I shot a bunch of yotes with 243 running 70gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. That combination kills like Thor's Hammer. Fricken DED. Never had one take more than 3 steps after being hit.
Opinions on caliber for coyote?
- Thread starter Gcola
- Start date
I see lots of .223 and .243 comments here. I've used both. .223 out of a heavy barreled target rifle shooting varmint bullets and a lightweight .243 as a walkaround gun and both work great. I'm partial to the .243 for deer as well, 95gr ballistic tips are great on whitetails, that's the only load I've been rolling for years so they've flattened a few yotes as well. And I mean flattened.
.243 is fantastic on coyotes. I used to load a 65 grain Vmax over a bunch of BLC2 - if my memory serves me correct - and it was screaming fast and flat. DRT. Don't use it on coyotes any longer, rather I load 100 grain Partitions or Grand Slams and anchor good-sized Saskatchewan deer with them. Furthest was 430 yards with a bang-flop and complete pass-through.
Many decades ago when fur prices were at a premium I used a 6mm Rem heavy barrel Ruger 77 with 75 gr Hornady reloads if body shot it never made an exit hole on a coyote. Fox fur price was great so carried 80 gr Hornady fmj 2 very small holes 1 dead fox. My longest kill on a coyote was just over 1/2 mile with the 6mm Rem. For deer, bear, caribou and even moose the 85 gr Sierra Spitzer in a 243 or 6 mm is one of the best performing bullets I've seen in 40 years if well placed in vitals. I had no need to load 100 gr bullets.
Mogulrider
CGN Regular
I've been dropping deer with 243 and 6mm Rem for 45 yrs now. Over 40 deer now. Flattens them if you do your part.
Ask any Pennsylvanians what they use... 243 or 6mm Rem will be at the top of the list. 6mm is tough due to ammo availability.
As for coyotes, 243/6mm if the rifle can accurately handle a lighter bullet - go for it. Many rifles don't. My 788s do.
You get two animal classes with one rifle.
I use a 22-250 for yotes myself but only because I love my Rem 788...
Ask any Pennsylvanians what they use... 243 or 6mm Rem will be at the top of the list. 6mm is tough due to ammo availability.
As for coyotes, 243/6mm if the rifle can accurately handle a lighter bullet - go for it. Many rifles don't. My 788s do.
You get two animal classes with one rifle.
I use a 22-250 for yotes myself but only because I love my Rem 788...
Severally handicap yourself using a .22lr for "hunting" coyotes. What if they hang up at 200 yards?
.22lr in hand and coyote less than 100 yards? Yup I'll shoot em but I don't ever carry it for hunting coyotes.
WHY?
204 or 22 250
