Coyotes In Semi-Rural Area -- Which Caliber & Bullet Type?

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Yeah... maybe I need to buy a .22 Hornet... or .22K-Hornet. However, by the time I find a rifle and ammo, the threat may be gone. True, it may return...

What do I do for NOW??

What I have on-hand is .22 WMR w/ 30gr V-Max or .223 w/ 40gr V-max. I don't want to damage my neighbors' property or cause other collateral damage.
 
Sounds like a job for a shotgun. Make sure not to use steel shot or the like to cut down on possible ricochets. Saiga would be good for quick follow up shots, 12ga would be nice for the higher amount of shot going down range.

If your a good shot you could use .22 shorts out of a rifle, very quiet. Bust them in the head, should work.
 
Shotgun?... 12ga or .410 bore? I keep #4 buckshot for either for HD but I think it's a bit much for coyote with close neighbors. I'd probably opt for BB for coyote. This would be at shorter than 100 yard range.
 
coyote ammo

The 22 mag ballistic tip ammo does not seem to ricochet as badly as solid bullets as it breaks up more on impact. Also, the more interaction you have with bold coyotes, the more nocturnal they become. I had one dig into my dog pen late one night. I heard a commotion and went outside with my 45; the Great Dane had already taken care of the problem!
 
I CAN be talked into another caliber and to add that noise is also a concern.
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Well, the .218 Bee is in the Hornet class. But talk about a handloading proposition.....

The little Hornet has hung on for 80 years for a good reason. It's used all over the world (called 5.6x35R across the pond). Whatever reason it is you don't want one, I suspect you'd quickly change your mind if you bought one. It's a dandly little cartridge that fills a useful niche between the rimfires and the .222/.223 class.

Mine sure isn't going anywhere, and another could certainly find a home here at some point.

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I would also choose a shotgun, your worried about noise so choose the .410. I wouldn't hesitate to use to .22 mag either. I can't give you first hand knowledge of the 22 mag on coyotes but just bought one for a varmit gun and I know i'll try a coyote or 2 with it. For the last 2 years my general around the house varmit gun has been a marlin levergun loaded with 38's and 3 .357 rounds. I figure if I haven't gotten it done with a few .38's those .357's might come in handy.
 
We don't have Coyotes here in Australia but I have wacked plenty of Dingo, Wild Dogs and Foxes. IMHO you have the perfect round for a Dog problem in a semi rural area, the good old 22mag will do the job easy out to 150-175 yards or more with a chest or head shot with decent ammo like CCI Maxi-Mag Hollowpoints out at that distance I wouldn't worry about the bullet exiting to much, although it can but not often just check what is beyond your target.
 
A friend of mine shoots coyotes with a Ruger 10/22 and an ear shot. Personally, I like a M1 .30 carbine for short range "quiet" work. I would stay away from the "exotic" rimfire cartridges unless $$ isn't a big deal. I think your .22 wmr is more than sufficient. About the only think else is a 22 hornet. Why don't you try finding the coyotes and take a shot with the .22 wmr you already have? Then you will know how effective the round is, how easy coyote are to kill (they aren't Canadian wolves), and how smart those flea bags really are.

If you want to keep pass through kills down, you may need to find an explosive fragmenting bullet, like a Barnes Varmint Grenade. They don't come out the other side.
 
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If neighbors are letting their pet dogs run free, they are probably more of a threat than coyotes.
 
Kinda surprised about the .223 and Hornet suggestions considering the distance to your neighbors.

I'd have to agree with the shotgun idea.
 
A 38 Special with handloaded wadcutters (900 fps) is good for coyotes. Fairly quite and easily transported.
 
For those curious why I don't "want" to buy into another cartridge: Plain and simple, it's money. The less common cartridges cost more for both the rifle and for the ammunition. After a little looking it seems that I'll be out approximately $1000US for a rifle and a cache of ammo in .22 Hornet. Of course, if I begin reloading then ammo costs will be moot. Also, I just prefer cartridges that are very common in my area. Lastly, I prefer auto loaders. My .22 WMR is a Remington 597 and the .223 Rem is an AR-15. I haven't yet found a .22 Hornet in an autoloader and, if they exist, I suspect they're pricey.

The above stated, I do understand that my best option may be a .22 Hornet or similar. I'm just hoping I can safely use what I already have.

RE: Elevated Position... I guess I could buy a small elevated hunting blind but my guess is the coyote(s) would be gone by the time I climb up there.

After comments about .223 Rem, .22 WMR and shotguns... I've narrowed my options to .22 WMR w/ BT ammo, .410 bore shotgun w/ BB shot or .22 Hornet w/ BT ammo.

ETA: What do you folks think about .17 Rem with 17gr BT ammo?
 
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What do you folks think about .17 Rem with 17gr BT ammo?
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I've never seen 17 gr. bullets for .17 rem as factory loaded ammo or just bullets.

The 17 gr. bullets made for the .17 rimfires probably wouldn't even make it to the target if fired from a .17 Rem. They're not meant to go 4,500 FPS.
 
Most of us live on two acres so my neigbors are pretty close
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That sounds very close to me, anything more than a shotgun would be a problem unless its very hilly.

HB
 
Yes, too close for comfort. It's "somewhat" hilly but nut very much. The soils is fine sand so that helps but I worry about hitting a rock and causing a ricochet. It's beginning to sound like my best option is a .410 bore shotgun with BB pellets.
 
Mike1234567 said:
ETA: What do you folks think about .17 Rem with 17gr BT ammo?
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If you want to buy and use a 17rem you might as well use your 223. Theirs at least a few problems with that (buying and using a 17rem).
1. the 17rem is going to probably be louder then your 223
2. you have to buy another gun and ammo (which you don't want to do)
3. by all accounts the 17 cals are a PITA to reload plus you will have to buy some reloading gear for it (dies ect).
4. factory ammo would probably be hard to find unless its a good LGS (you wont find it at your Wall Mart or Hardware shop).

If you don't want to use you 223 because you are worried about the bullet exiting and hitting who knows what, you can get some really good ammo with frangible bullets for the 223 or you could download it but IMO you have a 22mag that will do what you want without all the other problems
1. buying another gun, scope and ammo
2. just about anyone thats sells ammo will have 22mag
3. excessive noise
4. reloading and buying reloading gear.
 
.223 is a good choice IF you know your backstop areas.
If you have houses or outbuildings within 200 meters, I would choose the .22 Magnum or a carefully loaded .22 Hornet.
 
Seems like I read recently about a frangible 22 round, but can't recall where.

In the meantime, if you have a handgun, you might consider Glaser Safety slugs. Expensive per shot, and not as accurate as a rifle, but a handgun is handier, and the Glaser will not ricochet, ever.

I bought some Russian-made buckshot intended for Saiga's .410....3 pellets/shell. Cheap, and would probably work pretty good at close range. Not sure about the ricochet possibilities, though.
 
Don't waste your time with a .410! Get your 12 ga. out, load it with some #2 buck and blaze away, those yote's will have more to worry about carrying that stuff around, and don't worry about all of those pellets flying around, they're not '06 bullets!
 
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