Coyote Rifle caliber

bigtuna81

bigtuna81

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Hi all,
I am starting to save up some funds for a small caliber coyote rifle and wondering the different opinions towards which round I should choose. My gut tells me to go with a 22-250 but I have no real reason why. I will be reloading in the near future (all the equipment bought, just waiting to get into out new house to set up a good reloading station) if that makes a difference. I am open to all suggestions. Thanks for the help

TUNA
 
22-250/.223/.243 all sound choices. I have a .243 in hopes of getting out this winter! So there may be a bit of bias but the .243 is more versatile, you can get bullets in the range of 55grains up to about 100gr. They will all get the job done, also depends on if you plan on keeping the hides or not.
 
I like the .223 as I get free brass at the range, and it takes a bit less powder than the .22-250.
The .22-250 hits harder at longer ranges, but my shots on yotes are rarely past 150 yards anyway.(and I have a .243 if it's windy or I feel the need to reach out)
I shot 3 last year with my .22 k hornet, and have been reaching for it more often lately as it's nice and light.
.223 is still my choice.
 
My gut said 22-250 ... and I went with it...and have never regretted it... the Barnes Varmit Grenade bullets are also fun for dropping gophers too. If it's your only gun you should be aware that you can not hunt deer with the 22 calibers. I've been told the .223 has better availability of shells and are more economical .. or can be!!
 
Azazle said:
If you're interested in going 'all out' I would suggest a .22-243 Middlestead. I definitely wouldn't suggest this caliber if you're new to reloading though....
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I use one of these. Good coyote medicine at fairly long ranges. If I had to do it again though, I would build with a 1-9 or 1-7 twist instead of the 1-14, make better use of the longer and heavier 22 cal bullets. - dan
 
I have a 220 swift that I use with 55 grain bullets for my longer range coyote gun, and it works good. If I were to do it over again I would buy a 22-250, it and then get it reamed to 22-250 AI. Then I could reload to swift velocities if I wanted to, yet still use readily available factory ammo if I needed to. Just a thought!

Norm
 
explorin2 said:
... If it's your only gun you should be aware that you can not hunt deer with the 22 calibers. ...
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Unless you can hunt deer with the .22 calibres where you are going to hunt deer. Saskatchewan doesn't allow it, so you can't use it for that here. I don't know what Alberta says about it, but I think e.g. B.C. says yes.
 
If it has to be a center-fire .224, in a hunting only firearm for you, then there's none IMHO that fits the bell like the 22-250. Fast and flat shooting and very accurate with lots and lots of factory offerings from econo to premium.

Just look at a cartridges offerings from any major ammo manufacturer and if theres lots, then that mean the cartridge is filling its intended role very nicely.

If it's only for coyote and you also Deer hunt, don't past the .243 by without a serious look. Again if its got to be 224 then your gut was right!:canadaFlag:

Heres another angle on a coyote rifle, that you may want to shoot alot at the range, and don't want a premature worn out barrel and want cheapy ammo. The .223 Rem will fit this bill perfectly. You can get 20 factory 55fMJs for 10 bucks or less.

Just run the Winchesters ballistic calculator and compare the .22-250 to the .223 REM, both firing winchesters 55gr ballistic silver tips. The 22-250 is supreme of course launching the same bullet at 400fps faster, but when you figure in a 250 yard zero, a cool- 20 degree F morning, like my winter hunts, and a 18mph crosswind, you'll see the 223 will do everything you need to 300yds. 3.8 drop compared to 2.8@300 and winddrift of 20.9 versus 17.8 for the 22-250. Differences a good Rifle man has no problem correcting for.

I like Winchesters online ballistic calculator because you can compare apples to apples the exact same bullet in different chamberings and put in any external values you want to.

Just an idea for getting the coyote down, and lots of cheap fun to practise on the range with factory fodder.

.22-250 is practically as good as it gets in .224 though.:canadaFlag:
 
My top choice is 25-06. But with much limitations, like houses near by, i'm hunting yotes with a CZ in 222 rem. Lot's of very good calibers stated in the posts preceding mine. Cheers.
 
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