Best Coyote Caliber?

bear4bbc

bear4bbc

New member
Any feedback I can get on the best gun to shoot coyote with would be apreciated. I've used a 7mm but what is a common caliber?
 
Welcome to the site!

Better get a snack and do a search! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

There is not one gun that everybody will agree on.
There are several that many will recommend.

Most guns are "situational" to the type of hunting you plan on doing. But if a 7mm is all that you have, It will definately put any coyote down.

So consider your environment, area, funds, objectives, and experience and start looking. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Good Luck Searching!

(I started to put "Good Looking", but that's not appropriate. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif) So Good Luck Searching! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

Rooster
 
Welcome to the forum.
I use my 30.06 for now, your 7mm will work fine.
I'm still trying to decide on a smaller cal. myself.
 
Welcome to PM. I think it would be better to know what you will be doing with the yote after the kill? If you are simply reducing the population then 7mm is going to be awesome you can reach out there with it. For fur handling something smaller maybe in order. A lot of people use .223, however that may not be best for you in your area.
Like Rooster said "Get a snack" and get a comfy chair and relax....
Mike
 
bear4bbc,
Whatever caliber you decide on remember "It's not the size of the gun it's how proficient you are with it!" /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Coyotes hate 7mm's but they can get a little spendy to shoot. I found that after I started coyote hunting I did a lot more situational practicing than I ever did before. Off sticks, off bipod, free hand, etc.. I started with a 7x57mm and was not reloading at the time so it started to hurt the pocketbook pretty bad. After awhile I got a deal on a used .223 and haven't looked back.
 
A variety of factors will influence the answers you might get. What ranges are you shooting? Keeping the fur or letting it lay. Will you consider the gun for small big game like deer? Wide open country or thick woods. Let us know some generals annd you'll get more info than you can handle.... BTW Reall hard to beat a good old 223, really common, really cheap and really accurate...

PS Welcome to the board!!!!
 
I'm shooting wide open country, I also hunt deer and elk. I did get a coyote with the 7mm at 550 yards. But I'm open to a smaller caliber.
-Barry
 
I'm not sure how long you have been at this but my opinion changed after I started on the "wide open country" part in Southern Idaho. I used to think that was the case but found in the areas I hunt the longest realisitic shots were within 400 yds and a large majority of the dogs coming in to within 100 yds.
 
My gun of choice is the RUGER M 77 MARK 11 Compact
does a great job and you CAN NOT beat the price of ammo for a .223 $8.50 for 50 rounds (the cheaper brand)
 
I would vote 223, but you might also consider the .25-06 or 243 for an optional deer/antelope rifle. All the calibers like the 204, 223wsm, 22-250, all the wildcats etc are great. For longer ranges avoid the lighter 22 mags, 17 etc. Good luck
 
i use a nef handi in .204 bull barrel. cheap, easy to handle, and mine shoot under inch groups with 34 gr. winchester factory loads! also welcome to the board!
 
Why not the Browning 50cal? close range or 1000yds they still wont even wiggle /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif
No but serously the .223 is a great round good ammo is very cheep and if you happen to loose your box of ammo or something like that in the field most liquor stores, hardware stores or small gun shops have sevral boxes in stock not always true with 220 swift, 22-250 or short mags. And in my opinion taking a 400+ yard shot isnt always the best idea weather its a 7mm or a .204 ruger to many variables and most guys, myself included, cant make a good clean kill shot 5 of 10 times I'd rather let him walk unspooked than educate him. With that said I have a 22-250 VLS a 6mm Ruger m77 and an AR-15 I'd definatly buy or biuld another .223 so .223 is my vote and as huntinnutsbro the New England Firearms .223, .204, 22-250 all great choices at less then $300 its a good buy to get started and maybe even keep for a long time.
P.S. Welcome to PM /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
In my opinion you cant beat a 243 Ackley for coyotes. The 75v-max puts them down hard. Also if you have the occasional long shot"550 yards" at one the heavier 6mm bullet will far outperform the 22cal.
 
Depends on what you plan on doing with them. Your pelts should be pretty good there from Nov-Feb so if you plan on skinning them use a 223 (I like the 17's0. If you are going to leave them (ugh) use a 243 or 25-06. Not as much recoil and will reach out.
 
Hey Bear,

My friends and I have been shooting Remington Rifles in 22-250 for many years with great success, and performance. We have worked a load that will shoot in the dime size for 5 rounds, if you can do your part.

I also have some friends that use the Win. 243 and one guy that is really serious about yote hunting, He uses a custom built 6mm Rem. but he has to sew alot of hides, but it carries better in the wind, he hunts in the Owyhees on the Oregon side, south of Jordon Valley.

I saw one my friends shoot yotes out to 500 to 550 yards, one shot, bang flop with my 22-250. I have also taken rockchucks out to 400 yards, (but that is a story for another time) If you are going to hunt the Idaho desert, and make long shots, and you want to keep the pelts, I would consider nothing smaller than the 223, but would lean toward 22-250, 243 Win, or 6mm Rem, right out of the factory box.

I don't see that a custom rifle is going to make a difference, when the bullet hits the boiler room, they won't know the difference.

I don't know if you are a reloader, but you can load the 243 & 6mm with light bullets (60 & 65 grains)that will not leave an exit hole. We have loaded the 22-250 with a speer 52 gr. hollowpoint, most of the time it will not exit, only when they are within 100 yards.

But on the other hand if you can get the yotes to commit to 200 yards or less, the 223 is an excellent round, and now I am reading alot of good reports about the 204 Ruger, but have no expereince as of yet, I will see about buying one this next year. My 2 cents, I hope it will help you out.
Good Luck and God Bless You,
IDB
 
another thing to check is your game laws.In Co its illegal to hunt with a gun larger than 23 cal during big game season unless you have a valid big game license.
 
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