best caliber for coyotes?

[ccampff]

243 with a 55, 58 or 70 grain bullet should hammer anything you shoot with it. Minimal hold over as well.

 

[Top Dog]

Hunting Fool,
True to form,mother nature made a story teller out of me. Last evening there were two hen turkeys strutting around on my front property.

Have not seen that in years being that the back property down by the Still River is loaded with Coyotes.

So maybe next week when I go up to the State Forest,I may have some luck.

Top Dog

 

[DooleyVT]

Thats interesting to hear, those are some big dogs. In my area a big coyote is 40-45 pounds with the majority of them being in the 25-35 pound range

New England here as well and a Warden friend has seen/heard of several over 60lbs!

 

[Top Dog]

DooleyVT,
I think that the coyotes getting to be that size are now called coy-wolves by some folks.

Fish & Game folks say there are no wolves here but they are the same folks that said we had no Cougars.

Then one got hit by a car near a major city. The state then did a dna test on it and they said it was from S.Dakota,no doubt visiting for the week-end!!!

Next week I will be going up to the state forest and try my hand at coyote calling.

Top Dog

 

[DooleyVT]

New England here as well and a Warden friend has seen/heard of several over 60lbs!

So to the OP it’s a 12 gauge REM 1100 shooting Xtended Winchester Supreme Elite 3” Coyote loads with a Carlson’s Coyote choke in the brush or 7mm-08 around fields.

 

[Top Dog]

DooleyVT,
That sounds like a nice set up,looks like you are pretty well all set.

My rig is a lowly single shot 16 ga Stevens with #4 high brass shells. State prevents shot larger that #2 and any centerfire is pretty much rulled out.

Top Dog

 

[Longrangeshooter1]

My go to gun is 223 ackley

 

[Top Dog]

Longrange,
I had not heard of anyone using an Ackley cartridge variant in a long time. Back in the early 60s.I had P.O. convert a Winchester Model 92 in 32-20 to 357. He was backlogged for a year and a half and I did not see the piece until I came back from 'Nam.

Just about how much more velocity will you get from the Ackley 223??

Top Dog

 

[UP NORTH]

My goto to is a 243 win with 70 gr Nosler BT. They do damage the fur some but bucks the wind better then my 223.

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[Top Dog]

Up North,
What is the average distance for shots at coyotes in your area?? Up in the north east,long range shots are not at all common.

No doubt about it,I am sure that the 243 does a better job at bucking the wind at longer ranges.

Top Dog

 

[MallardSX2]

22-250 with 52 grain sierra HPBT is hard to beat IMHO.

I killed a female with my kids 243 a few days ago. It ran at least 50 yards before piling up. Kinda surprised me.

 

[UP NORTH]

Up North,
What is the average distance for shots at coyotes in your area?? Up in the north east,long range shots are not at all common.

No doubt about it,I am sure that the 243 does a better job at bucking the wind at longer ranges.

Top Dog

In SE Wyoming it seems to always be windy! Most of my shots are within 200 yds, so definitely not that far out. I just like my 243 bolt gun. I have had some run 50 yds after being hit and some drop instantly.

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[Top Dog]

Up North,

A 200 yard shot here,for the most part,is a long one.

I find it interessting to see what other folks are using. Obviously what works for one person will not always be right for the next one.

You can hit a game animal in one spot and it will drop right there. The next one,you hit it the same spot and it may run a distance.

I guess many factors fit into the equation. No two situations are exactly the same.

Top Dog

 

[NE Herd Bull]

I find it interessting to see what other folks are using. Obviously what works for one person will not always be right for the next one.

in consideration of the bolded....I'll chime in

I am not a dedicated coyote hunter. For me it is something to do when other area big game seasons are over. I own several "varmint" rifles. However, I find it very useful to carry one of my elk/deer rifles, when calling coyotes.

When calling works it tends to be fast pointing, adrenalin filled shooting.
Using my "big-game" rifle in this situation makes me more proficient and confident in those guns, which then in turn helps me when things get western on an elk stalk.
(Usually not fur-friendly, but they are only paying a couple of $ for Nebraska coyotes anymore)

 

[Top Dog]

NE Herd Bull,
That is very good idea. Even though you have varmit rifles,you choose to use your deer/elk rifle which,obviously,is more than adequate.

What deer/elk rifle do you use???

Top Dog

 

[NE Herd Bull]

NE Herd Bull,
That is very good idea. Even though you have varmit rifles,you choose to use your deer/elk rifle which,obviously,is more than adequate.

What deer/elk rifle do you use???

Top Dog

My current go-to is a Montana X3 Extreme (sadly no-longer in production) in 300WM, Leupold VX5HD
Seems to my memory that gun has taken elk, deer, bighorn sheep, oryx and perhaps a few dozen coyotes.

I have a custom 7saum in the works, so I might be changing to a new favorite horse in 2022.

 

[longrangeprecision762]

Never met a coyote that could stand a vmax from a .223 or .243. Either can be had fairly cheap as well.

 

[Top Dog]

NE Herd Bull,
No doubt about it,that 300 Win Mag is more than adequate for just about anything.

LongRange,

223 0r 243 are very good. Again what ever your choice is,it is a good one.

Top Dog

 

[KnightOwl]

Hey everybody just wondering what y’all think is the best caliber for coyote hunting and also any preferences on rifles, meaning models and brands. Thank you everybody

Rugger M77 MKII laminate stock dark flat grey stainless 22-250 or 243 all time fav combo for these guys..

 

[Top Dog]

Knightowl,

Either of those cartridges sound very good for the coyotes.

If I could use it in my state,my preference would be for the 243,but either one would be great.

Top Dog