Coyote Rifle - .223 or .243

An 8 twist 223 with a 60 to 70gr bullet preforms very well on coyotes if you just want to shoot them and are not concerned about salvaging hides. A 243 will accomplish the same thing but with more recoil and muzzle report. I have been shooting gophers using my 223s with a reduced load of 4895 and 40gr Vmaxs. Excellent accuracy out to 100yds without changing POI. If the gophers are standing out to 250 yds I put a 50 or 53gr Vmax loaded with CFE223 in the chamber. Lots of versatility in a 223 and cheaper to shoot than a 243. For dedicated coyote rifles I use a 204 to save the hides. Fur friendly and effective from 0 to 450 yds.
I do have a Cooper 6mm I use on coyotes but only when I'm doing predator control over bait piles and not concerned with saving hides such as spring calving season.
 
I would take the 243 with a 58Gr vmax if pelt damage is no concern. For the better BC and less wind drift. A 58gr vmax at 3920FPS will only drop -4.5" at 300 yards, 14" at 400 yards.
 
A 243 won’t let you down. Good clean kills out to 500 ( my max) and plenty available bullets. I’ve used others including the 223 but picked up the 243 when I went out. A closer match is the 22-250 & 220 swift.
 
I hunt two farming operations,one Sheep and the other dairy. Both are 200 acres each in south central Ontario. My go-to is Ruger M77 in .243Win-60gr BT for short range (100-200M) and Ruger M77 SS in .270Win -120gr BT for long range (200-350M). Both kill 'em stone dead,but,the .270 creates pink mist.
 
OP said shots 150-300 yards. Now we are talking ballistics? Lol

Nothing wrong with a 243 for Coyotes but between the 2 pick the gun you like better and the ammo you can find easiest

I've never killed a coyote with a 223 that I wished I had a 243. Longest kill 458 ranged yards with 223. Dead dog.
 
I would definitely go 223 for 300 yard coyote control. Way more enjoyable to shoot and much quieter. I have 223, 243, and 22-250 using the latter only in one place where shots can get out to 500 yards. My average shot is 250 yards and the 223 kills em good, run maybe 20 yards if they dont drop.
 
Out of your two choices I would go 223. Less recoil, cheap ammo, Easier to find ammo, less pelt damage. If you asked me what caliber I would choose it would be the 22-250
 
So I see lots of reference to the 22-250 and how people like it.
What’s the big selling point to the 22-250?
From a quick search it’s looks like it’s a flat shooting zippy round. Is that the main advantage?
 
-Doug- said:
So I see lots of reference to the 22-250 and how people like it.
What’s the big selling point to the 22-250?
From a quick search it’s looks like it’s a flat shooting zippy round. Is that the main advantage?
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The gain in distance you get when stepping up from a 223. Still very fur friendly. Very flat shooting.
 
.243 win, it can pull double duty as a deer gun, great for new shooter if someone close becomes interested, same case as 308 so finding brass is easy enough, just gotta watch the heavier weight .243 vs .223 can really tear up a coyote. I usually use a lighter weight monolithic bullet for medium weight varmits.
 
I put away my 223, 22-250 and 243 all in favor of my new favorite that hits like a 243, shoots flat like a 22-250 (and way better in the wind) and recoils like a 223, the 6.5 Grendel! It's an amazing little cartridge that really is a do all round in a small bore, specially if you reload but there are great factory offerings also. Look into it, you won't be disappointed.
 
I’ve done the 22-250, 243 and 204R in my coyote forays

For me the .204R wins out. Flatter and quieter then the 250 (perfect if your near livestock), more fur friendly then the 243 and cheaper on the reloading bench then both.

And.. you get to see it all unfold through the scope cause it’s got no recoil. It’s kinda neat watching little holes appear on paper at the bench or the pink mist on a ‘Yote in the field. it’s basically a hold fur and shot caliber to 400yrds
 
.243 is probably my all time favorite. I've dropped countless coyotes and 7-9 deer with mine. My buddy shot his first two moose with a .243 and they dropped immediately.

There is nothing wrong with .223, but why #### around when .243 is more versatile.
 
I've never shot a coyote (full disclosure) but I have hunted for them. I DO hunt groundhogs here in Ontario, and have used everything from 17HMR up to 270 on them. So...varmints/varmint guns, and some of the ranges being discussed.

To hit a groundhog reliably, you ought to be able to hit a target the size of an orange...as that's about the "kill" zone size on it's noodle. My confidence level on that is about 200 yards, body shots I'll reach out to 300 but not enough practice to want to do that if there are complicating factors like wind. I mostly make shots in the 150-200 yard range, fields don't tend to be overly huge, and farms in Ontario where I hunt are fairly close together. Might sound underwhelming distance-wise, but I also have/use a range finder. Those distances are confirmed.

To answer some of the OP's questions;

*243 louder than .223? Yes, WAY louder
*recoil greater on a 243? Yes, but not a painful amount of recoil. Just seems to move enough to require you to find your target again. 223 barely moves at all/you can watch the hit. 204R moves even less (lighter bullets)
*which is better? Since I haven't shot a coyote, I'd suggest you consider the experienced guys posting ahead of me. I will say this-like any hunting scenario, shot placement is a huge factor. Accuracy comes with practice, and practice is allot more enticing with a .223..especially with ammo costs these days. I've only owned 1 x .243, and barely kept it a year. Way more noise/power than what's required for a -300 yard groundhog. Ammo options (and bullet options if you reload?) are amazing with .223, and awfully good with .243...so that's probably a wash. If you're buying ammo, all kinds of reasons for .223 to be the first choice if your shots are under 300 yards. 223 is probably my favorite centerfire caliber, though I hunt with .204 most.
 
-Doug- said:
For pure coyote management purposes (not concerned about pelt damage) which of the two calibers do you prefer for coyote hunting .223 or .243 and why?

Most shots will be within 300 yards (probably within 150) if that makes a difference in your decision.

Can you go wrong with either caliber?
Will both drop them right on the spot?

Rifle will be a bolt action.
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It depends on the time of year... when the snow gets deeper a more powerful cartridge gives a better indication of where you miss on a running coyote and you can adjust your next shot better... one of the best coyote killers I knew and hunted with ended up using his .270 in the winter... Eddy Mech from Calgary
 
Depending on where you are hunting (assuming you are hunting on a coyote license), it may not be legal to use a 243.

In NL, if on a coyote license, only 22 cal center fire may be used - but if on a big game license or small game license either of the guns appropriate for those license can be used...

Not sure the rules for other provinces - but worth a check... For he record, I have killed them with shotgun, 223 and rifles upto 300winmag....
 
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