Coyote hunting - 243 or 223

Less of a blast with the 222's and 223 line up IMO. Shooting doubles or better more of a chance I always found as often a yote will run in circles...or not far after its wing man has been taken down. With this said and as said any calibre as a dead vote is a dead yote no matter how big the hole through it is.
 
M12shooter said:
Less of a blast with the 222's and 223 line up IMO. Shooting doubles or better more of a chance I always found as often a yote will run in circles...or not far after its wing man has been taken down. With this said and as said any calibre as a dead vote is a dead yote no matter how big the hole through it is.
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This be true & for reloaders, ye can dial the .243 down to 2300 fps. with 100 gr. soft points and have reduced blast and good accuracy to 300+ yds. (Once ye get dialed in for the extra drop in trajectory.)

One can also take big game inside of 200 yds. reliably with the .243, provided they place the shot well.:)
 
A .243 win with stock Hornady 58 grain v-max bullets almost shoot 4000fps. I shoot them at 400 yards with amazing groups. Pelt damage isn't bad. Now I shot one with a 100 grain (all I had at the time) at 400 yards and it dropped like a sac of potatoes with a massive hole in it lol.
 
Sic Kid said:
In that case, I'm going to shoot them with my 325 wsm because I don't give a f about any of it...
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Shot a yodel dog last year with a 200 NAB from my 325 at about 40 yards, small entry, 12"'exit, and totally gutted. Lol. Needless to say it was bang flop.
 
johntwo said:
I completely agree

223 is plenty for yotes and an easy shot out to 300 meters


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That looks like a wolf pup. An ugly one at that.
 
I haven't had any issues with a 243 and pelts when using deer loads.
Hevey for calibre bullets tend to be easier on fur and meat IMO
 
I have and use both, but the 223 and 204 get the most use. push the right bullets and they flat out kill coyotes. I ran my 204 for years, got tired of lugging a heavy barrel around and got a light 223. I have killed coyotes past 500 yards with the 204. I shot one at a rangefined 394 a few years ago, right through both shoulders, the 39 blitzking went in and didn't exit, very impressive diameter wound channel and a small 19 gr mushroom under the hide far side. I have tried the 39 gr berger and find its bc too low for longer shots in open country. shot a fox at 410 and it never opened. ice pick wound in and out, its low bc causes it to slow down fast. great bullet at shorter ranges though, 250 and down, if the wind is not howling.

in the 223 I push a 1365 sierra. shot a big male with a frontal shot few weeks ago, hit one shoulder, dug after the bullet, found the jacket 16 inches in. great penetration, exactly what the 1365 is known for.

my advise get a 223 first, and a 243 later on. the 243 is great all around gun.
 
I posted explaining earlier in the thread.

I'll recap as far as I am concerned the 223 is a 150 yard bang flop round.

You can go back find my earlier post if you are interested.
 
Camp Cook said:
I'm curious as to why you're only choosing between the 223 and 243 why not also look at the most popular coyote cartridge of them all the 22-250 my experience is it DRT's coyotes out to 300 yards with authority?
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That would be my inclination. Coyote hunting isn't high volume shooting but having that extra reach would be a good thing in open country. Plus you can use heavier bullets of stouter construction which should mitigate hide damage.
 
Give an experienced hunter/rifleman a .223 and coyotes will drop well past 300 yards, seen it countless times in open country coyote hunts. If you don't understand the ballistics, can't read wind and are a poor shot its a 150 yard cartridge.
 
Having owned both my nod goes to .22-250. Oops... .243 vs. .223. So .243 then. More speed equals more hydrostatic shock equals more drt. Definitely less spinners and runners once you cross the 3500 fps threshold. (Real 3500 fps NOT what is says on the box)
 
I'm curious scott what is your definition of experienced hunter/rifleman?

I've been shooting coyotes for almost 40 years now does that qualify me as an experienced hunter/rifleman?

and I say the 223 is only a 150 yard bang/flop coyote round but that couldn't be from experience could it?
 
You already own one. A 7mm08 loaded with 100 gr bullets runs about 3000 to 3100 fps, 120 gr about 2900 fps flat and lots of energy.
 
I'd go with a CZ american in 204 ruger if you're going to reload... If not, 223. The 204 shoots flatter and faster IMHO. Spent a while with one a while back to sight it in for a friend. Was quite impressed.
 
I like and carry them both.
The .243 is by far the better LR round (I use 87gr V-Max @3150) but is a real fur destroyer. I've tried the Berger 87gr hunting VLD's that I use for deer hunting but they were even worse. There are probably better choices but I don't care about the fur and these are really accurate out of my modified Savage 110. I just got a 1 shot kill at a lasered 390yds (after the fact) but the whole left hind leg was virtually blown off from the right front quarter hit, I wish I'd gotten a picture before the birds cleaned it up. He still manged to do the spins out to 425.
The .223 is really fur friendly and I have had kills, one shot and otherwise, out to 300+ with it but the conditions have to be perfect to try those shots. I'm using a Hornady Match 53gr HP factory load, somebody gave me 450rnds and my Contender just loves them, too bad I only have about 60 left. I think I chrono'd them once and I can't remember what the exact velocity was but the box says 3330 and IIRC it was around 3250. I'd rate it as a legitimate 200-250yd round but that's really subjective as I don't know how good a shot everybody else is or how accurate their guns are.
 
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Camp Cook said:
I'm curious scott what is your definition of experienced hunter/rifleman?

I've been shooting coyotes for almost 40 years now does that qualify me as an experienced hunter/rifleman?

and I say the 223 is only a 150 yard bang/flop coyote round but that couldn't be from experience could it?
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Your experience shows with your comment on the .223, lets leave it at that.
 
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