Best fur keeping caliber for yotes?

[saskboy]

I loaded up some 150gr fmj's for my .300wsm thinking they wouldn't blow up the coyotes as much, but turns out they make it worse than my normal hunting bullets. Im only interested in saving the fur now that they have a nice coat on them. My only other options is the .308, .17, or .22. Is the .308 going to make any less of a mess with fmj's or am I stuck with the .17? I dont feel comfortable shooting a coyote with the .17 because it will most likely run away and suffer for 5 min before it dies. Any other calibers I should be looking at, my brothers 22-250 makes a huge mess also.

BTW, I know a 300wsm is way to big for coyotes but I just love that gun!

 

[indoorsoccerfrea]

does your .22 take magnums? a heavier grain 22 mag will kill quite well with proper shot placement, and the hole isnt quite as big.

 

[MaterDei]

How about 5.56mm?

I'm curious, what do you do with coyote fur?

 

[indoorsoccerfrea]

the fur industry isn't too bad.
for me though, i would get a big kick outta makin' a cavemen style cloak complete with tails and faces grinnin' everywhere...
take THAT peta

.223 have some kick to them when it comes to smaller game. depends on the bullet, but generally the exit hole shreds fur pretty nicely

 

[vintage sportsman]

Best 'yote round for keeping fur!

410 #4 Buckshot with 5 pellets the size of atwenty-two round at 1400fps the holes are tiny. I have a reload I make with two roundballs that is accurate to 75 yards - good brush and cover round.

 

[HB]

I wouldn't use a FMJ for some reason, but a shotgun or .308 with varmint style bullet would work. It appears you reload, so hopefully somebody will recommend a good varmint bullet or a crap soft point that will fragment. What is the average range you shoot at?

HB

 

[moojpg2]

head shots with the .17 or .22

 

[sumpnz]

A varmint bullet that violenty fragments (and therefore won't exit), or a monolithic solid that won't expand or fragment will minimize pelt damage.

That or the aforementioned head shots with a .22lr or .17hmr.

 

[janobles14]

take my word for it! this is the definitive list! lol imho that is (i have used each of these if that helps!). now by "fur keeper i mean two things: 1. least fur damage and 2. findable kills without hard as hell head shots

best fur keepers to worst:
1. .22 lr - this oldie but goodie will drop any laughing dog with a well placed heart/lung shot and usually doesnt exit. even if it does....the expansion is minimal and many times undetectable

2. .17 hmr - actually causes less damage than the .22 lr on the entrance (when using super fast expansion rounds) but at greater distances i have found them to be less effective in the kill department. not by much though....

3. #1 or #4 buckshot - so long as you are not point blank distance here (and the pellets act as a single shot column [which is HIGHLY difficult to get that close]) there are more entrance holes but never an exit wound. the holes are small on unobtrusive. distance is a problem though

4. 6mm tcu - use a fast expanding varmint bullet and you will have less exit blow out than the next round on my list due to its lower velocity

5. .223 - my actual favorite coyote round! with quick varmint bullets (thin jacketed lead or a-max or the like) you will sometimes get exit wounds. when you do...they can be nasty. but most often only part of the round exits and the damage is minimal.

6. downloaded .243/6mm rem - getting into blown away dog territory here. super effective, yes. hard to stop in a 50 lb animal, also yes.

7. anything bigger than a .243 - say goodnight gracie! learn how to sew!

there are about 10000 calibers i left out but you can liken them to the others with up or down velocities. these are just the ones i have used the most.

hope it helps!

 

[janobles14]

sorry

 

[caribou]

.22 Magnum is "THE SHIZZ" when it comes to fur. Fmjs and a pump action Winchester are about an optimal Fur combination as could ever be found.

I , however am an average Fur'r and use a .22LR to great effect.
Head shots are the best, but putting a .22LR into a Wolf or Fox or Lynx's chest is going to scramble their insides up every time, and they dont go far.



I skin right away, when I'm far from home, and skin the ones I pick up on he way back, at home.

Like Janobels 14 said, "learn to sew";

The skill can save your skin (LOL!) and make $$ for more hunting.
Ive used 12 Gauge 00Buck with great effect while hunting Wolves at night, under a big moon, howling them up.

.223 is used very commonly, as Caribou hunters who carry this extreamly populr Arctic round often encounter fur hunting the same Caribou. FMJ's are best, as are head shots.
I always travle with two rifles, a .22lr and something larger, unless Im walking.

Fox will easily let you get within 50 yards before they skitter, but a Wolf wont even look over his shoulder, once he knows your on him, and he will just run like hell. I shoot Wolves in the Chest, and none have gotten far.

7.62X54R Czech LPS is fine for head shots on all fur.....I even caught an Otter with one last Spring.

 

[saskboy]

thanks guys, maybe I will tray some varmit bullets in the 308 or go for some head shots in the 17. I just want a few yotes to hang on the wall thats all. Here is a question for all you 17 shooters, do you guys use the balistic 17gr bullets or the hollow point 20gr bullets on bigger animals. I think i perfer the 20grs.

 

[Jonty]

Do you have access to a 204?

 

[monkyboy1975]

What about the .17 Remington?

 

[bdg146]

204 is a great caliber

 

[HuntElk4Fun]

.17 HMR is my preference

 

[Dksimon]

If you are covered well coyotes will get pretty close before they decide you are a threat. I would say the .17 woudl be your best bet. Let them get as close as possible then go "Woof" or pretty much any variation of a dog noise will work, they will stop and look up, then you aim for the ear.

I am actually planning a coyote hunt and plan to take a .223 for longer shots and a .22 for close shots. but im going to wear a ghillie suit just to see how close they will get

 

[xd45gaper]

no .222's!!!???
.223 is almost to much power for fur harvesting, if you are good at sewing then go ahead.

10 years ago i would have said 22 MAG. now days i would say 17 HMR, or 22 Mag. Leaning way more towards the 17 HMR with head shots.

300WSM for fur harvesting

 

[BoilerUP]

Really surprised it took 13 posts until somebody mentioned the .204...