coyote caliber

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Jack15

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Hello

I need some advice. I am considering getting either a stevens 200 or savage 111FXP3. But I would like some advice on what caliber. I am looking at .223, .204 and 22-250. Still pretty new to firearms so any advice is much appreciated.

Thank you
 
223 is my current choice for coyote.

If I had more groundhogs around here though, I'd probably trade it for a 22-250.

Ammo is not a consideration for me, since I reload my own, but on the ammo front, I'd expect Factory 223 will be cheaper and have a better range of bullet choices and loads.
 
Coyotes are very tough - pound for pound one of the toughest animals I hunt. For a pure coyote rifle, I would go .243 or 6mm. I would go to the centre fire .22's only if lots of gopher control was a major part of its function.
 
I agree with rral. 223 and 22-250 are great for a gun that can punch paper, liquefy groundhogs and kill coyotes. If the gun is purely and explicitly used as a coyote gun then the 243 is the most obvious choice for me.
 
albertacoyotecaller said:
Yes 243 if you just want to kill. 22-250 if you want fur and have to reach out and 223 if you are a fur hunter.

Greg
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I agree with this 100%. I use a .243, but it's hell on fur. A .22-250 is also tough on fur up close, but flat shooting and mild on fur at a distance. .223 is a great cartridge, easier on fur and decently flat shooting.
 
Thanks to everyone who responded. I think I will go for the .223 as my choice (I was already kind of leaning that way). I hadn't considered the .243 for coyotes but I do think I will give it some thought before I make my final decision.
 
I have at least one rifle of all the calibers mentioned so far and for hunting coyotes I use mostly the 204s in the safe. All the calibers are capable of killing a coyote but with the right bullet the 204 will put them down hard and little to no damage to the fur. If you want more proof of how well the 204 works check out Predatorhuntcanada.ca and see how many coyotes are shot using a 20 cal rifle compared to the rest of the calibers.
 
i'd say it all depends if you want to save the fur or not. if your just hacking the feet off for coyote bountys then any centerfire rifle is enough rifle. if youre actually skinning them and saving the pelts, i wouldn't go over .223 and probably stick with a .204

for me i shoot them for pest control mostly and for bounty (when there is one). i've probably shot more coyotes with my .30-30 then all my other guns combined!

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albertacoyotecaller said:
Yes 243 if you just want to kill. 22-250 if you want fur and have to reach out and 223 if you are a fur hunter.

Greg
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Greg is absolutely on the mark with his comments. A 223 with 50 gr vmax is an excellent choice if you intend to keep the fur. I hunt them as a nuisance and the fur is not very nice. My rig is a Savage Mk1 Predator in 243. I use 70 gr Nosler BT (Varmint) behind H335 powder. At 200 yards, it'll blow a fist sized hole out the other side of the puppy. I know, I just had that happen this morning. It blew out parts of his lung, heart, etc. Very nasty. The bullet groups 2" at 300 yards with a shooting stick. By far it is my coyote go-to gun.

I con't care too much for the 22-250, but that is my choice.
 
Well I think I am going to go look at some rifles tommrow. I am torn now between the .223 and .243. Thanks again for all the advice.
 
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