Author Topic: what caliber for yotes at 500 yards (Read 1512 times)

Illhunter · « **on:** December 04, 2010, 08:22:49 AM »

as the title suggest i was asked this question wasn't quite sure so thought i would ask you all about it what caliber not trying to save hides just want the yotes dead.

Bigeasy · « **Reply #1 on:** December 04, 2010, 08:31:32 AM »

I like the .204 Ruger, but then I shoot almost all my coyotes by calling them in, well under 200 yards. At close range, that little 34 grain bullet goes in and explodes, killing quick, with minimal pelt damage. In your case, where ranges are longer, and hide damage is not a consideration, I would look at a 243 or a 25/06.

Larry

hillbill · « **Reply #2 on:** December 04, 2010, 08:58:31 AM »

well 500 yrds is a long poke for sure.the smaller caliber rounds all are greatly effected by wind and the larger ones are effected by wind and drop as well. for instance, my 243 loaded pretty hot with 100 grns drops roun 14 to 16 inches at just 300.my 06 and my buds 270 are similar.if you know the exact distance and the ballistics of your cartridge you can do a lot.but even a light cross wind, and its hard to judge, can easily blow a bullet off anywhere from 4 to 10 inches depending on your gun.there is no magic gun that shoots flat to 500 yrds that ive seen.the only guys ive seen that can consistently pull off shots like that are doing so with a lot of practice at distance, know there gun and round and lately seem to be shooting those mil dot or sum type of mil type recticle with the different croshairs that they have practiced enuf with to know where they are shooting. oh and have invested in a rangefinder too.all great fun! git them yotes!

Catfish · « **Reply #3 on:** December 04, 2010, 10:10:16 AM »

Any round you can hit them with will do. I have a friend that killed one just over 600 yrds. with a 22-250 shooting a 52 gr. Sierra bullet. I have 2 long guns for them. One is a 22-6mm and the other is a 6-284. Both of these will reach alot farther than 600 yrds. I hunt with a friend that switches around aloton his long gun, but uses only factory rounds. He will usually carry a 22-250, a 7mm mag. or a 300 Wssm, but once is a while a 243. 600 yrds is noth all that far if you have a good drop chart, and that includes a wind drift chart. You do need a good range finder once you move behond you max. point blank range though.

jasonprox700 · « **Reply #4 on:** December 04, 2010, 10:58:17 AM »

I think any of the fast 6mm's or even .25's are hard to beat for long range coyotes. I currently hunt with a heavy barreled .22-250 and a few .223's in AR-15 configurations. I have since designated my .22-250 as my prairie dog, plinker, and bench rifle along with one of the AR's (Bushmaster Varminter). I finally have the wife talked into letting me get a .243 WSSM upper from Olympic Arms (I just have to sell a gun to do so - 7mm RUM in Rem 700 BDL if anyone is interested!). I want to have the barrel cut down to 18" and the barrel fluted to make it a better handling gun.

hillbill · « **Reply #5 on:** December 04, 2010, 11:00:58 AM »

Quote from: Catfish on December 04, 2010, 10:10:16 AM

Any round you can hit them with will do. I have a friend that killed one just over 600 yrds. with a 22-250 shooting a 52 gr. Sierra bullet. I have 2 long guns for them. One is a 22-6mm and the other is a 6-284. Both of these will reach alot farther than 600 yrds. I hunt with a friend that switches around aloton his long gun, but uses only factory rounds. He will usually carry a 22-250, a 7mm mag. or a 300 Wssm, but once is a while a 243. 600 yrds is noth all that far if you have a good drop chart, and that includes a wind drift chart. You do need a good range finder once you move behond you max. point blank range though.
that 6-284 aint a bad round, bout as flat shootin as they come.

Illhunter · « **Reply #6 on:** December 04, 2010, 01:16:37 PM »

i had recommended 243, 25-06 then for those distances also thought about 308 or 30-06 with lighter bullet

LunaticFringeInc · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2010, 04:45:42 PM »

The .224 TTH (Texas Trophy Hunter) sounds like it would be really tough to beat. With a 80 gr bullet at 3600 fps and a 200 yard zero its @ 4 inches low at 400 yards. I had one built on a Mauser action with a 26 inch barrel with a 1 in 6 twist rate. It has worked really well on "educated Coyotes" here in Texas. Does a pretty good job on the small deer here too if you pick your shots, although I prefer something with a little bit more bullet diameter and weight. Its a pretty easily formed wild cat round.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2010, 04:50:16 PM »

7mm RUM with 140gr Nosler ballistic tips. Reach out and touch them

Spanky · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2010, 07:27:19 PM »

Call 'em in closer. Most guys have no idea how far 500 yds really is or how to shoot that far.

Spanky

LunaticFringeInc · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2010, 03:21:37 AM »

yes, after 300 yards it gets to be a long ways out there and you definitely better be accurate on the range and know the drop and drift on a load. Most shooters just cant pull that off consistently beyond that.

Illhunter · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2010, 09:55:28 AM »

it is long range shooting that is for sure and he isn't calling them in he sees them most mornings and just wants to get rid of them as for me i would try and get closer so didn't need so much gun but more of curious so i can make more recommendfations to him and as for the 7mm RUM he doesn't reload so has to be something he can get ammo for easily.

Illhunter · « **Reply #12 on:** December 05, 2010, 09:57:36 AM »

thanks for all the help and information it is going to be helpful to tell him.

Range Rider · « **Reply #13 on:** December 05, 2010, 10:21:09 AM »

The first thing you should do. Set up a 1 foot Sq. target painted dull grey or brown in a weed field when the wind is blowing at 500 yds. Then take a well tuned 25-06 over your truck hood and see how many rounds you can land on a target that does not run when you get out of your rig. That will not tell you if you can hit a desert dog at 500 yds. but it may humble you some.

RR

hillbill · « **Reply #14 on:** December 05, 2010, 02:10:31 PM »

umm it wont humble yu a little. it will humble yu a lot!

rdmallory · « **Reply #15 on:** December 05, 2010, 03:05:35 PM »

Inexpensive rifle that will make that distance and more and if you hit him he is going down.

45-70, Load it up and hang on. Nothing like lobbing 400 grain 800 plus yards.

Doug

dieselman · « **Reply #16 on:** December 05, 2010, 03:39:15 PM »

Go all the way straight up to 50cal, knock'em down at over a mile.. Just sayin.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #17 on:** December 05, 2010, 03:47:26 PM »

The 87 grain Vmax has BCof .400 and is very explosive.Try it in one of the .243/6mm rounds and you will have a nice 500 yard coyote rifle, now if you can you your part.

Catfish · « **Reply #18 on:** December 06, 2010, 09:10:38 AM »

Quote from: LunaticFringeInc on December 04, 2010, 04:45:42 PM

The .224 TTH (Texas Trophy Hunter) sounds like it would be really tough to beat. With a 80 gr bullet at 3600 fps and a 200 yard zero its @ 4 inches low at 400 yards. I had one built on a Mauser action with a 26 inch barrel with a 1 in 6 twist rate. It has worked really well on "educated Coyotes" here in Texas. Does a pretty good job on the small deer here too if you pick your shots, although I prefer something with a little bit more bullet diameter and weight. Its a pretty easily formed wild cat round.

A 1 in 6 twist?

I have the only time I tried to group mine at 600 yrds. I put 3 shots in just under 2 in and it has a 1 in 8 twist which I push 80 gr. Sierra`s with. Also as for most people not being able to hit anything past 300 yrds. it`s not that they lack the ablity they lack the equipment and knowledge to do it. To shoot in the field at longer yardages you must know the exact yardage, ie a range finder and a cheap one will not do. You must also work up a good drop chart with a wind drift on it so you know how to set your scope for the shot. Anyone with a good shooting 22-250 or up should have no trouble takeing coyote and groundhogs at 600 yrds with a good scope with target knobs, a good range rinder and alittle practice. For long range shooting you what a high BC bullet. It may take alittle longer to get there, but it will drift less in the wind cutting your group size down at longer range.

calling4life · « **Reply #19 on:** December 06, 2010, 12:43:55 PM »

You need a rifle that can do it as well as the ability yourself, add quality glass to provide you with a clear picture and precise adjustments. I just purchased my long range killer for distant coyotes and to use as a 600 yard f class gun. it is in 308, and I wont even try 500-600 on a coyote if I can't put 90+% of my shots in a 6" circle at 600. I'm looking for MOA accuracy or better.

Get into high winds, rain, heavy snow, angled shots and I know at least for me... I'm not looking to wound the animal so it's a no go, we can't control everything all the time, I know misses happen, I'd just prefer to reduce that chance of a wounded dog, even if it means passing him up.

This is really a gun I bought to grow with, since I am a caller, and that is why I am out, taking shots even at 200+ doesn't appeal to me to greatly. I'd rather get them in close with the call, or come back at another time.

But, I also understand the urge to just see what you can do, a little ETHICAL test of marksmanship, and that is where the 308 comes in, hopefully I can get enough trigger time in between using it on coyotes and shooting at my local club to shoot it to its potential.

Range Rider · « **Reply #20 on:** December 07, 2010, 06:26:09 AM »

Some folks try to come across as experts on long range rifle shooting. Well its no wonder that there was always a shortage of Rangers and Recon snipers in the 1960s down to today. For some one to say, you should have no problem hitting a 4" kill area{Thats at 100 yds} at 600 yards which is now under 1". With a rifle that is only capable of placing 3 shots in 2" at 100 yds which under perfect conditions becomes 12" at 600 yards is stupid. That comes up under the heading of impossible. I don't give a damn how many cheap range finders you have. You need some real world rifle shooting and less arm chair dreams reading Guns & Ammo.

RR

Illhunter · « **Reply #21 on:** December 07, 2010, 12:31:29 PM »

the 45-70 would be fun. not sure he truly understands long range shooting or will he ever be able to hit anything with whatever he gets. i will have to pass all this info to him though will help him decide what to get

Swift One · « **Reply #22 on:** December 08, 2010, 12:30:19 PM »

While range Rider makes some very sounds and accurate statements, todays rifles and high BC bullets along with sound reloading practices, most of the mid range priced rifles (ie rem 700, savage M11, and Stevens M200) can hit the 500yd mark accuratly if you get to know your rifle. Running an accurate load across a chrony and running the numbers into a ballistic program is going to only give u an idea of what it would do. practice at the ranges that you plan on shooting and get to know your cold bore Point Of Impact. Also, practice shooting targets the size of the game you are going after at those ranges. That being said, a 243, 25-06 can give some fine results out to 500yds. I use a 7mm-08, but dont really care about what it does to the pelt. That is what my trap line is for. I have also heard some reports of a 22-250 smacking the hec out of coyotes at the 500yd mark.