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Old January 15, 2015, 12:52 PM   #1
bucksnort13
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Coyote Cartridge

I am just wondering what would be the best coyote rifle and cartridge for a new coyote hunter. I am looking at getting into coyote hunting to pass the winter months here in Wisconsin and just curious what some of the options are. If there are any comments on good calls that would be great to. I am starting into an area of hunting where nobody in my family has hunted so I don't have any info on it I was going to do trial and error but I always like to ask someone first. Why try to break new ground when someone has already been there.
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Old January 15, 2015, 01:05 PM   #2
GeauxTide
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I've used a FoxPro Fury2 for a while. It's expensive, but does that thing work. Any deer rifle caliber will work if you don't care about pelts; however, the AR15 platform is proven under 300 yards.
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Old January 15, 2015, 02:10 PM   #3
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I guess I should have added that I am wanting to keep the pelts in as good as shape as possible.
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Old January 15, 2015, 02:36 PM   #4
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Will you be hunting anything else with it, or is it strictly a coyote/varmint gun? Are you a handloader, or will you be buying factory ammo? What is your maximum expected range?

Right away I want to say a .223 is a super proven performer and with cheap ammo everywhere in every configuration known to man making for lots of time practicing at low cost.
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Old January 15, 2015, 02:45 PM   #5
bucksnort13
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Thanks TimSr I might want to use it on deer maybe but it will mostly be used for a coyote gun. I do reload a little. My max range will be 400 yds but not much beyond that but most of it will be closer to 250 yds. I do have a AR 15 in 223 and I love it but I have been looking at a 22-250 a buddy of mine says it will have a little more punch than the 223 but I thought it might damage the pelt more because of this. Any thoughts on the 22-250 in the ruger american predator.
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Old January 15, 2015, 02:52 PM   #6
troopcom
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.243 Win. comes to mind for deer and coyote
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Old January 15, 2015, 02:53 PM   #7
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22-250 is flatter, faster and more accurate. about 100 pounds over .223. it's a pefect thin skin round. but pricey. if your relading, go for it.
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Old January 15, 2015, 06:04 PM   #8
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Now this is a question i'm interested in. I don't hunt coyotes but that's just because it's not something I've ever been taught and the predator population where I'm use to hunting has always been small.

This year hunting in Hayward there was a large population and the same in Delavin, Wisconsin. In fact I almost saw more coyotes than deer.

I'm more interested in inexpensive calls that work. Mouth or sound system.
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Old January 15, 2015, 08:10 PM   #9
Art Eatman
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Among the very-active coyote hunting fraternity--who mostly reload--the then-new 55-grain bullets for the .243 were greeted with cheers.

It was reported early on that it was common that there was not an exit wound from a body shot.

FWIW, I've tagged a couple of dozen bucks with my .243, with never any tracking needed. Only a couple of coup de grace ever needed.

I've successfully used a "baby boom box", an el cheapo tape player, with a Burnham wounded rabbit tape. Most mouth-call success has been with an ancient Olt rabbit call.
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Old January 15, 2015, 08:14 PM   #10
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.223 for utility and later purposes

I had good luck with 45gr Winchester varmint

Hornaday stuff works well but occasionally the animal is damaged quite a bit. Even partial dismemberment

The Winchester stuff I never seen much exit damage
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Old January 15, 2015, 08:16 PM   #11
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I agree, for a reloader 22-250, puts a plus sign on every desirable feature of the .223, and costs the same to reload. .243 is a good choice too. For pelt damage, its more a matter of bullet construction than anything. Most "varmint" bullets are made to expand radically on impact and make a mess with the assumption the target will become buzzard chow. A controlled expansion bullet like you would use on bigger game, or a non-expanding bullet if they are legal for hunting in your state will keep your exit hole smaller.
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Old January 15, 2015, 08:19 PM   #12
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You asked for calls as well.... Best luck with open reed type.... First few times hunting an area, imitating coyote sounds work, but then you need change it up as they get accustomed to it.

Don't worry about the safety of your gun making noise.... The click makes them stop long enough for a shot in my experience ymmv
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Old January 15, 2015, 08:26 PM   #13
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I would use a .243win. It has enough versitility to down load to smaller 55-60gr rounds for yotes and up to 100gr for deer. You didn't mention anything about budget for the rifle.
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Old January 15, 2015, 08:32 PM   #14
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I'm also voting for the .243win. My buddy in Montana would use that round to fill the back of his truck with his limit of deer, antelope and down many a coy-dog with it on his trips as well.
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Old January 15, 2015, 08:33 PM   #15
Mobuck
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Unless your calling works better than most I've seen, you don't need a rifle-just hand warmers and a good seat pad.
.223 is a 250-300 yard coyote round
22/250 is 1/4 mile coyote round
Realistically, your AR(if it has a decent scope)is plenty good enough for the purpose. At this time, I'm packing an AR in 5.45x39 and I've killed 5 of the 6 varmints I've shot at with it. The miss was a mistake in ranging so not the round/rifle's fault.
That said, today I did scope checks on both a 22/250 sporter and a 220 Swift HB because we're looking at hunting some more open areas where shots reach 300-400 frequently.
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Old January 15, 2015, 08:45 PM   #16
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I've seen the shockwave on those fast 243s impressive to see it go all the way to the coyote
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Old January 15, 2015, 09:31 PM   #17
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I hunt them with 7WSM using 150 Ballistic tips.
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Old January 15, 2015, 10:34 PM   #18
rickyrick
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My favorite post of all time is a picture of Art holding up a "hull" of a coyote

I can't recall which cartridge he said he used... But I'd avoid that one ...lol
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Old January 16, 2015, 06:13 AM   #19
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.223 is a great yote killer. Your AR will take care of business big time.
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Old January 16, 2015, 09:35 AM   #20
Art Eatman
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'06, Federal Premium High Energy, 165-grain Sierra HPBT. 3,150 from my 26" barrel. Shot at maybe forty yards.
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Old January 16, 2015, 10:03 AM   #21
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Quote:
I guess I should have added that I am wanting to keep the pelts in as good as shape as possible.
I'm thinking the above and this:

Quote:
I hunt them with 7WSM using 150 Ballistic tips.
are incompatible statements.

The least pelt damage? A leg hold trap, a catch-pole and a T-ball bat.

If you use .22lr out of a pistol, you won't need the catch-pole and bat, but the pelt will have a hole in it.
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Old January 16, 2015, 10:16 AM   #22
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I would probably use a 5.56 AR15 with a 5-20ish BDC scope. It would be like taking candy from a baby out to 300 and decent out to 600 depending on wind.

The key is to build a coyote gun with 20" custom barrel, PRS stock, good mount and good optic with BDC like Nikon Monarch 3 or better.
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Old January 16, 2015, 10:26 AM   #23
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It don't take much of a cartridge to down a yote at reasonable yardage. For a new yote bushwhacker. 204 is a excellent cartridge for the purpose.

I've shot them mutts with obsolete calibers {22 High Power.} 22 Mag 223 243 right up to my using of a 270 Win on those flee bag infested things. If your close enough even a 22 LR in the right hands can knock them mangy dogs down. My purpose of shooting one was to help clear the area. I never considered saving their hides. (ISH!!)
My donated effort was strictly to help save a fawn or two. My motto: Where they lay is where they stay.
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Old January 16, 2015, 10:35 AM   #24
603Country
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223, with good 4-16 scope, is all you need for coyotes. I'm real fond of my Ruger Hawkeye stainless. No worries about mud, dust, water, peanut butter, unless you get the peanut butter on the scope glass.

And, I like the tiny Nosler 40 gr Ballistic Tip for coyotes. Seems to blow up inside them and not cause a big messy exit, or at least that's what I've seen so far.

If your shooting is going to include pigs, I'd move up to the 243.
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Old January 16, 2015, 10:37 AM   #25
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Most guys who guide coyote hunters suggest an AR chambered in 5.56/223. Often with multiple hunters one will also use a shotgun and the other the AR. Multiple shots at close range are the norm when using a call.

Nothing wrong with any of the other options. The 243 is more versatile in that it is also a darn good deer round. The 22/250 offers a bit more range and the 204 certainly works too. But any advantage they hold over the 223 is offset by its versatility and low cost
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