best caliber for coyotes?

[DuckDogDr]

I love my 204.
Just bought a 220 swift for grins and giggles but fast and flat shooting is the ticket

My Dad uses his 22-250 for everything though

 

[SpringM1A]

I had a holographic sight on two .223's and started missing easy shots. Found out there was a recall on them for POI shifts. The manufacturer very admirably bought them back and I went with Firedot Leupold VX-6 in 2-12. Have seen a noticeable tightening of groups on paper, one ragged hole now! That's good enough for me, I'm using scopes from here on out. I live in the west, and the .223 suppressed shooting 60gr V-Max with a scope seems like an ideal combination for my territory

 

[Braunschweiger]

I day and night hunt with thermals all over Missouri and I have not found a need to go beyond using 223/5.56 with 55gr polymer tip or hollow point. Taking proper shots under 200 yards with a decent shot will generally do the trick.

 

[duckp]

+ one on grendel

 

[scottprice]

I have used a lot of different rifles chasing coyotes (17hmr, 204,223, 243, 2506) and have settled on the 6mm creedmoor shooting 108gr eldms. I got tired of the wind blowing low bc bullets all over the place on those coyotes that hang up out there a ways.

I shoot a Bergara Premier approach with a Leupold VX5HD 3-15x56. Best coyote set up i have ever owned.

How is it on fur??

 

[mtg]

I’ve shot em with 22-250 (most preferred, most stock notches), 270, 308, and 12ga. Coyotes are not that fussy! Ha!

 

[Rooster308]

My favorite overall for killing coyotes is my 22-250AI pushing 75gr bullet 3500 fps. Shoots flat and fast, hits hard but can be a bit tough on fur. With current prices I haven’t worried much about that lately.
My buddy shoots a 243 with a 55gr bullet that has yet to exit on a proper placed shot.

 

[PredatorSlayer]

How is it on fur??

Better than a vmax. Depends on how far the shot is.

 

[Gstew1930]

22 creed shooting 62 ELD-VT is amazing if you're not saving pelts. the damage is pretty brutal

 

[D Lee]

Read every post. Not a single bad recommendation. Just me now, here's my favorite....

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.

In the Deed
The Glory
________________________________

I concur wholeheartedly for the reasons he gave. In my case: .308 Win - Tikka UPR - 24" bbl - Leupold VX5 HD. I'm way beyond OCD on accuracy and this rifle is capable of 1 tiny hole 5 shot groups @ 100. Sub MOA holds as ranges increase.

So.......is the .308 the # 1 best Wiley cartridge? Probably not. Nor is the 300 Win. Will they work, dependably, out to all sane hunting distances? 24/7/365.

I sold my .243 - arguably THE best WILEY cartridge - to gain more proficiency with my 30 cal rifles. Haven't regretted that decision. With its advantages and disadvantages, the .308 brings some long range challenges to the table. I welcome those challenges AND the rewards that come with my successes. As has been said many times in this thread...to each his own.

Cheers.

 

[doc holiday13]

How is it on fur??

Nosler 6mm 75g (purple tip) anchors coyotes and doesn't destroy the fur

 

[6mm Remington]

6mm Remington 80 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip

 

[SteepNdeep]

6mm creed, 70gr Nosler and 80gr ELD-VT, both hammer for me.

 

[TheGDog]

I have used a lot of different rifles chasing coyotes (17hmr, 204,223, 243, 2506) and have settled on the 6mm creedmoor shooting 108gr eldms. I got tired of the wind blowing low bc bullets all over the place on those coyotes that hang up out there a ways.

I shoot a Bergara Premier approach with a Leupold VX5HD 3-15x56. Best coyote set up i have ever owned.

QUESTIONS Specifically re: 17 HMR and 'Yotes. If shot opportunities are engineered to 35yds tops... it should be fine for standard double-lung, or frontal into chest shot, right? Not like I need to try to be headshots ony, right? Just asking because haven't taken 'em w/ .17 HMR yet. (.223 Rem & 12ga #2, or #4 HEVI-BISMUTH 3.5" (Found some 3.5" #1 shot y'day! Oof price stings though, but they work well!) But I do carry the .17 HMR sometimes for that purpose. Then if Ground Squirrels show up... I don't feel bad about expending pricey .223 Rem's, instead the .17 HMR 15.5gr NTX load has worked awesome on squeeks!

 

[Skerhunter]

QUESTIONS Specifically re: 17 HMR and 'Yotes. If shot opportunities are engineered to 35yds tops... it should be fine for standard double-lung, or frontal into chest shot, right? Not like I need to try to be headshots ony, right? Just asking because haven't taken 'em w/ .17 HMR yet. (.223 Rem & 12ga #2, or #4 HEVI-BISMUTH 3.5" (Found some 3.5" #1 shot y'day! Oof price stings though, but they work well!) But I do carry the .17 HMR sometimes for that purpose. Then if Ground Squirrels show up... I don't feel bad about expending pricey .223 Rem's, instead the .17 HMR 15.5gr NTX load has worked awesome on squeeks!

I would aim for cns (high shoulder neck junction) vs relying on double lung (less penetration needed). I know that works, never tried a true double lung with the HMR.

 

[TheGDog]

I would aim for cns (high shoulder neck junction) vs relying on double lung (less penetration needed). I know that works, never tried a true double lung with the HMR.

Thx for the reply Man!

 

[TheGDog]

I would aim for cns (high shoulder neck junction) vs relying on double lung (less penetration needed). I know that works, never tried a true double lung with the HMR.

FYI though... I will say this... once while out in the Dez at this one spot that people unfortunately like to bring in a lotta crap to shoot-at and leave it there... found some mild steel tubing, and a MuleDeer Scapula.

At 100yds, went thru the thick parts of the scapula just fine. AND pierce thru the first surface of that mild steel tubing just fine. Didn't go thru other wall of the tubing though.

Load was Hornady NTX 15.5gr all-copper.

The tubing had buncha larger dents on it, probably from like .45 LC all-lead bullets I'm guessing.

Picture included for reference. Projectile in the photo. Seem to recall tubing thickness like 1/4 or 3/8th inch.

 

[Skerhunter]

FYI though... I will say this... once while out in the Dez at this one spot that people unfortunately like to bring in a lotta crap to shoot-at and leave it there... found some mild steel tubing, and a MuleDeer Scapula.

At 100yds, went thru the thick parts of the scapula just fine. AND pierce thru the first surface of that mild steel tubing just fine. Didn't go thru other wall of the tubing though.

Load was Hornady NTX 15.5gr all-copper.

The tubing had buncha larger dents on it, probably from like .45 LC all-lead bullets I'm guessing.

Picture included for reference. Projectile in the photo. Seem to recall tubing thickness like 1/4 or 3/8th inch.
View attachment 842747

I know it will penetrate just fine for the first lung, I just question how much damage the second would receive. I would expect runners and we all know how far they can run at full speed in 30-60 seconds with holes in their lungs!

FYI my backstop is 2x6s with loose dirt behind it. My kid loves to recover bullets out of there. For .17 hmr typically the jacket, tip, and core are all separated and can be found in the first few inches of dirt, with the core penetrating the furthest (jacket and tip sometimes not buried at all). I’ve been stuck on the couch for a few days - will try to post pics in a few days.