Anybody use 17 caliber???

[TresCrows]

Could you imagine the coyotes thinking--"hey, hey boys, look at that sheep, yummy, nice and juicy and plenty to go around." Sheep turns out to be a Lama, "ya know boys, I don't know what they feeding sheep these days but I think what is left of us will limp on down to Farmer Joe's chicken house." J

 

[Anonymous Poster]

I wouldn't use anything less powerfull than the 223 or 222. I've shot three coyotes in my lifetime. I used a 30-06 150gr. One shot through the heart, it did a couple of cart wheels and died. The other in the front shoulder died instantly. The last one shot through the side it ran
across the field for 150yds like it wasn't hit. I walked in the woods where it went in ,I found it dead within 15 feet. I use to own a 22mag, that round IMO will not put a coyote down when hit unless it is a neck or head shot. It will die but you'll never find it.

 

[fishman]

I believe the .357 in a rifle was mentioned by Ranchman previously, but I thought I'd bring it up again. For folks that use firearms infrequently, I think that muzzle blast is as big (or bigger) problem as recoil. Muzzle blast is particularly bad with hypervelocity rounds such as the .223, 22/550, etc. A .357 lever action loaded with 158 grain hollowpoints would have similar recoil to a .223, but not nearly the muzzle blast. Of course, hearing protection is definitely recommended, but sometimes unavailable or forgotten when time is short and the coyote's in the henhouse.

I particularly like the Marlin model 94 for this purpose. I personally have one in .44mag, but the .357 is very similar. If desired, it is pretty easy to mount a scope or red dot sight on the flattop receiver. Another positive is that it is identical in operation to a gun your wife already knows how to use.

A .357 from a rifle should be good on coyotes out to 100 yards or so. It would also work extremely well for home defense if you so desired.

 

[Russ]

I have had a 17 rm for over 10 years now.. here are a few observations form my experience.

Recoil.. prettly close to zero.

Noise..loud with a pretty sharp crack.

Range. .. the bullet will go a long way. probably a couple miles if you arc it enough. have shot a couple hundred prarie dogs anywhere from 20yds to 200 yds.. it will kill them farther than that but the windage get more difficult past 200.. Coyotes drop in their tracks wilth a well placed shot at 180 yards or so.

Penetration... goes thu 3/16" angle iron at 25 to 30 yards like butter.

Ammunition...pretty expensive to buy about $18 a box of 20 rounds but cheap to reload. also a bit tricky to reload because of the small neck.

Accuracy. my Remmington 700 BDL will shoot under an inch groups at 100yds.



Overalll I love the 17rem. If your wanting to minimize the range of the bullet if you miss the 17 rem may be too much for this particular task.. at 3900 feet per sec. it covers 300yds instantly and dirt is flying at 500yds as fast as you can flip a light switch.

 

[TresCrows]

I agree with Fishman, a lever gun with a 357 round might be an excellent choice, maybe even the best choice. I have killed coyotes with the 22 Mag but I was close and picking my shots and despite my being called a pacifist by some, I am quite a good shot. Maybe for general varmint dispatching of larger critters like coyotes the 22Mag is to light. I would not argue against that statement especially if you are going to have to shoot at longer distances and cannot pick perfect shots. Coyotes can be tough to put down and no sense in causing needless suffering. Ruger also has a repeater in 44 Mag and a bolt action in 44 Mag, probably would not be much left of the poor critter if you shot him with a 44 Mag. J

 

[MossRoad]

<font color=blue>Attached is a picture of a quarter shot at 100 yards with a .17 HMR</font color=blue>

I think that's illegal /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Gfranklin]

For years my father had two hobbies that he ran as businesses - game bird raising and gunsmithing.

I can testify that I know of no bigger varmit magnet than over a thousand game birds in flight pens! You name it, cats, foxes, owls, hawks, coyotes, cats, possum's, snakes, minks, weasels, skunks, cats and more cats (the minks and weasels by far could do the most damage and some of the animals got a pass like the immediate neighbors cat/w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif). We got to shoot about everything firearm there was but Dad's favorite by far for varmits was the .222 Remington (and the model 12 Winchester shotgun). Glass bedded, trigger job, scope and tuned reloads - extremely accurate.

I always wanted to try a lever action .357 with an aperture sight for the 30 to 75 yard varmits myself.

JDGREEN4ME - I remember my Dad saying several times that he felt the .222 would have been an excellent deer cartridge but the law said .24 cal. minimum for deer.

"Always view the backdrop as if you're going to miss and always squeeze the trigger as if you're going to hit".

Greg

 

[Egon]

Oh mi gosh; way back in my youth I recall several coyotes whose lives were ended with a mere .22 caliber long rifle place in the appropriate spot. The only two I ever shot at and they didn't venture much over 50 yards from point of impact.

Egon

 

[Egon]

Pete:
By now you have been advised of almost anything that fires a projectile. From the little I know coyotes are very adaptable and after the first shot or two they will never present themselves for another try. IE,they are very smart adaptable animals and chances on your search for the proper rifle will prove fruitless as after the second or third shot you will not see them again. This is not to say they will go away but they will become invisible except for the feathers of lost birds. Traps or snares would be much more effective but may not be selective enough for you.

Just thoughts from growing up on the farm.

No answer required.

Egon

 

[Argee]

A buddy of mine just purchased one of those new Marlin .17 rimfires with a stainless barrel, laminated stock, and a bolt action. Almost identical to my .22 mag except his is clip fed. I was looking at one of his rounds, a little 17 grain ballistic tip. The cartridge appears to be a necked down .22 mag. Is that what it is? He mentioned that there were bullets available for reloading. It's my understanding that rimfires can't be reloaded. He's going to bring it by next week so we can give it a bit of a workout, it looks like a neat little firearm.