what coyote caliber should i get

[Wille Takeit]

Hi, I am in the same boat as 'archer king' - i want to buy a good yote gun but there are so many articles about the best calibre.
There is some good information in this thread that should help make the choice easier.
One question i would have is - would the 25-06 be a good varmint calibre if one wasn't concerned about the extra cost associated with higher amouts of powder usage? The only reason i ask is that i have a chance to pick one up from a firend at a sweet price.

[IR_mike]

Originally Posted by wille takeit

the only reason i ask is that i have a chance to pick one up from a firend at a sweet price.

buy it!!

[shirtr]

Yes, buy it.
Before I had my .223/.22-250/.243 I used to shoot lots of dogs with my 25. Used from 75gr Sierra Hollow points to 115gr barnes. I wouldn't recommend the 75's if you want to preserve the hide.

[AB2506]

Originally Posted by Wille Takeit

Hi, I am in the same boat as 'archer king' - i want to buy a good yote gun but there are so many articles about the best calibre.
There is some good information in this thread that should help make the choice easier.
One question i would have is - would the 25-06 be a good varmint calibre if one wasn't concerned about the extra cost associated with higher amouts of powder usage? The only reason i ask is that i have a chance to pick one up from a firend at a sweet price.

A 25-06 is a great cartridge. However, don't buy it expecting to preserve the hides. Sometimes I got no exits, other times the critter had 5 ft of intestine extending outside the exit wound (the size a school bus could drive through). Although I must admit, that that coyote was shot at about 10ft when he finally turned away when learning that rabbits don't weigh 250 and wear camo!

25-06, fur rifle? NO. Great varmint/big game dual purpose rifle? YES.

[archer king]

yes i considered gettting a 25-06 but not for a strickly yote gun

[Tracker34]

I like my 222 for coyotes. Does the trick quite nicely. If I could afford another 22 CF it would be a 22-250, just for that extra splat. I remember the first coyote I shot with a 30 cal. It was my dad's Winchester, model 1895 chaimbered in 30-40 Krag. 180 gr. round nose made short work of that yote at 175 yards.

Originally Posted by archer king

yes i considered gettting a 25-06 but not for a strickly yote gun

I have a sako 22-250 and I wish it was a 25-06, I shoot maybe 5 coyotes a year and a bigger rifle would be more useful, that said, out of your list I say 22-250

[ruger300]

Have shot the 22-250 for years, it was my go to coyote gun forever. Played with the .223 for a while but found out I did'nt like the range limitations when the ole yotes would hold up past 300yds. Picked up a .204 and really liked the fur friendliness of that cartridge. Can't really go wrong with any of these calibers, shoot them lots, get to know their ins and outs and they'll serve you well in the coyote killing fields.

ruger300

[tombow]

22-250 55gr Sierra boattail hp 35.4 gr Varget.

[North of 53]

I shoot a 22-250 improved and I have a 223 I like them both but for long range there is nothing like a 22-250 AI with a fast twist. I shoot 75 gr VLDs took a coyote at 630 yard a few weeks ago. Now it is not very fur Friendly in close but then the fur is not worth much now anyway.
But if you are going to shoot at mostly 400 yards and under the 223 would be just fine. But even if you go with one or the other you have to pick the right twist for what you are wanting to shoot. I like the faster twists because I like to shoot heavier bullets with a much better BC. I also live in Manitoba and we can use a 22-250 on deer so that helps make the gun more useful to me. I use 80gr VLDs on deer and have taken two deer this year at over 400 yards . The 80 gr load I am use carries a 1000 ft/lbs out to 450 yards so it does the job.
But the best advise is pick a gun and get shooting there is nothing like lots trigger time to make a gun work well for you.

[foothillsman]

I've been toying with the idea of huntin them. I was told that a semi auto 223 is the way to go because you can get as many as 4-5 come in at once. How often does that happen. That may determine whether I wind up purchasing a ruger.

[AB2506]

Originally Posted by foothillsman

I've been toying with the idea of huntin them. I was told that a semi auto 223 is the way to go because you can get as many as 4-5 come in at once. How often does that happen. That may determine whether I wind up purchasing a ruger.

You usually get 1, sometimes 2, rarely 3. I don't think a bolt really slowed me up. Usually the problem is the coyotes slip into a dip and disappear for a bit, lots of time to work a bolt. Can't shoot what you can't see.

Also, the most common legal (in Canada) semi auto is the Ruger Mini14. It's rep is that it isn't very accurate. Most people I know who have tried it as a coyote rifle have sold it and moved on.

That said, in the states, where the very accurate AR15 is a legal hunting rifle, many predator hunters swear by them.

Seeing we live in Canada, I would (and do) stick with a good bolt rifle.

[Cooeylover]

Hard to argue with the 22-250, flat shooting, fast, and a loooooong reacher.


But I like the .223 cause you can afford to practice practice practice, trigger time is cheaper for good quality bullets.

[gatorr]

Be a little different and get the king of velocity the .220 swift. Love mine in a VSSF very accurate. Every one and their dog shoots a 22-250. Nothing wrong with them just too common.

[North of 53]

The 220swift is a ok gun, but really the 22-250 AI is over it like a tent when it comes to performance in the field and is much nicer to load for. The only problem with a 22-250 AI is that it is a custom gun, but having said that it is not hard to get one made up. I had one done a few years back from a standard 22-250 ,788 that I have had for over thirty years. I put a 1:8 twist Gallaird barrel on it and have loved it. This gun shoots very well and not just the under 1/2" at 100 but 2" at 500 yards. Get yourself a faster twist, shoot heavier, higher BC bullets and you will be amazed at just how easy it is to shoot well at 500 yards. When it come to camo and blinds for hunting I have found the best blind is just 500 or 600 yards of distance. Most coyotes don't take you that seriously at ranges over 400, if you have the right tools you can make it it a very steep learning curve for them.
But I would agree some what with the person that posted on getting a 223 because you can just practice more with one. I guess that"s why I have them both and shoot them both out past 400.

[Bullseye]

I would recomend the .243 over all of those calibers. It has good balistics and it doubles as a great deer rifle. I love myne, it kills everything its pointed at. it is definately a good choice.

[Tundra Monkey]

I'd take the 22-250 out of your choices. I haven't touched mine since I got the 257bee though.....115gr tsx's go in and out of wolves. Not sure if they'd blow up a coyote but I think they'd do just fine.

tm

[sbtennex]

Originally Posted by propliner

I vote for the .220 Swift. At a potential 4000+fps it will shoot flatter than both the .223 and .22/250 and reach out further. Also, one can handload it to more modest levels and increase barrel life (which isn't really an issue anyways)

Downloading a .220 Swift seems to me to be like putting sandbags in your Porsche for traction - might as well take the truck. Speed? We've reached close to 4400 fps with a .22-250 and Varmint Grenades without maxxing out the load. Still, I prefer my .243 with 55 gr Ballistic S'Tips. Full throttle loads are an issue with anything for barrel life, not just the Swift, and the 6mm's will flat outshoot the .22's way out there with any kind of breeze. Just my opinion.