Help Me Choose a Coyote Caliber

A Speer 90 grain .243 makes a puncture hole with the hair removed about the diameter of a nickel. My rifle likes IMR4350.
Electronic call aren't legal everywhere. Mind you, neither are FMJ's. Even the commercial FMJ's that are not the same as military ball.
 
I have used and or still own 22-250s, 223s and 243s. I use a 223 almost exclusively now.

Much depends on YOUR individual situation. For me(around farmers, etc)the 22-250 is great but LOUD and makes Mizzis Farmer nervous, so does the 243. You may be in a different situation, and when I need something louder and bigger and longer distance, I use the 243.

Usually when calling, shots are inside 150m. If I hunt over bait I use a Savage FCP-K bull barrel 223 or the 243 and setup at a distance and I don't call.

Best advice is find/try what fits your frame, then decide your circumstances of use(noise, weight, calling/walking, over bait, etc). Then the decision is easy. Generally speaking you can use specific ammo in specific calibers to minimize pelt damage and still do accuracy and distance but it takes a few autopsies and a few pelt sutures to figure that out.
 
To the op. Caliber selection is best advised when we know the conditions of your hunt. If you expect to call them to within 200-300 yards and closer then the .223 will work just fine. If you expect your ranges to be longer than that then my suggestion would be to move to the .243-6mm cals it will also perform double duty as a light recoiling deer caliber if you wish? The 6mm's suffer less effects from the wind at long yardages. IMO most hunting situations and for most hunters level of shooting comfort/ability the majority of your shots will be 50-300yrds. So the .223 is a great choice. cheap, accurate, light recoil and low noise levels. The .243 offers great dual purpose and long range capabilities. Ultimately either caliber will serve you well.
 
I have not gotten into the 17cal stuff as of yet but I own and shoot coyotes with a 204R, 222, 223, 22-250, 6mm Rem, and 25-06. 90% of the time I will reach for one of my 204s if I'm going coyote calling and care about saving a prime hide. I have shot coyotes from 3yds to 450+ yds with the 204 and a 35gr Berger. As long as I do my part and put the bullet in the right spot the coyote dies very quickly with minimal fur damage. If you reload then I recommend the 204 if you do not then my next suggestion would be the 223.
 
I'll have to agree that the .223 is sufficient at moderate ranges and is readily available, but I went with a 22-250 just for a little more oomph and flatter trajectory. A .243 would be right up there as a second choice for myself since it will shoot the lighter 58gr bullets close to the same as the 22-250, but it can handle the heavier bullets for the longer shots and windier days (or the odd wolf, deer, etc...)
 
This is coming from a guy that puts up fur, not overly hunts. With my experience, with a lot of hand loading, you'll find a few calibers that work, but nothing perfect. If it's 75 or less yards, 12 gauge shotgun shooting lead BB shot all day long. 200 yards or less, 22 l k hornet, it's an older caliber and round but doesn't destroy the pelt. 200-400 yards or less without a ton of wind, 17 rem or 17 fireball, wind is a factor though. 204 is also an option in here. Only over 300 yards, 22-250 or 220 swift and over 300 only you can look into a 243 or larger with the right load. The only curve I found with factory ammo that's very nice on fur from 0-300 yards is the 222 rem. Older but great round. Either way, besides having 10 guns with you, you'll never have "the perfect" gun and caliber that won't ever destroy a pelt. A good place to start that's cheap and easy and then work loads, 223 or 22-250. Then go from there. Remember, an exit the size of a toonie or ever a quarter, after skinning, fleshing and boarding, it's 5 times the size, an exit that's 3-4" accross and it's almost worth throwing out. If you're shooting just to shoot and kill. Shoot your deer gun, it'll be great practice come rifle season next year. Personally I shoot a 12 gauge, 22 magnum, 22 hornet, 222 and 204 for yotes and the only caliber I enjoy and take out the most is the 222.
 
260 REM, good for just about any game. Match grade target load for yotes to minimize pelt damage or 130gr Barnes TSX for deer. Use one rifle and become proficient with it because shot placement is almost everything. That being said, I am quite fond of the .17hmr. If you like squirrel and rabbit and the dogs are 100m and under I'd use that. Mind you I'm in the .275 and under zone so if I had a reason for for a big bore I'd probably have one. Just my .02.
 
I have to agree with some, that just because its a heavier caliber, doesn't mean more pelt damage. I have seen varmint bullets in a 223 literally explode the exit wound on a coyote. Its all about bullet selection. I personally use a 223 only because I shoot a semi auto XCR for coyotes. Just because its tacticool and I am not very concerned for the pelt. I do think though if I cared about that I would look at heavier calibers loaded with lighter bullets. Like a 260 or 243. You will want the flatter shooting at longer ranges depending where you live. With yotes the flatter the trajectory the better in my opinion. Most situations is a running yote and you don't have time to start ranging etc. I like a point and shoot caliber if it was up to me. But again when I go we just slay them we don't care about holes.
 
As you can see, you get everything from a base ball bat to a RPG. I have used many cal and I think it depends on where you are shooting. How far is your target? Are you calling or shooting across a pasture? Calling I have a very light hornet or 223 (Ruger #3). My go to gun for coyotes in general is a 243. It reaches better with more killing powder. 87gr. Vmax bullets kill like lightning and you don't have to be a seamstress. Get a range finder so you can place shots. This is a fun game but I hate it if a coyote runs after being hit. Lots of trigger time is as/more important than the cal. Good luck.
 
popcanhunter said:
will 7.69X39 FMJ do it?
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Get the Dominion x39 hollowpoints from CanadaAmmo. 25 cents a round, and they're kind of hollowpoints in name only, I haven't done any expansion tests, but just looking at them, I wouldn't expect a heck of a lot from them in terms of expansion.

But it will keep it legal in terms of the hunting regs.

Also, check your local (provincial) hunting regs. When you're varminting, doing pest or predator control, a lot of those species qualify as "non-game species" in some provinces, so most of the hunting regs (ammo capacity, minimum calibre, no FMJ, etc. etc. ) go out the window.
 
I'd like to give the .25-06 and/or .257 Weatherby a go on coyotes. For a pelt saving load, I would load Speer 100 gr. spitzers to around 2300 fps. using SR4759. Guaranteed to pin-hole the critters and on a non-windy day, 300 yd. hits ain't out of the question. Think .25-35 Win. velocity with bullets designed for expansion at much higher speeds.

Reduced loads work great in all the chamberings mentioned here for coyotes. Just keep the speed to below your chosen bullets' expansion threshold on the critters you shoot. Accuracy can be excellent when the right load is worked up for your rifle, plus you save on powder and have less wear and tear on the barrel & brass.
:)
 
grelmar said:
Get the Dominion x39 hollowpoints from CanadaAmmo. 25 cents a round, and they're kind of hollowpoints in name only, I haven't done any expansion tests, but just looking at them, I wouldn't expect a heck of a lot from them in terms of expansion.

But it will keep it legal in terms of the hunting regs.

Also, check your local (provincial) hunting regs. When you're varminting, doing pest or predator control, a lot of those species qualify as "non-game species" in some provinces, so most of the hunting regs (ammo capacity, minimum calibre, no FMJ, etc. etc. ) go out the window.
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i have hunting ammo, but the other day i was thinkin of cyote hunting, and all i had in the van was FMJ.
just askin for next time.
(when i find my hunting ammo, i will put a few rounds in the van and leave them there.)
 
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