Coyote Caliber
- Thread starter Just2020
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408 CheyTac. Fur will be no problem as there will be none left. Not sure where you live but you can probably shoot them from your couch.
All kidding aside, a 5.56, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8, .308, or 6.5 Creedmor/Lapua/260 would all fit the bill IMHO.
All kidding aside, a 5.56, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8, .308, or 6.5 Creedmor/Lapua/260 would all fit the bill IMHO.
17 fireball, 204 ruger, 22-250
Bolt,ar,bolt
204 ar is lightweight and knocks em down without messing up fur too much. 17 and 22-250 shoot flat and have decent range but tough to find in anything but bolt guns
Bolt,ar,bolt
204 ar is lightweight and knocks em down without messing up fur too much. 17 and 22-250 shoot flat and have decent range but tough to find in anything but bolt guns
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If you are trying to save fur, it is all about ammo 40-50 grain bullets of your choice, Nosler seems to do well varminting. Most of the guys I know and I go for the .223 and some even go .222. Bolt gun, light as possible 4 x 12 scope,if you are shooting and walking. If you set up a stand at every stop, a heavy barrel doesn't hurt that much. For multiples some guys are using AR style rifles with a 1 x 4 for closer stuff. It all depends on the terrain I think. You are already toting a shotgun.
If all your shots are long, sticks and a heavy barrel. I fight the wind a lot in the higher elevations (5000+ feet) and the .204 gets bounced pretty hard after the winds pick up.
If all your shots are long, sticks and a heavy barrel. I fight the wind a lot in the higher elevations (5000+ feet) and the .204 gets bounced pretty hard after the winds pick up.
I'm also running a fast twist 22-250 shooting heavies. 80g Amax, SMK or Berger VLD Hunting. 3220 FPS out of a 26" 1:8 twist match barrel. Only a 28 MOA drop at 1K yards. At 300 it's POA. Good deer round too. Head shot a doe at 230y last month. 
I use a .223 more than anything else, using 52 grain SMKs. About any accurate bullet will work, though I suggest that you don't use FMJs. 60 grain VMAX are excellent as well.
From what I've read a 17-204R sending Kindler gold 30 grainers at 4100 fps is a fantastic fur rifle and has enough BC and energy for the occasional 500Y yote.
I have a serious question. How many of you that actually call Coyotes have time to setup for a 500 yard shot. Unless your using Kentucky windage.
I called one in on Sat and it hung up at about 400 yards and by the time I would have dialed in the correct dope it was heading back out again.
Most Coyotes you have about a 2 or 3 second window to make a killing shot and then it is hauling ass out of the Country.
The OP also said Fur Friendly. If you guys are going to suggest the 6.5's you might as well go with a 25-06 with an 87 grn ball. It will get the job done in a hurry it just ain't that Fur Friendly.
.243 with the 58gr superformance ammo is my coyote ammo/round choice! Its fast flat and kills dogs dead!
So basically if it doesn't shoot at 500+ its worthless. Btw how many times have you actually shot 350+ for a coyote kill? And made the hit in shifting wind with fog rolling in or snow falling. You can't even see that far. So you tell me.
I'm not a pro hunter by any means but I've shot my share of yotes, 37 this year alone. And no shot has been further than 325ish. Maybe your just a stud and can do everything with 22lr.
I didn't see you make any suggestions on caliber or gun choice, you just decide to disagree with someone with no basis for your disagreement.
Btw you oviusly don't shoot lr or you'd know that by plugging in the numbers, a 204 can be shot out past 500 with relative accuracy. Check it out before opening your trap next time.
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You are kidding right????? I did not make the OP's post or set the criteria he is looking for. I just followed his request. You need to re-read the post I have wrote. Maybe you missed the second post in this thread. Have a great day.
i have used many different calibers, 22lr we kiled 2 @ 210yrds (ask the chikin). 22mag,22-250, 223, 243,6.8,
for most 60yd in, #4 buck shot, nowdays use a 223 ar,16"barrel.
but let me say my longest kill was at 300yd, dont get many past that around here. most are 100yd or less,( like to callem in as close as i can) so i can"t commit on any longer,
but a 500yd shot does take skill, an knowing you setup. not saying it cant be done,Just i can not make them stand still long enuff to get the shot off
i have shot a few with the 6.8 with 95gr barns small in, little sewing on the exit hole but not bad
IMO dont like a varmint bullet,(they blow up to much on entry, an some times dont get into a kill zone.) have been using a good deep pent round to make sure i put them down.
hope some of the out west gang wil make a reply to see what they use,
lot of good yote hunters on the hide, who can make a better commit here then i can
but good luck young Jedi on you quest
for most 60yd in, #4 buck shot, nowdays use a 223 ar,16"barrel.
but let me say my longest kill was at 300yd, dont get many past that around here. most are 100yd or less,( like to callem in as close as i can) so i can"t commit on any longer,
but a 500yd shot does take skill, an knowing you setup. not saying it cant be done,Just i can not make them stand still long enuff to get the shot off
i have shot a few with the 6.8 with 95gr barns small in, little sewing on the exit hole but not bad
IMO dont like a varmint bullet,(they blow up to much on entry, an some times dont get into a kill zone.) have been using a good deep pent round to make sure i put them down.
hope some of the out west gang wil make a reply to see what they use,
lot of good yote hunters on the hide, who can make a better commit here then i can
but good luck young Jedi on you quest
Like I said, 37 yotes shot and killed this year. And I still have a day to add to it. Now of those , I've recovered...37. So I'm 100% for hits and recovery with a max shot distance of 325. I've shot two calibers this year, a 204 ruger and a 6.8, both ar platforms. My brother and hunting buddy, guess what he shoots, 17 fb. I'm not saying these are the best calibers to shoot, I'm just saying that I have actual experience, good and bad, with these. Have you ever actually shot any of these in a predator hunting situation? If you had, you'd probably say something specific, not just what you've heard on arf.com
I don't like having to defend my opinion from someone that's just looking to discount it with nothing but here say.
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I shoot .17Rem, .204Ruger, .223, and 6.5Grendel on coyote. My favorite is the .17Rem however I know its real world limitations. Like I said I did not come up with the OP's criteria I simply gave him an answer that fit his criteria. Weather you or I agree with that he is looking for has nothing to do with it. He clearly stated out to 500 yards. With that said out to 500 yards and beyond the 6.5Grendel with a 123gr Amax is an excellent choice. Is it the end all be all? No, nor did I say it was.
You claim your longest shot distance was 325, that isn't 500. The .204 or .17Rem/fireball at 500 yards is going to make recovery hell or maybe even next to impossible. So those don't really fit what the OP is asking for.
Sorry never been to arf.com
You claim your longest shot distance was 325, that isn't 500. The .204 or .17Rem/fireball at 500 yards is going to make recovery hell or maybe even next to impossible. So those don't really fit what the OP is asking for.
Sorry never been to arf.com
Long shots are rare where i live but My longest coyote shot was at 285 yds. After about 300 guessing a range starts getting hard for me. That's where preRanging landmarks and knowing your reticle and drops comes in handy.
Damn things. They never show up where you expect and they never stay for long.
Damn things. They never show up where you expect and they never stay for long.
Hey d-bag,
All I gave was my opinion. You decided my opinion wasn't correct. So you refute it. Next time just STFU. Try that. It works. You might just learn something by shutting your face and opening your ears.
Btw how many coyotes you taken this year? And at 500+ how many then?
The reason we don't shoot past 325 is its almost impossible to see that far with the winter weather and all the brush and trees, and at that distance can you tell the difference between a coyote face and a wolf? I honestly can't, and we get a lot of good looks at faces poking up outta the brush at 400+. On more than a few occasions we've mistaken a wolf pup for a yote and almost let em have it. I just can't chance shooting a wolf by accident. You might not have that issue but we do out west.
All I gave was my opinion. You decided my opinion wasn't correct. So you refute it. Next time just STFU. Try that. It works. You might just learn something by shutting your face and opening your ears.
Btw how many coyotes you taken this year? And at 500+ how many then?
The reason we don't shoot past 325 is its almost impossible to see that far with the winter weather and all the brush and trees, and at that distance can you tell the difference between a coyote face and a wolf? I honestly can't, and we get a lot of good looks at faces poking up outta the brush at 400+. On more than a few occasions we've mistaken a wolf pup for a yote and almost let em have it. I just can't chance shooting a wolf by accident. You might not have that issue but we do out west.
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I don't have much experience out to 500 on yotes but my 24 inch heavy barrel in .223 with a 40gr. Vmax zips along at about 3760 fps. Anything inside of 300yds is pretty much hold on fur. Also have a 24inch grendel that works really well with 95gr. Vmax's.
So you shoot that 6.5 out to 500 on a moving target the size of a yotes vital zone and drop them every time huh?
Anyone can launch bullets out that far and hope for hits, but I'm what's called an ethical hunter. I don't believe an animal should suffer, and I believe in fair chase. If I can't kill with one well placed shot, I don't even consider it a shooting situation. Yeah I've seen guys kill at 800 yards, but it wasn't what I would call a clean kill.
Anyone can launch bullets out that far and hope for hits, but I'm what's called an ethical hunter. I don't believe an animal should suffer, and I believe in fair chase. If I can't kill with one well placed shot, I don't even consider it a shooting situation. Yeah I've seen guys kill at 800 yards, but it wasn't what I would call a clean kill.
If you are talking to me then re-read the first ten words of my post. I simply was stating that my grendel is a hammer on coyotes that are within my range...Also, I like head shots, they're my favorite!
I use Grendels for coyotes and use the Lapua 123 for minimum fur damage and Hdy AMAX's 123 and Vmax95's the rest of the time. I want to try a 6mm on the AR15 platform also so may try a necked down 6.8 for the long shots also. If I am out with a 308 bolt gun, I always have some 155gr target loads that kill cleanly with min pelt damage. I love my Ar15 204 and bolt 17 Fireball but have never shot a coyote beyond 250 with either, though prairie dogs are shot as far as the eye can see. Of course the ar15 in .556 is a great coyote rifle also but hard for me to judge wind beyond 300 with 60gr Vmax. Lots of guys use ar10's and that opens the door to many calibers but I am partial to the AR15 format.
I ran a grendel for a couple years hunting coyotes and although it worked well for killing them I think the case is to small to push a 123 hard enough. I was only running them at 2450 from a 18" barrel. There is just way to much drop after a couple hundred yards.
I wanted something fast and flat so I didnt have to know exactly how far they were out to 4-500. I ordered a gap 10 chambered in 6 creed in Feb and should have it soon. I wanted something that was relatively flat inside 500 but is also capable of shots further when that time comes and everything falls into place. i dont really care about the fur damage
I wanted something fast and flat so I didnt have to know exactly how far they were out to 4-500. I ordered a gap 10 chambered in 6 creed in Feb and should have it soon. I wanted something that was relatively flat inside 500 but is also capable of shots further when that time comes and everything falls into place. i dont really care about the fur damage
My goodness its getting exciting here in the equipment forum today! I tripped on the knotted panties as I came in.
Let me add to this brush fire; your all just as wrong as you are right, I mean its a damn dog, not the hound of the baskervilles. They can literally be killed with any thing from a fork to a Buick, so whats the big deal? The whole question almost seems stupid were it not for the thrown in criteria at the end of the OP. Any of the calibers mentioned here will all work fine for killing coyotes, as to how well at what distance is up to the gun, the shooter, the ammo, the wind, the atmosphere, your Wheaties intake, and whether the stars aligned last night.
A far better and harder to answer question would be; What IS'NT a good coyote caliber?
If bullets come out the barrel, and you can consistently hit coyote sized targets at your intended ranges, then you have a coyote gun. I use whatever gun I happen to have on me, typically my DTA, and any of the barrels work great on coyotes. I may have not shot 37 recovered coyotes this year, and I probably wont shoot 37 next year.....probably wont see 37 coyotes by then either. But Shooting coyotes is like shooting anything else, practice, and be ready, and you'll get him.
Whats the big deal about this fur friendly business? so you wanna shoot some fatassed, high speed, flat shooting cartridge like a 22-250 or a .243, and then want it to delicately sneak through the hide and kill him? WTF?
Just shoot the damn thing and enjoy it. "Oh no, my pelt has a hole in it..." Yes, and ticks, flees, mange, shit, hair, eyes, claws, earwax, bits of bone, you name it. Its just a hide. Give it some character so the braves down to the trading post will have somethin to talk about after you leave.
I plugged me a nice little yote a while back, right at 500 yds. He didn't wanna come any closer, and I sure as fuck wasn't in the mood to crawl out to him, so I just shot him. No super flat wizzbang caliber with fur protecting bullets. Just a crummy old .308win, shooting 175smk's. And wouldn't you know it, he tipped right over after a single shot.
And not a noticeable hair was damaged......
Let me add to this brush fire; your all just as wrong as you are right, I mean its a damn dog, not the hound of the baskervilles. They can literally be killed with any thing from a fork to a Buick, so whats the big deal? The whole question almost seems stupid were it not for the thrown in criteria at the end of the OP. Any of the calibers mentioned here will all work fine for killing coyotes, as to how well at what distance is up to the gun, the shooter, the ammo, the wind, the atmosphere, your Wheaties intake, and whether the stars aligned last night.
A far better and harder to answer question would be; What IS'NT a good coyote caliber?
If bullets come out the barrel, and you can consistently hit coyote sized targets at your intended ranges, then you have a coyote gun. I use whatever gun I happen to have on me, typically my DTA, and any of the barrels work great on coyotes. I may have not shot 37 recovered coyotes this year, and I probably wont shoot 37 next year.....probably wont see 37 coyotes by then either. But Shooting coyotes is like shooting anything else, practice, and be ready, and you'll get him.
Whats the big deal about this fur friendly business? so you wanna shoot some fatassed, high speed, flat shooting cartridge like a 22-250 or a .243, and then want it to delicately sneak through the hide and kill him? WTF?
Just shoot the damn thing and enjoy it. "Oh no, my pelt has a hole in it..." Yes, and ticks, flees, mange, shit, hair, eyes, claws, earwax, bits of bone, you name it. Its just a hide. Give it some character so the braves down to the trading post will have somethin to talk about after you leave.
I plugged me a nice little yote a while back, right at 500 yds. He didn't wanna come any closer, and I sure as fuck wasn't in the mood to crawl out to him, so I just shot him. No super flat wizzbang caliber with fur protecting bullets. Just a crummy old .308win, shooting 175smk's. And wouldn't you know it, he tipped right over after a single shot.
And not a noticeable hair was damaged......
cold bore nice shot
i agree with you,
i have used many different calibers to kill ol wiley,
run what you got, shot hell out of them, an learn how to use needle an thread if you want the hides.
love the wide open picture, is that in utah, wish we had that much space round here.
looking to build a ar 10 6.5 creedmore soon,but not for yotes.(match shooting).
any how IMO the best coyote gun, is the one you have with you when the yote shows it self
i agree with you,
i have used many different calibers to kill ol wiley,
run what you got, sho
t hell out of them, an learn how to use needle an thread if you want the hides.love the wide open picture, is that in utah, wish we had that much space round here.
looking to build a ar 10 6.5 creedmore soon,but not for yotes.(match shooting).
any how IMO the best coyote gun, is the one you have with you when the yote shows it self
A very nice set up for what you want is a bolt gun in 204 that shoots the 39gr BKs well at there top end. For glass I would suggest a Leupold 3.5 x 10 witha cds tailored to your final load and area. Also I would add the TMR reticle. Get the TMR with the cds and memorize your holds to 500 for fast reticle based holds. For stubborn coyotes when time allows you can quickly dial in your range and then utilize your reticle for windage holds. The 3.5 x 10 really is a good compromise. Not the best for close or really long range but about perfect for the average shot. At least out West. I leave them on 10x unless it is really tight. A 500 yard shot really is a long shot and rare for a serious coyote hunter. Usually at 500 yards I am working on other solutions than shooting if I am really serious about killing that coyote. With the set up I described above the 500 yard shot can be a viable option within favorable environmental parameters. Maybe not the best solution, but it is a capable option.
Good hunting.
Q,
Good hunting.
Q,
I'm going with 223AI in a bolt gun, and have a Noveske Rogue Hunter 5.56 for AR platform. Bolt gun with 75 AMax for open field longer shots.
I totally have to go with what 'coldbore' said too. Take what you got and use it. Any HP round can kill him at 500. The difference is knowing how to shoot at that distance. Zero your rifle as far out as you can and "Learn the hold-unders!" By zero I mean go as far out as the {added: rifle} will not shoot above or below the kill zone on a coyote. About 5"-6". Split the difference between that and 500 and that's what you can use. Lighter bullets drift a lot more in the wind. Heavier bullets do not. Light FMJ's moving fast destroy hide so I suggest BK's, V-max's, TNT's or Nos. BT varmint bullets. If heavy (like .308) FMJ's will punch through better without disintegrating the backside. A-max's will expand and blow out the backside. Just what I've found, not always true.
That said, I'm surprised no one even mentioned a scope. A simple mil-dot works wonders for hold. Not too many moa reticles out there but with some practice you can use a duplex to help estimate wind. Anything with stadia in it to break down long shots for elevation and wind hold. Dialing is a waste of time IMO shooting coyotes.
That said, I'm surprised no one even mentioned a scope. A simple mil-dot works wonders for hold. Not too many moa reticles out there but with some practice you can use a duplex to help estimate wind. Anything with stadia in it to break down long shots for elevation and wind hold. Dialing is a waste of time IMO shooting coyotes.
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