Coyote round

[Lon371]

 I have a .270 barrel. I was going to use it for Coyote, but i am afraid it is to much for where we are going to hunt. I don't hand load. I need a round that is not that expensive or as stout as the .270. Range will be no farther 150 yards. Thanks for your suggestions.

 I do have a .44,17 hmr,7.62x39,7.62x54 and shotguns. But I am looking for a different barrel.

Lonny

[LONGTOM]

223, 30-30, 204, 243 These would be my first picks.


LONGTOM

[Badnews Bob]

What range are you shooting, That 7.62 would work very well, If you are really just wanting a new barrell I would look at the .223 out to 300yards and the .204 or .22-250 after that, The .243 .25-06 and 7-08 are the next step IMHO.

The .223 being the most fun to shoot IMO and probably the cheapest also.

[petemi]

A year ago, I was going through the same thing.  I chose the .22-250.  We have a lot of wind here, so I shoot the 55 gr. Hornadys  The ballistics looked a lot better than the .223 and the buck or two per box seems worth it.  Granted, you can get really cheap FMJ ammo for the .223 that you can't for the .22-250.  I seldom shoot FMJs, even though I own litteraly hundreds of them and have a clay berm to shoot them into.  IMHO they're only good for punching paper, and they're not too great at that.

I'd go for the .22-250........again.

[PartsMan]

TWO TWENTY THREE!

[Bob A]

I see a couple of possibilities.
You say you will be shooting within 150 yards
Recoil is an issue.
Ammo Cost is an issue.

At 150 yards any 22 centerfire will do the job. I have killed several coyotes with my Hornet with one shot kills at 100-150 yards.
BUT, if you don't reload, the only 22 centerfire that offers lower priced ammo is the 223 Rem.

You can also consider using your 270 with Rem Managed Recoil ammo. A 115 gr bullet at 2700 fps will recoil like a moderate load in a 30-30 and have all the reach you need to get out to 150+ yards. The ammo isn't cheap but nothing is (except 223 Rem). You can buy a lot of ammo for the cost of a new barrel and scope. Even though the 270 with lite ammo is the easiest answer, if you want a new barrel (or gun) you should get it.

Bob A

[jdwolf]

You can't go wrong with a 223 Handi.  I love mine. 

[Singleshotsam]

.223

[Lon371]

Well I guess I wil go after a .223 for now and put the 22-250 and 22 hornet on the future wish list. Thanks for your input.
Lonny

[cwlongshot]

The best caliber to shoot a coyote with is what ever you have in hand when you see one you can shoot... .


CW

[Booyah]

I have a 22 Hornet, 223,204 and my favorite is a 221 Fireball.  The 223 has the most choices of factory ammo selection.  The 204 is awesome but more expensive with less choices as to ammo and the Hornet is a round that not everyone stocks.  I have a 221 Fireball that I really like but ammo is even harder to find unless you reload. If you reload the 221 is sweet.  Range is not as far as the 223 or the 204 but the recoil is nothing.

[Lon371]

The best caliber to shoot a coyote with is what ever you have in hand when you see one you can shoot...   .

I know a few farmers who would agree with you

[jimmybirdwell]

I too have a 221 fireball in rem. 700. It is one of my most accurate rifle that I own. I have killed several deer at close range ( 100 yds or less) . I have also killed several hogs at over 100 yards . shoot em in the ear and they will fall. Best shot with it 112 yards, turkey's head, blew it  right off. No recoil and straight shooter. I don't about shooting over 150 yards though. it will probably loose its gas.
              Jimmy

[LaOtto222]

I really like my 221 FireBalls, I have 3. They are plenty for coyote out to 200 yards, maybe more with the proper bullets. Down side is ammo is hard to get, you basically have to reload. You can not get a 221 FB in a Handi rifle, unless it is custom. I would opt for the 223 for several reasons. Cheap ammo , it does not matter if you buy or reload, it is one of the cheapest. A very wide selection of bullets again if you buy ammo or reload. It has a range of 300+ yards with accuracy pleanty good enough for coyotes. As mentioned the wide variety of bullets lets you choose the type of hunting you do. Do you want to save pelts; get a light bullet that will go in small and not penetrate all the way through. If you just want to put them down then use a bullet that will go all the way through and take out a golf ball sized hole on the other side. You can load it down (2500 fps) or up fairly fast (3700 - 3800fps 40 grain bullet). The real trouble is, there are many solutions to your problem, from a 17 Hornet to what ever (even a 45-70). Pick one that you can purchase in a Handi and you like, you really can not go wrong. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[petemi]

I'd still stick with my .22-250.  You put out 300 - 500 bucks on a scope and rifle and don't want to spend a couple extra bucks a box for ammo.  It's sort of like buying a quarter of a million dollar motor home and leaving it in the driveway because you can't afford four bucks a gallon for gas.

[jimmybirdwell]

any one know about the 17 fireball rem. came out with a couple of years ago?
            JIm

[LaOtto222]

The 17 Remington Fireball is a 221 FB necked down to 17. It was a wildcat called the Mach IV since the 60's. Remington has legitimized it by picking it up as a factory round; the same way they did the 22-250. There are no 17 caliber center fires offered in a Handi.

[LaOtto222]

I'd still stick with my .22-250.  You put out 300 - 500 bucks on a scope and rifle and don't want to spend a couple extra bucks a box for ammo.  It's sort of like buying a quarter of a million dollar motor home and leaving it in the driveway because you can't afford four bucks a gallon for gas.

"Pick one that you can purchase in a Handi and you like, you really can not go wrong." - Laotto222

I guess I have always operated with the philosophy to get the job done as cheaply as possible with expected results. I have worked in industry for a long time and costs are always a consideration when making decisions on which machine to buy or where to buy it from. I do the same thing with bullets. Nosler Balistic tips and Hornady V Max preform just about the same (terminal wise). If I can get good accuracy with the V Max I buy those even though the Noslers might shoot just as well. I can buy the Hornady's about $2/hundred cheaper, so why pay more for the Nosler's when the Hornadys shoot as well? Why buy a Handi when you can get Remington 700 in the same caliber? But that is just me and MHO. There is another guy who frequents GBO a lot that strongly advocates 17 calibers for coyotes, is he wrong? Nope, just his way of seeing it. The bottom line is get what you like, you can not go wrong, be it a 223 or 22-250 or a 270 for dual purpose.

[Singleshotsam]

The best caliber to shoot a coyote with is what ever you have in hand when you see one you can shoot... .


CW

Lol... I agree... the first coyote I shot was w/ an SKS I upgraded for my brother on opening day of deer season about 4 years ago.... He was out mousing and the wind was in my favor... I shot him at a whopping 10 yards lol...

[bilmac]

Another vote for CWLongs view. Whatever is in your hand when you see them. I've shot them with a muzzleloader, a 357 marlin, 30 carbine and 22long rifles. Unlike other critters a don't mind being inhumane when I attack them when you consider what they do to their prey.

If I was going to buy a rifle just for coyotes it would be 223 unless there was the possibility of selling them for hides in which case I would choose one of the 17s.

[trotterlg]

The 17 Rem FB is a little light for the Coyotes, they seem to work best with the 20gr bullets.  I have a Handi in 17 FB and it shoots very well, I am doing up a barrel for the PD shoot also, and have chambered a couple of others.   I tried a 17 Remington in a Handi but could never get it to shoot well, so I have that round in a Savage 10 and using 30gr bullets it's probably the perfect Coyote rifle.  I think Handi has a 204 ruger chambering that would probably be the best factory offering for Coyotes.  Larry

[Lon371]

I'd still stick with my .22-250.  You put out 300 - 500 bucks on a scope and rifle and don't want to spend a couple extra bucks a box for ammo.  It's sort of like buying a quarter of a million dollar motor home and leaving it in the driveway because you can't afford four bucks a gallon for gas.

Did I miss somthing here? Who said I wanted to spend 3-500.00 on a rifle and scope and buy cheap ammo?? I think the only thing I said is

I don't hand load. I need a round that is not that expensive or as stout as the .270

Meaning I would prefer not to pay $23.00 per a box of 20 rounds. We shoot frequently, probably should reload but at the moment dont.

HERE IS YOUR .02 CENTS BACK!

Lonny

[petemi]

Lonny, all I'm trying to say is I prefer to pay a little more for quality .22-250 ammo over the price of QUALITY, not military FMJ, or wolf, etc., .223 for the better performance.  It's only the price of a beer difference.

[jmayton]

Since you don't handload, get the .223...unless you just really want one of the others.  You can get .223 ammo anywhere.  If it's a civilianized military round, it's plentiful.  So if you want something that you can pick up a box of ammo for anywhere, stick with .223's, .308's, and 30-06.  That said, you can't go wrong with the others but the .223 and the 22-250 give you more versatility than the .204 and the 17's and burn a lot less powder with a lot less recoil than a .243.  I hunt hogs with my .223 and we've even shot deer with it during a cull hunt.  With the right bullets a .22 cal is quite effective.

[Sourdough]

I shoot a .223 Ultra for Coyotes, Foxes, and Wolves.  Works great, can reach out past 300 yards with no problem.  Ammo got scarce for a while, but has came back recently.  Went up like all the rest too.  $37.00 a box of 50 now, with premium bullets.  I can't reload for that.

[tykempster]

If you don't reload you need something that is cheap to shoot.  So probably something you can get surplus ammo for...

223, 7.62x39, a Mauser cartridge?

[Sourdough]

Also I forgot, I like to keep the fur.  Something like my 30-06 blows them apart, a .270 would do that also.  Unless you reload with varmint bullets.  Ammo for the .223 can be found on the shelf with those bullets already loaded.  Five or six tanned unmounted furs looks good hanging from by the nose in a Den.  I have a few hanging around the antlers I got hanging on the wall.  Kind of frames them nice and gives the wall a soft affect.

[jmayton]

i'm going to recant a bit.  I love the .223.  An old hunting guide friend of mine whose opinion I highly respect turned me on to the benefits of it and i took his advice, so it is one of my favorites.  And, I would suggest it to others.  But, get what you want.  If you want something like a 4mm RUM or whatever, get it.  It's for you not for me or anyone else.  plus, if you get something other than a .223 and we go hunt together then we can have some variety.

[Jimbo47]

Here's another vote for the versitile .270 using the managed recoil ammo by Remington in the 110 grain.

That's got to be the easiest and cheapest way to have a long range, flat shooting coyote gun there is.

[kevthebassman]

Unlike other critters a don't mind being inhumane when I attack them when you consider what they do to their prey.

Now that just don't make much sense at all.  Is the coyote to blame for the way it takes it's prey?  It survives using the tools it has, same as us.  Only the coyote doesn't pander to bunny huggers and anti-hunters.  I don't see that as a reason to make them suffer needlessly.