Coyote Rifle - .223 or .243

D

-Doug-

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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.
 
I`ve used both extensively and if you just want to kill them and don`t care about pelt damage, then for sure the .243 and you will never be under-gunned or see a coyote that is "out of range".
 
-Doug- said:
Does the .223 offer any advantages over the .243 in a bolt gun?
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Price of ammo.
Imo the 243 has a lot more authority on dogs than the 223. Theres a reason why many comp hunters choose the 6s and, 6.5s. They achor dogs even with hard angle shots.
 
yes 243 over 223 all day long......if 223 is still hard to forget ......i have taken most of mine with 22.250.......just the grown up version of 223...superb cal.....if your in a windy area ...243 fer sure........berger 85 gr superb for that extra 10% in the accuracy side of things ...my 2 c worth
 
I have never shot a coyote with a 223, but have shot lots with 222 and 222 Rem Mag, 243, 6.5CM, 260 Rem, and 308Win. When the shot is placed correctly, generally a coyote will go down on the spot regardless of the cartridge that did the damage. Gut shot, leg shot, non vital shot, what ever, they all spin, then run--some are recovered with a follow up shot, some are recovered after they bleed out, some are never recovered-which I hate. My go to gun for coyote hunting in the open is my Tikka 243, I use either 58 or 87 VMax, both are absolute hammers on coyotes, provided I make a good shot. If the hunting scenario will be a little closer shooting I will take my 222 Rem and keep the shots inside 200 yards and only on stationary targets. The 222 Rem will kill them DRT way further out, this is just my self imposed limit because I hate chasing a wounded coyote, I have too much respect to take a less than ideal shot.

Availability and variety of ammo is so similar between the 223 and 243 that I would call it a wash, but maybe the 243 has a better variety of dedicated hunting ammo-you will be hard pressed to find FMJ surplus style ammo. The 223 has lots of non-hunting specific ammo which is tempting to use and I would suggest for coyote hunting is not a good choice, but thats just me.
 
Is there a noticeable recoil difference between a .223 and a .243?

I know people are saying .223 is cheaper but are hunt rounds actually much cheaper?
Yea you can buy bulk pack federal range rounds but I assume you wouldn’t want to use those hunting.

What about noise, is one much louder than the other?
 
Cheaper to buy loaded ammo for. Cheaper to reload. You will shoot a 223 more, and it will last longer. And have better resale if you ever want to sell it.
If you have never owned an accurate 223 bolt gun, buy one and you’ll quickly realize how much fun you’ve been missing.

I love the 243 as well but it’s overkill for the coyote hunting I do, and doesn’t have nearly the fun factor of a 223 Rem.
 
.223 kills stationary coyotes just fine, running coyotes are a different matter, and as anyone who has ever shot any amount of coyotes knows, most coyotes are killed while either running or stationary at 400-500 yds.
That is where the .243 really has it over the .223. Pretty rare for one to stand and stare at you at 100 or so yards. You do not need a 1/2 MOA gun what you need is to be able to hit moving targets and estimate range and lead accurately.
 
-Doug- said:
Is there a noticeable recoil difference between a .223 and a .243?

I know people are saying .223 is cheaper but are hunt rounds actually much cheaper?
Yea you can buy bulk pack federal range rounds but I assume you wouldn’t want to use those hunting.

What about noise, is one much louder than the other?
Click to expand...

The 243 is definitely louder and more recoil. But recoil from the 243 is pretty light, most kids or smaller stature people can handle a 243 no problem at all. And even when hunting I wear some form of ear protection now-lots of options out there from cheap foamies you stuff in your ears to highly sophisticated electronic ear pros that amplify ambient sounds and shut off when they receive a loud impulse above a pre determined decibel level like a gun shot.
 
Looks like mixed opinions from .243 being overkill and .243 being better.
Everyone has a different opinion and that’s exactly why I made this thread.

Thank you all for your responses so far, I appreciate hearing everyone’s opinion.

So far I’m leaning towards the .243 from a ballistics perspective however still undecided.
Is the .223 really that much quieter and more pleasant to shoot?
 
I killed my first yote with a .223 at 170meters and droped like a stone. Still, I decided to upgrade to a .243 just because. Barrel life is not an issue for me since I don't shoot 100 rounds per year with it. Found a rifle I liked, I reload, so low commercial ammo availability is not an issue and wanted more range.
 
Bad Bob said:
.223 kills stationary coyotes just fine, running coyotes are a different matter, and as anyone who has ever shot any amount of coyotes knows, most coyotes are killed while either running or stationary at 400-500 yds.
That is where the .243 really has it over the .223. Pretty rare for one to stand and stare at you at 100 or so yards. You do not need a 1/2 MOA gun what you need is to be able to hit moving targets and estimate range and lead accurately.
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If you're shooting from a truck maybe.
Whenever someone asks this question I wish they'd say where they're from and what kind of terrain/set up they are shooting from. setting up over a calving field or dead cow/horse is different than calling open fields or bush.
I also wish that people that answer would maybe say how much they have hunted coyotes and the same setups/terrain. My closest is called in to 6 yards, my furthest is 650 yards. I used to be good for around a hundred a year, almost all called in, the rest spot and stalk or targets of opportunity. Usually cow/horse farms over hay fields/pastures. Average distance maybe 100 yards? Running? Maybe 4 or 5 after 3 decades of calling/hunting and usually after shooting the first one of a group that came in. Usually you can get them to stop with a bark or other distress call.
Less than 300 yards the coyote won't know the difference between 223 or 243 (or any other centerfire really)
 
I don’t waste ammo shooting at running coyotes either. If you stay prone they’ll usually give you a shot at multiples assuming the first one is dead.
 
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