Need help choosing a calibre for coyote

Since I only live about 1/2 hour from him, I know the area Gylar is hunting, and you'll see the odd shot out around 400, so I would opt for a .22-250.That being said however, I don't hunt coyote, and I just bought a .223, to replace my .22-250, for paper punching, and the odd trip afield for groundhogs.

Scott
 
Thanks everyone for all the great suggestions and advice. I think i've narrowed it down to either a .22-250 or .223 for most of the reasons buffdog mentioned. I definately would like to keep the "noise level" down as well as the recoil. I love the ammunition availability of both these cartridges, if not more so with the .223 I've seen both of these in gun stores and retail stores like Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart so i don't think that will be a problem. Now is there much difference between recoil and noise between the two? Will i be able to maintain my sight picture in the scope?
 
str8shot said:
Since I only live about 1/2 hour from him, I know the area Gylar is hunting, and you'll see the odd shot out around 400, so I would opt for a .22-250.That being said however, I don't hunt coyote, and I just bought a .223, to replace my .22-250, for paper punching, and the odd trip afield for groundhogs.

Scott
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Did you replace it for pure cost factor alone? Or just for something different?
 
Hide damage has more to do with the bullet than the cartridge. Light varmint bullets are made to expand rapidly upon impact. That's what blows big holes in the hides. A commercial fmj(not the same as a milsurp ball bullet) is the best thing for hides. Mind you, prime coyote hides are winter hides.
On ground hogs it won't matter.
Since you're not reloading, yet, you will have to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best. Especially for long range shots. And be very careful about what's behind your target. There's a farm or other building within 250 to 300 yards in every direction in Southwestern Ontario.
 
sunray said:
And be very careful about what's behind your target. There's a farm or other building within 250 to 300 yards in every direction in Southwestern Ontario.
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I know, it worries me silly sometimes and its always at the top of my mind when shooting.
 
Did you replace it for pure cost factor alone? Or just for something different?
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A little bit of both.I have 3 sons , who are approaching centerfire age, and I figure a .223 would be about a nice light recoiling rifle to start them on.Also, since they will want to shoot a lot, .223 is cheaper to reload.
I'm still trying to decide if I should sell the .22-250, or spin the barrel off it and make it a 6mm AI, or maybe a 6 br, or re chamber the spare .223 barrel I have and make a .22-250 improved, with a 1 in 12 " twist.
It makes it hard to rip apart a rifle , when it'll shoot Winchester whitebox into a half in all day.
Scott
 
Gylar said:
Now is there much difference between recoil and noise between the two? Will i be able to maintain my sight picture in the scope?
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I have a 22-250 and a 222. There is enough recoil with the 22-250 that I usually can not spot my shots. With the 222, I can almost always spot the shot.
 
OK.... I just gotta ask. Since everyone has told me .223 is cheaper to reload than .22-250, really just how much cheaper is it? Enough to justify using a .223 in the end over the long haul?

To really compare the two in costs, just how much would it approx. cost to make 100 rounds of .223 versus a 100 rounds of .22-250? With or without brass, either/or don't matter.
 
Shrek said:
.375 H+H.

Why?

Because you can!
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No, actually he can't. He's in the zone where small game hunting is restricted to rifles no larger than .275".

I use a .223, keep shots under 300 yards and use a fast, frangible bullet to reduce the ricochet potential.
 
Hmmmm well i guess i got lots of thinking to do...... either caliber (.223/.22-250) works for me, guess i just gotta pick one i "might" like the best.

Thanks for all the great suggestions everyone. :)
 
.223 3 ..... Yotes NO SCORE

I too HAD a yote problem and this little .223 has dropped 3 so far at ranges 200-240 yards and I can watch the whole thing through the scope.

Very satisfied.

And my sheep like the .223 as well
 
I just went through all this. I always wanted a 22-250 just because I like horsepower. However, I bought a .223 instead. I based this on the fact that I like to do a fair bit of shooting and will eat through a lot of rounds, in search of the ultimate grouping - They're inheirently accurate.

With the playing around that I've done (load development), it's definitely a SOLID 300 yard gun. I'm sure ya won't be disappointed.

Good luck!
 
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