.243 for coyotes

[MB_Nick]

Anyone use a .243 for yotes? whats the pelt damage like after the shot, lots of sowing?

[ramonmark]

I strictly use my 243. Started with a 222, and then used my dad’s 220 swift. Then the 204 Ruger. Switched to a 243 just for the longer shots. They all work great but you do have to be a little picky with the bullet used. I use the 75gr vmax and sometimes the 87gr vmax. I only like the 75gr vmax because I have super accurate load with varget. Shot 6 last week and 5 this week. These two I got yesterday morning in the same stand. First one was shot at 321 yards standing broadside and the other was shot on the run at about 400 yards. Zero pelt damage on these two. One small entrance and no exit. I’m running my 75gr at a medium load and getting 3260fps. I've had a couple blow right up but they were within 75yards. If you're hunting in tighter places Id recommend a smaller weight bullet with a toned down velocity or maybe a lighter cartridge all together. The places I hunt I shoot them anywhere from 250-700 yards. I carry my 12 gauge with coyote load in it for the closer ones and it seems to do the trick. There are a few more holes but no tears and easy for my fur buyer to sew. Plus the 75gr makes a wicked neck shot antidote for deer. Shot all 3 of my whitetail this year in the neck ranging from 302-374 yards. One shot and they're dead before they hit the ground. The closest one at 302 yards left an exit would about the size of a softball. Devastating impact.

[Ranch11]

I use a 243 as well. I'm using the hornady 58 grain vmax factory ammo out of my tikka. The last couple I've shot, I have struggled to find an entrance hole, with no exit. Furthest shot was 78 yards. It's been working good for me.

[Fishhunter]

How much do you get for a yote? Do you skin them out yourself or take them in whole.For my last question where do you find a buyer.

[canishunter22-250]

I started out with a 243 but got sick of sewing. I agree with the above posts that if you pick your shots well you can avoid doing too much damage with this caliber, but I prefer a 22-250 or a 223 because I care about the pelts. With a 22-250, I'm still careful about my shot placement, but I feel that I have a little more wiggle room than I had with my 243. Over a couple years, I shot quite a few coyotes with the 243 that weren't even worth skinning because of the damage. I wasn't using the same bullets as the above posters, so maybe that would make a big difference. I was using 55gr bullets going pretty fast.

[bulletman]

I called the Nosler Rep about this very subject and he suggested the Lead-Free Nosler Ballistic tips. My memories of .243's on coyotes suggest massive damage in my experience. I was probably using the heavier bullets if memory serves me correctly. The .243 is a great calibre if one can figure out how to minimize the damage. I haven't got around to trying the Nosler Rep's suggestion myself.

[aulrich]

The closest head I found to "fur friendly" was the 60 gr Sierra.

I had lots of bad holes until I got my 204.

[philintheblank]

I prefer pointed soft points over the ballistic tips out of my 243. I switched to a .223 last year but had shot many Yotes with my .243 before that. I used 90gr. Federal factory ammo, longest shot was only 150 yards but was happy with the lack of damage. I used the 55gr. Ballistic tips once, maybe it was was bad luck but I blew guts out the exit wound which was the size of a pie plate.

Overall the .243 is an awesome rifle for Yotes, doesn't matter where you shoot them they stop in their tracks.

[Kaz Dog]

I use my pal's .243 and he has it dead-on sighted in with the 75 grain V-MAX bullets. He loves this set up because of a very small entry hole and no exit, he sews very little.

[heretohunt]

Is it fair to assume then that while a .243 with the right bullet can be a great coyote caliber, some of the time it can be way too much gun? Event the best varmint bullets will destroy the odd one?
I find this thread interesting because I already have a big heavy tack driving .204, which is amazing on coyotes, but I don't think that it is a very good wolf gun or caliber. I have been more interested in wolves in the past few years and just go to the 7mm for them. I also have a model 70 Winchester .243 but the bullets I have for deer seems to turn coyotes inside out. I am looking for a dual use caliber, am I just kidding myself?

[tchardy1972]

Originally Posted by aulrich

The closest head I found to "fur friendly" was the 60 gr Sierra.

I had lots of bad holes until I got my 204.

This is what I use. Very little damage most of the time but the odd one does get torn up for some reason. The hornady 75 gr hp used to be good to but the manufacturer went and changed this bullet. My 223 is what I use if I'm hide hunting but if I'm just out to get them dead I go 243.