Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Predators and Varmints Best caliber for coyote

Looking to buy a nice coyote rig. I live in Mi. And doubt I would shoot past 2-300
Input greatly appreciated. Prefer something on the lighter side

Thx Angelo

223 is never the wrong choice. Fur a concern?

If I didn't own a 6br, I'd be using a .223

For 200 - 300 yd shooting coyotes a 223 shooting 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips at about 3700 - 3800 fps works just fine. I have killed numerous coyotes within that range using that combo and all have been one shot kills, it drops them dead right there. Just in case you are interested in saving hides I have never had an exit using that combo either.

drover

.223 is hard to beat. Plus ammo is reasonable and easy to find. I use an AR for Coyotes here at the ranch. I've also taken a truck load of feral hogs with it too.

+1 hard to improve on 223 and a 40 grain ballistic tip for coyotes

I'd look at the 6MM stuff. Sure is fun picking off those "barkers" out there at 600+ meters.

I'm in the process of getting a 6mm up and running Pat. I'm pretty excited about this rifle....I'm working on loads right now....

Fur is not a concern. Do I want the AR style or go with a bolt action?

Depending on how you are going to hunt here in MI it's rare for me to get 300 yard shot. When I hunt over bait from a blind a bolt gun is the way I go, I'am only going to get one shot, my baits are in heavy cover. Calling field edges on timber roads, big timber open woods my AR is my go to gun. Right now here is breeding time and there is a good chance of calling in pairs.

AR or bolt a 223 will do. For 2 seasons I tried 22-250 just more pelt damage than I liked.

I always also have my Benelli loaded with Dead Coyote with "T" shot it will put 45 pellets in a 30" circle at 50 yards.

If fur isn't a concern use your deer rifle. Makes for good practice unless you are just looking or an excuse to buy a new rifle.

If fur isn't a concern, I'd run a .243 with 75 Vmax.

If fur is a concern, I'd run a .223 and 40 grain Vmax bullets.

223 or 204 Ruger

[quote=angv350]Fur is not a concern. Do I want the AR style or go with a bolt action?

I have a Rock river arms Lar 15 and it's the most accurate rifle I own, shoots groups as small as 1/3 of an inch with handloads. Every bullet/powder combination that I have tried shoots groups under an inch.

Thx guys

A 55 gr ballistic tip from a 26" barreled 243 Winchester using RL-15 to a velocity of 4150 fps knocks the tee totaled dog chit outta these okleehoma coyotes.

I use the rifle that fits the season. In warmer weather I carry a varmint rifle. A 243 is all around and will take deer game also.

That's a best first choice.

In the big game season I shoot them with high power rifle. 30-06 is the universal first choice.

If fur isn't a concern, I love what a 243 does to coyotes. Puts them down hard no matter where you hit them.

Since I have only been interested in eliminating night dogs and not the fur, I find the 22-250 kills them. Outside of deer season when it is whatever is in my hand.

The Ruger American is on my short list... will its 1-8 twist play alright with the small 40grain bullets?

Yes.




Travis

does anybody here have knowledge of the Daniel Defense Ambush or Rock River Predator Pursuit or ATH AR Firearm?

Thx again, Ang

I have a Predator pursuit 20". It shoots just about everything I've tried well. RRA claims 3/4 moa accuracy, and it has met that for me, and I really haven't concentrated on tuning a hand load for it. The only thing I could gripe about is that it is a little muzzle heavy. They also make it in 16" if handiness is more important to you than extra velocity.

I have the 20" RRA varmint. It will do this 4 shot group all day.

I've never seen a coyote with a paper target coat.....

Huntsman, you have a way with words. So true, I have followed some of your other comments on other posts and smile. Mostly because all of your comments are straight truthful wisdom.

Buddy has 2 RRAs and those suckers flat out shoot. For an out of the box AR platform they are hard to beat.



They're very desirable in these parts. Get an extra $10 per pelt for one.

I'm thinking of using my deer rife, .270win. I'm guessing it's pretty ruff on them. I was thinking of reloading with some Sierra Varminter 90gr. Anybody have luck with these, I'm not overly concerned with keeping the hides but would be nice.

Push those at about 3,500 fps it might cut em in two. I know 100 grainers we used on crows in the '80s would turn them into a pink and black confetti cloud.

That advice about the 223 and the 40 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips is solid. Over the last 5 or 6 years of being retired, I've shot coyotes with my 260 (100 gr BT's) and my 220 Swift (55 gr BT's), but the 223 with those 40 grainers put coyotes down so fast that I was shocked. All I can figure is that the bullet dumps all or most all of its energy in the coyote, rather than the dirt field on the other side of the coyote.

Yup, 40 grain BTs just flat out work. They almost never exit, but they hold together just well enough to get deep enough inside to blow the innards to jelly without messing up the pelt.

I too have found great accuracy with my RRA predator model with 20" barrel. It shoots the 40's very well, but I switched to a 69 match king instead for those longer shots in the wind.

But my go to rifle will always be a 243 rifle though, even with saving hides.

Used my 270 for first time yesterday (100 grain bullet) and it
left a pretty good size exit hole.

204, 22-250, and 25-06 are the calibers I alternate back and forth with. 32 grain v-max in the 204 has worked fine. 55 Nosler Ballistic tips in the 22-250. Fast and flat shooting calibers for sure.

I like the way the bolt action rifles carry better than the AR, so it collects dust most of the time.

I had better luck in my 223s with 50 & 55 grain v-max than the 40 grainers for pelt damage. The last one I shot with the 40 out of my AR had a huge hole in the side. It may of hit a rib and when it was spinning the wound was so big I aimed and hit it in the same spot the second shot. It was ugly, the dog ran a little ways before expiring and I just decided not to use those anymore.

223 is a great caliber and you won't go wrong using it in a bolt or AR platform.

The 270 is the best coyote rifle, even if you're not gay.

Will the 40gr BT in 223 put a dog down if hit in the shoulders? What about a hind quarters hit? I use the 223 with 60gr Hornady SPs because I want the bullet to go through and break some bones on the way. I chose the heavier bullet to avoid a shallow blow up and a wounded run-off. Am I nuts?

I would run a .240 Weatherby. Lightning fast 6mm projectile! you can get into Vanguard S2, with an adjustable trigger and a sub-moa guarantee for $540. That is tought to beat.

22-250 With 55 grain bullet

Lately, I have been shooting my old .220 Swift with 50 gr. Blizking.. But my last two coyotes were killed with a .25-06 and 115 grain Berger and a .270 with a 110 grain Sierra.. For calling smaller calibers work ok.. For shots at dogs I just happen to see, the bigger ones are best..

I recently bought a RRA ATH and I'm amazed at how accurate it is ! After some load development it shoots the 60gr Vmax into 5/8 inch groups at 200 yds !

Yes.
Don't know.
Agreed-- big softpoint makes for a shoot anywhere bullet.

I like my 6x45 in AR platform for Coyotes. 70 gr Speer TNT is a wonderful bullet in that application.

Yeah, those Dead Coyote loads are bad to the bone.

What choke seems to work best?

DF

With the Dead Coyote Loads i use a Pattern Master Choke in my Benelli

But the 223 made the top 5 most overrated
That's my go too choice with the 53 gr tsx it's deadly..

While I've used an AR-15 type platform extensively, my favorite for putting the smack down on dogs is the 6mm Remington. I run 85 grain Sierra hollow point game kings at 3430 from a custom Tikka.

would not even consider going afield after yodel dogs without at LEAST a 30 cal of some sort.

What load(s) do you favor in .308?

I'd say the caliber that rests just above my trigger finger at the time I see one! I've taken them with a 12ga., 270win (I know, a little under powered), and my regular favorite the 22-250. Have yet to take one with my 7-08.

For what the OP outlined, I'd go 223, 22-250, or a 204.