Originally Posted By: ksnerdSo, to start off, I hope I didn't copy any topics, and that I posted in the right place. New here.
Down to brass tacks (nevermind the tacks, waste of perfectly good brass...). A relative has problems with yotes eating the rodent control in her barn, and harassing her two small dogs on her farm. This is all happening on the acre her house is sitting on, they're literally at her front door. Never hunted a yote in my life, but It's time for 'em to go.
I'm looking for a rifle to take care of them, preferably in an AR style, but my budget may not allow that. Any suggestions on caliber/rifle/optics? I would like to avoid .223 because I've seen what happens if you don't hit the dog just right. I can get 1" groupings with a 22LR @20 yds in a good stiff kansas wind, I'm no sniper. I would end up chasing a wounded and pissed off yote onto neighboring land...I'd rather not do that.
What I'm looking for in a rifle caliber:
Not saving fur, so one-and-done (or down) power even with slightly off shots (I.e. rib hit)
Readily available factory ammo options at a reasonable price
Will chamber into a production (but not bank-breaking) AR style rifle (I have my reasons for AR style, but I'm not opposed to other styles/actions except AK)
So, one very long and probably confusing post later (scatterbrained right now, can't you tell?), any help for a total idiot on the subject?
1in groups with a .223 will get the job done. Yes, using a larger caliber will increase the likelihood of a putdown, but you are still going to have to park it in the sweet spot. You could run with a 6.5 Grendel to keep it in the AR-15 platform or you will need to go into the AR-10/LR-308 platform for a .243/.308 caliber. But all of those are going to push you into a higher price range.