Best caliber for Coyotes and Groundhog

[Big_Steve]

I am eagerly searching for a new rifle primarily for songdogs and bobcats, but also maybe groundhog. I work in a gunshop so my life is hell when I want to buy a gun because I see so many I cannot make up my mind. I have been thinking about a savage .243. Suggestions? Personal Rifles? Pics?. I appreciate any input.

[Sand Gap Sniper]

I have a Savage Model 12FVSS in 22-250. I love it to say the least, it's a tack driver, and the Accutrigger is the best trigger I have ever pulled. If I were buying another rifle for coyotes though, I would probably get a .223, even though the ballistics for the 22-250 is a little better. The ammo for .223 is so much cheaper and more readily available. .243 is a great gun also, but regardless of which caliber you get, definately get the Accutrigger, I don't think you will regret buying the Savage. That's my 2 cents worth anyways. :D

[Jarhead]

I've got a Savage model 10 with bull brl and accu trigger in .223. Its not picky at all with anything I've put thru it. Love it and for the money I couldn't beat it. Chose the .223 over the .22-250 because its a little cheaper to shoot. But in my opinion you cant go wrong with either round.

[Big_Steve]

How does a yote react to the .223 round? I didn't know that would be big enough.

[kidd rock]

I have the Savage 22-250 with the accu-trigger, and it is a tack driver. My dad has a Ruger No.1 22-250, which is widely known for accuracy, and my savage will shoot with it shot for shot, even when you "stretch it out a bit". I usually shoot hand loads, but it shoots the Hornady factory ammo really well also.

[weedwalker]

How does a yote react to the .223 round? I didn't know that would be big enough.

Bang, Flop.:D I use a .243 now, but that's just because I got a good deal on it. Started out with a NEF .223 and it did a fine job on them.

[strutin fever]

i have a .17 cal and think it would have no problem killing a coyot or ground hog it is not a real expensive gun and is handy to have it is also cheap to shot

[varmentmaster]

223 with hornady v-max 50 grains will destroy coyotes, I also have the model 112vfss 26 in bull barrel, and it is one bad dude.

[ky chris]

I just bought a coyote rifle this spring and did a lot of researching. The two main calipers are the .223 and the .22-250. I went with the .223 because that is what everyone said would be more readily available and cheaper.

Yes you can buy cheap .223 ammo but it is aweful. Mine likes hornady .223. Most places I go I can find .22-250 ammo but not .223 because of the war; they use .223. If I was to do it again I'd buy a .22-250.

I bought the Savage model 10 because I liked the wood stock and it was cheap, $419 with scope. I took the scope off and put on a nice Nikon 3x9. Mine shoots 3/4" three shot groups at 100 yards. I think that will do it. :)

Other calipers are the .204, the .17 fireball, and the .17 hmr.
The .204 sounds like a great caliper for yotes. It's really flat shooting. To me it's just not as time tested and since it is newer I wonder about the availability of ammo although I have seen it at some of the local stores.

The .17 fireball is used a little bit but I don't like the reports of it burning out the barrels.

The .17 hmr is only good out to about 125 yards and from what I have read is generally frowned about as a yote round.

Your .243 will work great it is just more expensive to shoot and will possibly cause more pelt damage if you're into saving the pelts.

chris

[Valley Station]

If your wanting to sale the fur, you may want to use "low velocity" hand loads or less destructive caliber like a 222 Remengton, with less hydrostatic shock hide damage.
You will not get much for your fur, if you use a "hot caliber" that takes 5-minutes for all the pieces to hit the ground after a shot.

[CROWSNIPER]

I like the .204 ,fast and flat

[rcurry]

I have my Dads old rem. 222 that I plan to try and thin out coyotes with. I am new to all of this so I'm learning as I go. Any advice is welcome.

[skeetshooter105]

.22-250. I put a coyote down at a lazered 384 yards today. Neighbor came over and stated one was eating a new born calf in the field by my house. Asked me to try and stop him. Luckly I did. Slight crosswind, holding on the nose while he was looking in my direction. Figured for a 12" drop. Dropped about 18". Hit him in the midsection sending him end over end. He managed to run a short distance but has now gone to coy land. A good .22-250 with perfected hand loads is hard to beat. Easy recoil. Exploding bullet upon impact makes it safer. Next best is a good .243 loaded to max with excellent bullets. A good .243 will shoot dime size groups at 100yds. all day.

[Auk1124]

.50bmg. Just look for blood and fur in the smoking hole in the ground.



(Seriously tho, I like .223)

[KentuckyWindage]

Like a couple others here, I shoot a savage model 10 in .22-250 with the accutrigger. IMO you can't beat the model 10 for value (under $500). With scope, the gun weighs just over 7 pounds, and it's the most accurate gun I've ever owned. I shoot the Winchester ballistic silvertip in 55 grain ($20/box from bass pro) but if you want to shoot cheaper you can. Wal-Mart carries the same box of hollow points for the .22-250 that they carry for the .223. It's like 50 rounds for $25 or something like that.

My brother shoots them with a .223, my best friend uses a .222, and my cousin uses a .243. All 3 rounds will certainly do the job. I just liked the ballistics on the .22-250 better, myself.

[stevetford]

.50bmg. Just look for blood and fur in the smoking hole in the ground.



(Seriously tho, I like .223)

That should do it, but I think there was a mention or 2 about cost of ammo ;)

[ditchdigger]

In my opinion it depends a lot on the range that you will be shooting....but you can't go wrong with the .223 or .22-250.

[APhillips]

7.62x39 seems like it would work well

[stevetford]

They do work as I have been using a SKS for coyote, but with the rainbow like trajectory correct shot placement is difficult. I zeroed mine at 50 yards and using a mil-dot scope have been able to get most of my shots at 100 yards close to where I want them. But it is time for some shots in the 300-400 yard range and currently I think the 22-250 is going to be the choice.

[Coaldigger]

I have the Savage model12fv bullbarrel .223. It's awsome (Tack Driver), you can't beat a savage on accuracy ;) The accutrigger is unreal ! Ammo is cheap & you have a wide selection of brands & type !

[turkeytalker]

.223 and 22-250 (my fav) are poison to coyotes.Never had one take another step with either.


I bought my boy a .204 last Christmas and wow it is a barn burner.Be hard for me to argue against this round out to 300yrds.

[notimlmit]

When my father passed I was given his Remington model 700 22-250. Since then I've taken a bobcat with it and it nearly blew out the shoulder of the bullet exit. My tax. done a great job though. My son in law has used it to deer hunt with and it takes them down fast also so I'm sure it would be a mean gun for the yotes

[TROPHYTAKER308]

How does a yote react to the .223 round? I didn't know that would be big enough.
??????????:confused:17 hmr is plenty

[Big_Steve]

I have heard that the 17 is not a big enough round to humanely kill one.

[redsman]

.223 IS plenty, I have owned one since I was 13, 20years ago. I still have that same rifle NEF with a 4x12 40mm. Although my 10 year old son now claims it. He has killed 9 deer and a coyote with it. I have taken numerous groundhogs when I was younger then got it out a few years ago to start coyote hunting with. It has never failed. He has never lost a deer and I have never lost a predator. It is all about shot placement. If you dont shoot as accurate as maybe you need too, then maybe step up to a .243, personally I love this cal. very versitile. coyotes or deer for all ages. Right now my deer rifle is a ruger m77 mark II .25-06, nice cal but expensive to shoot, and I dont want to beat it around hunting yotes, so I stick with the .223. Shoot them all if you can and pick the one you shoot best.:D

[GSPonGrouse]

I bought a H&R in the .204 early last year. Put the AR look-a-like stock and forend on it w/ a bi-pod. It is small and easy to carry. Holds up to some pretty rough treatment, and looks cool too. The flattest shooting rifle I have ever shot. On the range out to 300 is a lay-up, and so far in the feild, out to 200 yards, Only needed that one shot. ;)

[ceg4uk]

What about a .240 Weatherby Mag.? I looked strongly at this caliber about a year ago, until something else trumped it on the "wish list."

[wolverine82]

A Ruger 26-06 M77 Mark II

[Broncorckcrwlr]

I use a Ruger M77 in 22-250 because I got it cheap. I really don't know a lot about brands, calibers, ballistics etc but the few coyotes and groundhogs I have shot with it didn't seem to notice.

[killinmammals]

Just bought a savage model 10 preditor in 22-250. I haven't gotten to shoot it yet, but I have heard from friends that coyotes don't mind it...mainly because they never know it hit them:D

[Jimmie in Ky]

Km, you shot that predator yet? I have been reading some really good reports on that thing so far. Jimmie

[pattyquack]

30.06 180 grain ballistic tips do a number:D

[Jim in Annville]

Personally I like a 7mm mag. Load it with a 139 grain semi partition and it will do wonders for hogs and dogs.;)

[hut]

223 with a 52 gr hollow point best coyote and ground hog gun I have ever had also not to expensive to shoot

[Blevins Gap Outdoors]

I like a .22-250 Rem myself. I also have a .17 Rem but like the .22 better for coyotes. Here is a link to my .22-250 Rem. It's a Remington 700VS with a Redfield 6X18 on it.

http://huntbgo.com/images/bgocoyote.JPG

[kyfuzzyface]

I like the 22/250
but I am looking at a 204

[Buk Bust'r]

How does a yote react to the .223 round? I didn't know that would be big enough.


Shot a many of 'em with a Savage 10 tactical using 68 gr HP's. In short, they hit the ground D-E-D!

[ekydeerhunter]

I am looking to buy a gun for coyote hunting, would a 243 be a good choice. What would be the +/- for the 243?

[GSPonGrouse]

Ruger 204 4000 Feet Per Second! Shoots flat, hits hard

[Ky'sFinest]

I don't know ballistics info but i love my savage .243. I got mine right before they came out with accu-trigger but i still hold tight patterns at 100 yds +/- 20 yds. I ve killled some big bucks with it, one i took down at a range of 200 yds or so and it i'd say he didn't know what hit him. i've always shot 100 grain win, it seems to be a good weight for vel and energy. as far as coyotes go i haven't had the oppertunity(don't know why, ive been huntin for quite some time) but it would do the trick. i talked to a guy during m-16 training i had the other day and he was sweet talking his new 22-250, i think that 4000 fps is nice but i have never have shot one. my dad seems to get a coyote every year or so while deer hunting with his .270. I am starting to think anything with a decent range in between .223- .270 would do the trick nicely. good luck.

[coorsdrifter1]

Been thinking about getting a 204,what kind of damage does do to hides?

[treerat]

now if it was me and i knew i was taking some real long shots,,,50 bmg all the way,,

[treedweller]

22-250 .223 .243... Heck just shoot them with anything.

[shogan]

30-06 did a fine job on killing a yote a few weeks back.

Just about any will do the job.

[Kyshorthair]

[QUOTE=Ky'sFinest;501936]I don't know ballistics info but i love my savage .243. I got mine right before they came out with accu-trigger but i still hold tight patterns at 100 yds +/- 20 yds. QUOTE]

My .308 is a pre-accutrigger gun and I had a trigger job done at the local gun smith and it breaks right at 3 lbs. If you are not happy with your trigger you might give it a try.

[Ky'sFinest]

[quote=Ky'sFinest;501936]I don't know ballistics info but i love my savage .243. I got mine right before they came out with accu-trigger but i still hold tight patterns at 100 yds +/- 20 yds. QUOTE]

My .308 is a pre-accutrigger gun and I had a trigger job done at the local gun smith and it breaks right at 3 lbs. If you are not happy with your trigger you might give it a try.


i've never had a problem with the trigger pull. but i am kinda set in my ways i guess. i have fired that thing so many times i am used to the fire point.

my next rifle will be a savage .270. i want to make my .243 a varmint rifle and zero it in with a lighter grain like 55 instead of the 100 grain i deer hunt with. that next rifle will have the accu-trigger. its not something that i would consider necceassary, but it is a nice add-on.

[LarryBooBooBrady]

RockRiver 223 enuff said

[r_gillespie]

I'm holding a Ruger M77 MK II Target rifle chambered in .223. It's a hell of a gun, but I've yet to kill a 'yote with it. I just go into the whole coyote hunting thing.

[xtreme1]

Alright guys, first off I just want to say I am new to the sight and am not here to argue any point. But there is a right gun for every situation, and most differ from one guy to the next. I am not a big coyote HUNTER, I am trying to get rid of them so with that being said it depends on where I am. If you have a lot of open area ie. 250 yds. + the 22-250 hands down, 100 to 250-300 .223 will get it done. If you are shooting off the back porch at the chicken coop a 12 guage w/00 will do the trick. Like I said this is just my .02 cents, I shoot them all so I dont think there is a right gun to do it all. Anyway good luck, lay it on them and get it done.

[Scott7m]

22-250............ easy answer........ if you want another good one and you like to reload, go for the 22br