because, it keeps close range trajectory <2" high, and allows for MBPR of ~250yds (give or take). If you're proficient at calling coyotes, the vast majority of your shots should be within that 250yds, with 150yds being about what I'd expect as and average shot.
On the other hand, a 'hotrod' cartridge allows for a further zero, thanks in part to the flatter close range trajectory they provide. In effect, you can 'zero' further out, without the bullet breaking that 2" above line of sight rule. Additionally, your MPBR will be increased on the back end, as well. Again, use a ballistic solver to determine what distance your bullet falls below 2" of 'zero'. Better yet, shoot targets in the real world & see for yourself!
All arbitrary stuff, of course. But using 4" as a coyote's 'vital zone' is a safe bet to use for reference...
4" is what I'd use for a coyote.
That means keeping bullet path +/- 2" from line of sight.
Remember, you're shooting at a very mobile critter from sometimes awkward positions, so that 4" helps account for some 'wiggle room', too...
Use a ballistic solver to determine what your optimal zero would be, using your rifle/load.
For most 'generic' varmint cartridges, a 200yd 'zero' makes good sense. Simply because, it keeps close range trajectory <2" high, and allows for MBPR of ~250yds (give or take). If you're proficient at calling coyotes, the vast majority of your shots should be within that 250yds, with 150yds being about what I'd expect as and average shot.
On the other hand, a 'hotrod' cartridge allows for a further zero, thanks in part to the flatter close range trajectory they provide. In effect, you can 'zero' further out, without the bullet breaking that 2" above line of sight rule. Additionally, your MPBR will be increased on the back end, as well. Again, use a ballistic solver to determine what distance your bullet falls below 2" of 'zero'. Better yet, shoot targets in the real world & see for yourself!
All arbitrary stuff, of course. But using 4" as a coyote's 'vital zone' is a safe bet to use for reference...
I use a 300 zero on both of my coyote rifles... 20-250 AI... and 22-243 AI... they both drop 7 inches at 400 yds, so I don't even move the turrets until past that range... just hold a tad high in the body, and let it drop in... works Great... Easy Pezzy
I use the 7 inch body width for a killing zone... or better yet... 6 inches... the size of a dollar bill.
My highest bullet arch is almost 3 in.. (2 3/4).. at 150 yds... which is easy to allow for on close shots... I still just point and shoot. You can stay on fur out to 400 yds, and kill'em dead.
I use the 7 inch body width for a killing zone... or better yet... 6 inches... the size of a dollar bill.
My highest bullet arch is almost 3 in.. (2 3/4).. at 150 yds... which is easy to allow for on close shots... I still just point and shoot. You can stay on fur out to 400 yds, and kill'em dead.
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That's good but both these are sort of upper end on velocity and drop. Matt
Good point... dkhunt...thanks.... Dan
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
I have called in a LOT of coyotes, average distance is 85 yards and long side is 125. I have killed six coyotes past 450 yards in all these years, they were feeding on a dead cow. The vast majority, we called them in closer. Western states give longer shots at times, but even when we were calling in coyotes on p. dog towns, shots were never over 325.
On two occasions, we had coyotes just hang up at 750-800 yards in Wyoming. No amount of howling would get their interest.
When I lived in Az, we rode gaited horses and hunted coyotes off of them. I would howl, locate the highest numbers, and the Foxtrotter horses could cover 11mph easy. We would usually jump or see the coyotes, ride about 450 yards in the direction where the coyotes had come from, hobble the horses, and call the coyotes in easy. Coyotes NEVER saw the man on a horse, just the horse.
It is extremely rare to get long shots on coyotes. I would urge you to learn to call them in with a squeeker, lip squeak, or other hand call.
Of course, you may be Trolling for coyotes in your pick up. In Az, we "trolled" the fields that were being irrigated and the coyotes were up looking for gophers on the rows trying to avoid being drown. Shots were rarely over 350.
I zero'd my rifles for 200, held on the top of their backs for what looked like 300, tad more if range increased. Mirage and wind making shooting past 350 nothing more than a Hail Mary kind of shot. 22-250 AI and 22-243 AI are great cases for the longer range shooting with some knock down...you need flat shooting.
I would not dare use a 300 yard zero. I tried that shooting rock chucks in Idaho, screwed me up real bad! I have to keep things pretty simple as from the time you sight a coyote till the time he may disappear on you maybe nor more than 3-5 seconds at the most, calling them in of course.
Once in a while, a guy will get a long shot, but to think of picking up a range finder, shooting the range, consulting a drop chart, holding up a wind meter, all seems a bit delusional from my experience them since 1975.
On two occasions, we had coyotes just hang up at 750-800 yards in Wyoming. No amount of howling would get their interest.
When I lived in Az, we rode gaited horses and hunted coyotes off of them. I would howl, locate the highest numbers, and the Foxtrotter horses could cover 11mph easy. We would usually jump or see the coyotes, ride about 450 yards in the direction where the coyotes had come from, hobble the horses, and call the coyotes in easy. Coyotes NEVER saw the man on a horse, just the horse.
It is extremely rare to get long shots on coyotes. I would urge you to learn to call them in with a squeeker, lip squeak, or other hand call.
Of course, you may be Trolling for coyotes in your pick up. In Az, we "trolled" the fields that were being irrigated and the coyotes were up looking for gophers on the rows trying to avoid being drown. Shots were rarely over 350.
I zero'd my rifles for 200, held on the top of their backs for what looked like 300, tad more if range increased. Mirage and wind making shooting past 350 nothing more than a Hail Mary kind of shot. 22-250 AI and 22-243 AI are great cases for the longer range shooting with some knock down...you need flat shooting.
I would not dare use a 300 yard zero. I tried that shooting rock chucks in Idaho, screwed me up real bad! I have to keep things pretty simple as from the time you sight a coyote till the time he may disappear on you maybe nor more than 3-5 seconds at the most, calling them in of course.
Once in a while, a guy will get a long shot, but to think of picking up a range finder, shooting the range, consulting a drop chart, holding up a wind meter, all seems a bit delusional from my experience them since 1975.
Those coyotes that hold up are just gravy shots. They know you are there yet stupid enough to not move on. I would love to use a popgun but they lack the long range power I need. This behavior is very common up here. Very common.
I would love it if it was rare. What I have learned is that most just lack the ability to spot coyotes at distance.
I must just be very lucky as most of my coyotes were taken past 300yds. When I get to my roost I range all the landmarks so I know. I also know what to dial for a specific distance. Then with experience up and down angles are easy.
I would love to hunt them where I could bring my popgun but I know I would spot one at distance.
AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
We rarely hunted in the Plains States or were the visibility was ever past 450 yards.
Yep, 4" is and will always be my 3/4ths anticipated target size for establishing a CONSERVATIVE MPBR for coyotes. Of course nothing's perfect, suppose the dogs laying down, or you call in a fox...now what? Only the greatest quote from any movie really--"Adapt and improvise to overcome" Clint E.--Heartbreak Ridge.
This last season Hornady and Sierra have introduced no less than 5 VLD-style polymer-tipped bullets that work fantastically out of an AR-15 for long range coyote sniping to about 600ish yds. (if you own the old LRP and DPMS VLD magazines, that is). I killed maybe 4 coyotes that took a bullet at maybe 150-175 yds., which is the apogee (maximum ordinate) of my MPBR trajectory (~225 yds. MPBR I believe it is with those loads) and hit them high, causing gaping wounds that will require some stitching when I pull them out of the freezer...BUT I still got them and didn't shoot over them as I have seen happen many times hunting with guys who are "pushing it."
This last season Hornady and Sierra have introduced no less than 5 VLD-style polymer-tipped bullets that work fantastically out of an AR-15 for long range coyote sniping to about 600ish yds. (if you own the old LRP and DPMS VLD magazines, that is). I killed maybe 4 coyotes that took a bullet at maybe 150-175 yds., which is the apogee (maximum ordinate) of my MPBR trajectory (~225 yds. MPBR I believe it is with those loads) and hit them high, causing gaping wounds that will require some stitching when I pull them out of the freezer...BUT I still got them and didn't shoot over them as I have seen happen many times hunting with guys who are "pushing it."
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10" up there shrinks to 6" down here pretty quick. LmaoWe are not talking about your personal unit.I talked to a biologist and 10 inches is what he told me in general speaking terms w/ yotes in Southern Illinois. That's what I tell all the girls the yotes measure anyway.
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