Help with caliber decision for predator gun .

I’ve shot coyotes years with the 222 rem, 223 and 22/250.. I call all the coyotes i shoot anymore so 99% of time they are under 200 yards..I always liked the way the 22/250 anchored coyotes but with good Coyote prices passed couple years I was very intrigued by the 204 to save some Fur damage.So researched a lot and found the #1 bullet for fur was the 35gr Berger..I’ve shot enough coyotes this winter so far that I know my 22/250’s and every other 22 cal Center-fire could start collecting a lot of dust...you usually can’t find a hole and it puts them in Park real quick...I am very happy with the .204 ruger.
 
Hopefully the 223 is a 1:8 twist, but they also make them in 1:12

the 73gr ELD from a 223 does well downrange.
 
Yotarunner said:
i own and have hunted with all 3 of the options you are considering.
22-250 pros. fast flat and anchors things hard! cons. on smaller game fast varmint bullets run the risk of making a mess.
223. pros. cheap to shoot, lots of ammo, good on fur. cons. more bullet drop for long range shooting
204. pros. fast and flat like the 22-250, great on fur. cons. less factory ammo and on longer shots bullet placement is key in anchoring the animal solidly.

unless you plan to reload i would suggest the 223. even though it is kind of a vanilla cartridge it checks off all the right boxes for what you are looking for.
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Yup
 
The verdict is .. I was mistaken when the sale ended . Looks like I got another 24 hours to agonize over this . Lol
I think the 22-250 is out . It’s a cool round and I’m actually surprised it didn’t get more mention in this thread . 22-250 seems to be an overall favourite for predator hunting .. I’ll prob own one one day . But for now it’s not all that much different than my 243 . And I’m looking for a different animal so to speak .. I want super light recoil.. and quieter the better . Although I’m sure none of them are what I’d call quiet .
So it looks like it’ll be a 204 or a 223 . I’m 50/50 . Guess I’ll sleep on it .
Oh and yes the 223 is a 1 in 8 twist .

Thanks for the input . And happy new year !
 
Ive got all three, plus 222 and 22 Middlestead. Had a 17 Rem for awhile. 243 as well. Ill vote 22/250. You have to be careful with ammo choices but a non handloader who wants to save coyote hides will do OK with Winchester White box. I've got a dandy 204 that has proved to wreck as many close range coyotes as a 22/250, while losing killing efficiency at longer ranges. Didnt want it to work out that that way; but it did. The .223 and 222 are easier on hides, but drop out of the distance game quickly. Heavy bullet fast twist .223 hasnt given the results I wanted when it gets there. Good shooting; slow killing. 17 is right out. 22 Middlested and 243 are neck and neck for blowing tbe biggest holes. Not what you want for skinning, great for killing and finding.
 
Remember caliber is one thing bullet selection another. I've used 243, 223,204,12g and shot one with cast in a 303. Reloading is what will give you the most benefit.

In the 204 I find a 32 gr. Vmax works great. Not as impressed with the nosler offering. Others opinions will vary. No two shots on an animal are the same. Broadside tends to be the highest risk of damage. I much prefer the face on chest shot as there is a lot more length of animal for the bullet to decelerate.

If you're planning on shooting fox and cats then you may be better off with a 22 mag, 12g or a 243 running something in the 100gr. Range at 2-2200 fps. Hunting bullet not varmint.

If you're stuck using factory stuff , you're stuck using the genre of loads available for that caliber. So you're not going to find many slow moving 204 or 22-250 varmint factory loads. Realize as well that varmint bullets are not really intended for coyotes, they work well but some of them may be constructed lighter intended to break up easier on smaller targets. You will have to experiment with different bullets and weights until you find what works best for you and your hunting situations.

Personally I like the 204, the coyotes I get are called in, usually near or in Bush. Average range i shoot at is a about 50yds.

Good luck with whatever you purchase. They are all capable calibers.
 
Bullet selection is Every thing. I shot a fox at 100 yards with a 17rem and hit it center mass. Darn near cut it in half. Wow.
 
Not to difficult keeping the hair on a shot yote.

But the bobcat and lynx?


A 17 hornet might be a consideration.
 
nowarningshot said:
Predator hunting is not high volume shooting. If the difference between 223 and any other centerfire is applicable, price wise, perhaps you could try something else.

If pelts are a consideration, projectile is more important than caliber. A rather stout bullet, not a explosive gopher/varmit bomb. A smallish deer rifle is fine, with your deer load.
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Something like a 7 mm-08 would the trick for coyotes and a bit in reserve if you needed it!
 
I'd go with the 223 for your first predator rifle.

Lots of factory options for ammo.


Then you can find out what your hunting style prefers. Being that its a Savage you can barrel swap it really easy.
 
We shoot foxes almost all year round, I have had 223, 22-250 and 243. Recon the 243 was my favourite with a light barrel, good scope and carbon stock. 87gr v-max at 3100-3200 is not the worst. Also great for neck shooting deer.
edi
 
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