.308 for coyotes? Input?

DVS_182

DVS_182

New member
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Location
Houston, BC
i'm looking to get into varmint hunting, mostly coyotes. for this i need a new rifle as a .303 or 7mm would be a bit much an a .22lr not enough. i'm leaning towards a .308 or a .243 something that i could still use to hunt mulies. im just curious if there is any input on a better all around caliber that isn't over kill for coyotes or my budget as i don't reload(yet).

thanks,
 
DVS_182 said:
i'm looking to get into varmint hunting, mostly coyotes. for this i need a new rifle as a .303 or 7mm would be a bit much an a .22lr not enough. i'm leaning towards a .308 or a .243 something that i could still use to hunt mulies. im just curious if there is any input on a better all around caliber that isn't over kill for coyotes or my budget as i don't reload(yet).

thanks,
Click to expand...

If your not worried about keeping the pelts, I would get a 308 if you plan on using it on bigger game as well.
 
i was thinking .223 for ammo availability, but id be worried about having enough pop to take a large mule deer with a .223, white tail sure.
 
243 or 308; pretty close actually. Is the the 308 not the parent case of the 243?
243 is good muley medicine too.
But as far as 308 tearing up the hide...FMJ stops that.
If Muley is the biggest animal you are going to shoot...go with the 243 IMO
 
I use .223 for small game,but what do your regulations permit would be first thing I would look at? Where I am, we cannot use more then a .275 calibre rifle for small game.
 
Every coyote I ever shot with a 308 stayed dead. And the worst pelt damage I ever did was with a 223 FMJ oddly enough. Hitting them broadside with 150 gr Hornady Interlocks and Federal Fusion didn't seem to do excessive damage. Yotes are quite light and lean, I suspect the bullets didn't even open up much.
 
Personally if you are sticking with only coyotes I would go with the 22-250, .223 is also a great cartridge. If you would like to go for a bit bigger game like mulie, whitetail... just like you and the other guys are saying go with the .243.
 
I have shot coyotes with .223, .22/250, .243, .7mm REM MAG, .308 WIN, .30/06 and .45/70. The .7mm REM MAG caused the most hide damage of the bunch even at long range! The .45/70 surprise was actually not bad .458 hole going in and about the same coming out! Too big and slow to expand. Of the two cartridges you mention I would lean towards the .243, a nice selection of bullets for varmints or deer sized big game. As for the .223 my personal favorite coyote cartridge by far but not my first choice of a deer cartridge.
 
If you already have a 7mm and you're not worried about the hide then use that. Bullet construction is the main reason for hide damage, with impact speed being the second biggest driver fo damage.
 
Another vote for the .243! Stick with a bullet like the 80 grain Barnes TTSX or 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip Hunting and the .243 shoots extremely flat and kills deer like anything else. And with the flat trajectory, coyotes hunting is easy. I've been using it for 4 years now.

Jmiverson said:
With what bullet out of the .308? I'm wondering what a 155 A-MAX would do...
Click to expand...

Just built my best friend a custom .308 last year. He spent all winter shooting coyotes with the 155 AMAX. It's... messy.
 
Last edited:
I've shot one whole yote with a .308, it was from about 375 yards with a 168 gr Nosler Custom Competition. Excessive pelt damage is putting it lightly.
If your goal is to kill them, a .308 will be great. If you want the pelts, you'll probably want something a little lighter. And a .243 will have no problem with any deer that walks.
 
Both 243 and 308 are compromises for these two critter. The 308 is excellent for deer but overkill for dogs; the 243 is less awesome for deer and big game, but perhaps the best caliber ever for dogs.

Decide which you are most likely to go after, each has its own strengths. Both have ammo available anywhere. I see you have 6 posts, so this is probably your first gun. More will follow, most batterys will include a 308, not all have a 243. To avoid horrible pelt damage with a 308, dont hit the major bones especially the ball of the shoulder. That might help a bit, cut down sewing a bit.

Houston is also Moose and Bear country, for me the 308. If it is your first rifle, and LEH moose is a possibility...then the 308.
 
Last edited:
there is also the 260Rem ... hard to beat the availability of 243W, 270W, 308W ammo though
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom