Predator Calibers

H

HunterTay

New member
I am curently deabating buying a new gun for predators. I am really impresed with the new WSSM's. I was thinking of getting a winchester model 70 coyote in 223.wssm or 243.wssm, if been told that the 223 is to small for coyote and the 243 is too big for fox! what am i to do?

P.S. I want to keep the pelts
 
Well, I'll be shooting atleast 100yrds, can the 223wssm make it that far? Although from what I've heard it has a very flat tradjectory. Anyways thanks for the help.
 
If the 223wssm is more than enopugh for coyotes would it work on red and gray fox? or would it be over kill if i wanted the pelts? also since i live in ontario and our yotes are extra lrage would that make a difference?
 
Tactical20. Here is one from the past weekend.
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HunterTay,

The 223 WSSM is more than capable of taking a yote at 100 yds. Big ones to. It might be a little much for fox though. A regular 223 will work good on them though. Fox are very light skinned and do not handle bullets that well. I shot one with my 17 Rem. last year and had to leave him lay. I hit a bone and opened him up real bad.

coyotestalker
 
save yourself the hassle and aggrevation. Buy a 223 remington. No need for the 223 WSSM, over kill on fox and cat, shortened barrel life, and ammo is expensive compared to the 223 remington. 223 remington is good out to 300 yrds and then some. Ammo is cheap with a wide variety to choose from.
 
I would say go with the .223 as you are not gonna see a Win. Coyote rifle in .223 or .243WSSM for a long time! If you want something in the WSSM class just get a .220 Swift but these larger .22's are not gonna be fur friendly for cats or fox.
 
223 and have money left over for a good scope. SteveM-Win 223WSSM is a great gun, and readily avaliable, how do figure he ain't going to see one?
 
Don't "over-think" it. I've been shooting a .223 remington exclusivly, with 55gr ballistic tips. Just about every dog I've shot has stayed shot! A .223 is a devastating round. Don't let ANYONE tell you any different. I've taken coyotes at over 250+ yards with my regular ole .223 and 55gr ballistic tips and even at that range, the combination has been nothing short of devastating! Spend your extra dough on a nice scope! After all, "shot placement" IS the most important thing isn't it?? Just my 2 cents.
 
I second that...
Every... and I do mean EVERY coyote I have shot, has been taken with a .223rem. Black Hills ammo, 50gr Hornady V-max bullet.

Ranges from 20 - 350yds. Never lost one yet.
(knock on wood) /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Not to mention that I get bughole groups, it is CHEAP to shoot, and I DON'T have to reload. .223 gets my nod every time.
 
223 buy it and be glad you did. cheap ammo accurate, flat shooting, stopping power, get ammo anywhere, its here to stay, proven round, fun to shoot. cant say enough. have heard the short mag is a barrel burner.
Sportingly,
Cracker
 
Sombody's been blowing smoke up your chimney. The .223 will work fine for coyotes, it's almost too big for fox most of the time. So, it's trade off time. Do you go with a .223 to handle the coyotes and take your chances with the fox or do you go to a .17 rem to save as many hides as possible on the fox and coyotes and have to be careful with how you shoot coyotes? I've opted for the .17 rem option because I see more fox than coyotes. But, it handles the coyotes just fine...

Randy
 
I went the other way. I saw what my buddies 223 NEF rifle did on coyotes and just ordered a 16" Bushy. He uses factory 55 grain bullets and they never go far, even on a mediocre hit. We usually hunt behind hounds so most shots are moving. Bolt action rifles are a real handicap on moving coyotes, even my 243. The coyotes up here are big. I had one walk through a load of #4 buck at 20 yards and keep going. Luckily the second round was a 3" OO buck. I use a patternmaster choke and that put a 3" hole completely through him and he still managed 50 more yards. I'll keep you posted on how the Bushy works out. I can't wait to walk on the dark side and cut loose on one of those bad boys.
 
Just get a .223 or a 22-250. They will put down any coyote anywhere. Reload some 60 grain partitions or one of the .224 caliber Barnes X bullets for either cartridge and you wont tear up foxes as bad as you will with the more explosive varmint bullets. FMJ bullets will be easy on foxes also.
 
Most coyotes are taken under a 100 yards, nothing wrong with using a 223. It is a medium range caliber capable of taking coyote sized animals to 250 yards plus.
Fox and Cats are thin skinned, putting a big hole in one is not hard to do with any caliber except maybe the 17. The 223 is not my personal choice though, I have almost always used a swift or a 22-250.
 
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