contender for coyote hunting

[homebuilt]

i am totally new to the contender. i'm thinking about picking up a g2 frame, and then find a barrel for it. i'm thinkin i would like a 10" barrel to keep the handling a little more managable, as i will be in and out of the truck along with alot of hiking in and out of stands. what caliber do ya'll think would work good for this situation in a 10" barrel that won't blind me when i touch it of at night.

[trotterlg]

17 Remington Fireball for factory and if you load your own, a 17 AH.  For a 22, a regular hornet or a .221 Remington Fireball.  Then I guess a 30 Carbine or a 32 H&R Mag would also do the job.  Larry

[shot1]

It really depends on how far away you want to shoot a coyote and if you want the hide. For the longer ranges you really need a 14" barrel and something like the 223 Rem if you just plan on using factory made ammo. If you hand load then you can step up to some wild-cats. the 6mm TCU or a 6mm or 25 cal on the 225 Winchester case is nice. I have a 6mm-225 Win and it is a real shooter.

[Elwood]

I have a 10" 223 barrel. I have used it to kill coyotes but, DANG it is loud! It kills coyotes with grace, up to 200 yards away. I do handload so, I could load it down.  If you dont reload the hornets or fireballs would be perfect.
Elwood P.D.

[Curtis]

If you hand load and want to be different, I was thinking .256 Winchester Magnum.  It's a dandy little caliber and 75 grain bullets carry the energy out a wee bit further than the original 60 grain pill.  I've never shot mine at night though, so not sure about the muzzle flash.

Curtis

[Hafast]

Years ago I used the 256 Win Mag while calling coyotes at night. When the trigger was pulled it was night time no more. That 10 inch barrel really lit things up. Coyotes were DRT. I now use a 10 inch 357 Mag. Less flash and they are just as dead.

[homebuilt]

thanks for all of the advice guy's. i am leaning towards the .221 fireball. i do reload and that round looks like it's got potential. at night my longest shot would be 100 yards, preferably closer to 50 yards. during the day i might stretch it out a bit farther.

[Hopalong7]

      The Remy .221 ain't called the .221Fireball fer nuttin'....BUT, it is a good shooter.
Walt

[Kal52]

I got a 6.8spc a last year, havent shot a yote with it, but did kill a doe last year, easy to shoot and delivers a good punch.

The hornet is a great shoooter as well.   

Dave

[Waldo Pepper]

I have a 10" 222 Remington that will shoot 3/8" group at 50 yards with cheap 4x scope with a range bag for support, I also have a 22WMR barrel that is almost as good, and a 10mm auto barrel that does real good also if connecting holes a 50 yards is good enough.

For me if I was new to varmint hunting with pistol the G2 with a 20 or 22 caliber, I've had two 17 caliber guns, a rifle and revolver by the way, and would go with 22 caliber because those 17's are a PIA to clean and are often touchy about accuracy fally off in real low number of fired rounds. If you do not already have a 222 and don't reload, then 223 is trhe way to go. All those 17 calibers, 20 calibers and odd 22 caliber like 22-250, 22 Hornet, 222 and others will take all the fun out of shooting when paying $15 to $20 or more for a box of 20 rounds that's for sure. The 223 is also excellent varmint round and is averaging about $7 to $8 a box at discount stores, so really 223 is a no brainer in my book.

[Waldo Pepper]

Forgot to add that my 10" 222 is only used to about 100 yards due to low power scope, a friends 10" 223 shoot normally at 100 yard to 150 yards and he can do head shots with his 223 out to that range. The difference is he has a Leupold 2x7x30, IIRC about the power, and I have a 4x32 NcStar scope. Man that Leupold is worth the money in my book.