coyote caliber

[Buckwheat]

I asked these questions about what coyote rifle a person should use is because I get asked every year. There has been a lot of calibers over the last 5 or 10 years sold as the new best calibers. In my list of calibers I listed the 223 as the last pick I would make.  Well I lied, just to see what people would say and maybe get a good discussion going. My real order that I would pick would put the 223 right under the 22-250 and it beats out the my loved 17 rem.
I just think we have nice sized coyotes and if you want to shoot them use a gun that can get the job done. If you really want a coyote do not worry to much about fur damage. You can not hold one up for a picture if it runs off and dies.

[foxpro51]

My picks would be 243, 22-250, 223 in that order. I kinda like the the 223 caliber and have killed many big westeran coyotes with it.

[Cskypup]

Well if I had only one caliber I would say my .243.  I love the ability to change bullet weight with minimal zero change.  I switched last year to the Hornady 95gr SST for both deer and coyote.  I had the luck to put down two deer with that round and am thoroughly impressed.  Passthrough with great expansion and retained about 80% of bullet weight.  I haven't shot a coyote with it yet but have bagged six fox and ten raccoon with it.  Minimal hide damage on fox and coon.....but didn't hit any large bones to act like a frag grenade.  That being said I have a TC Contender with 223 on it and I love it too......just slower on follow up shots.  I have a Savage 222 that is absolutely amazing to shoot it was my fathers.  I want to switch to that full time for predators but need to get better optics.  It now has a 4X Unertyl with Weaver 1degreee sidemount.  So until I can get a good optic will stick with the .243 guys.  Its a Remington Model 788 and my son had the carbine version of the same rifle.  Hope to start reloading soon have all that I need just gotta set up a bench.  Really enjoy hearing everyone's opinions!!!

Chris

[scott]

22.250 for me.  it shoots better than my .223

[Seeking_Coyotes]

If anyone has shot coyotes with the .243 it would really help to hear to what extent the fur was damaged, what load, how far, where hit, etc. 

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Savage:  Model: 12 VLP DBM .243

[The Wolf]

I'd go with a .223. The ammo is cheap and there are plenty of gun and ammo manufacturers to choose from. The ballistics are perfect for coyotes, as long as you are not trying to make shots more than 300 yards.

[coyotejohn]

Ernie, As you well know I don't kill to many Pa coyotes.  If'n I had to chose a caliber for out here, of the ones you listed, my first choice would be my little Sako Vixen, .223 that is what I use for "recreational" calling, second choice is my Rem 7, in 22-250, I use this rifle for those hunts we have for charity and/or bragging rights, gives me just a tad more range and knock down power.  Although it is only a charity/bragging rights hunt I still like to win.  Now for the money hunts, of the calibers you listed I use my Rem 700 BDL in .243.  But in reality I use my Win Mdl 70 in .308 or my Rem 700SPS in 25.06.  We just finished up a charity hunt last weekend - I killed nothing!  It rained both days, I told my partner I have a friend from PA who visited a couple of years ago and it rained the entire time he was out here, he must be planning on coming back out!  Two weeks ago we entered a money hunt and came in first. 

Seeking Coyotes - I belong to three Predator clubs and am the President of one of them, we have no one, that I'm aware of that shoots a .243AI.   

[Buckwheat]

John
Nice to see your input stranger.
 I use to ask the guys what they like to shoot for coyotes when they needed to win money hunts.  In publick they talked up what ever caliber there Sponcer was pushing. But when it came to there money out of there pocket in the money hunts they carried enought gun. Time wasted looking for a coyote or maybe never find could cost the prize money. I push bigger guns for guys here because they may only get one shot a year and most either end up with a miss or have a hit runner at there one shot of the year. Most here hunt at night and if it is not dead right were they shoot it they may never find it. They do not even know if they hit it. Heck, at one time I use to use a 243 for a 12 lb fox and my partner used a 220 swift. So I have no problem telling guys here in the north east to shoot enought gun for a 40 or 50 lb coyotes.

[coyotejohn]

I should have also added that when it comes to coyotes I am not interested in saving fur.  For the most part a desert coyote is only worth a very few bucks, even when prime and high fur prices.  I don't skin them anymore. 

However when it comes to bobcats I do skin as they are bring upwards of $200.  If I'm calling for bobcats in heavy cover I use a shotgun or a 22Mag.  Would have hated to hit this one with a large caliber.

[Buckwheat]

Hey, stop showing off those bobcats.

[Seeking_Coyotes]

good thread Ernie thank you for starting it.  I don't know much about Bobcats but I've always heard that a 223 is the minimum caliber?

[Buckwheat]

Seeking coyotes
There are a lot of calibers to use for a cat. John has been a hunter of men in wars and has helped others. He can keep his control on his shooting a lot better under control then most people hunting will ever have to. That little guy is a mans man. He could get away with a lot less gun if he wants to.

[coyotejohn]

Every one of these bobcats died as a result of a Federal 22Mag.  All killed at ten yards or less the most one ran was twenty yards.  If you call them in close you don’t  need much gun.  The cat in the last photo was killed with a Ruger 10/22.  The cat in the first photo was called in close with that ugly useless closed reed call.     








This guy died as a result of a 22LR, Ruger10/22

[Buckwheat]

John
I did get lucky this year and shot a nice PA bobcat with one of them ugly calls also.