Hitting a running coyote

S

Sillyak

New member
Well I don't take running shots at big game, but do take cracks at coyotes on the run. Not to hard to hit them close, but whenever they are at a distance it's tough. So I made myself a little chart on how far a coyote travels from when the bullet leaves the barrel to when it hits. I assume a coyote can run at 45 mph (as I read in a few places) at max speed. To make it simpler I said a coyote can run 20 m/s. It's for a .243 with a 70 grainer leaving the barrel at about 3450 FPS. Did I make any mistakes?

Yards/Average FPS/Time of bullet flight in sec/lead distance in M

100/3300/0.091s/1.82m
200/3150/0.190s/3.8m
300/3000/0.300s/6.0m
400/2850/0.421s/8.42m
500/2700/0.555s/11.1m

After doing this I realize I haven't been leading enough. I've always tried leading about a meter or two at 200-300 yards. Guess I've been missing behind them.
 
A coyote running full out, straight away and on nice even flat ground I can usually connect with. A fast moving coyote going sideways is a tough one for me.
I find it's not so much the necessary lead of a running coyote that gives me problems, but more the bobbing, weaving, ziggin and zaggin threw bushes and uneven terrain that causes me to cuss.

I'd almost rather blow of herd of bull elephants than to try and hit a coyote running sideways by me. I just ain't worth a darn at it.

I'm talking rifle. I don't care what they do or where they go if'n I got a shotgun and they're within 35-40 yards.
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I find it hard to believe that a coyote can run that fast. I drove along with dogs that were fast while running wide open and they never get over 25-30 mph. I could be wrong though.
 
I thought the bullet would have slowed more than that at 500 yards.
It's by no means scientific, but a coyote running wide open will gain at least 10% speed for every time I shoot at them.
They can sure cover some ground.

Shayne
 
At 25 mph a coyote is moveing 36.6 feet per second. Lets just say he is shooting a .223 with a 55 grain bullet @ 3000 fps. At 300 yard the flight time is .4 seconds. That means the coyote traveled 14 feet past the point he was at when you pulled the trigger by the time the bullet reaches him. I never would have thought it would be that much difference either till I read Gerry Blair's book. This is all figured on a full speed broad side shot.
 
When you think you got enough lead, give it some more.

Did give one at 125 yards to much lead once. Calling on a small pond two came in and dropped one. The other one was scooby do'n out across the lake. My 3 shots at him kept throwing ice in front of him. Got out of the scope and seen his legs were going 100 mph but his body wasn't. Must of been real slick ice. Looking through the scope it looked like he was moving fast with the feet just a flying.
 
Originally Posted By: venaticI find it hard to believe that a coyote can run that fast. I drove along with dogs that were fast while running wide open and they never get over 25-30 mph. I could be wrong though.

I chased a pair up the road in Idaho once at 40 mph even. They held it for about a 1/4 mile, too.

That was flat pavement, but still.
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Originally Posted By: venaticI find it hard to believe that a coyote can run that fast. I drove along with dogs that were fast while running wide open and they never get over 25-30 mph. I could be wrong though.


I found it a bit tough to believe as well, but according to a few sources they can if the have the proper "motivation" :wink

I'd think 40-45 mph under ideal conditions if they are full of adrenaline running for their lives. Slower in rough terrain.


Oh and my speeds were an average, my bullet is not going that fast at 500, but if it leaves the muzzle and 3450 the average is going to be somewhere between that and the terminal speed it hits with at 500.
 
no sense in trying to figure all that out. get an AR and just keep shooting til he goes down or disappears. had my best luck that way
 
Originally Posted By: cawilson82no sense in trying to figure all that out. get an AR and just keep shooting til he goes down or disappears. had my best luck that way

Like!
 
Originally Posted By: cawilson82no sense in trying to figure all that out. get an AR and just keep shooting til he goes down or disappears. had my best luck that way
LOL Thats why AR Guys love 30 round Mags?
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Originally Posted By: cawilson82no sense in trying to figure all that out. get an AR and just keep shooting til he goes down or disappears. had my best luck that way


Look at my location! AR-15s may only be fired at an approved range and you're limited to mags pinned at 5 rounds. We can use XCRs, Swiss Arms, the Israeli Tavor, AR-180s and a whole host of semi auto fireamrs to hunt. For some reason the Liberals back in the 90s decided that a AR-15s were scary and made them restricted by name.
 
I have found that their speed increases progressively with each shot, therefore increasing the lead. I used to be pretty lucky at connecting once in a while. Judging the speed is too tough for regularity.
 
I chase them down in my jeep quite often. If their head is low they can get up to 45mph pretty easy. They are a bit slower through the sage brush but not much. I'd post a video of chasing yotes but it usually just opens the discussion up about how it's not hunting to chase them down and shoot em (man it's fun huntin)!!

Although, if the dog has been chased before they start running fast and early. Thanks for the chart I'll use the 500 yard calculation for sure!!!
 
Originally Posted By: SillyakOriginally Posted By: cawilson82no sense in trying to figure all that out. get an AR and just keep shooting til he goes down or disappears. had my best luck that way


Look at my location! AR-15s may only be fired at an approved range and you're limited to mags pinned at 5 rounds. We can use XCRs, Swiss Arms, the Israeli Tavor, AR-180s and a whole host of semi auto fireamrs to hunt. For some reason the Liberals back in the 90s decided that a AR-15s were scary and made them restricted by name.

gotta love our gun laws eh! I love when guys post pics of yotes they took with handguns...wish we could give that a try too!
 
Quote:I'd almost rather blow of herd of bull elephants than to try and hit a coyote running sideways by me. I just ain't worth a darn at it.

I am sure glad you said "almost"!!

Eloquently stated as usual...

LMAO!
 
Originally Posted By: SillyakI assume a coyote can run at 45 mph (as I read in a few places) at max speed.

I chase coyotes all the time on my ATV when checking cattle. 45 mph, maybe, in a short burst when they're fresh, when they're being chased. When you see a coyote running from a visible person, they're going more around 35-40 mph.
 


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