|
Forum Rules | Firearms Safety | Firearms Photos | Links | Library | Lost Password | Email Changes |
Register | FAQ | Calendar | Today's Posts | Search |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
December 15, 2008, 02:03 PM | #1 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 18, 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 229
|
Favorite gun for coyote, what do you bring
After recently getting into coyote hunting now that we have so many I've been wrestling with a question. I got great advice on this forum on how to hunt coyotes and have been having success but now I want a designated coyote gun. I like the TC Pro Hunter and I don't think being single shot is an issue since they bolt if I miss. I'm probably going with the .204 Ruger. In heavy woods I take the 870 with #4 (again as suggested here). So here's my question to all you yote hunters, if you can only take one gun what is it? We're talking coyote ONLY here. Just curious
|
December 15, 2008, 02:21 PM | #2 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 12, 2007
Location: N.J. and trying to decide what state to move to.
Posts: 973
|
beings how i have 3 choices here,although only one can be used day or night.
i'd say my 12 gauge 870 with #2 or lead BB overnight and buckshot or slugs by day. i can use either one of my muzzleloaders during the daytime, but i can only shoot coyote/fox if i see them while deer hunting. the shotgun, i can use deer ammo if i see coyote/fox while deer hunting. basically you need a gun w/ammo,a call or 2,and patience.
__________________
BEAR Bows,Remington shotguns,Marlin rifles |
December 15, 2008, 02:23 PM | #3 |
Member
Join Date: July 26, 2008
Posts: 36
|
My Savage 24F with .223 on top (50 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips), 12ga below (3" 00) and a Burris 1.75-5x20 scope. It's about the perfect all-around coyote gun IMO.
|
December 15, 2008, 02:34 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 19, 2008
Location: Fayettenam
Posts: 1,086
|
If you don't care about the hide its hard to beat a 6mm(243 or 6mmREM) When I was hunting for the pelts I used a 17 Rem and it was a killer to 150yds. A 222 or 223 are good also with FMJ bullets. For long shots a 220 swift will do the job as will the above 6mm's. I always like the 6mm REM but I handload. As you can see there are guys who live by the shotgun and its a good choice for close in called dogs.
One gun, it would have to be the 6mm, either a 243 or the remington version.
__________________
The two most abundant elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. |
December 15, 2008, 02:53 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 18, 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 229
|
.243 is a great coyote gun no doubt. I handload also which makes it even nicer.
|
December 15, 2008, 03:05 PM | #6 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 4, 2007
Location: Upstate SC
Posts: 1,943
|
I use my .222 or my kid's .243. It depends on the calling and shooting setup, where I'm hunting, and whether I think I might get a shot longer than 300 yards. Neither gun misses if I do my part, and the 222 doesn't tear up the pelts badly. I can also use the Deuce with cast boolits if I'm hunting thick woods where shots will be close in.
__________________
If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots. |
December 15, 2008, 03:11 PM | #7 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 3, 2002
Location: Georgia, 35 miles Northwest of the armpit
Posts: 946
|
I think that 243's are great, as a 223's. I've used a 223, and a 270 on them. I'm taking this with me the next time I go to Alabama to get one. Its a .308
__________________
The Terminator John 3:16 (I hope to see You over there.) |
December 15, 2008, 03:38 PM | #8 |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 11, 2008
Posts: 2,350
|
A lot of people use too much cartridge for coyotes; a fair number also use too little.
I've used several of the small bore centerfires, and have even shot them with handguns and rimfires a time or three. IMO, the .243 is great if you aren't that great of a shot, or for whatever reason need something extra if you make a bad shot. Pretty much any solid body hit stops them quick; all the way out to...well, way out there. The 22-250 is about equal to it for stopping coyotes, and does about the same damage to fur, if you're going to save it. The most fun cartridge I've used is the .17 caliber centerfires. They stop coyotes DRT with proper bullet placement, but won't make up for a bad shot like the larger guns do. The .17 Rem is a fun and very accurate cartridge for small bore vermint shooting, and loaded right it doesn't tear up the fur. I consider it an experienced caller's cartridge, although beginners often use it with great success. The best for general use is probably the .223, with the .204 Ruger about the same. Ammo is cheaper for the .223 if you don't handload. |
December 15, 2008, 04:31 PM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 13, 2006
Location: Washington state
Posts: 15,248
|
I paid my way through college with the GI Bill and coyote pelts back in the early 1980s when the pelts were worth some money. I thought I wanted a 22-250 for those 400 yds shots, so that's what I built. And it worked fine for those long shots, but there are a lot more shots closer in, and for those I can tell you the 22-250 is too much and the 223 is just about ideal. The same applies to 222, 222 Mag, 219 Zipper, 256 WinMag, 250 Savage, and a whole slew of similar cartridges that throw a lightweight bullet at 2,700-3,000 fps. Any faster and you ruin the hides, any slower and you have to have the perfect shot.
__________________
Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services |
December 15, 2008, 05:20 PM | #10 |
Senior Member
Join Date: May 19, 2008
Location: Fayettenam
Posts: 1,086
|
I think Daryl just called me a bad shot(LOL). I am just kidding there Daryl. You are correct the 6mm's do make up for variables like range and wind plus sometimes I could not get the dogs in close thats where the 6mm shine.
I paid my rent with Pelts,Yotes and Fox, 90% of them shot with a 17mm Rem called in the others were shot with a 220 swift. That was in WA state by the way in the early 80's. I had a TC contender in 6mm TCU that did a good job on them also. Over here on the east coast where I live now I see coy dogs deer hunting now and then and I would not even take the time to skin them. They are very poor looking dogs. If I shoot at them its with a 308 or 243 that I deer hunt with. Bottomline I would never want just one gun for anything. I pick the gun I think I will need for the Animal/conditions I am going to hunt.
__________________
The two most abundant elements in the universe are hydrogen and stupidity. |
December 15, 2008, 06:10 PM | #11 |
Senior Member
Join Date: September 26, 2008
Location: Close Enough to Canada to say "EH!!"... MT
Posts: 418
|
I used to use my 17 HMR but after i bought my AR-15 that is all i use any more its just to great to have that super quick follow up shot if you really need it..Stag Rifle.jpg
Last edited by HAMMER1DOWN; December 15, 2008 at 07:33 PM. |
December 15, 2008, 06:39 PM | #12 |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 31, 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,775
|
I have a Ruger M77MkII in .270 that is my current coyote smacker.
I am buying a BAR Short Trac in .243 to call a designated coyote rifle and then the .270 will just have to pull deer duty.
__________________
I love the smell of fresh shotgun in the morning. |
December 15, 2008, 06:43 PM | #13 |
Member
Join Date: June 4, 2007
Posts: 49
|
I use a 22-250 and feel that it is perfect for the job. As has been said, it's a little much if your shots are close, but it can really reach out for the long shots.
|
December 15, 2008, 06:44 PM | #14 |
Senior Member
Join Date: August 22, 2005
Location: The Woodlands TX
Posts: 4,679
|
Whatever rifle that's with me. A 280 is not good for the pelt, but we have Homer Simpson 'yotes down here, so that's not a problem.
__________________
la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas! |
December 15, 2008, 07:58 PM | #15 |
Senior Member
Join Date: February 2, 2007
Location: Iowa
Posts: 2,676
|
Serious about coyote hunting? Go ask the pro's Predator Masters.
22-250 is a long way from being too much gun with proper bullets. .243 will blow up about yote you see but can be used more effectively for larger game. I here good things about the .204 and it shoots WAY flat! Basically, I don't know if you can go wrong with any centerfire .17, .20 or .22 caliber gun. Single shots are great if you're a great shot. Considering you think you'll miss and the yote will bolt means you are not. Get a repeater for quick follow up shots on wounded yotes. LK |
December 15, 2008, 08:02 PM | #16 |
Senior Member
Join Date: March 17, 2008
Location: Piedmont,NC
Posts: 464
|
22-250 caliber
22-250cal.will definitely do the job at almost any range.
|
December 15, 2008, 10:59 PM | #17 |
Senior Member
Join Date: October 3, 2005
Location: podunk, Texas
Posts: 1,610
|
I bring my Ar 15 . Id take a yote out to 400 yards with it. Id call it as accurate as any bolt gun, and my bolt cycles by itself. If you tried out one of the new varminter type ARS, you would probably leave your bolt gun at home for the foreseeable future. If yo like, you could even get a 204 ruger upper for your Ar.
|
December 15, 2008, 11:45 PM | #18 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 18, 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 229
|
L Killkenny my comment about missing wasn't meant to imply that I'm a bad shot. To be honest if I am not very confident in the shot I'm about to take then I don't take it. I think the most disgraceful thing hunters can do is take shots beyond THEIR capabilites. However, I have seen coyotes shot at and missed. They tend to vacate the area quickly. In the area where I am there are always woods for the yote to head to in a short distance. So getting a decent follow up shot is rare. As far as a wounded coyote I would either reload the single shot as quickly as possible or if in range finish with the .357. I know many hunters that use single shot rifles on a very wide variety of game and I would not call them irresponsible because the follow up shot may take a little longer. I'm not sure if that was what you were implying but I'm just throwing it out there. No doubt the bolt action has the edge for a follow up.
|
December 15, 2008, 11:47 PM | #19 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 18, 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 229
|
Armedtotheteeth I like the idea of an AR style rifle in .204 Ruger. I saw one that DPMS has put out but to my knowledge ( and I'm pretty sure here) in PA we are not allowed to hunt them with semi-auto rifles. Thanks for the thought though.
|
December 16, 2008, 06:04 AM | #20 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 11, 2008
Posts: 2,350
|
Quote:
I pretty much hit what I shoot at, but I used a .243 for about 20 years for calling coyotes. I switched to a 22-250 for a couple of years; it damaged the fur just as bad on close in shots, stopped them just as well, but didn't buck the wind as well as the .243 with the loads I was using in each. So, I went back to using the .243. A lot of it was my own ignorance, as well as my inclination to use what I had rather than experimenting. As a result, I ruined a lot of good hides back in the days when they were worth more than lately. I bought a .223 in the mid-1990's, and it worked great for coyotes. It was enough for far shots, and didn't blow up hides too bad at all on the more often made close shots. Until one day several years ago when I blew up a nice bobcat, and pretty much ruined THAT hide. That's when I started using a .17 Remington for coyotes. I typically get a little tiny BB entrance hole, and no exit. For the occasional bobcat, a carefully placed shot saves those hides, too. It's a bit much for our little grey foxes, but almost anything centerfire is. I think that's the one really good use I've found for the .22 mag. It's just right for the little greys, while still giving me enough for the occasional coyote or bobcat that might appear in the brushy stuff I call greys in. It's no long range rifle, but it works well enough for what I use it for. Daryl |
|
December 16, 2008, 08:01 AM | #21 |
Member
Join Date: July 4, 2008
Posts: 34
|
I carry a Ruger 22.250 like this...
My upclose and personal gun looks like 'dis... I personally think the 204 is too light for coyotes. I own one and have shot some coyotes with it. I have also chased several cripples with it. That just doesn't happen much with a 22 250. |
December 16, 2008, 08:49 AM | #22 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: July 11, 2008
Posts: 2,350
|
Quote:
I use a .17 Rem with no problems, but I'm picky about where I hit 'em these days. Daryl |
|
December 16, 2008, 12:15 PM | #23 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: December 31, 2004
Location: Canada
Posts: 1,775
|
Turning green...
Quote:
__________________
I love the smell of fresh shotgun in the morning. |
|
December 16, 2008, 12:56 PM | #24 |
Senior Member
Join Date: June 18, 2008
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 229
|
So Daryl in your opinion .204 should work fine on coyotes?
|
December 16, 2008, 08:56 PM | #25 |
Staff in Memoriam
Join Date: November 13, 1998
Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA
Posts: 24,798
|
I've used the .223 and the .243, mostly. One fella down in south Georgia swears by his .204 on coyotes. And, of course, the .22-250 and the Swift are traditional coyote cartridges.
|
|
|