223 for coyotes?

[Fordevr]

Originally Posted by aardvaark

That's my fav round for accuracy for sure. And Ive shot many yotes with that exact round and, sadly, Ive found most of them go right on through and blow a big hole on the other side. I hates that. Sure, puts em down fast but ruins the fur and that's the main reason I shoot them. Least likely to do that is at 250 yards and up.

I find this most puzzling...for the first 3 or 4 years I and my buddy had our .204's a 32 hornady vmax causeing damage was rare past 100yrd. Broadside behind the front leg or front chest shots. This year I switched to 40gr Fed prem. Nosler Ballistic Tip and am having the same results. Shot one today and crumpled in its tracks and no exit hole. Same with the previous one. Had one blowout but it was a tiny 12lb yote at 52 yrds. Plus I was a bit left and hit bone. If you hit bone it really ups your chances of a blow up especially at close range.
Loving the 40 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip in the .204. AWESOME AND FUR FRIENDLY SO FAR.

[Newview01]

Has anyone tried the 22 Nosler yet? Or is it just an expensive way to say 22-250?

[coyoteman]

Originally Posted by Maxwell78

CZ M1 223 with a Swarovski Z3 4-16 on it. Shooting 55 gr nosler ballistic tips at 3140 fps. Great on hides.

Of course it comes down to range time and accuracy,I am a fur hunter,have a CZ 527 223,find the 40gr hornady works best.The Sako 22-250 likes the 50gr accutips---i like to call,and careful site choice is most important,as well as call sequence,total como,stealth,focus,patience,wind awareness,full size decoy,All hands like to talk about the 2-3-4-500 m shots,i on the other hand like to talk about the 100m to point blank shots--some years ago i shot around 50 and for sure i could have got many with the 12ga with coyoty choke and 4b shot,and many running misses with the rifle would have been a dead yote with the shotgun.

[wildbill]

Yup, going with the 223, but i have a bad feeling there still may be room for a 220 swift and a 22-250 in ye old safe.

[ForwardBias]

223 is nice on the ears if you dont wear plugs compared to some of the other powder hogs. Saying that the 22-250 has confidence inspiring trajectory, and the 243 bucks the wind quite nicely with 70 grain bullets.

[wolf308]

Not enough power imo and not very accurate either .... 7mm rem mag at least and waaaaayyyy flatter shooting

[Ridger]

Not much left with a 7mm mag!

[Nyksta]

Originally Posted by Ridger

Not much left with a 7mm mag!

Interesting.... with a accubond bullet i dont even get expansion. Same size exit wound as entrance. Not much damage if you ask me

[wildbill]

Originally Posted by Ridger

Not much left with a 7mm mag!

That's what I was thinking....... But, I do know a guy down here who's been known to sight in/ explode coyotes with his 300 win mag, not very fur friendly, unless yer makin key chains!

[djboyer]

I use a Benelli mr1 223 for coyotes and it works great

[tool]

I've been using .223 on coyotes for years, cheap winchester white box 45 grain varmint bullets work great.
I shoot a savage bolt action, 116?? and a keltec su16.

[Reaver]

Originally Posted by wolf308

Not enough power imo and not very accurate either .... 7mm rem mag at least and waaaaayyyy flatter shooting

LOL I smoked one last hunting season at 238 yards with my 7mm Rem mag.

The exit wound was pretty epic. I don't recommend it if you plan on keeping the fur!

[TOG]

I as well have been shooting yotes with a 223 for years. My approach is a bit different. I load a heavier bullet and push it as fast as I can, of course still being safe about it. My tajectory is not as flat as it is with the lighter bullets, but the extra weight sure makes a big difference is down range energy.

[Quest206]

I've been using a 204 on coyotes since the calibre was available on the market and harvest between 30-40 coyotes a year using 40 gr vmax with excellent results and minimal fur damage. My longest ranged shot was 365 yards. If you are calling and are patient most of the shooting I do is less than 150 yards. I used a 223 previous to the 204 but had a loot more exit wounds which required stitching. I'm sure the 223 will do everything you want under 300 yards with the selection of the right bullet and proper placement
If you are reloading you will have a lot more options. Good luck and have fun.

[6.5 shooter]

Originally Posted by Quest206

I've been using a 204 on coyotes since the calibre was available on the market and harvest between 30-40 coyotes a year using 40 gr vmax with excellent results and minimal fur damage. My longest ranged shot was 365 yards. If you are calling and are patient most of the shooting I do is less than 150 yards. I used a 223 previous to the 204 but had a loot more exit wounds which required stitching. I'm sure the 223 will do everything you want under 300 yards with the selection of the right bullet and proper placement
If you are reloading you will have a lot more options. Good luck and have fun.

I agree and the BC on the v-max is way better then most if not all .22 projectiles UNLESS you go really heavy...and yes the .204 bucks the wind better then most .22 calibers...and you can see you hits which becomes ever more difficult with powder gulping .22 centerfires.

Most rifles with short barrels will not stabilize the longer 40gr. Vmax bullet... but 39gr. SMK seem to be a good choice as well but I have never used them.

[trooper]

The missus and I shoot the .223 and love it. The 40 gn and 50 gn Vmax do the job for us.

[wildbill]

I done went and got a used 223, vssf in a police stock, not the lightest unit, lookin foreward to testin her out.

[coyoteman]

If fur not an issue the 58 gr hornady in 243 cal even at extreme range the ultimate yote killer. Fur always a consideration, the 223---22-250 with the right bullet---Thats what they were made for--cant go wrong--have to spend range time---Oh ya good glass--When you are happy with a rifle, and they stop at 100m you know they are dead before you pull the trigger--some rifles regardless of cal has that feeling----

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by 6.5 shooter

I agree and the BC on the v-max is way better then most if not all .22 projectiles UNLESS you go really heavy...and yes the .204 bucks the wind better then most .22 calibers...and you can see you hits which becomes ever more difficult with powder gulping .22 centerfires.

Most rifles with short barrels will not stabilize the longer 40gr. Vmax bullet... but 39gr. SMK seem to be a good choice as well but I have never used them.

The Blitzkings in both 32gr and 39gr are more accurate in my 20 tactical, and in my 20 vartarg, than the 32/40gr v-max. I use the 39gr for coyotes.

[dfrobert]

Originally Posted by tool

I've been using .223 on coyotes for years, cheap winchester white box 45 grain varmint bullets work great.
I shoot a savage bolt action, 116?? and a keltec su16.

I also use the 45 grain Winchester white box out of my .223 Vanguard. Have had excellent results on yotes, VERY fur friendly.

[Long Ranger]

FWIW, have shot coyotes since I was 15 first one with my dads .303 SMLE and my own handloads. Calibers have ranged from 22LR, 22Hornet, 223, 220 Swift (my fave, now an AI), 243, 257 AI, 303, 308 Win (M1A, last winter at 500m) , 300WinMag, 338LM and 375AI. Never lost one over the 50 yrs and that's no bull. I have found the 223 is consistently good to about 300+/- yards with a 12x to 18x scope for accurate shot placement. Have found the Speer 52 HP with the big hole in the end is like lightning! Also the James Calhoon 50gr double HP gave no exit wound even when called in and shot at 20yrds, but those bullets are hard to find now that James is not in Calgary for some time now. But my preference is the 220 Swift with Speer 52 HP's with no shots closer than 150 to 200yrds. If you are calling them in the 22Hornet with 33gr Speer HP's at 30 to 100 or so yards works great. JMHO!