Dedicated coyote caliber? - Page 2

catnthehat · #31 10-09-2011, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by st99

Personnally my next one will be a 204. I've been using a 223 for 4 years and it can do some pretty bad damage. I shot one on the spine last year with 55 gr v-max and half of his back was gone.

Hit him there with the 204 and you will likely see the same results.
Cat

waterhaulerhunter · #32 10-09-2011, 07:50 PM

I just recently purchased a .204 and i love it. I use the 45gr hornady sp factory shells. I've got 3 so far. 2 inside 150yds and one at a little over 225yds and all 3 were dead before they hit the ground, and all that was there was a tiny entranace whole and no exit. The nicest thing about it is that you can watch your impact through the scope which makes for a quick follow up shot in need be.

7mmstwguy · #33 10-09-2011, 07:58 PM

204 Ruger is great, but when the wind picks up, it's a crap shoot to hit a small kill zone, at extended range.

waterhaulerhunter · #34 10-09-2011, 08:05 PM

It's also a crap shoot trying to call in high winds too, in my experience anyways. So i just avoid it all together.

duceman · #35 10-09-2011, 08:11 PM

don't argue with the voice of experience. cat nailed it, lee

ceedub · #36 10-09-2011, 08:20 PM

Last winter my 204 accounted for 10 or so yotes, nearly all under 150 yards with great results. I also shot a couple with my 17 Fireball at 100 yards or so and although I recovered both, I wouldn't recommend the Fireball for a dedicated yote rifle. The little guns are so much fun to shoot, I'd hate to settle for one! I can see advantages to the 204, 223, 22-250 and 243 depending on the situation, but it's tough to win an argument against any of em!

Craig

catnthehat · #37 10-09-2011, 08:30 PM

One of my hunting buddies went through a series if guns, .223, 17 Remington, 243 winchester , 204.
he killed the same number of coyotes ( a LOT!) - give or take, with all of them, and never seemd to find a problem with any of the cartridges except the 243.
With the 243, he damaged more pelts ( we typically called over bait) inside 100 yards than the others did, but unless he got way out there, the 243 did not give him any ballistic advantage.

This is why I recommend the .223.

My long range cartridges never did include the 243 but I have shot 'yotes with a few.
However, I have shot the 6mmRem , 7X57, 6.5X55, 308, and 300 mag extensi9vly at coyotes at ranges over 500 meters, but have killed way more inside 150 yards with the smaller cartridges, and have shot some inside 25 yards with the smaller stuff.
Cat

7mmstwguy · #38 10-09-2011, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catnthehat

One of my hunting buddies went through a series if guns, .223, 17 Remington, 243 winchester , 204.
he killed the same number of coyotes ( a LOT!) - give or take, with all of them, and never seemd to find a problem with any of the cartridges except the 243.
With the 243, he damaged more pelts ( we typically called over bait) inside 100 yards than the others did, but unless he got way out there, the 243 did not give him any ballistic advantage.

This is why I recommend the .223.

My long range cartridges never did include the 243 but I have shot 'yotes with a few.
However, I have shot the 6mmRem , 7X57, 6.5X55, 308, and 300 mag extensi9vly at coyotes at ranges over 500 meters, but have killed way more inside 150 yards with the smaller cartridges, and have shot some inside 25 yards with the smaller stuff.
Cat

x2

super7mag · #39 10-10-2011, 06:40 AM

My buddy shoots a 22-250 and I shoot a .243 win in most cases the effect on the yote is the same. Entry and exits(if they happen) are pretty close to the same aswell. The 243 with the longer 75 gr V-Max does have an advantage on the longer shots. My longest shot was a shade under 600 yrds last year, and the shortest was 50, the most fur damage was a quatering to shot at 150 or so. Any broadside or sitting facing shots were pretty clean. Most of the newer frangible bullets do not exit. Even the racoon I shot at 80 yrds I thought would be a mess but the bullet did not exit. My taxi said internally it was a mess, and very hard to skin with bruising on the off side. But when I shot it and walked up I figuerd I would see a huge hole on exit and was surprised tiny entrance no exit. I also know a couple of guys loading the 55 gr Nos BT to 22-250 speeds (getting close to 4000 fps) they are tickled with them. As far as a dedicated cal for yotes go any of them from 204 up to 25-06 with the right bullet will flop em.

Git r Done · #40 10-10-2011, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kale_M

Never had one go anywhere...All died before they hit the ground

I have seen guys shoot them with the 7mm and run off. If you dont hit them where you are supposed to they will run after getting hit with anything

True i used a pre 64 30-06 last year on one particular dog and it had its tail between its legs running away so I gave it the old texas heart shot and it didnt get r done the way i thought it would. All in all the yote got away.

YoteStopper · #41 10-10-2011, 04:53 PM

My next predator/varmint rig would be either in 25-06, 6.5x55 or 6.5 creedmore. All are accurate and potent out to at least a couple hundred yards. I shot a small female yote this morning with my savage .22wmr, it came right up behind me and at about 5 yards the vmax worked well.

monsterxlr8 · #42 10-10-2011, 07:38 PM

My wife has a .204 and I have a .223. Both of these rifles kill 'yotes dead where they stand. I like them both and don't think you can go wrong with either one. Buy one of each that way the wife kids and you can pick the one you like best!

Lonnie · #43 10-11-2011, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by st99

Personnally my next one will be a 204. I've been using a 223 for 4 years and it can do some pretty bad damage. I shot one on the spine last year with 55 gr v-max and half of his back was gone.

any of the guns bigger than a 22lr. is going to mess up a hide if you hit a bone of any size. once that hide comes off take a good look at thier size not to much there.

fish_e_o · #44 10-11-2011, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YoteStopper

My next predator/varmint rig would be either in 25-06, 6.5x55 or 6.5 creedmore. All are accurate and potent out to at least a couple hundred yards. I shot a small female yote this morning with my savage .22wmr, it came right up behind me and at about 5 yards the vmax worked well.

funny story. i took the heart out of a coyote with my 6.5x55 at 300 yards and it ran a long ways and took two more chest shots before it gave up.

but i also dropped many coyotes right in their tracks with that gun.

.223 rem is my go to gun. 22-250, 220 swift, and 223wssm have all worked well for me with minimal pelt damage

my hunting partner used a 243 and converted to 223 this year because he wants to save fur.

i have many witnesses that will tell you that my 204 never dropped a coyote in one shot and that none of my shots were bad. just saying...

aulrich · #45 10-11-2011, 11:09 AM

204 is my first pick, but 17 rem 17 fb 22 fb, 223, 222,22-250 220 swift are all right answers when loaded and used properly.

243 is too much if you plan on keeping fur.

Robmcleod82 · #46 10-11-2011, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deer Hunter

If I were to buy a coyote gun it would be in either a 204 or 22-250. probably a 22 250 as I would need to buy a new cleaning rod otherwise.

I dont think you are ready to hunt coyotes yet, you probably need a little more range time. I agree that when your ready the 22-250 would be the better choice so you can utilize a cleaning rod you already have.

DOGFISH · #47 10-12-2011, 09:51 PM

I personally like my .204 for bullet placememt and saving hides with a 40 grain ballistic tip. The.204,222,22-250,220 swift,243 & others all work well. The group of guys I hunt with have all layed dogs down with all the calibers. Nowadays its mostly the shooter. If you look at the picture you can hardly see the entry hole with no exit.

Camp Cook · #48 10-22-2011, 05:55 PM

If I could only have one rifle/cartridge for coyote hunting it would be a 22-250