How far do you feel comfortable using the .223 on coyotes?

[270-300]

You really did something to make a 22 250 10#. Most vintage bolt actions in 22 250 are well under 8 lbs stock. Mine is 7 with scope. Some are 5.

A 223 is a 200 yard handicap on 22 250 velocity wise.

Doesnt take much energy to kill a coyote.

If i was looking to downsize from 22 250 for a rifle only to shoot varmits, 223 would be at the bottom of my list. 17 hmr or 204 ruger would be at the top. A 20 grain cci lead tip from 17 hmr will penetrate 2 water jugs and expand to 35 caliber everytime.

 

[270-300]

250-300 confidently. It can be done farther easily but if there is wind plus emery is dropping quickly

90% of picking a hunting rifle for open windy areas is about bullets that shoot flat and dont drift in wind. Energy needed to kill an animal is usually far surpassed.

 

[coya]

400 is the farthest I've killed a yote with 223. Daytime would be a different story

 

[BreechFace]

Depends:
My old Mini-14 - 50 yards

You're a hell of a shooter!

 

[NRA4LIFE]

You're a hell of a shooter!

Too funny! Those models from the 80's (mine is 1987 I believe) and I think 90's were terrible. I have read where Ruger did something finally in about 2003 or so. I'd struggle to hit paper at 100 yards.

 

[hunterjrg]

I’ve always enjoyed the 223 and it has served me well. I never thought about being undergunned with it and it tips over coyotes at whatever distance I thought reasonable with 55 gr Vmax or Sierra SP. Long before YouTube or forums where a thing

 

[dreadi]

Knowing that my 18" 5.56 consistently shoots sub MOA at 800+ yards, I'd be cool with poking coyotes that far. However, the one coyote I've shot was with 458 SOCOM subs at 20ish yards.

 

[omicron1792]

400 is the farthest I've killed a yote with 223. Daytime would be a different story

Good shooting Tex. That’s a long poke with thermal. I’ve gone into 300s but never 400.

 

[gethuntin]

I have used a 223 for the first decade or so of calling and went from 50gr vmax to the 55 gr vmax with some 60gr mixed in. I could hit them 400-500 but obviously the knock down was lacking, and wind drift was a factor. I started getting into tournaments and the 223 just don't cut it unless we get into a stand where we feel like shots will be under 200 yards. We now use 243s, 6arcs, 6 creeds. There are a few options in the 22 arc factory offering now that would add some range over the 223. The Howa mini sounds interesting for a light weight walking rifle.

 

[BluMtn]

When Pickup or SxS hunting yotes I have an AR Pistol that I have on a sling across my chest. It has a 1X Primary Arms on it. Ammo is 55 grain Varmintor loads.

When hiking the fence lines I have an AR with 20" barrel and a 5X Primary Arms. Same ammo.

In our country the yotes have been shot at so many times that they will watch a vehicle drive by, but if you slow down or stop the are gone. So Vehicle hunting you have to be quick getting the gun in the ready position and be prepared for a running shot, so I am good to about 150 yards.

Fence line hunting if you are observant and move slow and deliberate you can get into a fence corner and get setup and then I am good to about 500 unless I want to play a little then I will stretch as far as I can.

 

[turbo406]

90% of picking a hunting rifle for open windy areas is about bullets that shoot flat and dont drift in wind. Energy needed to kill an animal is usually far surpassed.

Ill take my 223 shooting 75 eldm over your 17. 204, 22 250 shooting fast flat anyday. Bc is king in the wind.

 

[270-300]

Ill take my 223 shooting 75 eldm over your 17. 204, 22 250 shooting fast flat anyday. Bc is king in the wind.

Im not sure what your arguing here. Ive never owned a .204. A 22 250 loads the same bullets as 223. So why are you arguing a 22 cal target bullet for using 223 to hunt over 22 250 to hunt ? If you want a high bc hunting bullet they do make eldx in 22 cal, and there is a 53 grain vmax that has an uncannily high bc.

 

[KurtR]

Im not sure what your arguing here. Ive never owned a .204. A 22 250 loads the same bullets as 223. So why are you arguing a 22 cal target bullet for using 223 to hunt over 22 250 to hunt ? If you want a high bc hunting bullet they do make eldx in 22 cal, and there is a 53 grain vmax that has an uncannily high bc.

Target bullets kill just fine. Right bullet construction and impact velocity . Energy is a useless metric

 

[270-300]

Target bullets kill just fine. Right bullet construction and impact velocity . Energy is a useless metric

Except non expanding bullets are not legal for hunting. And none of your statements answer the question.

 

[KurtR]

Except non expanding bullets are not legal for hunting. And none of your statements answer the question.

Who said any thing about non expanding bullets. The eldm expands just fine along with all the other "target bullets" when paired with proper impact velocity. I was adding context to your factually false statement on bullets

 

[270-300]

Who said any thing about non expanding bullets. The eldm expands just fine along with all the other "target bullets" when paired with proper impact velocity. I was adding context to your factually false statement on bullets

Your the xpert.