Effective coyote range for .223?

It was measured with a laser... a Leica 1200 LRF to be presise. I didn't shoot it... buddy of mine did, I was the spotter on this one. Again... you can't, I can. You could, but you'd rather [beeep] at others than spend the time shooting and learning how to read wind. At 500 I'll hit about 85%, at 600 I'm still over half... at 700 I still wouldn't want it to be my head that was getting shot at. I'm not saying it's a done deal at over 450... but again... I wouldn't want to be the one getting shot at. You should spend a little more time behind the glass... and a little less time at the bottom of one, then maybe you'd be able to hit stuff at further than shotgun range. ~Josh
 
I wonder how accurate the average Joe's range finder is????
One that can be carried without a back-pack, and that the same average Joe can afford. Plus or minus at say,,,,,,,702 yards?????
The balistic chart's I've seen indicate that after 500 or so, gravity starts winning the battle in a hurry. Depending on the caliber of course, a twenty yard error can add up to a pretty substantial bullet drop. Certainly more than a pop bottle turned horisontally. That's only about 4"!!!!
My guess is that the range finder's accuracy (or lack there of) will add at least that much to the equasion.
Now factor in the wind, wobbly shooting sticks, and a number of other things that come in to play when shooting in the field, and these Hail Mary shots make less and less sence to me. And if you Sharp Shooters out there will be honest with yourselves,,,,99.9% of the time a "Hail Mary" is exactly what it is.

If ya shoot at them and miss, ya just educate em anyway.
 
Accuracy for the Leica is +/- 1 yard at 1000 yards, that's .1%... no "20 yard error there". My actuall (shot to varify) drop chart is good to 880 yards (1/2 mile) in 25 yard incriments. Wind will get you, and the only way to shoot in the wind is to practice in the wind. Again... I've done it... I've spent a lot of time practicing it... and I'm confident in it. It's only a "Hail Mary" if you haven't done your research and your shooting practice.

I.O.N.... RePete... have you ever spent any time shooting at extended range with the intent to learn? Or, are you passing judgement with no experience to back it up?
 
Dave,

Sorry your thread has been hijacked /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif You can tell that you have chosen a topic of some interest which brings out some varying opinions. But back to your original question. I shoot a 223 in an AR platform with 60 grain vmax handloads. These loads have chronagraphed at 2935 fps. I have had very good luck to 300 yds on coyotes and consider 350 my personal limit on expecting a better than 8-10 chance of connecting /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif. I also use BDC reticles in my scopes and feel they are useful to me as long as you spend some range time getting used to them. I would also say that I would not hesitate trying really long shots if the opportunity presents itself and they could be attempted safely.

Good Luck and Good Hunting
 
quarterboring,,,,,,,,,I,m a Preditor hunter, not a long range expert like you obviously are.
There is undeniably alot of long range devotees out there and the equipment and discipline is at the very least facinating. However to say that you can consistantly kill Coyotes beyond 500 yards is pure BS..........
I have no doubt that you'll hit several at 500, 600, or 880 yards, but I doubt you'll recover many.
You're not the only one that has ever spent time perfecting their shooting skills. We all do, so get off your high horse.
Talking down to people and insulting them doesn't change the fact that your claims are BS. It just shows that you're an arrogant and rude BS'er.
You remind me of the .0005 all day long if I do my part crowd. I'm suprised you don't hold several world records with your skills.
 
Quote:
My actuall (shot to varify) drop chart is good to 880 yards (1/2 mile) in 25 yard incriments.



Dogone it qb, I knew you could get the number up to 800 this afternoon but you almost hit 900 with that one! Lets shoot for the moon (so to speak) and get it to 1000 or beyond by tonight.

Now, with all this said, I have no doubts that many folks (maybe even yourself) can punch paper at incredible distances at the range but we are talking coyote hunting here. By your own admission the coyotes you hunt are extremely cautious so how many shots are you getting at each long range animal? One? When factoring in energy, bullet drop, the gale force winds you hunt in then the long range percentages you spout become pretty unbelievable considering you likely are only getting off one "Hail Mary" shot.
 
Read my post RePeta... I didn't say eveyrtime ( I said 85% at 500)... but I've killed the last three I shot at over 500, and recovered all three. Luck... I think not. Of course, I don't shoot a .223 either.

So, you're saying you have no experience shooting at live targets at extended ranges? That's what I'm hearing. So, if you can't do it, you've never done it, and you not going to do it... why the hell would you pass judgement on those that can? Ohhhhhhhh... you must be a Democrat... you should change your name to ReClinton, or is that ReObama. Either way... proceed to be ignorant. ~josh
 
I usually stay out of these stupid discussions but can't pass on the following:

Quote:
"That being said... with any of the big 6s or my favorite 25-06 most anything in the body is instantantly anchoring, but with the little stuff (read .22 CFs) you'll need to hit your coke bottle."




Sorry, Quarterbored, but that statement reveals your lack of experience. Most anything in the body is not instant with any rifle, especially at the ranges you're talking about.
This gets to the heart of the matter of my problem with the long range crowd. How do you know when you've wounded one and do you follow up every shot. Evidently not, or you would have never posted such a erroneous assumption. Note that I said assumption, not experience.

Being as this is a calling board and not a stunt showroom - back to the original question:

A 223 is really starting to run out of gas around the 300 yard mark. For my money, the range at which a 223 kills with firm authority is about 1/2 that. Neither of which should be considered a severe limitation by a responsible hunter and caller.

I don't want hip boots or waders, I don't wanna try to walk in this crap. I need a row boat.
 
IOR... I was talking about a varified drop chart not dogs down... You're obviously just another un-informed idiot that likes to judge others without any knowledge of the subject. Hey... wait... are you Michael Moore? Come on... it's ok if you are... you can tell us. ~josh
 
OK,,,,,,,,,,,SO,,,You've called Doyal a drunk, IOR??? an un-informed idiot, and I'm a Osama-Hillary-PETA-loving democrat because we don't believe you.

It's the internet so you can make all of the unverifiable super shots you like knowing you will never have to back up your BS. Live it up tough guy.........

You can also do all of the cowardly name-calling you like as well. Again,,, Live it up tough guy.

The one thing that can be verified is that you ARE a coward. I would be happy to PM you my address if you care to prove otherwise "tough guy"..
 
Hey, don't forget he called me Michael Moore! What did I do to deserve that? Not sure how a discussion of shooting falls directly into calling people democrats. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
RePete already graciously offered you the use of his range to lob some long range stuff. I've already admitted that people can make these shot (I just doubt its you). The initial problem came from your complete nonchalance at poking them at over 500. One thing my experience tells me is that guys that are truly good at long range shooting fall into a different mindset than most. When you told the story of calling them in by setting the e-caller on the hood and driving down the road because it is just as good a way to call as any you lost credibility in my mind. That, your further comments, and what JoeF said has done nothing to change it. The only vision of you that I can get hunting is throwing it into park and leaning over the window sill using your rolled up 7-11 smock as a front rest.
 
I.O.N. just reminded me that YOU are the clown with the e-caller on the roof of the truck.I just went back and re-read your stupidity. I had forgotten all about this thread, and the fact that I had already called your bluff. You know???? The offer to put up or shut up where you chose "shut up"... Proving my theory that you are a coward.

Now all of the name calling,, while knowing you will never have to back up your big mouth just goes to reconfirm the fact that you're a coward.

Later,,,Tuff Guy
 
I have a hard time understanding how anyone can, on any given day shoot a live coyote at 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 yards with any certainty. Calculated chance yes.
There are numerous variables that are almost impossible to account for. How can you tell what the wind is doing for sure. Elevation differences and landscape. Heat waves alone can mess up your sight. What about a twig you can't define. This is also considering you are setup with a good rest. A Kestral weather gauge might help too.
Some of those guys shooting on Randy Andersons videos are good shots dropping a lot of coyotes even running. I think the longest kill shot is just over 500 yards but some were shot at many times by several guys before dropping at 400 or less.
 
Quote:
EFFECTIVE coyote range for .223...

300yds >.



Absolutly correct! FINALLY

As for the hijack; I personally know two people that are cabable of consistantly making shots like that....neither has ever bragged about it. They don't have to. The hardware in the boxes in the closet, that came from Camp Perry and Wimbleton is enough.
 
Wow, looks like things turned kind of ugly.

Quote:
I have a hard time understanding how anyone can, on any given day shoot a live coyote at 500...with any degree of certainty.

I left out the other distances because for me anything over 500 requires mojo, ju-ju, and a bit of voo-doo for good measure. Disclaimer, I post under my real name and location so no Internet anonymity here. Legitimate references provided on request. Now that I got that out of the way.

Here's how you pop a living coyote at 500 yards. First off, you need to have the gear required. For me that means a pocket PC running Exbal, a really good range finder, a wind meter (I use Kestrel) and I enter the relative humidity, barometric pressure, and elevation before I leave home. Also, you need to know the velocity of your ammo at temperature, you need to verify the drop from the ballistics program before hand, you must be able to correct for the drop. I use come ups instead of the reticle for elevation and I hold windage. A sub MOA rifle is also required with a spot on zero. Then there is the matter of mirage. If it's boiling all bets are off.

So, you get this really patient coyote. Range the critter multipe times (I also have the spotter range with a second Leica. You then take a wind reading. If the wind isn't almost a zero value (for me) all bets are off. Now that you have the distance nailed, little or no mirage, and a zero value wind (preferably in the form of dead calm) you run the numbers. Then dial in the required elevation and prone out with a bag or bipod under the front and another bag in the back. If you can't get the wobble zone down to minute of coyote, all bets are off. Then you whack the coyote.

Last month I was doping loads for my 7mm mag and I took a self resetting steel target along. As I moved back to verify the drop on my 7mag, I shot one round from my 22-250 at 200, 300, 400 and 500. I shot two rounds at 600 because I didn't call the first shot and I didn't here the ding. I then put the yardages on the target in Photoshop with the intent of posting the target on this site. The hits show what is possible when the yardage is known and they also show the effects of slight shifts in wind along with improper corrections in windage.

I didn't bother to post the target because I figured folks would holler BS, call me a liar, and so forth. Afterall, this is a calling forum and long range shooters are not welcome here. At times this is not a very friendly place. The target is shown below. Yeah, I know the hits are all over the place, but I think a coyote would have been in grave danger depending on which way he was facing at the time.
steel hits.jpg


PS I have 20 of those resetting targets for sale if anyone is interested. Also, with the gear available today one doesn't need to be a national champ to enjoy long range shooting.
 
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