Coyote Caliber?

IMHO, Buy the rifle that fits you best that you can afford. Don't buy a rifle just because it's cheap. As far as the chosen cartridge, depends on your conditions. Most of my shots when calling, are under the 100yds. In that distance anything is good.

.204 rug, .223 rem, .22-250 rem and .243 are all excellent and effective choices. The .223 will probably be the cheapest for FMJ type ammo but for hunting bullets they should all be similarly priced, give or take a couple bucks.

Going for .25 calibers and larger will not kill them anymore dead than any well placed .20, .22 or .24 caliber varminting bullet.
 
If all you're hunting is coyotes or fox and not too worried about hides, I'd pick the 22-250 or 220 Swift. I've used the Swift a lot in the past and it can damage hides on a less than ideal broadside shot, so I shy away from it when they're in their prime.

If all you want to do is destroy, buy yourself a 257 Wby. and reload some light and explosive bullets, the end result is astounding, nothing compares! :D

Easiest on pelts and the wallet is 223 and it's a superb varmint caliber.

Ignore the "barrel burner" stuff. All the high velocity smallbores are "barrel burners"(including 243), if you will, but all will be plenty accurate for several thousand rounds if you do your part on cleaning and don't pretend you have a full auto at the range.

Never did like the 243. Too big for small stuff and too small for big stuff, but that's a personal preference.
 
.223, .22-250 or .243. I couldn't decide either so I bought all 3. Find myself using the .22-250 the most though. Probably because I killed one coyote over 450 yards with it and another over 300, So I think there's a luck factor there with this gun LOL
 
caboverbobby said:
22-250 it is! Thanks guys!!!

Any scope recommendations?
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Here you will get at least as many "xyz is the best" replies as you did with calibers. My only recommendation is if you are going with the 22-250, I assume long range is a factor. DON'T GO TOO CHEAP!!!

Look for a scope that allows lots of light through. I suggest go to a gunshop and look through a bunch of them. 40mm-50mm objective
 
AWOL said:
Here you will get at least as many "xyz is the best" replies as you did with calibers. My only recommendation is if you are going with the 22-250, I assume long range is a factor. DON'T GO TOO CHEAP!!!

Look for a scope that allows lots of light through. I suggest go to a gunshop and look through a bunch of them. 40mm-50mm objective
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I tend to spend more on the scope than the rifle.

I'm going to Gagnon sports in the morning, i'll check out their scopes.
 
17 Rem Fireball or .223 would both work well. The 17 is a lot of fun to shoot but has limited options of availability.
 
A 243 with a 4-16 powered scope is awesome for shooting coyotes. The 243 puts them down hard. I like the 870 12 gauge full choke, with Number 4 buckshot for close stuff. The Ruger Mini 14 223 is a blast shooting them as well.
 
In you area I would suggest the 223 over the 22-250.
Shots will not be that long and it's cheap to shoot and practice with.
I like the 243 and my 257R as well but if I were to buy a dedicated rifle it would be a 223.
 
caboverbobby said:
22-250 it is! Thanks guys!!!

Any scope recommendations?
Click to expand...

I dunno about the 22-250. A buddy and I were down at our range poking the gongs at 300 yards. I had my 243 Savage Predator Max1 with my loaded 70 gr noslers and he had his 22-250 Weatherby S2 synthetic. Both on Bipods/rests. The 22.250 has a slower twist - his was about 1:14, while mine has a 1:9.25

Both were shooters, bar none, except when it came to the heavier bullets - that slow rate does not like the heavier bullets so he pretty much stayed with the 40 and 50 gr vmax.

The wind came up, and that's where the weakness of the 22-250 started to show. I compare it to the 17 hmr with the 15 gr versus the 223 with 40's - wind drift.

Mine drifted very little at the 300 yard range whereas his wandered more and the groups opened up. His velocities were faster by about 200 fps, but with those light little pills, the groupings just opened up in the wind.

The 243 also gives me the opportunity to load up heavier bullets for larger game if I so choose, the 22-250 is kinda limited that way. A 257 is also great, but very expensive to shoot/reload for.

I know the OP had stated strictly for coyotes, but never say never and there may be a time where he would need a larger "goto" bullet, as I have. That's why I predominantly load the 70 grain nosler.

In my opinion, the 22-250 is a good coyote gun, but does have some limitations. The 243 is a little more versatile and can handle the heavier bullets better.
 
Odds are such that you won't be carrying both when hunting.

The 22-250 shoots a .224" diameter bullet (22). The 243 shoots a 6mm (.243") diameter bullet. The ballistic coefficient is way better better with the 6mm than 22.

The 243 is a great deer cartridge with a 100 grain bullet. I know last year, I had my 30-06 and was bleating for the buck, when over the hills comes this scraggly coyote - about 400 away. He stayed put, and would not come closer. Did not have my coyote rig with me and did some quick math for bullet drop with ballistic reticle for that range and itsy-bitsy target with the 165 gr bullet. Long story short, I missed. Damn bullet went under him. The 243 would have nailed him, because I could have set the lighter bullet into the chamber.

Lesson learned. It's entirely up to you, there is no right or wrong answer, only my humble opinion. If you feel the 22-250 suits your needs, go for it, I can only shed light into my experiences.
 
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