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View Poll Results: is a 22 mag enough gun for a coyote
Yes, no doubt in my mind 19 31.15%
Not a chance 2 3.28%
With the right circumstances 40 65.57%
Voters: 61. You may not vote on this poll

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Old December 25, 2013, 02:47 PM   #1
SnipesYou13
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22 Mag enough for coyotes (new PA 25$ bounty)

Alright guys I've read a TON of opinions, articles, even dealers. I want all of your personal opinions on this. Alright, the 22 mag I just got is my new coyote gun I'm running 33 grain remington's through it. I'm shooting 25-125 yards (going for headshots of course). But PA just put the bill in on the 25$ bounty on any coyote killed plus. I have a guy who is giving me and extra 25 for the pelt( if its not mangled) I have this 22 mag I'm on a Tight budget I just moved into a new house my only other options are a 7mm-08 or a Mosin Nagant recently sporterized. HELP!
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Old December 25, 2013, 02:56 PM   #2
CarJunkieLS1
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I'd say 100 yards is about as far as I'd shoot that caliber. If you can hit the ear hole of a 'yote at 100 yards it will be dead.
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Old December 25, 2013, 03:01 PM   #3
taylorce1
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I'd try to call them in under 50 yards, but yes a .22 WMR is enough to kill coyotes. I've killed a few with a .22 LR, while it isn't ideal it is the rifle I had the time. I've used the .22 WMR to kill coyotes as well and can tell you that the 40 grain seems to hit with a little more thump.

I still would prefer a .204 or .223 over any rimfire except maybe the new .17 Winchester Super Mag. I wouldn't try for head shots exclusively, I'd go for the best shot that presented itself to me. Coyotes are smart and any miss opportunity to get one will only make it smarter.
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Old December 25, 2013, 03:07 PM   #4
SnipesYou13
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I agree with that completly but we have 40-50 lb coyotes with their winter coats.I'm worried about hitting a rib. I don't even know if a lunger would kill one
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Old December 25, 2013, 03:51 PM   #5
Snyper
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Quote:
I agree with that completly but we have 40-50 lb coyotes with their winter coats.I'm worried about hitting a rib. I don't even know if a lunger would kill one
I have no doubt it would kill it, but the question is how long would it take?

One the runs off and dies 2 miles away isn't good
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Old December 25, 2013, 03:56 PM   #6
SnipesYou13
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Snyper, I also agree with that. That's why I'm think only head or a centered neck in the crosshairs are going to do it. Not to mention I have a buddy with a 20 gauge backing me up. But he's only shooting out to about 15-20.
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Old December 25, 2013, 09:27 PM   #7
Mobuck
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Close range with proper bullet selection.
I used a 22 WMR 30 years ago and it was not satisfactory. Biggest problem was bullet performance. Even JHP failed to expand most of the time. Shots over 100 yards resulted in "runoffs" that could only be recovered using dogs.
In the last couple of years, I've tried the highly praised 17 HMR with equally dismal results. Coyotes hit multiple times escape w/o leaving a blood trail.
I'll just stick with a .223 as a minimum. Even the .223 leaves something to be desired over 250 yards but it is much more economical and lower noise than the big daddies(220 Swift & 22/250).
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Old December 25, 2013, 09:51 PM   #8
4runnerman
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When I was younger we used a 22 for Fox. Yotes are much bigger and stronger. I would not feel right using such a small rifle. Shot placement would have to be right on. Varmint or not , they do not need to suffer.
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Old December 26, 2013, 12:15 AM   #9
SnipesYou13
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I may go 80 grain 243 instead what's that call guys?
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Old December 26, 2013, 06:46 AM   #10
Rob96
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I would go with 223 as a minimum. I know 204 Ruger can but I am stating based a on common ammo I see here in PA. Two Monday mornings ago I had a coyote in my yard. Biggest one I have seen yet. I would put it at the size of a medium shepard, around 65 to 75 pounds.
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Old December 26, 2013, 07:33 AM   #11
TimSr
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If you have .243 or 7mm-08 available, I would dismiss the .22Mag.
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Old December 26, 2013, 02:57 PM   #12
SnipesYou13
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Alright guys I'm going with the 7mm-08 I need the smallest grain possible what's the word?
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Old December 26, 2013, 03:03 PM   #13
Sierra280
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7mm sounds better. If you are concerned about keeping the pelts and want to take some longer shots pick up some FMJ bullets. That way you don't have to get them in close enough for a headshot and will only have a small clean hole.
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Old December 26, 2013, 05:48 PM   #14
Dc777
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I've killed a few with my .17hmr, so I don't see why a .22 mag wouldn't work. Once again its all about being a good shot. You can shoot a coyote in the butt with a .300 mag and not kill it. It is all about being able to accurately hit your target.
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Old December 26, 2013, 09:49 PM   #15
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It won't do this.....but go ahead and try..a head shot close range....It could prove to be challenging....I need results tho....
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Old December 27, 2013, 09:58 AM   #16
Rifleman1776
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It will kill a 'yote but not cleanly and effectively all the time.
I recall once I shot a nusiance feral dog at fairly close range. I was using my Ruger 10/22 and it took all 10 rounds in the magazine before that dog decided to die. It was not a pretty scene. I do carry a Ruger Single Six when in the wood using my mag. cylinder but that is only a last resort gun, not my choice for hunting.
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Old December 27, 2013, 10:36 AM   #17
buck460XVR
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I think it comes down to the distance at what you will be shooting at and the terrain you are hunting. For shooting longer distances, fast, small bore centerfire rifles are still the best, if there is enough room behind the target, not only to compensate for a miss or pass thru, but for any ricochet off frozen ground. I hunt coyotes in farm country in Wisconsin. Most farms are 120-160 acres. Many of these farms are intertwined with smaller 20-40 acre parcels of hobby farms or homes of folks just wanting to live out in the country. That means you can see a barn or house from just about anywhere or know that there's one just over the hill in virtually any direction. The pastures between those buildings contain cattle and horses. This is why I usually use either .17HMR or a shotgun.....or both. Last few years most of my dogs have been taken down with the shotguns at ranges of 40 yards or less. Out to 100 yards, the little .17 works well. Never found 'yotes that hard to kill when hit in the boiler room. Even @ 40 yards, #4 turkey loads penetrate the body cavity. while they may go 30 yards, it generally ain't hard to find 'em. Anything more than 100 yards or so, I generally will pass on and try to coax closer. This can be tough when calling educated animals, but for me the safety concerns outweigh the need to kill. Last coupla years, I have been takin' the 77/44. It packs a little more punch than the faster rimfire, but even it's extreme range when fired parallel to the ground is limited enough, that concerns of what lies 100 yards beyond the far hill is not a factor. When 'yotes get educated to calls, if one has the time, trapping can be an effective method also, especially late in the season when young males are out looking for new territory.
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Old December 27, 2013, 10:52 AM   #18
Art Eatman
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If you're skilled enough to make head shots, and keep the shots inside of a hundred yards, the .22 Mag ought to work okay.

Odds are that most any bullet from a .243 or 7mm08 will make a large exit wound. So, to save the hide, it's back to head shots...
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Old December 27, 2013, 08:19 PM   #19
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"If you are concerned about keeping the pelts and want to take some longer shots pick up some FMJ bullets"
Keep in mind that FMJ bullets are more prone to bounce than a lightweight HP. Unless you're really sure about what's over the next hill, I wouldn't use FMJ for anything.
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Old December 27, 2013, 08:50 PM   #20
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Many years ago when coyote hides sold for an average of $90 each I hunted them a LOT. In fact, I killed enough of them in one year to pay for a 2 year old Toyota Land Cruiser. Paid cash and ALL of it came from coyote and cat hides.
In those days I used a 22WMR quite a lot. Winchester 40 grain HP bullets. You hear a lot of bunk about how they won’t kill them well, and how they are only good to 75 or 100 yards.
Not so.

If you are a good shot, and if you know your holdovers, you can make them work and work well out to around 200 yards. I know! I did it LOTS of times.
I finally moved up to a SAKO 222, and I have no regrets. The 222 is more accurate and has much better range, and the real glory was in those days I could reload my 222 for LESS than I could buy 22WMR ammo for.
So I would not recommend you run out to buy a 22WMR just for coyotes, but if you have one DO NOT thing you don't have a good coyote rifle. You do!
Not the best, but enough to do the job if you can do the job.
I shot many of them with my old 22 WMR and I NEVER lost one. Not one!
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Old December 27, 2013, 09:30 PM   #21
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.22M will kill coyotes. So will a .22, so will an air gun. There are so many variables for success though. A .22M to the head is a tough shot for us mere mortals and it doesn't lend itself to copious around of blood shed with a chest shot. What does leak is many times soaked up by its thick fur. What all that means is a chest shot coyote, especially in heavy cover, won't leave much of a blood trail and recovery can be difficult. No big deal if you consider a yote a varmint but if you're looking for a payday it is.

Use the 7mm. Use standard bullet weights and construction. Not light bullets, not FMJs. The controlled expansion of a good deer bullet will leave you with an acceptable exit while still doing damage. Light varmint type bullets make a big mess and FMJs zip right thru. Not to mention the ricochet factor they carry. FMJs ain't good for nothing.

Last edited by L_Killkenny; December 28, 2013 at 09:02 PM.
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Old December 27, 2013, 11:07 PM   #22
BigHutch
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22 WMR is man enough.
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Old December 29, 2013, 01:10 PM   #23
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I have dispatched coyote with both a Remington 597 chambered in .22 wmr and a H&R Handi rifle chambered in .243 win. Both worked well with the edge going to the .243 however the Remington is still in the field just as often.
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Old December 30, 2013, 03:52 PM   #24
mete
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In PA you might find them as heavy as 70 lbs if you get one of the coyote/wolf crosses. Exactly where you hunt or if you can call well will tell you the range .I also think 22mag is 100 yds max.
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Old January 6, 2014, 11:33 AM   #25
born2climb
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I keep a stainless, bull-barreled Marlin 882 above the front door for quick shots at varmints. It has killed everything from armadillo (its main purpose) to fox, possum, coon, skunk, groundhog, crow and coyote (along with numerous stray dogs and cats). While I consider it marginal for coyote, I had shot one from my shooting house 3 years ago with my .270 and brought it out and laid it across the driveway from the house, by the chicken pen to dispose of it the following day (Sunday). Sunday morning, my wife and I were sitting on the loveseat enjoying our morning coffee when I got up to go out to the end of the porch (to get rid of some coffee). As I reached the front door, a coyote trotted across the yard, not 40' in front of me. I instantly reached up and grabbed the .22 mag, cocked the bolt, and stepped out onto the porch. She stopped about 45 yards away, and by tiptoeing, I was able to put one through her ribs, firing above the porch swing. She ran about 50 yards before collapsing, the bullet having gone through and double-lunging her.

The following Sunday morning, we were enjoying coffee again, when I saw a coyote come out of the woods and pause right in front of my 100-yard target. I grabbed the Marlin, and took the only shot I had, which was a frontal chest shot. I fully expected him to run, but he collapsed in his tracks.

Those are the only two coyotes I have shot with it, though I have missed a couple of shots at some that were running across the field out from our yard. I would not hesitate to try a shot out to maybe 150 yards, if he were standing. I would not, however, recommend it as a coyote round. A .223 is my personal minimum.
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