preferred caliber for coyotes

[N80]

Eddie, good point about learning to be proficient with the rifle. And you're right, you could go nuts with this....and that does have an appeal.....but we have found them pretty easy to call and kill with a deer rifles with 6x scopes. We kill most of them in the woods, less than a 100 yards.

We also have access to big pastures and we do see them out there a lot, and learning to shoot long range would be a blast.

I have missed one in a pasture at about 150 yards with my 270, off hand.

 

[actionaj]

My vote is for the .243 for coyotes. I started using the .243 a couple of years ago and haven't used my .223 AR on them since.

 

[ToadHill]

Well I'll add my 2 cents. The best all around rifle in my opinion has been my .270 Savage model 111. It came with a reasonable scope and cost under $300. I sighted it in using only 9 rounds and it will put a 3 round group inside a 50 cent piece at 200 yards. It has all the power you'll ever need for varmints and deer. I've heard of some who have used it for Elk, but that would require more confidence than I have in that round.

 

[RobertN]

There are two important things to the equation.

First, know your round. Loading books, and factory information will tell you what distance a particular round and bullet combination will still be effective.

Second, how far can you shoot? I have heard for years, for deer, that the shooters longest range is that which they can hold all their rounds on a regular paper plate consistently. So, even if a round is effective at 500 yards, the shooter may only be effective at 200 yards. A regular paper plate is equal to the vital zone on an average deer.

Remember, there will be no bench in the field. A person may be proficient off the bench at 200 yards, but how do they shoot from a standing or kneeling position?

Proficiency with coyotes would dictate keeping all your rounds on a target smaller than a regular paper plate...

The real question is how many rounds will it take to become proficiant and accurate with the rifle so that you CAN kill a coyote with one shot.

At 100 yards, a coyote is a small target. At 200 yards, it's absolutely tiny. Being able to hit one with a killing shot at that type of range means being able to shoot accurately. The only way to be accurate is to know the rifle and run a bunch of rounds through it.

 

[Egon]

Remember fellows, Elmer said anything less than a 30-06 was just good for plinking.

Would he have enjoyed the new Barret's!

 

[jayste]

Well, it sounds like we all like to bust 'ol Wiley every now and then! I've used a few different rounds in my time. I've used .22's, .17HMR, .223 & 30-06 back when the "accelerator" rounds where popular. Everyone has already mentioned and you've experienced the limitations of the .22LR. I've had pretty good success with the .17HMR within 100yds with good shot placement. I was impressed with it: broadside, behind the shoulder; results was the 'ol "coyote spin" and fell over dead. 50 yrds, in one ear out the other; fell over like a bowling pin! Had one coming at me straight-on over a pond dam; hit him in the chest and never found him. I've settled on the .223. I bought a Remington SPS (black on black) calibered in .223 with a nice 6X24 scope and it fits my needs. I like a good "using" gun that's why I've gotten into buying the "utility" grade guns. I don't grimmace anymore when they hit rocks or scratched by barbwire.

Get yourself a good call and go gettem'! (BTW, Randy Anderson has some pretty good coyote hunting videos. Not only entertaining but good tips and advice)

Good luck with your search.

Jay

 

[schmism]

Keep it simple, get a standard NATO round .223 or .308. Might come in handy for other needs.

i was thinking the same thing.

i know the 22-250 is great for long range sniping of varmints, not much parrie dog hunting around these parts thou...

 

[gerard]

For all you successful callers out there (I'm not amongst you), can you describe how you use a wounded rabbitt call? ie call continuously, call a few times and wait? I've been out a few times but haven't called anything in yet so I must be sounding like a human TRYING to sound like a wounded rabbitt.........

(or maybe I need to find some DUMB coyotes??????)

 

[studor]

or maybe I need to find some DUMB coyotes

A coyote that has been fooled by a call and not shot is pretty wary about that tune again
I call for a brief spell, then wait, then try again. If I don't get a response in 15 -20 minutes I move on. Lots of good tapes etc to learn from -- when I started about 30 years ago I read the Burnham brothers book and just tried it out -- the first coyotes I called came in as a pair and one sat down at about sixty yards -- shot it a little high (between the eyes when I was aiming at the chest) -- the second one is probably still running
With two people hunting (one calling and one shooting) you wil discover that the call works a lot more times than you think it does and that coyotes are called wily for a reason.

 

[foggy1111]

I have owned and likely still own most every caliber stated here.
As has been said.....almost any caliber can be used to kill coyotes....and it may depend on if you just want to kill the yote.....or if you want to sell the hides. 22 caliber and 24 caliber are useful when you want to save (sell) hides.

A few other factors:
Most shooters will have a hard time hitting a yote beyond 200 to 250 yards......without doing ALLOT of practice. A good 223 will kill a yote at those ranges....if hit in the vitals.

A 223 does not have allot of recoil....so it's pleasant for almost anyone to shoot...BUT FURTHERMORE.....its the biggest caliber in which you can watch the results of your shot though the scope at long ranges (with average weight guns). VERY IMPORTANT if you want to see if you hit something.

223 Ammo is widely available and cheap to buy. The most widely used varmint size cartridge. Good accuracy....easy to reload....etc etc.

If you forget to put ear muffs on.....a 223 size cartridge wont leave you deaf (with occasional shooting). The report is "mild" for a center fire.

Buy a good 223 bolt action rifle and a reasonable quality scope......of at least 9 power.....and don't look back.

my $ .o2 worth.