Platapus.....just noticed you are in Billings. I am over here in Kalispell.
Yes, I just got tired of ruining coyote pelts with my 22-250. Now I look back and see that it wasn't the caliber it was bullet construction that was to blame.
I shot two brands of bullet exclusively.....Nozler BT's and Hornady Spire Points (not the V-max). The result (most of the time) was terrible damage on coyote hides. Once shot a coyote, he was at a slight upcline from me, at 50 yards with the Hornady and actually blew the coyote right in half. Front half and back half, not a pretty picture.
Decided I needed a caliber that I could first hunt coyotes with and secondly shoot and anchor antelope & white-tails to at least 350-400 yards. Decided on the .243 with the Nozler Partitions.
Haven't shot a coyote that was over 200 yards (mostly 100-150 yds) but, the results were near perfection. Also shot an antelope last season, 14" horns at 348 yards. The Partition went through the antelope, clipped the heart and I watched it hop around like a rabbit for 30 yards before it fell over dead.
Not sure that this is a really "long-range" bullet but, I would trust it on coyotes to 600 yards and count on it for antelope to 500+.
I should say that I "trick" all brass, except neck-turn and almost always use Varget powder. This bullet travels at 3040 fps and the last 3-shot group measured .535" at 100 yards, on 1-12-10 as I prepared for the "Coyote Derby" in Melstone Mt. this last winter.
deadfoxxx