Coyote caliber/gun

I know a couple farmers who don't want anything bigger or louder than a 223 on the property.

Don't blame them... I'm about 1/4 mile away from Neighbors on East & West sides. Freaking hate it when some knucklehead wanders in with a goodly sized rifle... just not a good idea. Too much brush to lose track of where that house was...
 
I shoot 50g sako gamehead factory ammo in my .22 250. It's a soft point lead bullet.


Many coyotes I've had to turn them over and over to find an entrance or exit. That is if it's over 100 yards. Got these 2 at over 250 yards. Small little entrance hole and same size exit. Both dropped on the spot and never moved.

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Lol Somebody you are likely right but I’ve had the 250 for 40+ years and just can’t see parting with it. DVX I’ll look for some. Any idea what bullet it’s loaded with.

Sorry to hijack but it’s kinda related!
 
Good point Somebody. It’s a nostalgia thing about the 250. But you are likely 100% correct.

So DVX if I can’t them any idea what bullet they are loaded with?
 
For a long time I used Remington V-Max in my 22-250, 45 or 50 grain, don't remember.
They were pricy but shot really well out of my Tikka and very rarely had an exit hole.
A number of years ago I changed to just using Winchester 45 grain jacketed hollow points.
Cheap, rifle shot them just fine, some exit holes letting the light in if the coyote was a bit too close.
Twist counts for what bullet grain & length, my Tikka with a 1-14 twist likes the short length 45 grain bullets.
 
I've used 243 with 70 grain hollow points for a long time and it was okay with good square hits. Anything around the edges were a mess, but for years of terrible fur prices I really didn't care. Next to the 22-250 with 50 grain ballistic tips, 55 soft points and 53 vmax over several seasons always searching for something with a little less damage. Last year I got a Tikka CTR in 223. I paired that with 40 grain ballistic tips doing about 3500 and this is hands down the best combination I have ever tried. The 40 bt's have a little thicker jacket designed for 4000+ out of swift and 250's so no splashes on entrance yet no exits either, even on neck or flank hits. Of several dozen coyotes I took to the skinner this year not a single one needed sewing. I won't be trying to find anything better than that.
 
Any of those 3 will do perfectly for coyotes. I'm currently using a .243 because my .223 ended up turning into a target rifle. All three have relatively inexpensive ammo and lots of selection on the shelf. If you have a specific model rifle in mind go with that and select the one they have on the shelf in whichever caliber.

Some might say the .243 is a bit overpowered for a coyote specific rifle buy I say the one upside to the .243 is you could also use it for deer, should the need arise.

I agree; actually .222 up to 6.5.
 
I have a Ruger ultralight bolt action .243 and use 58 grn Hornadys for yotes. Shot a few deer with it as well but 100grn bullets.

Thinking of getting a mag fed bolt in 5.56 to burn off some of my surplus ammo and it would be fine for yotes as well.

Had a Rem 700 in 22-250, tack driver, never should of sold it.

Terminal ballistics will be similar in all 3, the projectile and placement will make the difference. Yote won't be able to tell the difference.
Ammo ain't cheap so .223 would be most cost effective unless you reload.
 
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I have all 3 cartridges in coyote guns. My go to is the 243. A Ruger 77 tang safety or Rem 700. If I’m calling or hunting coulees where shots are closer, than a 22 cf. As I get some longer shots across pasture I like the 243. I’m sure the 22-250 will do great as well, I only use mine occasionally. I did enjoy using a Browning 78 in 17 Rem last year. I shot more ravens than anything. All shooting was hard with my preoperation eyes. Was still fun outings. Energy at 300 yds with the three :223/55gr approx 575 ft lbs; 22-250 w/55 gr ~675 ft lbs :243/58gr about 920 ft lbs. All factory listed loads. Reloading will change all numbers greatly
 
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If I could only have one, it would be a .223... having said that, I also shoot .220 Swift, .22/250, and .22 PPC... I would choose them in that order.
 
I have had 222, 22-250 and 243.
The 222 is a superb round but limited in range compared to both the 22-250 and 243.
I prefer the 243 to the 22-250 but only because, as someone else already said, it doubles very well as a deer rifle, with heavier factory loads readily available, as well as lighter loads for coyote etc.
 
I've used .17 Rem, .204, 222, .223, 22-250, 220 Swift, 22/243 and 22 Middlestead (which is just a pain in the butt version of a 22/243).Then there's the 243 which is a great killer of coyotes you don't want to skin and not much else. After that pick a big game caliber and I've likely killed some yotes with it.
The 17 is a waste of time, the 204 isn't any easier on pelts than a 22/250 at close range and drops off in killing power at longer range, the 222 and 223 are good for the pelt collectors that keep the range short, the 22/250 is great but you better be careful about bullet selection (hint 52 grain Berger Varmint match and believe it or not white-box Winchester) if you're skinning. 22/243 tears 'em up; 243 is great for coyotes you aren't going to skin and it just gets worse from there.
 
I like the .223 and it's plenty on yotes. Between the calibers you mention, I think type of ammunition is probably the bigger consideration - whether you want to preserve fur or don't care.
 
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