What's your caliber of choice, for coyotes?

[Ft. Churchill]

jd.338, Nice pictures. You must quite the animal trainer to get those rascally coyotes to pose for you in so many different poses. I take my yote pictures with a ruger 77 mark 1 in 6mm rem. with a 75 grain Vmax. Sometimes I use a back up camera that is a stevens in .223 with 55 fmj boat tails. The Vmax is hard on the fur.

 

[Michiganhunter]

Hi Aj,
I am just getting into the Coyote hunt, and am interested in building a rifle. My problem is there is just way too much information out there? I was reading, and interested in the 6x 284. The guys at my club are all over the map, from a 243AI to a 7mm rem mag, and plenty were 22-250 guys? I am new to reloading, and load for my 223 (Stag AR-15) my 45acp, and shotguns for skeet. I don't know what fire forming is, and all of the BC's and other info is way over my head? I'm not wealthy, but I have time to learn, and money to build a nice rifle. Caliber seems to be the biggest factor? If you had to choose A rifle that you could take to Arizona, Colordo, and or Kansas, to shoot dogs, and varmints (prarie dogs in S.D.) to compliment my AR, what would it be? At, or inside 1000 yards max. Oh, and I do have plenty of time to practice, out to 1000 yards. Thanks for your time.
Mike

 

[Ft. Churchill]

I like the 6mm remington for coyotes. [I was given two rifles in that caliber] It bucks the wind better than the .22 calibers. It will be somewhat a challenge to find a rifle as i do not think anyone is chambering for that cartridge as of now. With the 75 grain Vmax bullet I have a better ballistic coeffecient [B.C.] than the various .22 calibers. this will cause it to shoot flatter than a .223 and I have about 300 to 400 feet per second speed advantage as well. [this also causes a flatter shooting trajectory.] I feel that this is important on running shots as the bullet gets there quicker. [less lead on a running coyote.] I reload these as I can only buy deer hunting type ammo for the 6mm remington at this time. I've shot coyotes with these bullets and they run off and die somewhere and could not find them, even though I hit him and had blood and fur at the shot site. I'm using 41 grains of 4064 IMR powder for about 3350 fps. This combo shoots .438" at 100 yards from a Ruger 77 with a 2x7 leopold vrx -2 scope which is not too bad for a hand me down rifle from the seventies. That being said, a plain old .243 winchester is very close in ballistic performance to the 6mm remington. My buddy shoots a savage edge rifle in .243 and has excellent results with it. He can also get factory ammo loaded with the 58 grain vmax bullet which causes minimal fur damage. The 75 grain bullets I'm shootin' tear up the fur fairly bad if that is a concern. As far as tha .243 a.i. goes, it better yet, but then you get much deeper into the reloading game. Sam thing with the wildcat type stuff like the 6x284, 6mmxc, or 6mm-06, which uses alot of powder for shooting coyotes. I like the 22-250 but, if you already have a .223 why not step up to a bigger caliber with dual purpose capabilties? The 6mm remington and the .243 win. are both known for their dual purpose and double as deer hunting rifles. I do like the 25-06 however, but have never had any experience with it. I love reloading and cool cartridges, but I enjoy hunting the sly old coyote much more.

 

[Michiganhunter]

Thanks Ft. Churchill.
I'm still reading all of the articles I can, but trying not to get brain overload!! I have some retired engineer friends at my gun club that are willing to help me out in putting together a rifle. Their only condition is, that I come up with the cal. I want to shoot. Lots of 243 supporters out there. Varmint Al shoots a 243, but I cant remember if it's an AI or not? Thanks again, and I'll keep on reading!!
Good Huntinggun)

 

[Mike6158]

Hi Aj,
I am just getting into the Coyote hunt, and am interested in building a rifle. My problem is there is just way too much information out there? I was reading, and interested in the 6x 284. The guys at my club are all over the map, from a 243AI to a 7mm rem mag, and plenty were 22-250 guys? I am new to reloading, and load for my 223 (Stag AR-15) my 45acp, and shotguns for skeet. I don't know what fire forming is, and all of the BC's and other info is way over my head? I'm not wealthy, but I have time to learn, and money to build a nice rifle. Caliber seems to be the biggest factor? If you had to choose A rifle that you could take to Arizona, Colordo, and or Kansas, to shoot dogs, and varmints (prarie dogs in S.D.) to compliment my AR, what would it be? At, or inside 1000 yards max. Oh, and I do have plenty of time to practice, out to 1000 yards. Thanks for your time.
Mike

If I was going to buy an out of the box rifle for "At, or inside 1000 yards max" I would buy my Sendero in 7mm Rem mag again. It's not as accurate as my Canyon Rifle (.338 Edge) but it's pretty good out to 1,000. It might be a bit much for coyotes... I don't know. I haven't tried it on yodel dogs, yet.

 

[Michiganhunter]

Thanks Mike,
I was looking more at buying the components, and putting it together? I priced barrels from Douglas, and stocks from Boyeds, McMillan, and some others, and actions from Stevens/Savage, and Remington? Most of the older members at my club prefer Remington actions? Since this is my first venture, I am not sure which to use? I've got plenty of shotguns, and pistols, but only a couple of rifles in my safe, an AR-15, and a TC Encore Muzzle loader. I deer hunt here in MI. with the TC, of my S&W 629 44 mag. Not a lot of places a big bore rifle comes in handy for deer around here, as most shots State wide are less than 100 yds. average? I would like to have a 7mag, or 300 ultra, but as of now, I don't have plans to go out west for any big game? Groups from my club go to Wyoming every year for Mule deer and Antelope, and a bunch to Canada for Caribou. It's dropping $4,000 bucks for a Mulee that I can't stomach! I've got a few nice White Tails on my wall that cost me time and some seed and fertilizer! Anyway, Dog droppin' will be the #1 use for this first gun. Thanks for the input.
Mike

 

[Mike6158]

Thanks Mike,
I was looking more at buying the components, and putting it together? I priced barrels from Douglas, and stocks from Boyeds, McMillan, and some others, and actions from Stevens/Savage, and Remington? Most of the older members at my club prefer Remington actions? Since this is my first venture, I am not sure which to use? I've got plenty of shotguns, and pistols, but only a couple of rifles in my safe, an AR-15, and a TC Encore Muzzle loader. I deer hunt here in MI. with the TC, of my S&W 629 44 mag. Not a lot of places a big bore rifle comes in handy for deer around here, as most shots State wide are less than 100 yds. average? I would like to have a 7mag, or 300 ultra, but as of now, I don't have plans to go out west for any big game? Groups from my club go to Wyoming every year for Mule deer and Antelope, and a bunch to Canada for Caribou. It's dropping $4,000 bucks for a Mulee that I can't stomach! I've got a few nice White Tails on my wall that cost me time and some seed and fertilizer! Anyway, Dog droppin' will be the #1 use for this first gun. Thanks for the input.
Mike

I recommended the 7mm rem mag because of the 1,000 yard range limit in the previous post. It takes bullet velocity and mass to be accurate at 1,000. Especially on something as small as a coyote.

Just curious- are you a machinist? Barreling an action is a fairly exacting task (for a Remington action anyway). I had plans to build my own rifle a few years ago and I found out pretty quickly that there was a lot more to it than building an AR.

We don't have any public land to speak of here in TX. We do however have white-tail that are bred to create antlers made of gold (apparently) and that can live in a high fence cage. Why else would they cost as much as $10k and up to shoot

 

[Michiganhunter]

Hi Mike,
I was going to get the barrel machined, so all I would have to do is assemble the parts. Maybe some stock adjustments, bedding the action and some trigger work? I was looking at the 6 x 284, and the 243 AI? My understanding is the 6x284 is a coyote sniper at 1000 yards and beyond? 243 AI I am less sure of, but from what I was told, a little more versatile as far as using it for larger game? I was hoping to visit Texas as well. I've read that there is a never ending supply of Coyotes there. Did not know that the public land there was limited though? That is a shame, as is the cost of a White Tail hunt there. I watch lots of hunting shows that are filmed there, but never thought a White Tail would fetch that kind of price tag……Ouch! Maybe those ranch owners would welcome a Coyote hunter though? If the deer are worth the price of gold, they'd probably want to protect them!!
Have a great day,
Mike

 

[Mike6158]

They aren't all $10k but there are a lot of high fence ranches that get a premium for their deer. I know a guy that raises and sells "breeder bucks". It's a tough business but if you get the right genetics in your stock you can do ok. Hunts can be had for a decent price in Texas. Just like anything else you have to do some research and find an outfitter that you like.

Coyotes... on any given evening I can step out the back door, howl a few times, and get an answer back. Even when I don't get an answer they are here in less than an hour. I see them all the time.

Hi Mike,
I was going to get the barrel machined, so all I would have to do is assemble the parts. Maybe some stock adjustments, bedding the action and some trigger work? I was looking at the 6 x 284, and the 243 AI? My understanding is the 6x284 is a coyote sniper at 1000 yards and beyond? 243 AI I am less sure of, but from what I was told, a little more versatile as far as using it for larger game? I was hoping to visit Texas as well. I've read that there is a never ending supply of Coyotes there. Did not know that the public land there was limited though? That is a shame, as is the cost of a White Tail hunt there. I watch lots of hunting shows that are filmed there, but never thought a White Tail would fetch that kind of price tag……Ouch! Maybe those ranch owners would welcome a Coyote hunter though? If the deer are worth the price of gold, they'd probably want to protect them!!
Have a great day,
Mike

 

[Michiganhunter]

To me it's not hunting when you have a ranch worker/guide telling you which deer you can or can't shoot based on the price you paid for a hunt. As far as that goes, do you really condider it hunting when you are sitting in a tower blind where you have three senderos you can see down, and there are a dozen or more bucks coming into them to feed on the corn that was broadcast on there a couple hours earlier? Hmmm. To me that sounds more like trophy killin' than hunting? That's probably a subject for a different thread on here, but I'm just saying. I'd love to see the Tecomate guys go on a do it yoursef hunt out west, or up in the Yukon. They'd probably get lost! Or worse, they'd have to use some scent control for the first time !! Ok, enough of that. Back to Coyotes, and Calibers.lightbulb

 

[Mike6158]

I don't disagree... I consider it to be harvesting not hunting and since I like to make my own sausage and jerky I do what I have to do. Hell... I watched a buck snarf up all of the corn under the feeder last year and then go lay down with his back to the feeder about 20 yards away. Then less than a minute before the feeder went off he got up, walked over to it, and looked at it until it went off. He and a few does cleaned up the corn and wandered off.

On the other hand... everything in that part of the world wants to poke a hole in you. They have to make the sendero otherwise there would be no clear view. The high stands let you see what's coming in. Feeding on a schedule or feeding in general is probably the biggest "sin" committed but even that is necessary due to the way the animals cover their range and the competition between the ranches. Game trails pass through some pretty mean vegetation... I squated down once and got cactus in my *** because I didn't look first. I've had to recover deer my kids shot when the ground was covered in cactus and mesquite trees ripped at your clothes. Stalking isn't much of an option so the high stands and sendero's are just part of that kind of hunting. So... I think most of us here in TX would welcome the chance at an "out west" hunt but no doubt the first one would be a learning curve.

My best hunting experience was in N. Louisiana. Bow and gun. Lean a "ladder stand" against a tree for bow hunting and either stalk or sit near a game trail when I gun hunted. It's all good though...

To me it's not hunting when you have a ranch worker/guide telling you which deer you can or can't shoot based on the price you paid for a hunt. As far as that goes, do you really condider it hunting when you are sitting in a tower blind where you have three senderos you can see down, and there are a dozen or more bucks coming into them to feed on the corn that was broadcast on there a couple hours earlier? Hmmm. To me that sounds more like trophy killin' than hunting? That's probably a subject for a different thread on here, but I'm just saying. I'd love to see the Tecomate guys go on a do it yoursef hunt out west, or up in the Yukon. They'd probably get lost! Or worse, they'd have to use some scent control for the first time !! Ok, enough of that. Back to Coyotes, and Calibers.lightbulb

 

[Michiganhunter]

Always wanted to come out there quail hunting too, but like you say, eveything out there either wants to bite you, poke you , or make you bleed!! My shorthair would get tore up out there! She kills snakes here in Michigan too, so she would smell a rattler, and get the worst end of thet deal!!

 

[Bert]

i'm trying to teach my gsp to hunt coyotes over my 222 cal remington .from hanging out on this site there are better cal out there .But this is kinda like the best gun is what you have and my dad gave this gun to me when i was a teen to hunt deer with in bc can . Now i finely have a use for it coyotes and gofers because in ab / can you cannot legaly hunt big game with it . i finly got a coyote a few days ago at 160 paces an exit hole out his shouler the size of a loonie DRT use a 52 gr hp gun)

 

[Ft. Churchill]

Bert, do not ever sell your .222 short as it was the best bench rest caliber for many years, until the 6mm ppc family of cartridges was developed in the mid seventies. My father owns one also and I always found it to be a good coyote caliber, at least on coyotes back in the seventies. Maybe coyotes have gotten tougher to kill in the last forty years.