Dedicated calling rifle

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Gsjcky

Member
The goal is a suppressed, walk about calling rifle. Not concerned about fur, but want to put coyotes down with authority. 250 yard range. Bolt action, synthetic stock. Leupold 2.5-8 VX3 scope. 7” suppressor, 18 inch barrel. My Question is caliber choice.

I’m open to suggestions, but my list of chambering’s are...... 223, 223AI, 22-250, 243, or 6.5 CM. I would prefer a 22 centerfire, but with the short barrel, I’m open to suggestions.
What do you think of my project?
 
I'd go 6mm of sorts. Any larger and your limited on 75 grain and under bullets to keep trajectory flat. I think you'll get more velocity out of a larger bore as opposed to 22s. with the short barrel. However 250 yards is fairly close range. Probably hard to beat the 243. In my opinion the 70 and 75 grain 6mm fast expanding bullets were made for anchoring coyotes with no concern for pelts. The fast 22s work well with good shot placement but man those 70s and 75s will pick up slack if you don't do your job right in the shooting department.
 
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So what is your idea of calling coyotes, you said 250 yards, is that most common or max range?

My idea of a calling rifle is light weight with a max range of 250 yards, my 222 Rem has done yeoman duty with a 1-4 or 2-7 scope on it. I have others in 223, 22-204, 22-250 and 6.5 Grendel, my only 6mm was recently changed to a 20 Practical do to lack of use. I call coyotes and most of my shots are under 100 yards.

I am going to hunt some more open areas this coming season thus the 20P and 22-250, I've never had a problem with killing coyotes with calibers under 6mm.

So if your going to walk only a short distance from the truck and shoot open country I'd look at one of the Precision Rifle, Howa or Ruger or one of the heavier barreled standard models in 243 or 6.5 (your choices).

If your going to do more boot work and get into places that don't get a lot of pressure or aren't accessible by truck I'd look at one of the lighter weight rifle, Model 7, Savage10 Rem 700 Sporter weight, Howa 1500etc.
 
250 yards would be a long shot. Average is 150 yards. The first good shot that is presented, I take. There are a lot of miles put in on the average hunt. Park the truck, grab the pack & rifle, and put in 8-10 miles. I like the idea of a 6mm, but here in Colorado, you must use a 22 cal if a big game season is on, and you don’t have a tag. I’d like to avoid that hassle. Bomber hat, you suggested the 22-250. I would agree, but will I be handicapping myself with a 18” barrel? That is a reason I would go to a 6.5 with 95 gr bullets....I’m thinking the cartage would be more efficient.
 
I wouldn't worry about giving up too much you're within 223 range of those coyotes so any cartridge that holds 25 to 30% more powder is gonna do the job.
 
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With those requirements it is a 223/22-250 or stay home part of the season. A 22-250 with 52gr Speer HP's or 50gr NBT's will drop coyotes. The velocity loss between a 22" and 24" barrel will be about the same so the 22-250 will be faster at 18" than a 223 at the same length. You shooting a can so muzzle blast is out of the question. There are a bunch of rifles in that category, pretty much what you want to spend. Scopes for those ranges no need for turrets or hold over dots/hash marks, you can hold on fur. Something like the Burris Four X 1.5-6x42mm with illuminated dot or any of the 2-7's should be good. I was at the range today ringing steel at 427 yards with a Meopta 1.5-6x42mm with a German #1 in my 20 Practical. Same with my Sako Vixen 222 Rem. with a Leupold Compact 2-7 by holding the point of the fat part of the duplex on the gong.

One thing about CO coyotes, saving fur in the winter you could buy a new rifle every year just from your fur check.
 
I vote for the .22-250, being somewhat partial. I have taken many coyotes to 600 yds each year with 50 grain ballistic tips. 200-350 is a common shot here in open ground.
.223 is sufficient but the 250 definitely has the edge in knock down.
.243 is good power but I don't use it for the same tag restrictions while we can carry the .22 centerfire in big game season for cats with no big game tag or a filled tag.
 
Thx for the input. I think I’m going to cut the barrel down on my vanguard 22-250 to 18 inches and give it a try. Hopefully I can still get 3400 FPS with a 55 gr sp. that’s still a lot of wallop for a coyote.
 
The word authority screams 6mm creedmoor or .243 winchester, but with your limits on caliber during big game hunting the best bet is your 22-250. I have a 16 inch barreled 6mm creed with a 7 inch thunderbeast and it is great.
 
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I think I understand your law, so if you are in the field during big game season with no tag you are required to call with a .22 centerfire? If that is the case then I would vote for 22-250, I have shot a 250 for 10 years. You are going to lose 200fps with the 18 inch barrel but that should not be a deal breaker out to 250 yards. I would shoot a 50grn Vmax or even a 40grn Nosler ballistic tip, you will still get great fps and should hit hard out to 250 yards. Pretty sure the Vangaurd has a 1:14 twist so it should like the lighter stuff better anyways. I shoot (kinda forced to CA lead free) the 35grn Nosler ballistic tip lead free all last year. 4200fps and nothing took a step with that bullet.

Now if I didn't understand the law correctly than I would shoot a 75grn Vmax out of a 243, that is a hammer.
 
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bmoore you are exactly right with your interpretation of Colorado law. And I also agree, I would run a 243 and never look back. The vanguard is a 1-14 twist. I’m shooting 55 gr sp at 3600 FPS. 3/4 inch groups, or minute of yote if you prefer. I always try to hit shoulders, and it smacks them hard. It’s hard to change what works. I may order a new barrel for my encore in 223 ai, and try the can on that barrel. Still in the contemplation stage.
 
I kill a few Coyotes a year in Colorado.


I sighted in 7 of my Coyote guns yesterday and was plinking steel at 500 yards with my .223 on a consistent basis.

My gun of Choice this year is my Savage .243 shooting Hornady 58gr Superformance.

Never had an issue with any of these rifles and I walk a long ways from the truck.

All my .223 platforms are shooting Hornady 53grain Superformance.


Don’t overthink it!!!
 
Originally Posted By: Gsjckybmoore you are exactly right with your interpretation of Colorado law. And I also agree, I would run a 243 and never look back. The vanguard is a 1-14 twist. I’m shooting 55 gr sp at 3600 FPS. 3/4 inch groups, or minute of yote if you prefer. I always try to hit shoulders, and it smacks them hard. It’s hard to change what works. I may order a new barrel for my encore in 223 ai, and try the can on that barrel. Still in the contemplation stage.

Nothing wrong with 3/4 inch. My rifle went from 1/3 inch to 3/4 inch with the new lead free stuff. No coyotes noticed the difference this last winter.
 
22/250's, Sierra 55g of sorts, hot load of varget is 3650-3700 in a 24" barrel. I would not cut the barrel, but that is just me. I have hunted plenty with a 28"-30" shotgun barrel and 7 years with a a pair of Ithaca 32" 10ga auto loaders. The "Idea" of having a longer barrel is worse than actually carrying a long barrel....at least to me.

I have seen so many coyotes run off over the years that I will take horse power over convenience.

In a short barrel 22/250, I would shoot a 55g Sierra lead tip blitz, that bullet really works hard for you at 3400-3500 fps, but it is not much for saving hides.

Night hunting with thermal would be another whole can of worms as shots will be much closer on an average, but wide open plains is going to demand more velocity.

I really hate loosing an animal after knocking him down, having him get back up and hobble off crippled up. I will go to any inconvenience, shoot any over size caliber to eliminate crippling up animals, and I have had a small flock of them hobble off over the years between me and my hunting partners with me. Loosing animals is part of hunting, but I am not going to cut corners on a rifle that will not kill them outright.

Gsjcky, I would not go coyote hunting with a single shot...that is "New Guy" thinking. You wake up the dead trying to reload fumbling trying to get a round in the chamber as you are looking for the other coyote that was running behind the first one you missed.
 
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Originally Posted By: Bearbmoore have you had any splashes with those 35 grain lead frees?

No but I never shoot into shoulders like traditional bullets. I always aim above and behind the shoulder...right in the ribs. I have never had a splash with the Noslers or Vmax's using that method. Last season I had a head on shot and put it right above the chest, another dime size entrance with no exit.
 
I shoot them at the walk, trot, and try to hit them running. If I waited for a standing shot, 40% of my shots would never be taken. You get over the humiliation of missing, just leade them more next time, and DO NOT stop your swing. You hit them all over the body, use enough gun.
 
Originally Posted By: ackleymanI shoot them at the walk, trot, and try to hit them running. If I waited for a standing shot, 40% of my shots would never be taken. You get over the humiliation of missing, just leade them more next time, and DO NOT stop your swing. You hit them all over the body, use enough gun.

There you go, there is a style for everyone. If this was my style I would for sure shoot my 25-06 every single time. Blow the wheels off them.
 
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