coyote calibers - no runners - little recoil
- Thread starter BangFlop
- Start date
Ridgeline17
New member
To each his own. Usually when you get in your head how something is supposed to be thats the final solution. Shoot and enjoy.
I would reccomend a CZ-USA Model 527 "American" in the .204,light weight Rifle that's a good flat shooting/accurate Rifle with plenty of knock-down power.I'd reccomend using Federal loaded 39 grain Sierra Blitz Kings!
I opted for the CZ "Varmint" .204 and love the way it shoots,it's a little heavier Rifle but not as heavy as say a Savage Bull Barrel Rifle.
The .204 is a bit loud,the way to remedy that is to buy one of the new Savage Rifle with the threaded barrels for adding a Suppresor!
I opted for the CZ "Varmint" .204 and love the way it shoots,it's a little heavier Rifle but not as heavy as say a Savage Bull Barrel Rifle.
The .204 is a bit loud,the way to remedy that is to buy one of the new Savage Rifle with the threaded barrels for adding a Suppresor!
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Originally Posted By: BangFlopI am leaning towards a Ruger American in .243 topped with a 3.5-10x50 Leupold VX 3 and Hornady 58 grain Vmax.....what are your thoughts on that?
As long as you aren't keeping fur or you don't mind sewing it will work just fine.
Quote:Anything from .222 on up to the Swift if you want the fur.If not anything up from .222.I'm not a fan of smaller rounds for coyotes.Newer/smaller cals like .204 claim to fame is fast and flat which is true but they get blown around to easy as well.IMO It's easier to figure drop vs drift.
Really? At what distance are you talking?
As long as you aren't keeping fur or you don't mind sewing it will work just fine.
Quote:Anything from .222 on up to the Swift if you want the fur.If not anything up from .222.I'm not a fan of smaller rounds for coyotes.Newer/smaller cals like .204 claim to fame is fast and flat which is true but they get blown around to easy as well.IMO It's easier to figure drop vs drift.
Really? At what distance are you talking?
K22, thats funny right there! Haha. Yep, Im so addicted that i still acour the ads for 17 stuff and even [beeep] my gunsmith built me a upper 17rem, i think i could use another for next year, maybe a 1-9 twist for the heavy bullets this time....mine was a decent tikka varmint barrel that had some life left in it and seems to shoot 1" groups but most of my shots are under 200 yards.
bigsky_songdogs
Active member
I think that's probly a good combo although I personally wouldnt waste the money on camo dipping it unless you like the looks that much more. Just my $.02
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Aaron_Proffitt
New member
Originally Posted By: Bernie P.Anything from .222 on up to the Swift if you want the fur.If not anything up from .222.I'm not a fan of smaller rounds for coyotes.Newer/smaller cals like .204 claim to fame is fast and flat which is true but they get blown around to easy as well.IMO It's easier to figure drop vs drift.
Well, ya know...not everyone can do it.
Well, ya know...not everyone can do it.
kymailman98
New member
Originally Posted By: BangFlopHow about a Remington Model 7 SS in 223, Nikon 4.5-14x40 and have in dipped in camo?
You couldn't make a better choice in either caliber or rifle. Camo dip is your option. I have the Model 7 Predator in 223 and though I play around with 4 or 5 other rifles, it is my go-to choice when I'm serious about hunting.
You couldn't make a better choice in either caliber or rifle. Camo dip is your option. I have the Model 7 Predator in 223 and though I play around with 4 or 5 other rifles, it is my go-to choice when I'm serious about hunting.
Ridgeline17
New member
You can go buy .223Rem/5.56mm anywhere. That is the advantage of it. You an go to a mom and pops store out in the middle of nowhere and it will probably be right next to the .30/06 rounds. You want something that the ammo is readily available.
tawnoper
Active member
17 cals are great but they require a bit more precise bullet placement. Hit a shoulder on a coyote and you'll probably lose it, or at least will be tracking it down. If you glance a bullet off a twig it won't get there. They are great fun to shoot and kill with the best of them when you put the bullet where it needs to be...but the bigger bullets of a .223/22-250 allow a little more leeway on shot placement.
when you are talking quick kills without running, spinning, you are speaking of being able to hit a coyote behind the diaphram and have a bang flop. Being able to hit a coyote in the stomach at ranges of 200 yds + means a 243 Winchester or a 6mm Rem, 22/250 AI, 220 swift, 25/06, or the 270 wtih sierra 90g hp.
I have shot the 17 Rem, 14 Mach 4, 223, 22/250, and 22/250 AI extensively, customs and factory.
When we hunted Mexico, we were allowed two long guns each on our Mexican gun permit for each man in the truck. We carried either 50 rounds of the exact same load for each rifle, or would split the box of 50 with two different bullets to test. We would shoot the same load "straight" without changing to another rifle or load till all of that load had been shot up. In this way, we could account for how a bullet or load performed at various distances and angles.
Typical 3 day hunts in Mexico would produce 13-35 animals on average and the all time best was 56. Two week hunts were over 100 animals.
Coyotes shot in the stomach with a 22/250 at 150 yards would often get up when shot with a 55g Bullet at 3600 fps, but not always. 50g Sierra Sp at 3900fps seemed to kill better than the 55g spt at 3600 fps in the 22/250. 220 Swift with the 50g Sierra at 4000 fps and the 22/250 AI would push these at 4150 fps killed coyotes just about as good as the 243 and 6 Rem at 300 yds-400 yds.
With the Rem and Ruger 243's and 6 Rem's that we used we shot the 60g Sierra(whale of a coyote bullet), 75g Sierra, 80g Sierra single shot pistol bullet, 85g Sierra, adn 85g BTHP. The 60g Sierra, 75g Sierra, 80g Sierra performed so well that you could hit a coyote in front of the rear leg on a broad side shot and he would be laying in his tracks. Quartering shots with these 3 bullets dumped coyotes hard. The 85g Sierra sp and the BTHP would just sometimes just zip right through a coyote on broadside shots...amazing to see them just stand there then turn and walk off with a blood spot on the opposite side!
In my mind, the real test of a caliber(bullet & load) was on quartering shots when the coyote is coming or going. Frontal shots-Quartering are going to have to break a shoulder and still get penetration to heart and lungs. Quartering shots from the rear are going to have to break a hip or ribs and get to the vitals. In the 220 swift, and 22/250 AI, the 50g Sierra Sp and any 55g Sierra NON tipped bullet works very well for this kind of shooting. 22/250's are great when loaded up to the max with Win 760(3750 fps). In Mexico, having 4-6 coyotes coming in on you from 360* happened often and was expected. 4-7 coyotes on a stand was nothing unusual and 17 was our all time high on a stand that took an hour an a half. We had to shoot at coyotes from all angles, coming and going, at all distances. It is amazing how a wounded pup call will draw coyotes back in after you just killed 4 of their buddies.
With the 17 Rem and 17 Mach 4, we killed a lot of animals when the coyotes were worth $55 and large cats would bring $450, it was our gun of choice as long as the distance was not that great. We shot a load of 24.0g Of IMR 4320 or a max load of 760 with 25g Rem hp or 25g Bergers. Quartering shots with the 17's really can suck.I am sure that the 30g Bullets that are available today would be a real bonus to the 17 Rem. I will add that the 17's are a real pain in the azzzzz, and I have had more than a few customs. If you are a pelt hunter, then consider the 17 Rem your gun of choice, in my experience.
Now, I like to blow big holes in coyotes and let the buzzards eat them. 243 with an over max load of IMR 4064 with a fed 210 and the Sierra 80g Blitz at 3400-3500 just massacres coyotes with authority. Recoil of the 243 is over the max for some people.
We could not take any Military caliber into Mexico, so we could not test the 223 down where the numbers were so great. For pelt hunting with the 223, the load of 26.5g of 748 with the cheap 55g Winchester sp rarely goes through a coyote and has enough Azzzz to kill a lion if one happens to come in. I killed two does with this load. The 223 loaded with a Sierra 50g Spt has some serious Killing ability when loaded to 3500 fps. If you want to just blow up a coyote with a 223, the 55g sierra lead tip blitz loaded to 3400 fps using Vit 135 will simply amaze you at ranges of 125 yds and under.
There were bullets that we found in differnt brands that did not work well, but I will not go there as the manufacturers change bullet designs. Also, we found that from lot to lot variations in some bullets would be harder and zip through coyotes or blow up on the surface. After talking to the Ballisticians in a couple of companies, it is obvious that the bullet manufacturers are subject to the metal that is shipped to them.
The origional poster asked the question as to what rifle and caliber to buy for coyotes that did not kick much, my questions would be what part of the country you live in and will your hunting be close shooting in thicker brushy terrain or open prarie?
A guy by the name of Harold Broughton, barrel maker, Benchrest shooter, and Govm't trapper in Texas had killed more than 5000 coyotes, his gun of choice for those long Texas shots was the 220 Swift with the 52g Sierra with an over load of IMR 4064. In his later years, he went to the 257 Roberts AI with the 100g Ballistic tip for those shots over 500 yds.
I have shot the 17 Rem, 14 Mach 4, 223, 22/250, and 22/250 AI extensively, customs and factory.
When we hunted Mexico, we were allowed two long guns each on our Mexican gun permit for each man in the truck. We carried either 50 rounds of the exact same load for each rifle, or would split the box of 50 with two different bullets to test. We would shoot the same load "straight" without changing to another rifle or load till all of that load had been shot up. In this way, we could account for how a bullet or load performed at various distances and angles.
Typical 3 day hunts in Mexico would produce 13-35 animals on average and the all time best was 56. Two week hunts were over 100 animals.
Coyotes shot in the stomach with a 22/250 at 150 yards would often get up when shot with a 55g Bullet at 3600 fps, but not always. 50g Sierra Sp at 3900fps seemed to kill better than the 55g spt at 3600 fps in the 22/250. 220 Swift with the 50g Sierra at 4000 fps and the 22/250 AI would push these at 4150 fps killed coyotes just about as good as the 243 and 6 Rem at 300 yds-400 yds.
With the Rem and Ruger 243's and 6 Rem's that we used we shot the 60g Sierra(whale of a coyote bullet), 75g Sierra, 80g Sierra single shot pistol bullet, 85g Sierra, adn 85g BTHP. The 60g Sierra, 75g Sierra, 80g Sierra performed so well that you could hit a coyote in front of the rear leg on a broad side shot and he would be laying in his tracks. Quartering shots with these 3 bullets dumped coyotes hard. The 85g Sierra sp and the BTHP would just sometimes just zip right through a coyote on broadside shots...amazing to see them just stand there then turn and walk off with a blood spot on the opposite side!
In my mind, the real test of a caliber(bullet & load) was on quartering shots when the coyote is coming or going. Frontal shots-Quartering are going to have to break a shoulder and still get penetration to heart and lungs. Quartering shots from the rear are going to have to break a hip or ribs and get to the vitals. In the 220 swift, and 22/250 AI, the 50g Sierra Sp and any 55g Sierra NON tipped bullet works very well for this kind of shooting. 22/250's are great when loaded up to the max with Win 760(3750 fps). In Mexico, having 4-6 coyotes coming in on you from 360* happened often and was expected. 4-7 coyotes on a stand was nothing unusual and 17 was our all time high on a stand that took an hour an a half. We had to shoot at coyotes from all angles, coming and going, at all distances. It is amazing how a wounded pup call will draw coyotes back in after you just killed 4 of their buddies.
With the 17 Rem and 17 Mach 4, we killed a lot of animals when the coyotes were worth $55 and large cats would bring $450, it was our gun of choice as long as the distance was not that great. We shot a load of 24.0g Of IMR 4320 or a max load of 760 with 25g Rem hp or 25g Bergers. Quartering shots with the 17's really can suck.I am sure that the 30g Bullets that are available today would be a real bonus to the 17 Rem. I will add that the 17's are a real pain in the azzzzz, and I have had more than a few customs. If you are a pelt hunter, then consider the 17 Rem your gun of choice, in my experience.
Now, I like to blow big holes in coyotes and let the buzzards eat them. 243 with an over max load of IMR 4064 with a fed 210 and the Sierra 80g Blitz at 3400-3500 just massacres coyotes with authority. Recoil of the 243 is over the max for some people.
We could not take any Military caliber into Mexico, so we could not test the 223 down where the numbers were so great. For pelt hunting with the 223, the load of 26.5g of 748 with the cheap 55g Winchester sp rarely goes through a coyote and has enough Azzzz to kill a lion if one happens to come in. I killed two does with this load. The 223 loaded with a Sierra 50g Spt has some serious Killing ability when loaded to 3500 fps. If you want to just blow up a coyote with a 223, the 55g sierra lead tip blitz loaded to 3400 fps using Vit 135 will simply amaze you at ranges of 125 yds and under.
There were bullets that we found in differnt brands that did not work well, but I will not go there as the manufacturers change bullet designs. Also, we found that from lot to lot variations in some bullets would be harder and zip through coyotes or blow up on the surface. After talking to the Ballisticians in a couple of companies, it is obvious that the bullet manufacturers are subject to the metal that is shipped to them.
The origional poster asked the question as to what rifle and caliber to buy for coyotes that did not kick much, my questions would be what part of the country you live in and will your hunting be close shooting in thicker brushy terrain or open prarie?
A guy by the name of Harold Broughton, barrel maker, Benchrest shooter, and Govm't trapper in Texas had killed more than 5000 coyotes, his gun of choice for those long Texas shots was the 220 Swift with the 52g Sierra with an over load of IMR 4064. In his later years, he went to the 257 Roberts AI with the 100g Ballistic tip for those shots over 500 yds.
justin10mm
New member
Hunting at night, a good percentage of your shots are going to be "around the edges", thats just the nature of the beast.
A coyote that runs in the dark is usually a lost coyote. You need something larger with more authority than your usual daytime pea shooter. The 6.8spc would be a good choice, as would the .243win. loaded with 80gr+ bullets.
I've used the .270win. more than anything else at night, I don't get runners.
A coyote that runs in the dark is usually a lost coyote. You need something larger with more authority than your usual daytime pea shooter. The 6.8spc would be a good choice, as would the .243win. loaded with 80gr+ bullets.
I've used the .270win. more than anything else at night, I don't get runners.
dan brothers
New member
Great read there Ackleyman....