Under ideal conditions...it works as a coyote gun.
As your go to all the time coyote gun it will get you lots of exercise.
Redfrog you know all this.
I do, but I wish I had a bottle of Forty Creek for every time I've seen a newbie post asking about coyote calibers. There will always be the usual "Ford vs. Chev" suggestions and that's all good if the poster would take the time to explain why he likes "Da Ford". It may be simply because "My dad used one and it's all I've ever used, or it may be because it is very effective, or both.
I've killed lots of coyotes over the years and I also guide for coyote hunting so I get to see different rifles and bullets in the field. I see everything from a Stevens 22:250 to a 300 win mag. I see the terminal result both to the coyote and to the shooter.
With rangefinders being more commonplace a lot of guys learned that distance like size does matter. What they thought was 400 yds is actually 160 yds. There seem to be a lot of Quigleys out there. They shoot a light caliber like the 17 rem. add in the errors in range estimation and you have a 17 rem killing coyotes DRT at 400 yards.
I have seen many coyotes killed with the 17 rem. Heck I've even seen a few killed with a 22lr. In the hands of a good shooter and at a range within reason the 17 Rem will get the job done. But there in lies the rub.
I have a client/friend who can really shoot. He's very picky about his rifle and glass. About 8 years ago he started coming up here to call coyotes. The first year he showed up with a 17 rem. He saves hides[he's a taxidermist] and wanted something that was fur friendly. We discussed the 17 rem and he thought I might give him some grief over the choice. It makes no difference to me if the guy can shoot.
First stand I called three coyotes in. They came in one at a time with about a minute between them. He killed all three with his 17 Rem.
There was joy in Mudville. He puffed up and went on about this deadly round.
He did kill coyotes over the next three days, but when they were 150yds or more, it took more than one round to kill them, and soon his partner was taking the shots beyond 150 yds.
Over the years he came back with different rifles. I never saw the 17 Rem again. He went through .223, 204, 22.250, 220 Swift, 243 AI. He settled on the Swift. Kills with authority and with the right bullet not much fur damage.
So as I said the 17 rem or any caliber for that matter will kill coyotes, but a man should know his limitations.
The .223 is a deadly round and fur friendly for coyotes but it doesn't really have the '### appeal' it seems.
Maybe with the long gun registry gone we will be able to use the AR15 for hunting. Now that's ###y.
