Thoughts on hunting coyote w/ 22mag revolver

[dukefan70]

Obviously accuracy is up to me, but my question is this: Would I be giving too much power away hunting coyote with a .22 mag from a 5.5 inch revolver as opposed to a rifle? Let's say absolutely no more than 75 yards, probably more like 50. I was hitting a 100 yard 10 inch gong with just elbows resting, but the power was MUCH less than hitting the 100 yard gong with the .22 mag rifle.

 

[rcmodel]

Yes, and no.

The .22 mag out of a 20" rifle will kill coyotes pretty dead at 100-125 yards.
If you can put the bullet in the boiler room.
But, they still usually run a ways before realizing they are already dead.

It will be much harder to do every time with a revolver at 75 yards.

They would be at their best on called coyote chest shots at much closer range off 15-25 yards.

rc

 

[Don McDowell]

Have shot many a coyote with a 22 magnum revolver. Hollowpoints work the best, but even at that one shot stops are seldom.
Keep the range to 50 yds or less , get your groups down to 4 inches or less from field postions, and you kill percentage will go up considerably.

 

[bpl]

22mag out of a revolver should be similar in power to 22lr out of a rifle, so keep it under 50 yards for sure, closer would be better. IME, 22lr hollowpoints don't reliably kill groundhogs quickly at 40-50 yards with body shots, so I generally try to go for head shots.

 

[cat_IT_guy]

I have no doubt it will kill them with a good shot, but seems there are better options out there. I would probably try to stay inside 25 yards or so to ensure (or rather improve my odds) of making that good shot.