Best Caliber?

RyanH

RyanH

New member
What do you guys think is the best caliber for shooting yotes?

I just bought a Thompson Encore and would like to get a good barrel for it. What do you think?
 
.223,.243,22-250,12ga are probably the most popular all depends on the terrain you hunt.
I just picked up a 6.8 rem upper for my AR15 that i think will be great for where i hunt i put a 1.5x6 scope on it should be good from 0-200yrds.


Gary
 

You will probably get several different answers on caliber selection.The big question is do you plan on saving the fur? If not then the selection is much wider. For me,If I am not saving fur I use a 25/06.
If you are planning on saving the fur I would go with a smaller center fire (223,204,etc). I think bullet selection,shot placement and knowing what your gun will do is much more important than just picking a caliber.
Hope this helps you some,okhunter
 
depends on your location example "in Colorado you cannot hunt coyotes with a calibre larger than .23 during any big game season unless you hold a big game tag for that season "
big game seasons run from sept till last of january so that puts a damper on larger centerfires
 
I hunt in basically two types of terain. One the majority of the shots will be under 100 yards, for this I use my 22mag. On the other properties I use my 22-250, those shots can be as far out as 300+ yards. I just wish I could get one called in where I could blast one.......LOL. Hey I try..
 
Caliber depends on what area of the country I am hunting. I try to use enough gun to fit the area I am working. Out West I like the big boomers of .220 Swift, 22-250, 243, or 25/06 would be good.

At home, I like my .17 Rem, .221 Fireball, or .22 Hornet for close stuff. Also, 12 ga! Hunt in some populated areas that I like for shots to be as quiet as possible for the folks that live in the area.

Not listed where you hail from but this is some of the things I take into consideration when picking what I am going to hunt with. The main thing is to enjoy the hunt.
 

RyanH, some other good calibers to consider are 243 and 6mm.These are usually not fur friendly calibers either,but if you are not saving the fur it does not matter.243 is probably a little more popular than the 25/06 because you can get the ammo almost anywhere.Since you did not mention if you reload or not this may or may not be a factor.
okhunter
 
I have a 220Swift that pushes 55gr Starke Red Praire bullets at 3900fps give or take a few. Bank flop performance on all coyotes shot no matter where hit.....But, wanted a quick second shot for doubles...So bought a Bushy Varminter. Kills good, but not bang flop all the time......But, an extra dog on some stands here and there is worth it. MY SOLUTION AND ON THE CHRISTMAS LIST! AN UPPER FOR THE BUSHY IN 243WSSM...55 GRAINERS AT 4200FPS....NOW THAT IS A PERFECT GUN TO ME.......:) Yes i love small things that go really fast.....
 
I've had the best luck with the .243 Winchester by far. Bang flop gun of doom

Followed by the 22-250 as a close second.

If you handload, a loaded down 270 works nice /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

The 223 will get the job done without too much fuss, but its borderline for quick consistant kills. Tough knocking them down when animal is quartering to you, as is typical of a called in dog. I find most of them though /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

221 fireball bears mentioning if you hunt in open terrain, have small yotes, and can wait for a picture perfect shot. I've used the Fireball on my limited amount of "field hunts" here in the East with good results.

I've killed coyotes but don't recommend them for "go to" guns with 30-30, 30 06, 44 mag, 357 mag, 22 mag, 22lr, 22 Hornet, 12 gauge, and a few I've forgotten.

If you search out a consistant killer when things don't go just so, pick a 243. Next 22-250.

I guess terrain and hunting styles are the biggest factors in picking a gun type and caliber for your needs though. My choices are based on Eastern calling set-ups, and I know things are different elsewhere.

Good hunting, Sleddogg
 
I too have used a broad range of calibers and have never been 100% satisfied with any single caliber. Around here we can go from zero to 25 miles visibility. I do keep hovering & switching between .223 & .22-250. The .223 is very low recoil, cheap & easy to shoot. Not fussy about ammo. Easily good to 300 yds. Sometimes requires follow up. The .22-250 is low recoil, flat shooting with a little more horsepower. Often changing bullets for close up to minimize damage. Once again sold another .22-250 and already considering buying the next. Probably another Tikka.
 
I shoot 40gr bullets out of my 223WSSM at 4650fps. It goes through the coyotes so fast they don't even know they have been hit.
Since they don't know they are dead, they just walk away. Then I have to shoot them with a real predator caliber, a 22-250 or a swift.
 
i like the 220 swift 243 22-250. i dont think that TC makes a 220 barrel so probally 243 or 22-250. i just ordered a 22-250 so ill have to try it out but as for the 243 i know it is a real killer on coyotes. i shot one last year at 273 yards with 65 grain v-max square in the chest.the yote barely even made a twitch,and no exit wound.
 
I use a 6mmBR. It's custom built on a Remmy 700 action. 70 grainers come out the tube at about 3100 fps, it works for me. I used to use a 22-250, one of the best calibers in my opinion.
 
I shoot a bushmaster 223 using 60gr. bullets and I must be calling and killing all the weeek one I very seldomb have runners. my other coyote calling rig is a 22-243 shooting a
80gr bullet that is a harder bullet sierra 80gr. match bthp
this is for when I want to shoot them aloooong ways away. I will continue using these 22s as they work well for me. I load for my 2 brother-inlaws that live in south texas 1 shooting 6mm remington the other shooting 243 using 55gr. barnes bullets. Dont have to worry about runners as sometime make 2 coyotes out of one, a bit over kill but dead is dead.
Boone
 


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