30-06 & COYOTES ?

[windywhitetails]

Hi,
 Want to start coyote hunting, but I dont want to buy a new gun. I have a 30-06 and was wondering if this caliber is to big for coyotes? Thanks!

[STexhunter]

30/06 will definitely do the job.  Though I have smaller calibers for the purpose, I have shot coyotes with a 30/06, most while deer hunting.  If you reload you can use smaller grain bullets or buy some, if you can find them.  Go for it and have fun.

[bladerunner]

overkill?YUP!!!.......BUT,if ya ain't savin the fur,WHO CARES  :-D  :-D  

[Jerry Lester]

Way to much gun for coyotes. I'm a fur hunter myself, and I'd strongly recomend something else like a 22 Hornet, 222, or 223, even if it meant waiting till the funds were available.

Contrary to popular belief, the lighter bullets in high powered rifles will tear up an animal a whole lot worse than heavier ones will. If you "must" use a 30-06 for coyotes, I'd suggest using the heaviest, toughest bullets you can find short of FMJ's. A lot of times the tougher bullets, as long as you don't hit a shoulder on exiting, will only leave small holes in the hides.

When you hit these smaller animals with calibers like the 30-06, bullet performance is not really a factor. Just the sheer shock of that large caliber bullet zipping through the chest is plenty enough for quick kills.

[varmit_master]

Hi ww are you wanting to save the fur. Than if you are yes it is too big. If you arent going to save it than NO. The 30 06 isnt overkill if the fur isnt any good. If all you have is your 30 06 find some heavyer ammo loaded  in the 180gr TSX or a TBB ammo  hard type bullet that wont open up on a coyote. The coyotes have magne here bad in places. I have hunted them with my 300 wby load with a 125gr BT. Now if the price of fur was good and the fur was in good shape. I would care what size hole i blowed in one. But it isnt so i dont. If you use a FMJ bullet check the LAW. Becasue here we cant use FMJ on any type of animal. But if you cant get a new rifle and and want to hunt Take the 30 06 and go hunting. Becasue life is to short and have fun. Good Luck.  VM

[kyote]

yea,the ole o6 would be the ticket..but there are better weapons for the filthy coyote you want to hunt.
remington made 55gr saboted bullets for the 06 believe they cruised along at 4200fps.and were very accurate out of my o6.I still see them at gun shows at a reasonable price.and the shot guns news has sabots for reloading any 30cal and 50 cal if you wanted to load your own.
if you are going to shoot em with the regular .30 cal bullets out of the 06.you won't want to be keeping the fur.are you will be in the sewin room fer a long time.on the way to hunt oryx the other week one stopped long enough in a field for me to step out the jeep and shoot it with a nosler 200gr partition..kinda like hittin a rabbit with a poly tip .223 allmost cut it in half.

[Jim 44-40]

I use my Ruger#1 30-06 for deer,groundhogs, and My first coyote was taken with 130gr Hornady at 2900fps. Sighted in 2 1/2 in high at 100yds. Dead on at 200yds,300yds -9.2in. Shoulder to Brisket on coyote is 9inch.I use IMR 3031 powder with the 130gr

[oso45-70]

Windy

I would say use your 06 until you can get a Varmint gun, Its lots of fun with an 06 But twice as much fun with a varmint rifle Like a 222 rem-223-222mag 22-250-243Or 6mm. The price of your ammo is going to be lots higher with the 06. I just think you would have much more fun with a Varmint Rifle. Don't mean to sound like I,am trying to change your mind but i am,,,, Good luck to ya what ever you do have a good time     ............Joe...........

[james]

The coyote is an opportunist and so am I.  I've probably taken more when I was hunting something else than when I was calling or coyote hunting.  I've taken them with a muzzleloader, shotgun, 22, 30-30, .308, and .223. I say use what you got.   From experience, I would rather have a 30.06 than a .22 rimfire in my hand when Mr. Yote shows himself.
james

[7x57]

Limited experience talking (see fur damage thread), but I have seen a few coyotes hit with 30-06 all through the chest with 180 grainers at under 120 yards except for one hit at loooong range with 150 grain.

Every one did backflips for 1/2 a minute or so before expiring, and all had good sized exit wounds. One hit in shoulder blade dropped like lightning but the shoulder blade exited with the bullet ! The long range dog was hit through boiler room and had off side leg smashed but still ran off a long ways before being finished with 12 gauge slug at powder burn distance when it snarled.

Long story short, It'll work but there has to be a better tool for saving furs.

[Catfish]

For what they pay for coyotes around here I won`t carry one out. If your the same way I would recomand the Speer 130 gn. HPs. I used to load for a friend that groundhog hunted with a .30-06 and tried alot of different bullets. This is the litest bullet I found in .30 cal. that would hold any kind of a group at all how past 200 yrds. With this bullet you can kill them as far out as you can figure the hold over and wind drift, they leave great big holes and and don`t bounce far.

[kyote]

Yea,who cares what ya kill them with?even if ya have to sew a little more.just found out they have a buyer that is in need of 1000 coyote furs for china.we are getting in touch to see if N.M flats will be bought.I dought it..they have never fetched much money.and the way wineters are going in the deep S.W.I dought if they ever will bring much money.and after seeing the yotes from norther states.there is no comparision in the two.those northern dogs are furry.ours look more on the maingy side. :lol:
next year.I am going to try and get several using an 8mm remington mag.with 180gr Barnes triple shocks..that should knock their socks off..should be fur every where  :lol: the mesquite bushes will be modeling the fur. :grin: