Coyote Rifle

[MikeNice]

Well it seems that things have gotten a little out of hand here in the heart of the Carolinas. The smart people in charge of controlling animal populations decided to introduce coyotes back in to the eco system. Well keeping track of said animals stopped being a priority about two years ago when the economy got topsy turvy. Or at least that is what the vet told us.

My cousin recently had to carry his dog in after the dog got attacked in some high grass. The dog was less than 20 yards from the house and less than 20 feet from my cousin. He had turned to walk inside and was whistling for the dog to follow. Then he heard a yelp and the dog started howling. By the time he got over to the dog the coyotes were hightailing it off in to the woods.

Now my cousin described the attacking animals to me and they sounded more like wolves to me. However, I have been told by two vets that coyotes have been spotted in the area and have started coming out during the day to hunt.

My question after all of that is a simple one. Will a .22lr be enough for coyotes? Should I start looking to upgrade to something like a M1 carbine? Would a vz52 with 7.62x45 ammo be over doing things? Most of my rifle experience is 10/22, British 303, and M1carbine. I have no experience with coyotes and wouldn't know exactly what it would take to handle an agressive one.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

I would imagine at those ranges, a well placed .22LR should be effective, esp if you use something like the 40 gr Velocitor.

However, I would think the M1 Carbine and a good soft point would be much more so.

A rifle in 7.62xanything should be plenty effective. The issue is whether you live in a rural enough area for it to be safe. I'd say roll with the .22 or the M1 Carbine, whatever you are more confident with.

 

[WalkAbout]

.22 magnum or 17HMR are as low as I would go for a coyote. Im sure that someone will come along and say that 22lr is plenty with proper shot placement, which is probably true, but something like a .223 would give you a much larger margin of error and probably a quicker death, which is important to me. They also make coyote specific shotgun shells now too. Any of the other rifles you mentioned would suffice though. Just remember, the bigger and/or faster the bullet, the deader the coyote. ;-)

b

 

[788Ham]

If you have access to a shotgun, load'er up! If the coyotes are that close to the house, you're covered son, you're covered! Go with #4 buck, maybe #2 buck, nothing smaller. If you gut shoot them, leave them, the other coyotes will take care of that!

 

[stubbicatt]

I use a 223 on coyotes, but am of the belief that 243 is optimal.

The M1 carbine is probably unsuitable due to 1st hand reports from an acquaintance who was a deputy sheriff in Oklahoma who reported to me his issue weapon was a M1 carbine and he was sometimes tasked with putting down rabid and feral animals, and his accounts of several hits with the carbine and just yelping without going down cause me to discount that cartridge as a viable alternative.

Do what you want.

 

[NCsmitty]

It's not clear if you have any firearms right now.

I would recommend at least a 22 Rimfire Magnum, or better yet, a 22 center fire to give you extra range. A 22 center fire would also give less chance of a ricochet with their frangible bullets. We're talking a 22 hornet, 222 Rem, or the 223.



NCsmitty

 

[jimmyraythomason]

The M1 carbine is probably unsuitable due to 1st hand reports from an acquaintance who was a deputy sheriff in Oklahoma who reported to me his issue weapon was a M1 carbine and he was sometimes tasked with putting down rabid and feral animals, and his accounts of several hits with the carbine and just yelping without going down cause me to discount that cartridge as a viable alternative.

Odd! Perhaps the deputy is a poor shot. The 30 cal M1 is very capable of being a great fast handling coyote gun. You may find a hi-cap magazine helpful should you run into a pack.

 

[Gryffydd]

Was your fried using FMJ ammo in his M1 carbine?

I use a 223 on coyotes, but am of the belief that 243 is optimal.

Are we still talking about the canine that tops out around 45lbs on average?

 

[oldfool]

yotes ain't the bravest of gawd's creatures, just sneaky
will rarely take on anything of their own size w/ teeth, even in a pack, unless crippled
22 WMR or 17HMR will do, if hit good, but any centefire will do better, long gun or short
but unless you have a safe field of fire, any shotgun gauge at short distances (ditto post #4), kill shot or not, will make 'em find elsewhere pretty quick, looking for easier pickings, after they drag off and eat their own crippled
they ain't brave, but they ain't stupid either
(but don't leave food, dead or alive, within easy reach, yote's ain't real particular about their diet, vultures with fur)

feral dogs something else, not brave, but stupid and aggressive, will attack most anything, if running in a pack, including you

 

[52grain]

Never been coyote hunting, but from what I hear it's hard to get them at close ranges. I would look for something along the lines of a varmint rifle with a cartridge capable of longer range.

That said, it sounds like the tall grass is providing them with enough cover that they are approaching the house.

 

[FMJMIKE]

A scoped Ruger Mini-14 would be perfect for coyotes.

Red wolves were released in certain parts of NC. The coyotes made the trip east on their own four paws..............

 

[oldfool]

one thing OP did not say (other than the one described incident) is how close neighbors are or are not
yote hunting vs yote defense "at home", could matter a lot

if it was me, I would be walking "Buffy" (cute little white fluffy lap dawg) on a leash
with Gin-Gin, not on leash, along for company (105# GSD, her daddy was a police dawg in Detroit)
Buffy always did think Gin-Gin was mommy, probably because Gin-Gin thought so, too
and a k-frame on my hip, if close neighbors not an issue
and cut the grass

 

[52grain]

one thing OP did not say (other than the one described incident) is how close neighbors are or are not yote hunting vs yote defense "at home", could matter a lot

Good point. More information needed.

 

[M&PVolk]

Anything .223 would be nice...perhaps an AR 15 in a varmint package?

 

[unwise11]

mines, plant them, and wait.
or you could try using common sense and use a .30 carbine, coyotes are dogs, a .22 will kill it, a .30 carb will kit it, my .308 will destroy it.
otherwise, use somthing you can, id rather be in afghan with my gun with a zero and ammo, than a barrett i cant figure out. of course, when im in afghan, i might have a barrett, or somthing in .338
but thats in 4 years...

 

[MikeNice]

Where I live is rural in it's way. I have one house to the east and a road about 45 yards to the north. To the west is a large open field that runs about 120 yards then a dense tree line. There is at least some tree coverage in every direction except south. In that direction I would be shooting across a dirt road and in to an embankment. It is also the direction I do not believe I would have to worry about.

There is a lot of rural area around us we just happen to be on the very edge. However, we do get a lot of deer coming from the north and east. It is not uncommon to see them eating our grass around sundown, from about August untill about December.

I'm talking mainly about coyote defense. I am not interested in hunting. I am mainly worried about keeping my wife and daughter safe in the yard. Also we get a lot of wild life in the yard such as rabbits, deer, birds, and the occasional abandoned cat or dog. I want to make sure the coyotes don't start seeing it as a buffet.

My wife told me tonight that she has started seeing them in the shopping center where she works. She usually only sees them when she goes in early (5am) for the delivery trucks. This is a densely polpulated area, but their is a lot of tree cover. It seems like any where there is dense trees they are starting to show up.

I currently have a Ruger 10/22 carbine. I'm still waiting on my CCH permit to go buy a pistol. However, I can easily get my hands on a vz52. I just think a 7.62x45 round might be over kill given the proximity of my home to other homes and roads. Plus the ammo is impossible to find now. I can probably get a M1 Carbine on loan from my dad.

I might be a bit paranoid at this point, but if they are getting with in 60 feet of homes, I rather be safe than sorry.

 

[MikeNice]

Future, I don't bet on a .22LR with dogs any more. After having to shoot a pissed off pit bull, I found out it doesn't always work. I hit him with two shots about three inches below his neck. One on each side of the center line. He didn't die. He just ran off yelping.

The neighbor the dog belongs too came around that afternoon asking if I knew who had shot his dog. I told him what transpired and everything was cool. He did inform me though that the dog had survived.

 

[unwise11]

well, bummer, probly not good ammo, and shot placement matters, a .22 is a headshot caliber, if you feel you arent good enough a shot for that then bummer, but if you are then use it.
i have a .308, 12 guage and .22 in my room, im 14,
there is a .380, 9mm, .357 and .22 pistol in the safe, and 2 rifles, being an ar15 and a marlin 336 i believe, i can use all these well. i am confident in them.
but i would rather have an accurate .22 than a flyer 50 cal.

 

[MTMilitiaman]

If all you're trying to do is protect your pets, a .22 LR will probably work for that. Even by the one firsthand account of the .22 "not working" against an angry dog, the results were satisfactory for your ends--the dog ran off yelping. In your case, as long as your pets are safe and you persuade the coyotes to leave, the rifle has accomplished its mission. As stated, coyotes are sneaky, not stupid. I have a 10/22. It loves the CCI Velocitor. This is the fastest 40 gr .22LR load on the market. It destroys vermin, though the largest thing I've ever shot with it was a 24 pound turkey or a few fat rabbits. I know with my 10/22, I could easily hammer pair these on a coyotes head/neck/shoulder very quickly out to at least 30 or 40 yards.

 

[Pictures]

My suggestion?



Minus the broomstick on the front, of course. Kel-Tec SU-16C (I own a CA...because I have to).

 

[mshootnit]

You are darned right coyotes will come after domestic dogs, they will even lure them out for an easier kill. 22 LR will put a hurtin on them at less than 50 yds (I definitely second the Velocitor suggestion), a lever 22 mag/ Hornet would be good to 100 or so. A quick handling 223 or 22-250 with a 4X scope would be great for quick encounters. If you have longer shots and a little more time 6 or 9X is more appropriate. If you don't care about hides take a look at that new Saiga 410.
I once had a sweet little female mix dog that was about half blue healer and half coyote hound (grey hound) I tell you what if those coyotes were within 400 yards of her they were going to get a bite out of their @ss. And she was absolute hell on coons and possum.

 

[oldfool]

one house to the east and a road about 45 yards to the north. west is a large open field about 120 yards then a dense tree line... south. In that direction I would be shooting across a dirt road
we do get a lot of deer coming from the north and east. It is not uncommon to see them eating our grass around sundown, from about August until about December.
coyote defense... worried about keeping my wife and daughter safe in the yard. we get a lot of wild life in the yard such as rabbits, deer, birds, and the occasional abandoned cat or dog. I want to make sure the coyotes don't start seeing it as a buffet. ... given the proximity of my home to other homes and roads.
they are getting with in 60 feet of homes, I rather be safe than sorry.

distances named to roads and neighbors sound a bit short to me for any centerfire, or even 22WMR or 17HMR... real easy to forget which direction they are running to, if/when

understand and empathize with your concerns, but as said way above, "think shotgun" at 40 yds or less, little risk of harm to others beyond, and WileE will not stand and fight against any threat, unless cornered with no-way-out

20 ga, 16ga, or 12ga , single shots easy had on the cheap, slug loads not req'd
that pack ain't coming after you, after just one shot fired, no hurry to reload, they headed the other way
no shortage of OTHER small game for them in your area, from what you said, but need to stay aware and alert, can't count on only one pack, nor one lone problem yote, but rabid pit bulls they ain't, live or die, all you need 'em to do is learn to avoid your turf
any one you lay some shot into won't return the visit, nor likely will any of his real close friends, absent too easy small food that cannot fight back

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

Use what ya got---a .30-06 is fine if you don't plan on keeping the fur.

 

[Snowdog]

A .30 carbine is plenty for coyote! A 15-round magazine of JSP or JHP will lay ruin to a pack in no time, I'm sure.
Granted, it wouldn't be among my top choices if I were planning zapping them at 300 yards, but it'll thump them just fine within 100.

I'd imagine it will also punch through most exterior walls and perforate objects/people on the other side at that range as well.

 

[Dallas Jack]

You could try one of these.

Dallas Jack