gun question

**KYDEERCHASR** · 03-01-2013, 11:45 AM

Looking to buy me a new varmint gun. Retired in december. Been using my 243, but wanting a good gun and scope just for coyotes. Be specific. I have my share of guns, but am not into the gun language.

**Yote Yoda USMC** · 03-01-2013, 12:15 PM

.243 is a great coyote killer. I used a 22 250 for my first 25 years chasing old wiley and never had any complaints. Have been using a 223 and 204 for the last 5 years. All four that I have mentioned are great choices but if you don't mind the little extra recoil you will do far less tracking using a 243. Two of the guys I hunt with who are also avid coyote hunters use the 243 with 58gr or 80gr and they both get great results. I wanted to go th the AR platform 5 years back so I went with a 223 and a 204. Both have proved to be good coyote medicine. I like the 243-----22 250------223 and the 204. You can save money and just use the 243 you already have but if you need to burn some cash I would go with a bolt action 22 250 or if I wanted an AR I would go 223.

Happy Hunting.

**JR in KY** · 03-01-2013, 03:52 PM

Agree totally with Yote Yoda. You can't do better than a 243 with some of the lighter vmax bullets. Just get a good scope with cross hairs that you can see with low light conditions. Good luck, and it's a long learning curve.

**possumal** · 03-01-2013, 04:37 PM

After seeing results using the Hornady Superperformance in both the 223 and 204 calibers, I would be interested in trying the Superperformance in the 243. I believe it is a 58 grain. That being said, it would have to really perform to beat the Sierra 70 grain Blitz King I handload. The load I have used for over 3 years is pure poison on coyotes and doesn't tear up fur real bad. The same load has worked well for two other friends who tried it in a Sako Tikka and a Browning Abolt.

**linemansteve** · 03-01-2013, 09:19 PM

Totally agree what said above. I have a 243 shooting a 65 gr V-Max at around 3500 ft sec very flat shooting and no walkers with it. you can DO NO BETTER than it. Steve

**KYDEERCHASR** · 03-02-2013, 08:45 AM

sorry guys. I meant im using a 270. don't know what I was thinking.

**possumal** · 03-02-2013, 12:34 PM

A 270 is a bit too much gun for coyote hunting, but loaded right, it will work well. You sure won't have many run offs with it.. I shot a lot of groundhogs using a 100 grain hollow point reload, some at extra long range. The 270 has long been regarded as one of the best calibers available, and very versatile.

**captain71** · 03-02-2013, 12:45 PM

How about 220 swift? Great gun I have seen friend of mine taking deer and coyotes up to 300 yards with the 220 swift.

Ballistic performance
Bullet weight/type	Velocity	Energy
40 gr (3 g) HP	4,213 ft/s (1,284 m/s)	1,577 ft·lbf (2,138 J)
50 gr (3 g) SP	3,947 ft/s (1,203 m/s)	1,730 ft·lbf (2,350 J)
55 gr (4 g) SP	3,839 ft/s (1,170 m/s)	1,800 ft·lbf (2,400 J)
60 gr (4 g) SP	3,647 ft/s (1,112 m/s)	1,772 ft·lbf (2,403 J)

**possumal** · 03-02-2013, 01:16 PM

A 220 Swift has always been a good varmint cartridge, not rated well for deer though. Not that it won't kill one, but you just aren't using a good bullet weight for an animal as big as a deer.