Author Topic: Coyotes, 200 yards? (Read 2109 times)

Bison Butt · « **Reply #30 on:** October 07, 2009, 09:40:58 PM »

The .243 is also used to buck the wind, and for longer distances in the windy conditions. It is a very good coyote getter, but not fur friendly.

The .223 is the available round that can do it all, with a wide assortment of bullets, brass is cheap, and easy to reload..

The .204 is just another fast light bullet that now can harvest the smaller furbearers with out much pelt damage. That could be a plus with fox and bobcat. However it can cause big fur damage if a bone is hit.

I shoot all of these calibers but only one in the NEF format. The .204. I just mated a fluted bull barrel to a new frame tonight, and I can't wait to take it coyote hunting.

I killed one coyote yesterday with my Bushy AR .223. I use a 60 grain vmax and it wasn't fur friendly, but they usually are.

There are lots of questions about whether a bullet is fur frindly. Very few people really collect furs, and at the the current of estimated prices, I won't peel one, flesh it, sew it up, and hope there is a market. I just get a round that is accurate, and use them.

Any of those callibers you mentioned will work fine. The biggest issue is what format do you like, and how easy the components go together.

May I suggest from your question that you hang out at the Predator forums. Predator Masters is a good one.

kevinsmith5 · « **Reply #31 on:** October 08, 2009, 12:23:35 AM »

Trotter, my concern is not an injured (or healthy) coyote attacking me. It's the chickens, calves, goats, and rabbit pens. Those are why we want them under control anyway. I guess I could worry about the hog pen to, but I figure if a coyote goes after a piglet in a pen with a 350 lb sow that's just added protein in momma's diet.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #32 on:** October 08, 2009, 02:52:16 AM »

For their size, coyotes are very tough. Some of the guys here have tried the 17 and 204, at close range, they will be ok, as will the .223. If you are sure your shots are at less than 200 you will get buy. But readings some of these posts, I wonder how many hundred coyotes these hunters have shot. $:-\$ I have a pal who has hunted coyotes professionally for most of his adult life. He had a .204, last time I hunted with him. But since, he has picked up a couple .25-06 Ackleys. Now he is shooting in open country with lots of wind, but as I said coyotes for their size are very tough.

tykempster · « **Reply #33 on:** October 08, 2009, 02:53:21 AM »

.224 75 grain Hornady Amax @ 2900 fps

500 yards-
9.6 moa drop
3.7 moa drift in 10 mph wind

1000 yards-
32.3 moa drop
9.2 moa drift in 10 mph wind

.243 100 grain Hornady RN @ 2900 fps

500 yards-
13.8 moa drop
8.5 moa drift in 10 mph wind

1000 yards-
64.3 moa drop
20.9 moa drift in 10 mph wind

I would take the Amax. It expands easily on small game and also does well on deer.

LONGTOM · « **Reply #34 on:** October 08, 2009, 03:59:03 AM »

trotterlg:
We don't have many 30lb yotes here in northern VA.
Most run a little larger than that.
They have crossed with some of the wild dog packs we have around here.
The largest killed so far weighed in at just over 70lbs.
Looked like he was a cross with a Shepard.
Like I said, all of the cartridges are good choices.
Just happens to be the one I would chose on a windy day, that's all.

tyke:
My 223s won't shoot the heavy bullets.
Most are in the 45 to 53gr range.
While you are most likely correct with your figures we aren't talking 500 or 1000 yds.

I shot one at just over 200yds with a 32gr V-MAX 204 a couple of summers ago in a hard wind and broke her back.
Was aiming for the shoulder.
Part wind, part her being on the move and part I am sure was me.
She was a long ways from dead.
Hit her 5 out of 6 shots at about 20' down to less than 3' with my 45 colt with 255gr hard cast loads and they went right through her.
Finished her off with my buddys 357 with 110gr HPs.
That was the last time I carried those loads in my colt while varmint hunting.
Now I use a good expanding JHP!

Like I said, they are all good choices and all will kill.
I guess it is all in what we are use to and/or have had success with over the years.

LONGTOM

kansasj · « **Reply #35 on:** October 08, 2009, 06:52:14 AM »

We have a ton of coyotes in Kansas and most of my buddies including myself are using the .204 32gr v-max. Does a real number on yotes w/o damaging the pelts too much. They are almost lazers to 300yd. Now we are fighting over the spotting scope to watch prarie dogs explode!

billy_56081 · « **Reply #36 on:** October 08, 2009, 07:29:24 AM »

I have several friends who use 204s on our eastern coyotes and are very happy with the terminal performance. These yotes weigh in from 25 to 45 lbs.

briannmilewis · « **Reply #37 on:** October 08, 2009, 10:32:45 AM »

I have a H&R Hornet that I intend to hunt coyote with eventually, however, that is to 150 yards with comfort and expectation of a clean kill.

No one seems to have mentioned the 221 Rem Fireball. The starting brass may be pricey but it is a solid 200 yard coyote rifle, and is possibly the first upgrade/rechamber of the Hornet I will make. If it in fact will be an inter generational rifle, you will save 23% in powder costs over a 223.

If you use medium power loads which will hit hard enough to do the job at 200 yards using for example 16.8gr IMR3031 and 55gr bullets, you will get 400+ reloads from a pound of powder, and you should get excellent case life, helping to offset the initial case cost compared to 223. Saving 23% on powder over a year may not seem much, but over 60 years, if you use 1 pound of powder a year, you would save $6.66 in todays money on powder like L'il Gun, over 60 years that is $400, to some not much, to others the price of new Ultra Handi or a Marlin 30/30. Inflation adjust it and it will likely exceed $1000 or more by that time.

But if you want that occassional 300+ yd shot, for pure economy of factory ammo and cheap new or once fired brass, go for the 223, it will be around long after we have all graduated to that great shooting range in the sky, I am sure you can't go wrong.

ken-wv. · « **Reply #38 on:** October 08, 2009, 10:42:57 AM »

30/30 a.i.,cheap to load,should be real good at 200 yards with cast or hard ball.

MSP Ret · « **Reply #39 on:** October 08, 2009, 11:26:06 AM »

I agree a good handload in a 30-30 Handi would be a great coyote gun. I use either my H&R/NEF Sportster in .22 Mag out to about 100 yards and a .223 if I think the shots will be beyond that self imposed 100 yard limit for the .22 Mag....<><....

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #40 on:** October 08, 2009, 12:06:16 PM »

tyk...Don't you think to give a proper comparison of the .223 and 243 you should have used a spitzer in the 243 rather than a round nose.

I am sure all of this talk about various calibers is interesting, but here in the west we have ADC men who's job it is to kill coyotes and other varmits causing problems. Over the years I have known several of these guys, they mostly favor the big .22-'s or 24 and 25 cal. varmit rifles. These guys have 1000's of coyotes under their belt. They must produce or their jobs are on the line.

mechanic · « **Reply #41 on:** October 08, 2009, 01:58:21 PM »

I'm sure not an expert on coyotes, but I can verify that a 50 cal. in line with a 330gr. bullet will cause one to expire immediately. Hide was kinda' a mess though.

My vote is for the 243 or 25-06. Both excellent rounds for anything deer size or smaller. We have shot a lot of gas checked cast in 243 with no problems with leading. Moderate loads of course.

Hodr · « **Reply #42 on:** October 08, 2009, 03:56:52 PM »

Anybody try this with a 357 max?

blindhari

gendoc · « **Reply #43 on:** October 09, 2009, 02:40:27 AM »

you need something thats on fire....
a kiyot will flinch at the sound of a gun, if he's educated!!!
i use a 220 swift but, in handi's i use a .204 or .223
3.5k fps or more, and cast is out of the question.. just my onion---

gonna have to invest in gud glass too....

H666 · « **Reply #44 on:** October 09, 2009, 03:00:03 AM »

How about a 6-284 or a 6.5-284? My brother used a 6-284 built out of a 6.5x55 mauser 98 and it dropped an arctic fox on 400 yards. It's quite a barrel-burner though, unbeliavebly fast, a 70 gr. hornady travelling over 4000 fps.

His 6.5-284 Rössler dropped a polar bear last year in just over a 100 yards.

gendoc · « **Reply #45 on:** October 09, 2009, 03:03:15 AM »

Quote from: H666 on October 09, 2009, 03:00:03 AM

How about a 6-284 or a 6.5-284? My brother used a 6-284 built out of a 6.5x55 mauser 98 and it dropped an arctic fox on 400 yards. It's quite a barrel-burner though, unbeliavebly fast, a 70 gr. hornady travelling over 4000 fps.

His 6.5-284 Rössler dropped a polar bear last year in just over a 100 yards.

dats wat i'm talk'n bout

SD Handgunner · « **Reply #46 on:** October 09, 2009, 08:26:12 AM »

I am not shooting a Handi Rifle currently for Coyotes, but am shooting a .223 16" Bushmaster M4 Optics Ready Carbine (no open sights, but rather a 1.5x4.5x Bushnell Elite 3200 Firefly Riflescope). I am running 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips at 2947 FPS out of my 16" .223 Bushmaster. In the past 18 months I have taken 17 Coyotes with the .223 Bushmaster using this load. The farthest shot was 250 yards, and it was a one shot kill. I just called a Coyote in to 50 yards last Sunday evening and killed it with one shot with the above Carbine & Load. The Coyote was quartering towards me at a sharp angle and at the shot collapsed and never even twitched it's tail. I was kind of surprised that there was no exit wound, that the 55gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip had stayed inside the coyote.

My choice would be the .223. It is super easy to load for. A variety of bullets and powders work great in this cartridge. I have always been able to tweak my handloads for the .223 to get super accuracy out of it (maybe I have just been lucky). Lastly the performance this small capacity case produces has always amazed me. I mean the .22-250 uses 1/3 more powder than the .223 to gain 10% more velocity.

Larry

H666 · « **Reply #47 on:** October 09, 2009, 09:25:54 AM »

What about .223 ackley? Of course .223 is one of the best varmint calibers, if not the one and only.

kevinsmith5 · « **Reply #48 on:** October 09, 2009, 10:03:26 AM »

Leaning 223. Cost of components and likely long term availability of cases are a big factor. Got my brother a .357 and 30-30 yesterday:) Two that will be around a long time there!

H666 · « **Reply #49 on:** October 09, 2009, 10:10:03 AM »

I had a Sako L461 in .222 that had been used since early 195o's. It shot pretty straight with a remington factory load, 45gr. hollow point. I got the rifle early year 2000.

Lazermule · « **Reply #50 on:** October 09, 2009, 12:17:07 PM »

Ditch the casting idea and go with the 204.

H666 · « **Reply #51 on:** October 10, 2009, 12:28:04 AM »

How fast is the 204 and with whish bullet?

gendoc · « **Reply #52 on:** October 10, 2009, 12:42:13 AM »

mine does 3700fps with a 40gr nosler bt

H666 · « **Reply #53 on:** October 10, 2009, 04:09:19 AM »

Just as a thought; how many 4000+ fps calibers are there. You can push a .243 just under 4000 with a 58 gr. bullet, the 6-284 exceeds 4000 with a 70 gr. I think a 30-378 might be borderline too. 204 must go over 4000.

gendoc · « **Reply #54 on:** October 10, 2009, 04:35:52 AM »

oh yes, it can... and i have did it. but accuracy is not there like at 3700.

thats why i use the swift 4170- 4340 fps and thats with a ruger frame
no worries !!!

billy_56081 · « **Reply #55 on:** October 10, 2009, 05:48:54 AM »

I use a 220 swift with 40 grain CT ballistic tips. Mine has been chrono'd at 4250. I have a pretty good supply od these left and hope I find a few more.

gendoc · « **Reply #56 on:** October 10, 2009, 06:03:55 AM »

aaahhhh!!! another proud swift owner....

would'nt be a blast if remington would make a handi in the swifty
i'd dang sho have a couple !!!

what brand/model is yours??

mines a #1 with a percision shop barrel
thousands of rounds thru her and not one spec of errosion...

billy_56081 · « **Reply #57 on:** October 10, 2009, 06:12:42 AM »

Mine is a Savage 110 with and Adams and Bennet barrel from Midway. Shoots about .75 moa. It may do better but I have only tried the one load in the gun.

gendoc · « **Reply #58 on:** October 10, 2009, 06:18:52 AM »

one of them best kept secrets

thats a fine shooter !!!
you gotter dialed in gud enuff fer them kiyote

jeepmann1948 · « **Reply #59 on:** October 10, 2009, 06:51:06 AM »

I load my 22 Cheetah down to 4250 with 60 gr sierra hollow points so they do not come apart in flight, 6mm Ack imp to 4200 with 70 gr Hornady ,Thinking of reaming a 223 Handi to 220 Swift so I can have a moderate speed 224 Varmit gun .My 22-250 Handi does real well around 3600 with 52 gr Sierra BTHP.Course the truth be known the 22 Hornet kills as dead at 200 as the hot rods do,as long as I do My Part!