coyote caliber

[Crashman]

I have shot coyotes with everything from 22 mag to 308 winchester, so my feeling is whatever you have in your hands at the time is the best coyote caliber in the world, most would agree I think. However this discussion is more about appropriate calibers for hopefully saving the fur, so the 204 likely gets the nod for most applications, however having never owned one or even shot one I will not contribute anything in regards to it's merits, other than I have seen a few coyotes shot with a 204 and amazingly enough they were as dead as dead can be.

I just picked up a 222 rem mag that will never leave my families possession, it belonged a dear friend who wanted to try something else, when I told him it would eventually go to my youngest son, he gave it up for a song. Hopefully this will be the rifle I have been missing in my battery for coyotes, will let you know once I have a chance to lay some lead out there and hopefully connect with a few song dogs.

Very interesting to hear everyone's perspective on this topic, have to remember that most coyotes are light skinned and boned, and don't need a lot of energy to put down permanently if hit squarely behind the shoulders.

 

[Yotarunner]

I too miss the old PHC site
Here is a few coyote calibers I've used
Cooper model 21, 204 Ruger


Tikka model 595, 22-250


Remington model 700 SF LE, 17 Fireball


Sako, L461, 20 Tactical


Cooper model 38 Jackson Varminter, 20VT



Cooper model 22, 6BR


And my favorite, Cooper model 51, 223 Rem.

These are my kind of coyote guns! I have to say im mildly jealous. Btw is it weird that i recognized you from another forum just from the way you photograph coyotes? Haha

 

[trombone]

These are my kind of coyote guns! I have to say im mildly jealous. Btw is it weird that i recognized you from another forum just from the way you photograph coyotes? Haha

Ten years ago when I registered here I tried to get the same username as I have on other forums but it was already taken. I had just bought a little Browning Trombone .22 from my brother in law, so that was my next option for a username. I see a fair number of familiar names here on CGN including yourself.

 

[The Baron]

Awesome line up of rifles, Trombone. You have great taste!

 

[taz1977]

Well I went with the 204 Ruger and I'm love it I got it in Remington 700 sps hogue rubber over molded with a nightforce shv 4-14x56 scope

 

[scott_r]

Well I went with the 204 Ruger and I'm love it I got it in Remington 700 sps hogue rubber over molded with a nightforce shv 4-14x56 scope

Nice set up and excellent caliber choice. I highly recommend loading up 35 gr Berger, best fur round ever made. If you are looking for powder H4895 is a solid starting point.
For small varmint the 32 BK's or Vmax provide some very entertaining kills, Ive seen gophers get punted 10 feet in the air....its crazy.

Cheers!!

 

[taz1977]

Nice set up and excellent caliber choice. I highly recommend loading up 35 gr Berger, best fur round ever made. If you are looking for powder H4895 is a solid starting point.
For small varmint the 32 BK's or Vmax provide some very entertaining kills, Ive seen gophers get punted 10 feet in the air....its crazy.

Cheers!!

Thank you I will.try loading that round

 

[titch--]

I use a 204, 223 and 243. I think my fav is the 223 though.

My confidence in the 204 with the 35's is growing after a few good shots this year though.

 

[RiMP9]

I shoot .223. But with my .270 some how there's not much left of them. Farmers never argue that point.

 

[bluegrizz77]

Anything from .22 to 50 bmg depends on what you want to do with it after, they all will kill them.

 

[NHunter]

.25-06 Remington
85 grain
24" barrel
3400fps
5" drop at 400yards.

Yeah, I'll take it...

And cloverleaf groupings at 100 yards just for fun...(with a Husqvarna..)

All those who disagree - well just because you have never experienced this most potent combination.

 

[taz1977]

Anything from .22 to 50 bmg depends on what you want to do with it after, they all will kill them.

I'd like to shot one with the 50bmg

 

[beretta boy]

Currently use a 223, 257 Roberts & 25-06. Previously a 270 with 90gr. Sierra's and a 264 Win Mag with 85 gr, Nosler BT's.
Not interested in fur whatsoever.

 

[trombone]

I'd like to shot one with the 50bmg

Make sure to find someone to pack it in for you
I have only shot one but weighing in at 37 pounds, it was a pig just to pack from the truck to the shooting bench!
Congrats. on the purchase of the 204, that will make for a good dog wacker.

 

[trombone]

.25-06 Remington
85 grain
24" barrel
3400fps
5" drop at 400yards.


Yeah, I'll take it...

And cloverleaf groupings at 100 yards just for fun...(with a Husqvarna..)

All those who disagree - well just because you have never experienced this most potent combination.

I've shot a 25-06 for 38 years and I do agree with you about being a great coyote round when loaded with the 85's . However, I find them too loud for the areas I usually hunt ( like near feedlots and near yard sites)

 

[sharp shooter]

There's some more numbers, the .204 won't do what the 22-250 will. Plain and simple.

I'm shooting a 204. My hunting load shoots. 5" groups at 100 yards and 2.5" groups at 300 yards consistently. I'm shooting 40gr V max at over 3900fps - not 3650... Most 204's are capable of shooting 40gr bullets well over 3800 fps so the data you posted clearly isn't a max load. A 22-250 and a 204 are pretty close in energy according to the numbers I've seen across my chronograph....

 

[colonel3006]

I don't actually get out coyote hunting anymore but do still shoot the odd one that gets to close to home. Shot one couple weeks ago with the .243. 87 gr hpbt. Not a bullet used if you're wanting pelts in good shape.Pair of them running across the field. I paced it off at 354 paces and hit her in back end.Almost ripped one rear leg completely off and busted the other.Neighbour has cattle and has had couple calves killed over the years so we try to get any that come to close. Neighbor gives them to a young guy down the road and he does try to skin and fix them up.When we hunted them with the dogs I always loved my Remington 7600 in 6mm. Before I started reloading a buddy loaded 80 gr fmj for me. Just pencil holes and did very little damage to pelts.

 

[Camp Cook]

My buddy just had coyotes or local dogs kill a cow and a calf on their ranch here in BC.

I need to find the time to get up there and help them stop these dogs...

I'm trying to decide on which rifle I'll be taking my old Ruger M77 tang safety 22-250 - Rem 700 SA LTR in 6.8SPC - Rem 700 LA XCR11 in 25-06...

Unless the pelts are in perfect shape we don't care about the pelts so damage is non-issue.

 

[lclund1946]

There's some more numbers, the .204 won't do what the 22-250 will. Plain and simple.

Put a 9" or 10" twist barrel on the 204R and run the 55 Berger at Berger's suggested loads doing 3100-3200 fps and a 14" twist 22-250 or 22 swift will have no more energy at 500 yards. As well it won't damage the fur at under 100 yards like the 22-250. Bullet may drop a bit more but will drift less and most scopes are well equipped to compensate for the difference.

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Better yet put the 10 twist barrel on a Single shot like my savage model 12, and chamber it for 20 Practical, for the longer shots or a CZ 527 in my 20 EXTREME with a 9" twist if you want a clip fed rifle that. Both will get 204R velocities with 21.5-24 grains of powder with the 55Berger as well as near the same velocity with 32-40 grain bullets, in the gopher field.
Savage in 20 Practical:

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My 20 EXTREME gets these velocities because it looks like this with the bullet seated just off the lands:

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Instead of like this when seated to fit the Saami Spec magazines found on most rifles:

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[prairie lover]

Yes the 39gr Blitzking is a great varmint bullet, and the coyote is a varmint,

The 39gr Blitking is my chosen bullet for coyote, when using my 20 Tactical.

I have had superb luck shooting the 39 bk for years now, 3770 fps, no splashes but my shots are usually on the longer side. im not sure how it would do under 100 yards. I found the 35 berger to get blown around by the wind a lot more on the open prairie and even pencil through at 400 yards. the low bc just drags the speed down fast. the bk will open up to at least 550.

but my 204 is a heavy barrel, these days I find my calling trips usually find me carrying a customized tikka 223 shooting either a 55 gr sierra gameking at 3290 or a 50 gr nosler bt at 3400. both excellent coyote bullets and the sierra is not too rough on foxes.