I am considering a small game cartridge, primarily for coyotes, but possibly for secondary use on gophers, etc as well. I am leaning toward the .243 Win or the 223 Rem. What are the pros and cons of each for my intended usage? Is the 22-250 a compromise calibre to consider?
Coyote cartridge pros and cons
- Thread starter Wooly ESS
- Start date
- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
oh I like the 22-250 for small critters, easy to reload, accurate, good balistics whats not to like. 
Oh and those Nosler Balistic tips are like little coyote gernades.
not as hard on pelts as the 25-06 and 7mm RM that I have used in the past
Oh and those Nosler Balistic tips are like little coyote gernades.
not as hard on pelts as the 25-06 and 7mm RM that I have used in the past
There are a raft of rounds that will fill that gap,rangeing from 17 fireball to 243 on the big side.
Finding the right rifle is the tougher question.
The ideal gopher rig and the ideal coyote rig are pretty different guns. The ideal goper rig is a heavy pig with huge glass on it, A coyote rig especially if you like being out of the truck is lighter and does not need as much glass. I know guys haulin there big rigs for coyotes but they are usually complaining after a 1/2 mile of so
The t3 tactiacal and the CZ's are good hybread type guns there are probaly more those are the two I have seen that I like.
My personal fav is 204 ruger but really
22 hornet
17 fire ball
17 rem
204 ruger
222
222 mag
223
22-250
22 swift
243
will all work
Finding the right rifle is the tougher question.
The ideal gopher rig and the ideal coyote rig are pretty different guns. The ideal goper rig is a heavy pig with huge glass on it, A coyote rig especially if you like being out of the truck is lighter and does not need as much glass. I know guys haulin there big rigs for coyotes but they are usually complaining after a 1/2 mile of so
The t3 tactiacal and the CZ's are good hybread type guns there are probaly more those are the two I have seen that I like.
My personal fav is 204 ruger but really
22 hornet
17 fire ball
17 rem
204 ruger
222
222 mag
223
22-250
22 swift
243
will all work
Well the .243 will spank them as good as they need to be spanked and has enough spank to spank them farther than most of us can shoot effectively but it has a habit of helping out with the skinning. The .223 and the .22/250 are using the same bullets pretty much but one pushes that bullet a little faster so flatter adding some forgivness to range estimation out there where we should probably consider waiting on the trigger anyway. Both put holes in hides though. Sometimes one little one and sometimes one little one and a bigger one on the other side but not as bad as the .243
I bet that across North America every year the .223 kills more coyotes than all the others combined. I'd be thinking about finding a nice rifle that fits up nice in any of those three calibers that will shoot well for you and fit your budget. You have to hit them to kill them
I bet that across North America every year the .223 kills more coyotes than all the others combined. I'd be thinking about finding a nice rifle that fits up nice in any of those three calibers that will shoot well for you and fit your budget. You have to hit them to kill them
BC Bigbore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- BC's Peace Country
If your intentions including gopher shooting, I'd pick the .223 due to cheap ammo either factory or handloads. If you will be doing lots of shooting over 300 yards, I'd pick the .22-250 and if it's going to be a coyote/deer rifle I'd take the .243.
manbearpig
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Somewhere in the Third World
if you ever want the meat or pelt of a small animal that you shoot (rabbit, fox, coyote, raccoon, etc) then a .243 is unsuitable because it will obliterate them. it makes a great deer cartridge with the right loads, however.
a friend of mine uses a .223 for anything smaller than deer. for small animals he intends to skin hell use FMJ for minimal pelt damage. hes also shot many rabbits with it with little damage to the meat.
.223 ammo is also a lot cheaper, about 1/3-1/2 the price.
unfortunately with a .243 anywhere you hit them is pretty much going to waste the whole animal.
a friend of mine uses a .223 for anything smaller than deer. for small animals he intends to skin hell use FMJ for minimal pelt damage. hes also shot many rabbits with it with little damage to the meat.
.223 ammo is also a lot cheaper, about 1/3-1/2 the price.
unfortunately with a .243 anywhere you hit them is pretty much going to waste the whole animal.
I have both a 243 & 223, I sold my 2 22-250's. the 250 is great for both ends of the pest line. I perfer the 243 for long range on coyotes & the 223 on gophers. the 22-250 would be a good choice if u were to only get 1 gun. ( I dont the thinking,2 is better 3 or 4 better yet LOL) We shot lots of gophers this year & used hornet (my kids fav,), 222 MY fav,223,lots of rimfire22 + a few 243 its all good best of luck AJ
couldnt say it any better
I'd go with a .204 as well. Price diff between shooting a .204 vs a .223 is minimal, everyone has a .223 kinda boring.
.204 has the velocity of a 22-250 with less recoil then a .223 kinda nice seeing a chest hit on a coyote at 250 yards through your scope.
Not to start a fight fellows but if your going to shoot coyotes with a .243 why not just get a 25-06 or .270 and you have a superb big game rifle and a nasty coyote killer. Not many guys use a .243 for furs might as well use something with some authority for both if you plan on just leaving them where you shoot them.
Cheers!!
.204 has the velocity of a 22-250 with less recoil then a .223 kinda nice seeing a chest hit on a coyote at 250 yards through your scope.
Not to start a fight fellows but if your going to shoot coyotes with a .243 why not just get a 25-06 or .270 and you have a superb big game rifle and a nasty coyote killer. Not many guys use a .243 for furs might as well use something with some authority for both if you plan on just leaving them where you shoot them.
Cheers!!
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6.5x55 with light Amax bullets. Deadly for the longer shots and lots of energy on impact, especially for coyotes. If you want to shoot gophers, it will work fine, but why bother when it gives you a great excuse to buy another rifle more suited for the job as well as the advantage of extremely light recoil. bearhunter
powder burner
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta, Canada
sounds like you are going to have to buy 2 rifles. One thing to consider about the .22 centerfires are that wind will push em around a bit at the longer ranges.
A .22mag is a fun little gopher gun as well. It will dump a coyote just as long as you dont expect to do it over 120-150 plus yards. One advantage is of the 22mag is that it is not as loud. One disadvantage is that it is rimfire and cannot be reloaded. However the price of shells is cheaper than the 17hmr.
Do you plan on calling coyotes?
I dont know if I helped, but its another option to consider.
A .22mag is a fun little gopher gun as well. It will dump a coyote just as long as you dont expect to do it over 120-150 plus yards. One advantage is of the 22mag is that it is not as loud. One disadvantage is that it is rimfire and cannot be reloaded. However the price of shells is cheaper than the 17hmr.
Do you plan on calling coyotes?
I dont know if I helped, but its another option to consider.
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Shooting a lot of gophers with a 243 or even a 22-250 is going to be expensive on ammo and barrels. The 243, especially will give you a bit more reach and be more forgiving in the wind.
The 223, as boring as it is, works. Fast twist barrels and heavier bullets have definately improved the reach of that cartridge.
The 223, as boring as it is, works. Fast twist barrels and heavier bullets have definately improved the reach of that cartridge.
To really reach out and touch them, try a 220 Swift. 4200 fps with 40 grain Bllitzking to 3350 with 69 grain HPBT Matchking what more versatility could you ask for. My personal load is 53 gr Sierra HPBT at 3895 fps. Fun gun.
