223 vs. 22-250 vs. 243

I'm with Mr. Roberts on this one. 400 yds is a bit much for coyotes, I know it has been done, but most of the coyotes I kill are 100 yds and under if we are being honest. I fwe are making stuff up most of mine are about 600-800 yds out in a stiff cross wind on a dead run!

Really though, I have a Tikka Tactical in .223 and it is a cyote killer. 538 yds is the furthest shot I've made with it and dropped the coyote. My buddies in Wyoming swear by the 22-250, I just think there are compensation issues.

Either one will work great. I use a .243, but unless it is really windy, I take my .223.

Just my thoughts,

C
 
For coyotes?? I'll take the .243 every time. I own all three and my .243's are the bangflop machines. I like my .22-250 for times when I KNOW I'll be calling to an unapproachable coyote that will come out of cover then hang up at 300 yards or so. It's also unbeatable for shooting goundhogs and such. The 55 grain bullet just isn't heavy enough to suit me on large coyotes, and that's where the .243 with an 80 grain bullet gets my attention. I don't see any more fur damage with the .243 than I see with any other high velocity rifle bullet. I have a tanned red fox hide that I shot from behind the left shoulder at 20 yards with my .243 Remington 700. You don't really even notice that the hide is missing where the right shoulder used to be. I've shot coyotes and gutted them at 100 yards, and I've shot them and couldn't find the entry or exit wound at 30 yards. Just seems to depend on how you hit them. One thing about the .243 though...If you hit em right they WILL be DRT..
As for my .223? I enjoy shooting the rifle because of the light recoil. It is also the most accurate of all my rifles. It'll shoot Black Hill 52 grain hollow points into sub half inch cloverleafs if I do my part. I've not had the rifle for long so I've only shot 4 coyotes with it. Only one of those was a bang flop. Each of the others went into a spin and had to be shot again to flatten them out.
I really don't think you can go wrong with any of these calibers..They're all great calibers, and each has it's own advantages and disadvantages. I'd say just buy one of each then use whatever suits your need at the moment.

Good hunting y'all..Coyote 6974
 
A little off topic.

If you got a savage .243 or 22-250 you could switch the barrel in about 2 minutes and have 2 out of the 3 cartridges you want for less than the Tikka.

Or, you can tell me to get bent. It's cool.
 
If I were going to hunt coyotes for a living it would be with a 243.But any of the three will serve you will out to 300 yrds. which is as far as reasonable is.
I have all three but find I use the 223 more than any
Phil
 
I noticed nobody touched on accuracy or tragetory. As far as accuracy all should be good choices. As far as flat shooting, the ballistic tables I have show that the 243 is a little flatter than the 22-250, which was a surprize to me. However it all depends on the loads you use, of course. In the last 3 years I have taken 3 long range yotes, ( 500yds 450yds 607 yds) all with the 243. Two were high hits in the spine, bang-flops, the 607 was a double lung, he made it 20 yards. Now I'm not putting this on here to brag, I have missed my fair share of shots at all ranges, I just thought this was a different perspective than most of the replies. Good luck and good shooting.
 
I've had all three. (well 6mm instead of the .243) For the parameters you list I like the .223. All three will kill them dead and even at 400 yards the 223 is deadly enough on coyotes. I don't see too many shots at that distance and probably wouldn't take it anyway. Besides, I'm a beast, I love to see the impact through the scope. Definitely .223 for me but nothing wrong with the other two.
 
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