Best ammo for yotes

[Spanky]

I just got a 22-250 Stevens with 3-9x40 redfield revolution scope. What ammo are you guys using for dogs? I don't plan on saving pelts, I just want 'em dead. No tracking... just right now dead.
I have permission to hunt local farmland so shots can be from on your lap to 400+ yds.
My gun has a 1 in 12 twist barrel.



Spanky

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Spanky, if you are looking at handloads, my favorite .22-250 bullet is the 50 grain Blitzking or 50 grain Vmax..I have used more of the former, because I have several 250 pack boxes opened....it is super accrate in both of my .22-250's, the Improved, and Swift...Over the years I have used many powders in the .22-250, but for speed and acc. one of the winners is h4895..one of my friends from up north uses and AA powder, but I am not sure of the number...he is really impressed with it and quite a long range shooter...If I were resupplying, it might be the way to go, but since I am over 60 and have a bunch of H4895 it will probably due me out...if you would like the number of the AA powder, let me know..he is to call about the amt. of snow in turkey country this week...good shooting, you have one of the best....

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  One thing I will tell you about coyotes..contrary to what many say, they are tough animals..Elmer Keith figured they were one of our toughest animals to kill in the U. S.  They have taken some hard hits and still move a aways..so when you want them dead right now on the spot, you are asking alot...I have had excellent success with the .22-250 at ranges out to 600 plus, but for really long stuff, I like a bit more caliber and bullet wt.  but in some states that is not a pratical plan..I dont want you to think they are armor plated, but this winter I shot at a coyote in the edge of a pasture, the distance was maybe 250 yards, the hold looked good there was no wind, and when I squeezed off, he just whirled and ran into the swamp....I had been in there and tracking wasn't much of an option due to the water that covered the area....So I chalked it down to a miss, but I have checked that area every couple days since that shot, no coyote..Usually, if I miss he will be back, wary, and running at the first indication I am in the area, but I will see him...with all the calving going on in the area, I am sure he would have returned...nothing...I think I hit him and he got off in to the heavy stuff, and water...so just keep that in mind....they are a wonderful game animal....

[Catfish]

I would not recomand a thin skinned bullet like the Sierra blitz. They are as good as you can do for groundhogs but do not have the penatration nessary for coyotes. Try the 60 gr. Sierra HP`s. If they shoot well in you gun they will put a hole through a coyote. I use soft 55 gr. varmint bullets in my AR because of rickochets, and while they will knock them down every time I hit a coyote the coyotes susally get back up. That is not a problem with the AR as I just keep pooring the lead to them, but I would not use these bullets for coyote in a bolt gun. My reach out and touch them gun is a .22-6mm and I use 80 gr. Sierra Match King bullets in it. It makes big holes way out there.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Catfish, the bullets I mentioned was the Blitzking, I don't think they behave like the old Blitz for the the .222...I have had no trouble killing coyotes with this bullet...It often exits as it cools down...it is also long for the wt. so it carries well...I tried the 80 grain in an Improved with a 1-8 twist, but decided if I wanted heavier bullets to go with a larger caliber...I do like the .25-06 for long shots on coyotes, and even the .300 with 150's in the winter or windy days...but it will not be suitable for much of the coyote country east of the Miss.I have visited with most of the govt. hunters here in my area and the most popular round with them is the old .22-250 with a std. twist...But fooling with something different is what keeps shooting interesting..If I had just stuck with the 30-06, .222, and 12 ga. pump I started with, I doubt I would bother hunting much now....I still have the 1-8 barrel for the Ackley...It has about 200 rounds though it...maybe some day I will put it back on, but doubt it at this pt...

[1sourdough]

 I'm in the stout bullet camp. In 22 centerfire I like a 55 grn softpoint or 'gameking' type bullet, not the super frangible P-dogging type bullets.
 I did a quick setup yesterday morning on a buddies deer lease. I had no takers after 20 min of intermittent pup in distress. I waited a bit & gave a little 'rabbit frenzy'. In short order some deer came by & all stopped to look over their shoulder. I waited & a few minutes later here comes the coyote. He stopped with his head & neck in the clear at about 50 yards. I took him with an 85 grn Sierra gameking in the 243. He went right down. I've been gravitating to the 243 lately for predator hunting. With the way coyotes operate sometimes your bullet has to take the long way to the vitals. If you wait for the perfect shot you may go home with a clean gun.

[OLDHandgunner]

In my 22-250's I've always used Hornady 55gr SX bullets. These bullets have always done the job on coyotes. My farthest range around here is usually not over 400 yards.
No matter what the bullet is, poor shot placement doesn't make it a bad bullet. I hate coyotes as much as anyone, but I still try to make it a humane shot no matter what gun I'm using.

[Swift One]

I'm a fan of the 60gr HPs from Sierra.  I drilled a song dog at 351yds and it just did the death spin- no running off.  I do like the blitz bullets and they are extremely accurate out of my gun, but I too have had some issues with the dogs getting back up and kicking in the afterburners.  If I'm expecting shots at the 300yd mark and beyond, I bring the 7mm-08 with 150gr SMKs.

[petemi]

Spanky, I'm shooting 50 gr. Hornady V-maxs in mine, but when I want them DRT, I use my .308.  I'm good to go out to 400 yards with it and it loves to kill yotes.

Pete

[spikehorn]

I read a debate in preadator extreme magazine about less pelt damage with FMJ, so with win white box 223 55gr FMJ I got on our bait pile about 3:30 pm. We have ladder stands about 75 yards out from the bait pile. About 4:15 I caught movent to my left. A nice blonde coyote. As I tracked it coming to the bait pile it was about 60 yards out I found an opening between two trees, when I saw its shoulder I fired. The dog went down and started squirling around. Figured it was a good hit, next thing I see it has it's hind end up in the air and pushes itself over a little ridge out of sight. We gave it about fifteen minutes and got down to retrieve it. Only to our suprise it was no where to be found. We tracked the dog well after dark and never found it. For me that ended the debate about FMJ. I would rather have a dead dog than a pelt with a little hole in it.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Bummer Spikehorn, sorry you lost that one...I never gave fmj much of a chance..had friends that tried 'em with results the same as yours...one fellow even tried 180's out of the H & H same results..I have had pretty good luck with Blitzking, Vmax, and the old Speer 52 grain Hollow Point, but all from time to time cause horrible exit wounds..for me that is better than loosing a dog...varmit they are, but they deserve a quick death if we choose to shoot 'em....Most of my dog shooting with .22's has been with the .22-250 or Swift rather than my .223.

[Spanky]

I'm shooting hollow points out of mine too.
I watched a predator hunting video last night and the guy was using a 22-250 and a 12 ga. autoloader Benelli. It was pretty neat watching him call them up close and pound 'em with the Benelli. He used the shotgun out to 65 yds. or so.
He made some nice shots at about 300 yds. with the 22-250 too. It's nice to know that it'll reach right out there if need be.



Spanky