Best Caliber for Coyotes

Originally Posted By: RugerHawgThanks for all of the info! .223 with a scope, red dot, or iron sight? Thanks guys!! I'd put a scope on it. A 3-9x40 should do just fine.
 
223 or 22-250 using Speer 52 gr. FBHP at around 3250 to 3400 Fps. Knocks em dead! Good on fur only one hole... I also like my Ruger 204 when the wind isn't blowing over 10 MPH. Rudy
 
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Never hurts to have options. My coyote caliber lineup consists of a 204, 222, 223 (bolt action and AR), 22-250, 243, and 6.8. The 204 is newest and seeing the most use right now. Got its first fur on 1/14/17 and I was highly impressed with the performance. Instant kill and was fur friendly at 34 yards. 222 and 223 work well also. Haven't got a coyote with the 250 or above yet but I'm sure they would do the job admirably and with more authority.
 
A .223rem is easily good to 250-300 yards and is very accurate for all but the most finicky shooter. Acceptable ammo is readily available and relatively inexpensive, as are guns that shoot it. Get a decent scope. 3-9X or 4.5-16x and call it a day. no need to get fancy.

Box ammo...try different loads and see what works best. I suggest starting with Australian Outback .223 55gr Sierra Blitz King it's about $12 bucks a box and will hold sub 1 inch groups accuracy from all my .223's. My Stevens 200 shoots sub .75 all day long with it. Its almost as accurate as the Hornady 55gr Vmax. Hornady is as about as good as you are going to get off the shelf and will hold an inch groups or smaller out of almost any rifle (Sub.5 from the Stevens).

just a note.. Australian Outback 55gr is about $12 bucks a box and the Hornady is $20+ Expensive to get the extra 1/4 inch!...just sayin'
 
My main concern is pelt damage. Out west the .204 gives me the reach plus minimal damage...99% of the dogs I shoot are dead before they hit the snow. 35 gr. Berger is "the" fur bullet in my experience.

Cheers!!
 
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Not as popular, but I smash them pretty well with a 300 BLK. I have hit and dropped them out to 200, but the average shot is 50-100 yards. I run 110 gr Varmegeddons loaded to +P by Night Ops and they flat out hammer coyotes. They drop on the spot and I've hit 4 or 5 in the guts or back end on either follow up or a runner on multiples that come in and they still die pretty quick. I haven't lost one yet that I have put a bullet into (knock on wood) and that's about 25 +/- coyotes. Minimal recoil makes it a pleasure to shoot and follow up shots are quick and easy. I've also killed 7 deer with that load so far and about 10 hogs that were all one shot kills.
 
I had a holographic sight on two .223's and started missing easy shots. Found out there was a recall on them for POI shifts. The manufacturer very admirably bought them back and I went with Firedot Leupold VX-6 in 2-12. Have seen a noticeable tightening of groups on paper, one ragged hole now! That's good enough for me, I'm using scopes from here on out. I live in the west, and the .223 suppressed shooting 60gr V-Max with a scope seems like an ideal combination for my territory.
 
I had a holographic sight on two .223's and started missing easy shots. Found out there was a recall on them for POI shifts. The manufacturer very admirably bought them back and I went with Firedot Leupold VX-6 in 2-12. Have seen a noticeable tightening of groups on paper, one ragged hole now! That's good enough for me, I'm using scopes from here on out. I live in the west, and the .223 suppressed shooting 60gr V-Max with a scope seems like an ideal combination for my territory.
 
Thanks for the info, it will be used! I will go for the .223. That is what I thought before I asked the question and thanks to yall that just confirms its. I deer hunt a lot so a have a 7mm.08,.30-30, and two AR's. And those other two are too big. Thanks again!! PS: Me and my dad went hunting in Fayetteville, Arkansas and we were hunting deer and a coyote came out and my dad shot it with a .270. And there was a huge hole though the back of it.
 
New here and just started. Been using a Mossy MPV Varmint in 5.56. So far so good. As store bought ammo goes, I too was shooting the Hornady Superformance with 53 gr V-Max and was sub 1" all day. But at $20+ a box, ouch. Found HSM Remanufactured with a 50 gr V-Max, and groups shrank by 1/4" I was super surprised.... And its like $24 for 50 rnds.

Buddy shot it out of his Ruger American with similar results.

Not like I am a pro, just info....

Whatever you get.... have fun. I have duck hunted for years, and now my blind buddies are my Yote buddies and we are having a blast... thats what its all about!
 
Originally Posted By: Jim ByersI'm thinking the newly released 22 nosler will soon be a favorite......With ballistics nearly comparable to the 22 250 but out of an Ar 15 platform and 18 inch barrel.. Why not????

That does sound like a winner!
 
There's probably no best caliber. .22 will kill them. It's about bullet placement. I use a .223savage axis with a Boyd's thumb hole stock and shooting American eagle 55 grain varmit tip bullet. Been dropping them in there tracks. Haven't had one to run yet but they all have been neck shot.
 
Originally Posted By: OLE RASPY I use a .223savage axis with a Boyd's thumb hole stock and shooting American eagle 55 grain varmit tip bullet. Been dropping them in there tracks. Haven't had one to run yet but they all have been neck shot.

you are new here so you probably dont know this yet.

but a 223 wont kill coyotes. mostly just bounces off them. i read it here.
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Originally Posted By: SlickerThanSnotOriginally Posted By: OLE RASPY I use a .223savage axis with a Boyd's thumb hole stock and shooting American eagle 55 grain varmit tip bullet. Been dropping them in there tracks. Haven't had one to run yet but they all have been neck shot.

you are new here so you probably dont know this yet.

but a 223 wont kill coyotes. mostly just bounces off them. i read it here.
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Oh yea. I know this.
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