Fovorite caliber for coyotes and why

ShootnMathews said:

I do a lot of night Hunting for them here and you can only use 22 calibers. My favorite is my 22-250 loaded with 50 grain Vmax and running 4009 fps. It absolutely flattens them like a steam roller. Favorite transport? My mini jeep. That thing is so much fun Hu ting close to home.

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Okay Pal, tell us about the Jeep!

22" Howa in 25-06rem. 80gr barnes ttsx at 3650fps. Bullet never leaves a 4" circle from 0-300yds. Oh and coyotes don't run off after hit. Next barrel will likely be a 25-06AI with the same bullet and 26" long.

.22-250
It just works. I have no problem with whatever, as I have used .204 Ruger, .223 REM, 6mm284 and .22-250 somewhat extensively. Probably more with the .22-250 than anything, followed by .223 REM.

Last time out with the .22-250

i'd say 264wm as i've been shooting that for 48 years. if i want to blow them up i'd go 338lm or 45-70.

Killed more with a 243 than anything but that was mainly out of it being by first gun. I've got them bad so fixing to put something new together before calving season.

Southernhuntin said:

Killed more with a 243 than anything but that was mainly out of it being by first gun. I've got them bad so fixing to put something new together before calving season.

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22 Creedmoor had become my do all daily carry. The horizon vandal is what I settled on. Did 3 customs before it and still have them but it's my go to.

westexhunt said:

22 Creedmoor had become my do all daily carry. The horizon vandal is what I settled on. Did 3 customs before it and still have them but it's my go to.

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Nice I like the ballistics of the 22 how's the barrel life. How's the horizon, I've heard good things and they aren't crazy priced for a full build.

Southernhuntin said:

Nice I like the ballistics of the 22 how's the barrel life. How's the horizon, I've heard good things and they aren't crazy priced for a full build.

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I can't make any claims on barrel life. Don't shoot enough, I take 223's when I shoot prairie dogs. I had to send the horizon back, it wouldn't shoot (I tried all the ammo I had both factory and worked up for my other rifles, tried many combos to work up a load for it and it flat would not shoot). Sent it back to the factory, they put a new barrel on it and I had it back in about a month, now it shoots everything I've tried. I paid $2100 I think. I really like the stock, barrel weight and length (18") is perfect. It feeds right, TT trigger, good bottom metal etc. no complaints.

Taj said:

Okay Pal, tell us about the Jeep!

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westexhunt said:

I can't make any claims on barrel life. Don't shoot enough, I take 223's when I shoot prairie dogs. I had to send the horizon back, it wouldn't shoot (I tried all the ammo I had both factory and worked up for my other rifles, tried many combos to work up a load for it and it flat would not shoot). Sent it back to the factory, they put a new barrel on it and I had it back in about a month, now it shoots everything I've tried. I paid $2100 I think. I really like the stock, barrel weight and length (18") is perfect. It feeds right, TT trigger, good bottom metal etc. no complaints.

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I wished I had a 22-250, but I use the same rifle I hunt with. 270 in daytime for long shots, on coyotes an hogs.
And a platform rifle for a tripod at night. ( Dpms but a 22 barrel 308)"
I have digital NV (wreath 4x32) now and just got a suppressor for it, which I haven't zeroed in yet.

Yote and Wolf rifles same same for me:

GAS = My self built 6.5 Grendel 24"bbl. AR Truck / Side-by Side rifle My self built .223 Wylde 20"bbl. AR

BOLT = Weatherby Super Varmint Master in .243 Win. Longer range for Wolves I'll take the Christensen ELR in 6.5 PRC.

Predator hunting pretty AWESOME!!!

People discuss calibers often and rarely discuss bullets. .243 80g Blitz BT is worth building a rifle around, pick a caliber. I shoot them in 6 Rem, 243, 243 AI, and 6 Rem AI. This bullet takes no prisioners...you can shoot them in the back of the stomach to hips and they are laying where they were hit. I suspect that a 6 Creed would be awesome also, but fast twist I don't know about.

All the coyotes I have shot have been 450 yds and under, with the vast majority called in with a 325 yard shot being long range.

A 22 creed shooting a 55g Sierra-60g Berger, throated properly(short) in a 12 twist would also be outstanding, a kissing cousin to a 22/250 AI.

Coyote hunting, learn to leade them, hit them on the move, and your body count goes way up. Leade them, then follow through, just like hitting a dove.

A friend, Harold Broughton and his wife killed over 5000 coyotes in Texas with a 220 Swift with 52g Sierra's with IMR 4064. He went to a 257 Ackley Imp shooting the 100g Ballistic tips for those dogs that would hang up at 500 yards.

I like fast flat shooting rounds, not slow lobbers, and this keeps down the gimpers where you unzip them where their guts get hung up in the bushes.

The very largest holes I have ever put in coyotes is with three calibers:
270 Win with 90g Sierra Hp loaded with a max load of IMR 3031 where it shoots a bug hole,3550
257 Weatherby shooting 100g of any kind at 3850 out of custom short freebore barrel, hair flots down for what seems 5 minutes. Also the 87g Sierra at 4130 with R#19.
6 Rem AI with 80g Sierra blitz at 3800 with R#19

Speed does cut down on the leade.

I was shooting 53gr vmax in 22-250 and 22-250AI for lots of years before I switched to 22 CM ( more brass choices and twisted for the heavies too). I do get a runner now and then, going to be using 80gr eldm this winter and see how that works.

80 seems to be tougher than the 75.

60g Bergers in the AI in a 12 twist are worth building a rifle around-3700-3800 fps(26"). Depends on your longest average shot.

If they are gimping off, you probably hit them low, that 53g V max at 3700-3800 anchors coyotes darn good. I shot 55g Ballistic tips and 60g Bergers in my AI in Mexico and S. Arizona. 53g V's are doing a good job here in 12 twist, and if you shoot them out of an 8T, they would certainly come apart sooner upon impact....just a thought.

VinceMule said:

80 seems to be tougher than the 75.

60g Bergers in the AI in a 12 twist are worth building a rifle around-3700-3800 fps(26"). Depends on your longest average shot.

If they are gimping off, you probably hit them low, that 53g V max at 3700-3800 anchors coyotes darn good. I shot 55g Ballistic tips and 60g Bergers in my AI in Mexico and S. Arizona. 53g V's are doing a good job here in 12 twist, and if you shoot them out of an 8T, they would certainly come apart sooner upon impact....just a thought.

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Most likely hit them low. They were fired from 12 twist 22/250's. I've shot steel out to 700 with the 53vmax. It's impressive what it will do for such a light bullet. I did work up a 53 gr vmax load for 8 twist 16" 22CM but didn't hunt with it.