.223 would be the right choice. The .243 is in most cases a fur destroyer. I have seen it fur friendly with certain loads but for yotes out to 400yds the .223 or .22-250 is tops. The .17s and .204 are not all they are cracked up to be either.
223 or 243 for Varmints
- Thread starter bigtee
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Loc n Load
Member
.223
I have shot coyotes and other varmints with the .223 for 40 years....my "go to" rifle is a Rem 788.....compared to what is out on the market today, it is certainly not "state of the art", but I put in in a Ramline synthetic stock, bedded it years ago and have a original Weaver 4X12 scope on it......it has accounted for several hundred coyotes, ground hogs, feral dogs, etc. Solved the problem with 223 brass by stock piling a couple barrels of the LC mil stuff.
At one time I even went to the trouble to make my own 22 jackets from 22rf brass.....the .223 will serve you well.
I have shot coyotes and other varmints with the .223 for 40 years....my "go to" rifle is a Rem 788.....compared to what is out on the market today, it is certainly not "state of the art", but I put in in a Ramline synthetic stock, bedded it years ago and have a original Weaver 4X12 scope on it......it has accounted for several hundred coyotes, ground hogs, feral dogs, etc. Solved the problem with 223 brass by stock piling a couple barrels of the LC mil stuff.
At one time I even went to the trouble to make my own 22 jackets from 22rf brass.....the .223 will serve you well.
Blackrock
Member
Varmints cover a wide range in my book so I have a variety of rifles to cover all types. I do like
.222 and .223 for Yotes but I will also use my Stevens 200 22-250 if I am shooting over big open fields. For days with some wind I will use my .243 with a Hornady 87g HPBT.
I do have the luxury of having seven different rifles in these calibers and love them all.
.222 and .223 for Yotes but I will also use my Stevens 200 22-250 if I am shooting over big open fields. For days with some wind I will use my .243 with a Hornady 87g HPBT.
I do have the luxury of having seven different rifles in these calibers and love them all.
mljdeckard
Member
loc n load, how difficult is that swaging process? Does it make 55 gr bullets? I don't cast, but that's something I would like to know how to do if I had to.
788Ham
Member
I vote for the .223 round. I've shot hundreds of P-dogs and a few coyotes with this rifle, never had any run away with a well placed shot. The .223 is easy to reload for, bullet variety is somewhat scarce right now, I've got quite a few stashed away. Less powder to reload than the .243.
stubbicatt
Member
No matter who you talk to there will be those who naysay one or the other caliber. It is my experience that with a well placed shot any of these can be one shot stoppers. However, for marginally placed shots, there really is no substitute for velocity and shock it imparts into living tissue. For this reason, a lighter bullet in 243 is a better choice than a similar weight bullet in a 223.
If I am shooting prairie dogs, I like 223 due to the cost savings. If coyotes, then I prefer the 243 with the 87 gr Hornady HPBT.
I have seen folks shoot coyotes with 20 cal, and have heard of others taken with a 17. But again, good, solid marksmanship is the determining factor.
If you are recoil sensitive, perhaps the smaller caliber would be a better choice.
MLJDeckard, Corbin swaging company can sell you the tools necessary to make .224" bullets out of .22 long rifle spent cases, or other materials. It is not a whole lot more difficult than handloading, but it is a different set of skills.
If I am shooting prairie dogs, I like 223 due to the cost savings. If coyotes, then I prefer the 243 with the 87 gr Hornady HPBT.
I have seen folks shoot coyotes with 20 cal, and have heard of others taken with a 17. But again, good, solid marksmanship is the determining factor.
If you are recoil sensitive, perhaps the smaller caliber would be a better choice.
MLJDeckard, Corbin swaging company can sell you the tools necessary to make .224" bullets out of .22 long rifle spent cases, or other materials. It is not a whole lot more difficult than handloading, but it is a different set of skills.
Loc n Load
Member
Response ot post 29
As Stubbicatt mentioned, Corbin can supply everything you need to swage bullets.....I got into it back in the 80's cause I couldn't cast bullets that would run at the velocities in my rifles that I wanted. The swaging process is fairly straight forward, but also as Stubbicatt pointed out, it requires a different skill set. Yes it will make 55 gr, bullets....Corbin will make you dies for whatever confiq., or bullet weight you want.
Making jackets out of 22 rf cases, require them to be run thru a die and formed, then the lead wire of the proper diameter is swaged into the case. The barss 22 rf jackets proved to be more frangible than the copper jackets of the day and when these 55 gr. JHP's were loaded to .223 velocities, they were explosive on Coyotes, fox, did minimal fur damage.
I got the same satisfaction from making jacketed rifle bullets as I did casting pistol/revolver. SWaging does require an initial investment, but Corbin makes quality equipment and I have been using mine to crank out jacketed bullets since the 80's. It is going to depend on how much you shoot, whether the initial cost will be worth it.....good shooting.
As Stubbicatt mentioned, Corbin can supply everything you need to swage bullets.....I got into it back in the 80's cause I couldn't cast bullets that would run at the velocities in my rifles that I wanted. The swaging process is fairly straight forward, but also as Stubbicatt pointed out, it requires a different skill set. Yes it will make 55 gr, bullets....Corbin will make you dies for whatever confiq., or bullet weight you want.
Making jackets out of 22 rf cases, require them to be run thru a die and formed, then the lead wire of the proper diameter is swaged into the case. The barss 22 rf jackets proved to be more frangible than the copper jackets of the day and when these 55 gr. JHP's were loaded to .223 velocities, they were explosive on Coyotes, fox, did minimal fur damage.
I got the same satisfaction from making jacketed rifle bullets as I did casting pistol/revolver. SWaging does require an initial investment, but Corbin makes quality equipment and I have been using mine to crank out jacketed bullets since the 80's. It is going to depend on how much you shoot, whether the initial cost will be worth it.....good shooting.
Lupinus
Member
For the use and range you mentioned, I'd go .223. Overkill is nice, but not a necessity.
In the .223 you get-
Lower cost per round.
Lower recoil.
Not as loud.
Longer barrel life (though admittedly, for hunting purposes the .243 lasts just fine for a long time. Still, .223 will last longer)
Plenty of power for the intended game at the intended range, with plenty of room on the back end for occasional longer shots as required or present themselves.
Typically, depending on the model of course, youget a little higher ammo capacity in a .223 rifle.
I'm a big .243 fan, but would only step up to it if you want to have a more multipurpose rifle or leave your options open should you want it to be such at a later time.
In the .223 you get-
Lower cost per round.
Lower recoil.
Not as loud.
Longer barrel life (though admittedly, for hunting purposes the .243 lasts just fine for a long time. Still, .223 will last longer)
Plenty of power for the intended game at the intended range, with plenty of room on the back end for occasional longer shots as required or present themselves.
Typically, depending on the model of course, youget a little higher ammo capacity in a .223 rifle.
I'm a big .243 fan, but would only step up to it if you want to have a more multipurpose rifle or leave your options open should you want it to be such at a later time.
mljdeckard
Member
The state of Utah gives me fifty reasons each. No license, no season, no limit.
Lupinus
Member
Destructive disease spreading livestock and pet harassing buggers.
Coyotes fall into the realm of SOS.
stubbicatt
Member
SOS? I don't follow.....
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
.223 was the choice. 
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