.204, .22-250, or .243 for coyotes?

HALL,AUSTIN · February 23, 2012, 01:17 AM

If you arent worried about pelt damage and shots ranged from 20-300m, what caliber would you pick?

Zach W. · February 23, 2012, 02:19 AM

All great rounds for coyotes.

Pick your poison, get a good scope, and practice.

Find a farmer with hay fields and tell him you want to shoot ground hogs. He'll let you and ask him to call you when they cut the fields.

Great practice and doing a favor at the same time.

Scorch · February 23, 2012, 02:21 AM

I own a 22-250, and I am a big fan of the cartridge. But any of those three will do very nicely. I have been thinking about a 204 for a while . . .

BIG P · February 23, 2012, 02:39 AM

22-250 just because I have one.All will do just fine.

uncyboo · February 23, 2012, 02:55 AM

All are great. I'm partial to the 204.

NWCP · February 23, 2012, 05:06 AM

I'm rather partial to the 5.56 and the 6.8 SPCII, but then that's what I own and what has worked well for me in the past. For exceptionally long shots my .308 with a light load works nicely if no fur is going to be taken. A 25-06, or .270 would work s well, I just don't happen to own either. For some reason the .204 has never interested me when it comes to coyote hunting, or anything else for that matter. I don't reload so the cost to play would be prohibitive. JMHO

homesick · February 23, 2012, 07:43 AM

I like both the 204 and 22-250 very flat and accurate, I have not used the 243 on small game but know a guy from ND that shoots only that caliber and has for years. (Ruger 77 heavy bbl)

tahunua001 · February 23, 2012, 08:45 AM

I would prefer 243 of the three but 22-250 would work just fine for the specified ranges.

HALL,AUSTIN · February 23, 2012, 09:04 AM

Would anyone like to add the .257roberts?

AllenJ · February 23, 2012, 09:57 AM

If I had to pick I would use the 22-250, just because I've always wanted one

All three of your choices well do just fine though.

kd7sgm · February 23, 2012, 10:15 AM

yes.....all of them.

tim s · February 23, 2012, 11:01 AM

204 going away. Best BC bullet selection, least recoil, shoots like a laser. Better yet TAC20 with slightly better accuracy and way better brass quality[ Lapua].

Coyote_Buster700 · February 23, 2012, 11:59 AM

Quote:

I'm rather partial to the 5.56 and the 6.8 SPCII, but then that's what I own and what has worked well for me in the past. For exceptionally long shots my .308 with a light load works nicely if no fur is going to be taken. A 25-06, or .270 would work s well, I just don't happen to own either. For some reason the .204 has never interested me when it comes to coyote hunting, or anything else for that matter. I don't reload so the cost to play would be prohibitive. JMHO

Well at least he talked about the .204

.

I own a .22-250 and i really like the cartridge, but as others said, thats what i have. the .204 Ruger and the .243win will both be great varmint rounds as well.
.204 is a very flat shooter (laser like), as is the .22-250. the .243 is fairly flat as well, and has a little more ass behind it. .22-250 is my vote.

On a different slightly different note... I want one of these. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/5mm/35_SMc

spclPatrolGroup · February 23, 2012, 12:20 PM

I love my 22-250, it has taken its far share of coyotes, but I do care about pelts so I have transitioned to 223. 22-250 just did too much damage, but come spring when the pelts are no longer top dollar the 22-250 will come out of retirement.

Coyote_Buster700 · February 23, 2012, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Would anyone like to add the .257roberts?

Not likely because it's an oddball cartridge, whose performance doesn't look that great. It has more ass than the other ones, but that doesn't make up for lack of velocity and I'm sure higher price of the round.

L_Killkenny · February 23, 2012, 12:41 PM

Coyotes only = .22-250. Coyotes and maybe deer = .243. Coyotes and maybe fox = .204.

LK

Jayhawkhuntclub · February 23, 2012, 01:13 PM

Pretty much irrelevent. They all shoot flat. They all have low recoil. No real world difference in accuracy. They all will produce the same result. The 243 might be a tad overkill. Shoot what you like or what you have. People arguing over which cartridge is the best is usually just silliness.

But hey, if you're bored, it's a way to kill some time.

Coyote_Buster700 · February 23, 2012, 01:27 PM

^^ Agreed.

BigMikey76 · February 23, 2012, 01:28 PM

Quote:

But hey, if you're bored, it's a way to kill some time.

Which cartridge kills time the best?

BIG P · February 23, 2012, 01:55 PM

IF you dont care about fur,25-06 is a blast. LOVEthe red vapor!!!

5RWill · February 23, 2012, 02:13 PM

Do you reload?

If not, out of the cartridges you've listed i would add .223 in there or go .204. Unless money isn't an option.

If you do reload...well just pick one. We shoot Coyotes with anything we're carrying at the time as we're not fur takers and don't care about the pelts, more concerned about thinning them out for the deer, cattle, and rabbits. When i hunt coyotes i use my 18" SPR

jimbob86 · February 23, 2012, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Pick your poison, get a good scope, and practice.

Unless money is no object, in order to facilitate more practice, then the answer is: None of the Above.

.223 will do anything you you need for coyotes* to 300 yards, and do it cheaper by half than any of the above.

*They don't call them "poodleshooters" for nothing!

mdd · February 23, 2012, 07:04 PM

Any of the three listed will work just fine. Different conditions will potentially highlight the advantages or shortcomings of each. I like varmint rifles and so I have all three as well as a 223 and 25-06. I will tell you straight out that I shoot the 223 more than the rest combined. The 25-06 comes out when longer shots are expected and the wind is gusting more than normal. I have a weird fascination with the 22-250 though so if I had to pare down to just one varmint rifle that would be the one to stay.

Mobuck · February 23, 2012, 07:25 PM

Bullet choice is as important as cartridge choice. I've shot quite a few coyotes with the 22/250 and using the right bullet results in DRT and most times no exit. The wrong bullet(even though labeled as a varmint type) in a 223 has showed lots of hide damage from exit wounds plus more run offs. I quit using the 243 prior to the current extra lightweight polymer tipped bullets. My 243 bullet choice in the old days was the Sierra 70 match BTHP. If you really don't want pelt damage, go to the 17 HMR and keep your shots under 150 yards. Oh yeah, don't hit them around the edges regardless of caliber.

MOshooter65202 · February 24, 2012, 08:29 PM

I would choose 22-250 from your three choices for coyote hunting.

February 23, 2012, 01:17 AM	#1
HALL,AUSTIN Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2011 Location: asheville north carolina Posts: 556	.204, .22-250, or .243 for coyotes? If you arent worried about pelt damage and shots ranged from 20-300m, what caliber would you pick?

February 23, 2012, 02:21 AM	#3
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I own a 22-250, and I am a big fan of the cartridge. But any of those three will do very nicely. I have been thinking about a 204 for a while . . . __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

February 23, 2012, 08:45 AM	#8
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	I would prefer 243 of the three but 22-250 would work just fine for the specified ranges. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

February 23, 2012, 09:04 AM	#9
HALL,AUSTIN Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2011 Location: asheville north carolina Posts: 556	just to throw in a loop Would anyone like to add the .257roberts?

February 23, 2012, 10:15 AM	#11
kd7sgm Senior Member Join Date: August 21, 2010 Location: Rupert, Idaho Posts: 223	yes.....all of them. __________________ I would like either less corruption or more opportunity to participate in it.

February 23, 2012, 02:19 AM	#2
Zach W. Member Join Date: March 4, 2010 Posts: 72	All great rounds for coyotes. Pick your poison, get a good scope, and practice. Find a farmer with hay fields and tell him you want to shoot ground hogs. He'll let you and ask him to call you when they cut the fields. Great practice and doing a favor at the same time.

February 23, 2012, 02:39 AM	#4
BIG P Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,679	22-250 just because I have one.All will do just fine.

February 23, 2012, 02:55 AM	#5
uncyboo Senior Member Join Date: November 7, 2008 Location: Shelby, MT Posts: 1,013	All are great. I'm partial to the 204.

February 23, 2012, 05:06 AM	#6
NWCP Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2006 Posts: 1,903	I'm rather partial to the 5.56 and the 6.8 SPCII, but then that's what I own and what has worked well for me in the past. For exceptionally long shots my .308 with a light load works nicely if no fur is going to be taken. A 25-06, or .270 would work s well, I just don't happen to own either. For some reason the .204 has never interested me when it comes to coyote hunting, or anything else for that matter. I don't reload so the cost to play would be prohibitive. JMHO

February 23, 2012, 07:43 AM	#7
homesick Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Location: Central Florida Posts: 378	I like both the 204 and 22-250 very flat and accurate, I have not used the 243 on small game but know a guy from ND that shoots only that caliber and has for years. (Ruger 77 heavy bbl)

February 23, 2012, 09:57 AM	#10
AllenJ Senior Member Join Date: December 11, 2009 Location: Northern California Posts: 1,766	If I had to pick I would use the 22-250, just because I've always wanted one All three of your choices well do just fine though.

February 23, 2012, 11:01 AM	#12
tim s Senior Member Join Date: February 8, 2011 Posts: 223	204 going away. Best BC bullet selection, least recoil, shoots like a laser. Better yet TAC20 with slightly better accuracy and way better brass quality[ Lapua].

February 23, 2012, 12:20 PM	#14
spclPatrolGroup Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2010 Location: North Dakota Posts: 349	I love my 22-250, it has taken its far share of coyotes, but I do care about pelts so I have transitioned to 223. 22-250 just did too much damage, but come spring when the pelts are no longer top dollar the 22-250 will come out of retirement.

February 23, 2012, 12:41 PM	#16
L_Killkenny Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,676	Coyotes only = .22-250. Coyotes and maybe deer = .243. Coyotes and maybe fox = .204. LK

February 23, 2012, 01:13 PM	#17
Jayhawkhuntclub Senior Member Join Date: December 13, 2007 Posts: 581	Pretty much irrelevent. They all shoot flat. They all have low recoil. No real world difference in accuracy. They all will produce the same result. The 243 might be a tad overkill. Shoot what you like or what you have. People arguing over which cartridge is the best is usually just silliness. But hey, if you're bored, it's a way to kill some time.

February 23, 2012, 01:55 PM	#20
BIG P Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,679	IF you dont care about fur,25-06 is a blast. LOVEthe red vapor!!!

February 23, 2012, 02:13 PM	#21
5RWill Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2008 Location: Mississippi Posts: 2,654	Do you reload? If not, out of the cartridges you've listed i would add .223 in there or go .204. Unless money isn't an option. If you do reload...well just pick one. We shoot Coyotes with anything we're carrying at the time as we're not fur takers and don't care about the pelts, more concerned about thinning them out for the deer, cattle, and rabbits. When i hunt coyotes i use my 18" SPR __________________ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me." Last edited by 5RWill; February 23, 2012 at 02:23 PM.

February 23, 2012, 07:04 PM	#23
mdd Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2010 Posts: 626	Any of the three listed will work just fine. Different conditions will potentially highlight the advantages or shortcomings of each. I like varmint rifles and so I have all three as well as a 223 and 25-06. I will tell you straight out that I shoot the 223 more than the rest combined. The 25-06 comes out when longer shots are expected and the wind is gusting more than normal. I have a weird fascination with the 22-250 though so if I had to pare down to just one varmint rifle that would be the one to stay. __________________ So many coyotes....so little time....

February 23, 2012, 07:25 PM	#24
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Bullet choice is as important as cartridge choice. I've shot quite a few coyotes with the 22/250 and using the right bullet results in DRT and most times no exit. The wrong bullet(even though labeled as a varmint type) in a 223 has showed lots of hide damage from exit wounds plus more run offs. I quit using the 243 prior to the current extra lightweight polymer tipped bullets. My 243 bullet choice in the old days was the Sierra 70 match BTHP. If you really don't want pelt damage, go to the 17 HMR and keep your shots under 150 yards. Oh yeah, don't hit them around the edges regardless of caliber.

February 24, 2012, 08:29 PM	#25
MOshooter65202 Senior Member Join Date: February 16, 2011 Posts: 471	I would choose 22-250 from your three choices for coyote hunting.