Vmax for coyotes

cariboo_kid

cariboo_kid

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We've got a pack of 'yotes causing problems here, harrassing young cattle and hunting our housecats. I've been getting a number of brief opportunities at 300 - 350 yards, along a treeline at the other side of the field.

I'll be shooting from either a bench, or solid rest with a bipod, and will of course be sure I can repeatedly hit the vital zone at this range with my hunting load before shooting at an animal from this distance. My goal is to minimize the amount of hold-over or scope adjustments I have to mess with at these ranges.

I currently have my stevens zeroed for 200 yards with 55 grain vmax (hornady commercial load) in .223 remington. The trajectory starts to change rapidly after 300 yards, and I notice it's more stable with the 40 grain vmax at the same distance, due to higher velocity. Is the 40 grain going to deliver enough energy at 350 yards on a mature coyote?
 
IMHO 350 yards is really to far to be shooting at coyotes using a .223 regardless of bullet.

But the good news is that you now have a perfect excuse to buy another Stevens in 22-250 or .243!
 
Coyotes are fairly lightly constructed and will go down with any decent hit in the chest or forward in the body cavity. Yes, the 40gr .223 will do the trick but at that sort of range a yote is a pretty small target. The biggest problem you are going to face is getting on the coyote and getting a shot off during the short periods of time they stop moving.

A .243 would be better at the longer distances you are contemplating but sometimes you gotta go with what you got. We have used a .30-06 with 125gr ballistic tips on longer range yotes but the bigger bullets make a mess of the pelt.
 
Suputin said:
Coyotes are fairly lightly constructed and will go down with any decent hit in the chest or forward in the body cavity. Yes, the 40gr .223 will do the trick but at that sort of range a yote is a pretty small target. The biggest problem you are going to face is getting on the coyote and getting a shot off during the short periods of time they stop moving.

A .243 would be better at the longer distances you are contemplating but sometimes you gotta go with what you got. We have used a .30-06 with 125gr ballistic tips on longer range yotes but the bigger bullets make a mess of the pelt.
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Thanks for the replies guys. I really appreciate you sharing your advice and experience. :)

I've done some testing with the vmax since I started this thread, and the size of the target isn't an issue. The reason for that distance is that they like to hunt mice in the grass along the treeline there, which means they often pause to listen, giving me a still target.

My concern is the ability of the cartridge to make an ethical kill at the distance. After some of these comments I think I'll stay with the 55 grain vmax for now, as it has a little more energy at these distances.

Is there still a concern that it isn't a powerful enough rifle? A stevens in .270 would have an almost identical trajectory at that distance but there's no cash at the moment for that. I'll pick one up when I can, as I think that would be a great way to take advantage of my practice with the 223, and end up with a deer gun that I'm familiar with for next season. Pretty brutal on the coyote though I'd imagine.

I'm using a bipod for these longer shots. I'm not good enough to go anywhere near that distance using standard field positions. This is a predator control situation, and therefore I'll only be shooting in an area that I'm very familiar with, and have extensively ranged out with a laser rangefinder. I'm often shooting off an improvised bench from my front porch when I have the longer range targets offered to me. ;)

Their den can't be too far away, I hear them most nights. I think this would be a great time to learn how to call them in with so many close by every day. I have zero experience with calls for any animals. I'd like a good reliable beginner call and some training materials (video or at least audio) to teach me a bit of how to go about it. Then once I think I'm getting close I'll practice with the local pack.

I'd welcome any suggestions of a particular product that would be a good choice.
 
[quote='Boo]IMHO 350 yards is really to far to be shooting at coyotes using a .223 regardless of bullet[/quote]
Now Ive never shot anything with my 223 yet, but I wouldnt hesitate to shoot a coyote at 350. Not sure if it would work quite as well as moderate ranges, but Ive heard of alot of guys taking yotes at 400-500 with a 22-250, which would be about what a 223 would do at 350

Might have to shoot some of them furred maggots this winter and see for my own eyes

I still think, 500 ft lbs impact should do the trick on a 30 lb dog, although I do realize coyotes are pound for pound tough as anything out there;)
 
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Ahhhhhhh!!!!! Nothing like shooting them with the old 30-06!!!!!!!! The only problem is one needs one hell of a seamstress to sew it back together!!!!!!!!

The domestic life!!!!!!!!


Calvin
 
NO problem at that distance. The 55gr VMax is a great choice, (50gr VMax is my personal favorite though.

I would not hesitate taking at coyote out to 350-400 yds with that combo.

Good luck

280_ACKLEY
 
I see no reason why a well placed 223 at 300 yds won't put a yote down very quickly. The key is well placed. If you can hit them in the chest area with a vmax they are toast, that is why the 223 is called a poodle shooter.

Brian
 
todbartell said:
actually Im pretty sure gophers are reffered to as poodles, as in


but hey, I could be wrong :D
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Never heard that one before! lol

One of the reasons I chose the .223 is I'd read of lot's of people really reaching out there for the coyotes, so I'm a bit surprised that some don't think it will do the job. I'm glad others say it will do just fine.

Apparently the coyotes are taking advantage of the wireless internet service that has been brought into the area. Since I posted that I have it sighted for that distance they have not come within view. We had a wall of fog roll into the field yesterday and within minutes a coyote was 75 yards from the deck, but he showed himself only briefly then stayed just out of sight in the fog. Cocky bugger! LOL

BTW -I've been missing replies to this thread as I'm not getting email notification. I have triple checked that my email is set correctly and that the threads are marked for notification - is that function working for others?
 
I dont think you'll get notification of more than one reply until you visit the thread again...I *think*

I hear talk often about the 22-250 w/ 55 gr. @ 3650 fps being a true 500 yard coyote rig. A 223 Rem shoots 55 gr. @ 3200 fps.

A 22-250 hits 500 yards with 1930 fps & 455 ft-lbs of impact energy

A 223 hits that speed and energy at 390 yards

Hitting a coyote in the field at a quarter mile ain't easy to do, don't matter what the cartridge is you're shooting. Id have confidence in a 223 out to at least 350 yards, better yet would be 250y and in!
 
Sounds like you are getting some good advice in the firearm department so I will chime in on your question regarding calls. The easiest way to call a coyote, if legal in your area is a digital caller. I think the Foxpro models are the best, but I have never used anything but a mouth blown call. So, in my opinion it is much more fun to call them in with a mouth call anyway, something about seeing that old song dog come in to your calls is very exciting! I have been using calls made by Primos, specifically the Randy Anderson signature series. They also have a full line of videos too that are an invaluable tool to get you started. Try "Mastering the Art" series of videos first, sometimes you can find them packaged with a call and then you are all set.

My setups are pretty simple, hunt areas where you see the yotes, hear them, or see lots of sign, whatever. Move in quietly from downwind and try to sit in the shade. I like to have a buddy with me covering the downwind side as they always seem to want to scent check everything first. Start with a few contact howls and wait, if nothing shows up move onto a prey distress call and wait. Hopefully a coyote will show up, or maybe two.:D In this case, shoot the far one first then use a 'whipped dog' call and hopefully the second one will stop and present you with another shot.:D :D

You are in for alot of fun for sure, good luck and keep us posted!!
 
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