The .223 is good to 300 yds or so on coyotes in my experience, but it does not work great on wolves which are common in western Alberta. My idea of an ultimate predator rifle is a Rem. 7600 in .243. There is a difference between calling from a blind and driving on back roads and fields also. I wonder if anyone calling in predators ever gets a Cougar come in?
Coyote Rifle - .223 or .243
- Thread starter -Doug-
- Start date
The OP specifically stated that he doesn't care about pelt damage...so IMHO the only reason for chosing the .223 is out the window. Hunting coyotes isn't like hunting prairie dogs or ground squirrels; you are taking one or a couple shots maybe a few times a day, not hundreds all at once. I couldn't care less about noise, or ammo cost, or recoil in that case.
If I am not looking at saving pelts and simply want to kill a coyote, I would choose .243 or even .22-250 before .223 every time. Not every coyote can be called in to within a couple hundred yards, and not every coyote is located by calling. I want to sit in a spot that allows me as much visibility, i.e. range, as possible, so I want a cartridge that delivers a sure killing blow at distance...and compared to a .243, the .223 is not it. Sure, a 150-yard coyote shot with .223 is dead; so is one whacked with a .243...but the .243 is just so much better, more versatile and more effective on more targets (i.e. different shot angles and presentations) that I just don't see the point of the .223 if you are buying another rifle.
I have a bait site that is visible from my back deck, lasered at 362 yards. My goal is to kill every coyote I see on it, and I don't want to educate them by missing any. I almost always use a .308 or .300WinMag for that purpose.
If I am not looking at saving pelts and simply want to kill a coyote, I would choose .243 or even .22-250 before .223 every time. Not every coyote can be called in to within a couple hundred yards, and not every coyote is located by calling. I want to sit in a spot that allows me as much visibility, i.e. range, as possible, so I want a cartridge that delivers a sure killing blow at distance...and compared to a .243, the .223 is not it. Sure, a 150-yard coyote shot with .223 is dead; so is one whacked with a .243...but the .243 is just so much better, more versatile and more effective on more targets (i.e. different shot angles and presentations) that I just don't see the point of the .223 if you are buying another rifle.
I have a bait site that is visible from my back deck, lasered at 362 yards. My goal is to kill every coyote I see on it, and I don't want to educate them by missing any. I almost always use a .308 or .300WinMag for that purpose.
Last edited:
thatmikeguy
Regular
- Location
- Steinbach, Manitoba
The 243 with any bullet ranging from 75 to 87 grains would be an excellent coyote slayer from near to far.
The 22-250 is a great choice but the .224 bullets have their limits and so do a lot of the rifles with their traditional twist rates. The 243 is better in my opinion. Or a 6mm Creedmoor but the guns and ammo for this one are very limited. Therefore for the 243 wins.
The 22-250 is a great choice but the .224 bullets have their limits and so do a lot of the rifles with their traditional twist rates. The 243 is better in my opinion. Or a 6mm Creedmoor but the guns and ammo for this one are very limited. Therefore for the 243 wins.
And I just pulled the trigger, so to speak, on a NOS Model 700 compact in .243. Think I'll stick it in a Grayboe Trekker. Super light and compact, 9 1/8 twist, should do the trick with both 75gr VMAX and 95gr Ballistic Tips.
I have a Rem 700 LTR short action rifle chambered in 6.8SPC I have it in a Magpul Hunter 700 chassis now but it just seems to heavy of a chassis for such a light recoiling cartridge
I am currently using it for deer-coyotes I was looking at getting a folding MDT HNT26 chassis until I saw they want $1700 for it.
I've never heard of Grayboe Trekker chassis before have you used them do I need to get different detachable mag bottom metal as well?
You can order them inletted for the factory bottom metal - if I got this route I will most likely retain it. Not sure if they'll work with the Magpul DBM.
Managed to find a 0 MOA EGW rail and a tuned X-Mark Pro trigger in the parts drawer. Lots of rings to choose from and a few scope options as well. Picked up a couple boxes of Federal 100gr. Now just waiting for the rifle to arrive.
So much experience to be had here. I’ve enjoyed reading all the pages on this thread with a cup of tea and truly, it’s one of life’s great pleasures. Thanks for all that.
There are so many experienced and well written CGN authors/sources on here and we are blessed to have them chime in with their ‘2 loonies’ here. I’m tickled. So It’s by turn…. And in typical “Hungry” fashion:
Don’t buy ONE….
Buy THREE of them in ALL calibers!
Okay, full disclosure, I’ve never killed a coyote (I just suck at it)… I hope this picture doesn’t come out sideways. Been doing that to me for a while now. LOL
But I have killed thousands of groundhogs over the past 35 years and also another few thousand gophers (cheaper with a .22 LR Yellow Jacket or CCI Stinger). My go to cartridge was the .223 with all sorts of booolits mounted/loaded up from 50 VMax to a 69 SMK HPBT.
In my old age, I’ve managed to accumulate ALL three of the popular calibers: .223, .22-250, and .243
I found my dream bolt gun , a Winnie Model 70 Featherweight Compact in .243 (for both coyote and deer, with various hand loaded boolit choices). I bought it at Clay’s Place; Prophet River, in Lloydminster , AB. Then I also bought a Bell & Carlson hunter stock for this Model 70 because I slip and trip and fall down, so walnut stocks and me don’t get along. Now this is my longer distance coyote rig when some of the ‘yotes are reluctant to run out of the tree line and come to my Primos e-caller.
I’m loading 75 VMax booolits running around 2975 fps out of that .243, and I’m working on a 95 gr. SST load for the coming deer season. That’s the beauty of handloading. I can have 2 loads for 2 different purposes. One can easily head to their LGS (local gun shop) and find different hunting loads for different game applications with this fine caliber.
I also have a Bergara B14 HMR .22-250 that’s comes with a factory 9” twist barrel that likes my Hornady HPBT 75 gr. ELD booolits, but I’ve got a bunch of 2950 fps Vmax loads for the ‘yotes’ if I’m hunting/ sitting mostly tighter fields. I’m also about to begin the search for a zippy load using the 55 grain Vmax booolits, too.
And with house nearby, and a closer tree line, then I’ll bust open my 24” Remmy 700 9” tight twist Varmint armed with 55 gr. VMax booolits. I’ve done most of my groundhog harvesting with the .223 and yeah, it’s nicer on the ears when taking that occasional shot. And you get to witness the drama unfold in your scope. LOL
Anyways, just like the PR clients at my sniper matches, “Buy what works for you and your: game, budget, cool factor, handloading setup, retail ammo source, booolit availability , comfort level, experience set, hunting parameters, fondle factor, and ego.”
It’s gotta work for you and only you at the end of the day. You’re the one carrying it. You’re the one cleaning that tube, you’re the one behind the rig to launch that boooolit.
Be safe out there!!
Cheers, Barney
Attachments
Last edited:
Good points about noise when shooting around houses, etc. Barney; I admit that I never give that a thought; not likely to start now, either. My neighbours are distant, are all accustomed to the occasional gunshot, and are often doing some shooting themselves.
And, hey, good going with the picture! It isn't sideways...
And, hey, good going with the picture! It isn't sideways...
