Coyote rifle cartriges

MCgunner said:

Well, ya know, I've killed several song dogs while deer hunting with my .308 and 150 Ballistic Tips. They worked just as well on the dogs as they do on hogs and deer and one of those dogs was 370 yards. I have a .223 that's never killed a dog, just a deer. Who wrote the rule that you need a .22 center fire to shoot a coyote?

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Back when I was in high school, I took a 100 yard pot shot at a 'yote I saw out in the corn field with my trusty Ruger 10-22 while I was out squirrel hunting... The ol' yote just trotted off like nothing happened. Kept watching it, it went about 150 yards or so across the field and then just fell over dead. My most memorable 'yote yet. Also the first and the last one I've ever shot with a rimfire.

These days, my go-to yote rifle is a Savage 12FV in 22-250 with 65gr Sierra spitzer boattails pushed along by a stout charge of Varget. Puts 'em down like Thor's hammer. I did try some 55gr BlitzKings that my rifle just LOVED... but had several splashes on the skin... the bullets blew up on the skin with no penetration.

I've also got a Ruger M77MkIIV/T in 22PPC that puts 50gr Vmax'es into little bitty groups that is fair coyote medicine also.

I've shot a few with my 30-06 and Sierra 125gr spitzers... but I don't think there's any saving the hides with that. But no doubt about it, it works... with authority.

Of the 2, the 06 would be the better choice, I think. Maybe some FMJ? Like American eagle type?

Of the 2 I'd go with the 30-06 but I'd recommend a .223/5.56. He may not get into coyote hunting but I'd bet he would find a good use for it. Even if just a plinker.

They are cheap to shoot and have really no recoil at all and ammo is everywhere for them. There's a big gap between the 17hmr and the 30-06 that he needs to fill anyways.

My favorite coyote rifle is whatever i'm hunting with when the coyote is spotted.

What is the perfect coyote caliber??? Any rifle will do, but if your plans are to mount it the 17 HMR is plenty.

Keyfer 55 said:

What is the perfect coyote caliber??? Any rifle will do

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Or many handguns (killed one with a 7.5" Ruger 30 carbine once) or even a 12 gauge shotgun loaded with #6 shot - if you're close enough.

Art Eatman said:

Back during the drouth of the fifties we'd go out at night and spotlight jackrabbits. Save the grass, feed the dogs. This was south of Cuero in DeWitt County, Texas.

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That brings back some memories. We built a buggy out of an old 37 Dodge (no top) and used to spot light jack rabbits in the neighbors alfalfa field. We didn't have any 06's but we had plenty of 22's. There were hundreds of them out there so if you couldn't kill 6 or 8 you had a bad night. It was said, and I believe it, that 3 jackrabbits could eat as much as 1 cow. None of the neighbors had any problems with anyone hunting jackrabbits. AZ 1965

While I've used many cartridges form .22 lr to 45-70 my personal favorite is the .243 win.

Open country hunting......I like the idea of frangible bullets.
Don't need things skipping around.
I believe they make .30 cal varmint type bullets.

We run .223 and .243 w varmint bullets.

Deer hunting in woods, buddy smoked one w .270 win and 150gr factory load.
Big hole in hide.
Got skinned, tanned.......hole sewn up. Nice pelt.

I took a full size Coyote a while back with a 30.06 loaded with 180 grain SPs. Right through
the shoulder, he dropped like a rock. Didn't make much of an exit hole, either. It just cooked
right thru him. I've dropped coyotes with .223, but I would hesitate to use 17. Especially because
you don't see them up close, here. Usually it's well out past 125 yards.

But any 30'06 will do fine, and it won't tear up the fur much, not that there's a firm market in coyote pelts,
anyway.

.223.........inside of 200 yds.........a 16" AR is pretty darn good.
They are loud though.

Last one I got was a while back........handgun, on the run (coming to a call).
Leg was up as bullet hit. Jumped 5 ft and somersaulted, landing on all four, ran 20 yards and piled up.

View attachment 824486

Sold my .223 yote rifle to my bud.
He used it to good effect

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Songdogs fall in between the guns listed for me. I have put 30-30, .270, 22mag, 17hmr and .410 slug into them and the only one that was definitive was the .270. I would not recommend an 06 as the .270 is very similar and is overkill. That said, the ones I have hit with rimfires have taken multipie hits and wandered off. 223, to .243 is where I would recommend, and if the guy isn't using this as an excuse to buy another gun then you need to re-examine your choice in friends...

WestKentucky said:

... .243 is where I would recommend, and if the guy isn't using this as an excuse to buy another gun then you need to re-examine your choice in friends...

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Hear! Hear! Well stated.

Remember when the 17HMR was all the rage? Now when reality and real life experience sets people find out the hype was wasn’t so real world based.

If he’s a utilitarian, and wants a rifle that will cover different bases, I’d suggest a 243 or 25-06. If he just wants a dedicated coyote rifle, I’d give the nod to 223/5.56 or 22-250.

If he just wants to kill them, his 06 is more than up to the task. And it’s good practice for deer season.

Hides are almost worthless even if undamaged. Shoot me with what you got and don't feel bad about it.
I use .223, .243, and lately been liking a 125gr hand load in my .308

243 is my preferred round, but the Creedmoor has taken a couple that happened to show up when I had it. I tried the 90 gr NBT on the dogs, but it makes too much of a mess. The 95 gr Accubond does a good job, but still makes a pretty big hole.

somethingbenign said:

Pretty sure I'll feel bad about that.

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pretty sure I typed "em" but darned if that speelchick didn't change it