Coyote calibre

Bottom line for me is the less pelt damage the better, obviously assuming shot placement is right. It sounds like I'm gonna try out the 204. Is factory 204 ammo that hard to come by? I've heard that mentioned before but never had the calibre so I've never looked for it at the store. I don't reload at the moment but I will hopefully be reloading this year, that's my next step.
 
I sometimes wonder how many coyotes guys actually shoot on here before they start dispensing advice?
You have a 243 and live in overlap with wolf country. Find a 58g Vmax or similar load that works and be happy.
Put the bullet in the boiler room and you won't be sewin up any exit wounds.
FMJ? Seriously? Yes it will kill em. Of course you'll be chasing the little sh!ts forever and a day and sewing up two holes instead of one.
I'm lazy, I want to call them in close and walk to where I shoot em not follow blood trails (if I'm lucky) for miles and miles.

50 plus dogs a year for last couple of decades and now I live where three are none, I'm kind of depressed. 95+% of those shot with Vmax or similar polymer tip. I had one summer/fall where I used an M305 all modded up and tuned for Hirtenberger 147 FMJ it was accurate as hell but they punched right through and coyotes ran far enough to make life interesting. Screw that use the right bullet designed for the job.
 
Donny Fenn1 said:
I sometimes wonder how many coyotes guys actually shoot on here before they start dispensing advice?
You have a 243 and live in overlap with wolf country. Find a 58g Vmax or similar load that works and be happy.
Put the bullet in the boiler room and you won't be sewin up any exit wounds.
FMJ? Seriously? Yes it will kill em. Of course you'll be chasing the little sh!ts forever and a day and sewing up two holes instead of one.
I'm lazy, I want to call them in close and walk to where I shoot em not follow blood trails (if I'm lucky) for miles and miles.

50 plus dogs a year for last couple of decades and now I live where three are none, I'm kind of depressed. 95+% of those shot with Vmax or similar polymer tip. I had one summer/fall where I used an M305 all modded up and tuned for Hirtenberger 147 FMJ it was accurate as hell but they punched right through and coyotes ran far enough to make life interesting. Screw that use the right bullet designed for the job.
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This is the best advice anyone's given ya so far. I've shot yotes with everything from 22lr to 270WSM. It doesn't matter what caliber or bullet type you use. A poor placed shot with any of them and you are either chasing yotes until they give up or you are trying to piece them back together. Stick with the gun you have and focus on shot placement and calling techniques.
 
Superbrad said:
None of that advice includes shooting deer, coyote and fox with the same rifle as per the OP.... and we also don't really know if OP is concerned about saving pelts or putting down yellow eyed bastards.....

Based on OP.... .243 is heavy for fox, and even a lot for yotes, and is (personally), at the bottom edge of my deer cartridge selection....

I don't think a "one rifle" selection comes into play here......
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When did anyone say anything about fox in this thread?! (my page search comes up with two instances, both in your post...?) I don't see the OP saying anything about deer either?

Did you just respond to the wrong thread or something? Lol
 
Johnn Peterson said:
I had a Ruger #1 V in 22-250 I set aside for Coyote outings in AB. However, that went to young son in the B.C. central interior where he's put it to good use on the local 'yote population. I :d replaced it with an old custom Winchester High Wall in 219 Donaldson Wasp.

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Time for Mr Mewsie to migrate brother. Off to imgur with you!
 
Thanks everyone for all the input, gonna see if I can get myself a smaller calibre. If that doesn't happen I'll try out some different bullets in the .243 and see what works best. I Appreciate everyone's input it has been extremely helpful!
 
Imo, for Manitoba coyotes, the 204 is small and weak. I had one for 4 years before i learned that chasing coyotes wasnt fun(and often no recovery). I sold mine before i had the chance to try the 45grn hornadys. I think that would be a bullet to try. But then why not go to the 223 or why not the 22 250?? After my 204 i went to the 243 for the same reason you mentioned, sometimes you may get a wolf to commit.
 
Shot placement is most important in any hunting
The gentleman doesn't reload so he is limited with the 243
 
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223 all the way if you do not reload - a 1-12 twist is great for lighter bullets 45-55g. A good scope that is paralax free for the "its over there can you see it" shots helps.
 
Donny Fenn1 said:
I sometimes wonder how many coyotes guys actually shoot on here before they start dispensing advice?
You have a 243 and live in overlap with wolf country. Find a 58g Vmax or similar load that works and be happy.
Put the bullet in the boiler room and you won't be sewin up any exit wounds.
FMJ? Seriously? Yes it will kill em. Of course you'll be chasing the little sh!ts forever and a day and sewing up two holes instead of one.
I'm lazy, I want to call them in close and walk to where I shoot em not follow blood trails (if I'm lucky) for miles and miles.

50 plus dogs a year for last couple of decades and now I live where three are none, I'm kind of depressed. 95+% of those shot with Vmax or similar polymer tip. I had one summer/fall where I used an M305 all modded up and tuned for Hirtenberger 147 FMJ it was accurate as hell but they punched right through and coyotes ran far enough to make life interesting. Screw that use the right bullet designed for the job.
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Donny, you skinning your own? I shoot a few dozen a year and skin most of them too (the odd time I farm out to a custom skinner). I haven't tried the 58gr vmax, but how do they work? So far with my 243 I've only found 2 billets that are good most of the time. 62gr Berger FB match bullets and 70gr nosler varmageddons. But the 55gr nosler BT, 70gr nosler varmint BT and 75gr vmax blew the #### out of 90% of what I shot... but I agree 100% fmj bullets are a joke. I've never seen anything drop instantly from them, everything always runs....
 
deadeyedyck said:
Imo, for Manitoba coyotes, the 204 is small and weak. I had one for 4 years before i learned that chasing coyotes wasnt fun(and often no recovery). I sold mine before i had the chance to try the 45grn hornadys. I think that would be a bullet to try. But then why not go to the 223 or why not the 22 250?? After my 204 i went to the 243 for the same reason you mentioned, sometimes you may get a wolf to commit.
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I have no issues with the 204 on Canadian coyotes. It all depends on what bullet you shoot. I am partial to the 39 gr sierra and have shot over 100 coyotes over the years with these bullets pushed hard in a 204. Yes angles shots can get messy as they will with any plastic tipped varmint bullet from any caliber. Under 100 yards shot placement is critical. The bullet is moving at it's fastest and when it hits the wound is larger in diameter cause of it. Only in a few cases did I have to sew an entrance hole that was not at a severe angle, which usually means running shot, and those few were always under 100 yards. Shot a few with 35 gr bergers works good but bc is too low for the open prairie. 40 gr berger would be better but I never shot fur with them. 40 gr nosler has a very heavy jacket and tends to exit. Heavier jacket than the 50 and 55 gr 22 cal ballistic tips I sectioned. The 40 gr vmax is strange. Sometimes it worked perfect. Sometimes it exited and sometimes it splashed.

I also shoot a 223 and 22250 and 243. I only carry the 243 for the most part durring deer season when I want to take deer or coyote. I push 80 gr and up tougher deer bullets from it.

The 22250 is newer so not a lot of experience with the right bullet it should be fine. The 223 is good with the right bullet. Sierra 1365, a legendary fur bullet, and the nosler ballistic tips. I wouldn't shoot other plastic tipped bullets on coyote sooner or later they will splash on a shoulder for you..
 
gobigorgohome said:
Donny, you skinning your own? I shoot a few dozen a year and skin most of them too (the odd time I farm out to a custom skinner). I haven't tried the 58gr vmax, but how do they work? So far with my 243 I've only found 2 billets that are good most of the time. 62gr Berger FB match bullets and 70gr nosler varmageddons. But the 55gr nosler BT, 70gr nosler varmint BT and 75gr vmax blew the #### out of 90% of what I shot... but I agree 100% fmj bullets are a joke. I've never seen anything drop instantly from them, everything always runs....
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in winter, sometimes, 58g Vmax turns the insides into Slurpees and doesn't exit (it's not my primary rifle BTW, i use 223 60g Vmax in a semi for most dog work)
I'm kind of a big fan of any Vmax. Sierra Blitzkings in 40g and 50g are my second choice in 223
 
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