Proper Coyote caliber?

C

Csspecs

New member
I am new to the idea of using a rifle. I have used many shotguns in the past for small game and started waterfoul hunting this last year. But I have never used a rifle for any game at all. Deer hunting has always been during bow season.

So the problem is that the area I hunt in does have houses within one to two miles. I want a bullet caliber that will stop fast but still be able to stop a coyote inside of 50 yards. The range I have seen them at is always less than 70 yards. I have read several pages of weather or not a .22lr will work, but I feel that it is my job to make the coyotes suffering end quickly. So I am leaning more toward a .223 or a .17 HMR.

I am trying to save the pelt.

What I have now:

12 gage pump
20 gage single shot
mosin nagant 7.62x54R
.50 caliber muzzle loader (used with saboted .45 250 grain)

If any of those will work.
 
I would get the Remington Model 710 .270!
Its a cheap($350), rugged, all weather gun that
comes with a scope. Not a great scope but
good enough for 100 yard shot on a coyote.
You could also use this rifle for more then small
animals. You could use this on whitetail all day long.
I have a friend that goes to OSU(Oklahoma State)
who dropped a 400LB elk with his .270! His isn't a
remington though. He's also a very, very good shot.
To explain his shot, he dropped the right lung i believe,
then the elk turned for a perfect shot on the left lung,
so he took it also. The elk just stood there for like
10 seconds and then stumbled a few seconds then dropped.
Ok back to the coyotes. This gun should get the job
done and plus a little more. I don't if anyone agrees with
me, but from seeing what some of my friends can do with
this gun, I say the caliber is great. I'm getting the 300 Win MAg
of the Model 710 Remington, but thats overkill on a whitetail at 100yards,
so imagine what it would do to a coyote at 100yards.
I hoped my info has helped you some. Before you take any of my info
and make a choice on a rifle, I suggest you get the views of other
hunters who have alot more experience then I do. I'm really just telling
you my personal opinion and what I would do in your situation.
Take It Easy, and Safe Hunting.

BFF
 
Runner Up rifle of my choice in your situation would be a 30-30 lever action with a decent scope. You could pick one of these guns up for cheap and get a good enough scoop to hunt coyotes with from your local pawn shop for $50 or $60 dollars. But with this 30-30 you can't hunt deer. Maybe you can, but I haven't never met someone who's hunted deer with a 30-30.

BFF
 
Sorry for multiple posts. Also, take a look at the .22 250 mag's. Would be great for things this size of coyotes. When I go hog hunting my friend uses a .22 250, but still I think would be perfect for coyotes. But if you got a rifle like this you still need to have a decent scope for it also.

My 2 Cents.

BFF
 
Maybe you can, but I haven't never met someone who's hunted deer with a 30-30.
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are you serious? the 30-30 is the most popular deer rifle of all time...

that said it doesn't have the longer range. plus if you wanna sell / keep coyote pelts you want a small entrance hole. look into a .243, .22-250, .223, 17 rem, something along those lines. .243 is the only one you could use on deer though. .270 isn't a bad choice, and like "back" said, it can handle bigger game than most people give it credit for...
 
Well said sir. I know that the 30-30 is popular, I just don't know anyone personally, like friends who have used that caliber for deer hunting. Personally thinking about it I would take out the 30-30 as a choice, and go with the .270 if your just getting rid of coyotes, but a .22-250 if you want to keep, or sell their pelts.

BFF
 
If you are hunting coyotes where you are within sight of private homes as a rule, I would use a 223. I don't mean shooting animals in people's back yards either.... follow the game laws on acceptable distance from private dwellings. If the buildings are 1 to 2 miles away, I lean toward the 243 as the most verstile rifle. You can use that for deer also.

The biggest factor when private homes are in the vicinity of where you shoot is SAFETY of course. The second concern is NOISE. Centerfire rifles are pretty noisey. The last concern is which caliber and rifle you choose. Go with the 243, you won't be displeased. Lots of power and a versatile caliber for animals up to whitetail deer in size.
 
Always be sure of what's behind the coyote, before you shoot. That's the standard rule, even if you're in the middle of nowhere.

To reduce the chance of ricochets, I recommend something like a .223, and to use lightweight bullets. Soft points are less likely to ricochet than are hollow points.

A .270 or a .30-30 is overkill, as far as "need". The .30-30 is the most likely to ricochet in the event of a miss.

Art
 
I am not hunting in town. The houses I am talking about are more like hunting/atv camps. I am shooting into a swamp from on a hill, I just don't want something to big as there are people on atvs in the woods too. We always seem to see the coyotes as they cross atv trails going down to a swamp. They do not seem to spook easy, and we often get within 20-30 yards before they run. Most of the time they will stop and stare down the road at you for about 30 seconds, giving a good shot.


I am going to the local gun shop today to see what they have for a good price. If .223 will do the job then I will get that (or larger).
 
But with this 30-30 you can't hunt deer. Maybe you can, but I haven't never met someone who's hunted deer with a 30-30.
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Do you live in a cave? The .30-30 has taken more deer in this country than any other cartrige period. The .223 will be a great yote round. If you want to save the pelt you should make a head shot.
 
I dont mean to sound like a know it all of the pelt saving world, but if you SERIOUSLY want to save them, and I do, use less gun. If you are planning on buying a rifle for this purpose and are not planning on hunting elk with it too, opt for a .22 Hornet. If it is going to be used for the same purpose but at distances above 150yds, look hard at the .223. If you reload, the .222 is inherently more accurate but more expensive to buy ammo. The .22-250 is my general goto rifle for longer ranges, but will shred the pelt at 70ish yds. Good luck with your purchase and keep us posted.
~z
 
The .22 Hornet may be a better rifle as my uncle has one and likes to reload ammo. So at least I could give him my spent brass. So the .22 Hornet will do the deed at 50 yards without blowing the coyote apart? If thats the case the higher ammo cost will not kill me (only need one bullet anyway). Also would the NEF single shot rifles do the job or are bolt actions better?

I am going to shop around to see what some of the other gun shops have used and what I can order new. Also hunting season does not open until september so I have time to find a deal.

The first gun shop I went to only has "human guns" Glocks and Armalites. They really did not have guns made to hunt with. Better luck next time right?
 
If your getting 20 to 30 yards away from them, I'd get some 00-buckshot for your 12 guage. Or, maybe even some size 4 buckshot. I usually carry my NEF 10 guage with 4 shot turkey loads for close shots, plus my rifle.
 
What Art said.

Let me add that the .17 HMR does a bang-up job on foxes and creates sewing jobs on mink, but I would be hesitant to use one on a yote.

The bullets-even the new 20 grain Gamepoint-are too frangible and may not penetrate completely to the vitals on coyote sized critter.
If only Nosler could make a .17 cal Partition for this round................:D
 
Michigan does not allow summer coyote hunting on state land. It does run until march (I think) but I am a snowbird so I'm not there. Also I am out bowfishing every night I can until august 15th(close of bowfishing). So anything before that I would have trouble getting up for. Sept is the start of small game season, so until then I have no bait.

I geuss -00- buck could work. But I would like to get a rifle for watching the swamp.

Ok *crosses something off on peice of paper* .17 is out.
 
.22 hornet
.218 bee
.221 fireball
.222 rem
.223 rem
.25-20 Win

somewhere in there, with light bullets, meets your criteria for (more) safety, IMO, and is up to the task. But be sure of your backstop. Don't shoot up at an angle unless there's a big hill (uninhabited) behind that will stop the bullet if you miss.
 
Arts last statement all the way if you really want to anliate them then do it but your pelts will be ruined the best to date in my opioion would have to be the .22-.250 small caliber bullet that packs quite a punch and who ever said you cant hunt deer with it the .243 is a great one why heck any thing under the .243 will work really just sonething small now I have been known to pull out the ole smoke stick (my .270 ) to pop a coupple of dogs but way too much to save skins way too nasty of a exit wound smoke stick was formaly the meat stick until the ole .243 proved its self this year but thats a whole nother story so your choice and how do you get them in so close those buggers wont even get within 100 yards of us skiddish little buggers down here
 
They seem to follow us or at least to come to us looking for food. But they run when they see that we are not tree huggers.(just joking)

To be honest they just have no fear and are not really paying any attention at all. When they do look up when they hear us walk toward them they just seem to stare, like they have no idea what we are or what they are supposed to do. If we stop they will just keep stareing for a long time. They also don't run off they just walk away.

From what I have heard there was a group of "Old Timers" that would hunt them all the time. Most of them died this last year or stoped hunting. So no one is really hunting them anymore, maybe this is why they are losing their fear?
 
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