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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,660
Campfire Outfitter
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OP
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,660 |
Going to try my hand at Coyote hunting and looking for a new gun.
Currently I have a big gap from 22 WMR to my 25-06, I will be hunting in a lead free zone so that limits what I can load in the 25-06 to 90 gr etip and up. I am thinking a .223 or 22-250 would do the job then decided a .204 might be the ticket...
Whats everyone using?
Ted
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,082
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 3,082 |
Only killed one coyote in my life. I was deer hunting and happened to have my 280Rem in my hand that day. Probably overkill but it definitely did the job! I'd probably grab my 22-250 if I was going on a dedicated coyote hunt.
Those who must raise their voice to get their point across are generally not intelligent enough to do so in any other way.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 94
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 94 |
I hunt coyotes and have and prefer the 22-250. I'm not interested in saving the fur though. I have a 223 also and it doesn't tear them up as bad but they seem to run off more. I'm usually hunting in contests so I need to find them as quickly as possible. The 40 round Winchester hollow pts in the white box work great for me and are pretty cheap. It's also a lot of fun to call them close and shoot them with a shotgun
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Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,799 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,799 Likes: 1 |
Going to try my hand at Coyote hunting and looking for a new gun.
Currently I have a big gap from 22 WMR to my 25-06, I will be hunting in a lead free zone so that limits what I can load in the 25-06 to 90 gr etip and up. I am thinking a .223 or 22-250 would do the job then decided a .204 might be the ticket...
Whats everyone using? I've shot coyotes with many of the big cartridges, on down to the 223. Most, though, with the 223. Put the bullet in the right end of the coyote, and it will die. I don't think I'd use the 204, but then I don't own one so I can't speak to it's effectiveness. I also can't speak to the effectiveness of the small caliber, no-lead bullets as I haven't bothered to try them (don't have to here in ND). But if Nosler is willing to put their name on a Ballitic Tip without lead in it, I'd start there.... Kaiser Norton
The Kaiser- "If it ain't broke, I can fix that!"
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,438
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 1,438 |
TATELAW - re: 'yote' pix. "OUCH" just had to hurt. Homesteader
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,158 Likes: 3
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 96,158 Likes: 3 |
Life Member SCI Life Member DSC Member New Mexico Shooting Sports Association
Take your responsibilities seriously, never yourself-Ken Howell Proper bullet placement + sufficient penetration = quick, clean kill. Finn Aagard
Ken
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1 |
First thing: it might be a bit tougher to find lead free bullets for the .204...not really sure, I never looked.
Second: there isn't a much more utilitarian rifle than a .223, easy to find ammo or load for, cheaper to shoot and gets the job done from gophers to deer.
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,015
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,015 |
First thing: it might be a bit tougher to find lead free bullets for the .204...not really sure, I never looked.
Second: there isn't a much more utilitarian rifle than a .223, easy to find ammo or load for, cheaper to shoot and gets the job done from gophers to deer. And make it a fast twist (THINK RUGER) since you can't do lead.
$$$ TRUMP AT THE PUMP 2024 $$$
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1
Campfire Oracle
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Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 Likes: 1 |
Yeah, Ruger is 1 in 9, Savage makes some in 1 in 9 and Tikka makes a 1 in 8....
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,015
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 7,015 |
Was thinking of the 1-8 RAR but any of those will work.
$$$ TRUMP AT THE PUMP 2024 $$$
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,213
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,213 |
When I pick a rifle to go coyote calling this season, I'm likely to carry an RAR-Predator in any of the 3 choices that you've cited.
If cost or availability is important to you, the 223 would be the winner. 223 ammo is cheaper and easier to find just about anywhere I've been. That said, unless you're going to hunt coyotes a lot, a couple hundred rounds per year in any of the 3 isn't going to be hard to find if you plan ahead.
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Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,518
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 6,518 |
I use a 223 for coyotes, prairie dogs, groundhogs. Never felt under gunned. Hell, I may even use it on deer occasionally.
If we live long enough, we all have regrets. But the ones that nag at us the most are the ones in which we know we had a choice.
Doug
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,845
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 8,845 |
I think the 22-250 (maybe 220 swift) is the ideal coyote round. I agree with what Ingwe said about the 223 though and you would never find yourself wanting if you chose the 223. I love the 204; but, since most people make this point on multiple calibers, I will do so here too. If you travel you don't want to rely on that 204. You might lose your ammo (tongue in cheek).
_________________________________________________________________________ “Montana seems to me to be what a small boy would think Texas is like from hearing Texans.” John Steinbeck
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,819 Likes: 4
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 42,819 Likes: 4 |
Bullet selection would drive your choice and you hand load, that would indicate 22 caliber...
If you want economy, then that dictates a 223.. if you could care less, then the 22.250 is a step up
if you don't handload and want to be able to find and buy ammo about any place that sells it, then a 223 is your most logical choice...
all three are more than adequate to drop a coyote as long as the shooter can place the bullet where it is supposed to go...
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,517
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,517 |
Anything a 22-250 can do, a 243 can do better. Not sure what's available in lead free, but I use 70gr bt's, and have awesome results.
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,179 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 7,179 Likes: 1 |
I have shot coyotes with various 22's but if I wanted a dedicated coyote rifle, I would use a 6mm or 243. can't comment on the lead-free thing since, in my area, it's OK to lead poison a coyote! GD
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,834
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 5,834 |
I'm told that a 6x47 Lapua puts a coyote's d*ck in the dirt. I plan on finding out later this fall/winter.
I never thought I'd grow up to be a grumpy old man, but I did, and I'm killin' it.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,790 Likes: 1
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,790 Likes: 1 |
I would pick the .22-250 every time.. Like my .223, but they are mostly p. dog and gopher killers.
Molon Labe
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Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,601
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,601 |
Yeah, Ruger is 1 in 9, Savage makes some in 1 in 9 and Tikka makes a 1 in 8.... I agree with Ingwe. Fast twist 223 is my choice. Shooting a Ruger currently, but a Tikker is tempting. A 204 is fun, but tougher to hit with when the wind picks up, and distance stretches.
Nut
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson
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Joined: Mar 2011
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 2,601 |
Anything a 22-250 can do, a 243 can do better. Not sure what's available in lead free, but I use 70gr bt's, and have awesome results. Agree here too. If I leave the 223 in the safe, it's the 243 that is in my hands. A little more for windy days... I use 58 vmax. Nasty, they are.
Nut
Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.
Thomas Jefferson
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