1000 yard coyotes

[sigmatero]

I know this gets asked a lot, and I've done quite a bit of homework already, but I figured I would ask...for a first long range varmint gun what's the best caliber with the following in mind...

1. With a reasonable shot placement kill a coyote at 1000 yards.
2. Be fairly flat shooting from 700-1000 yards (not drop a lot of energy).
3. Barrel life of 1500 shots min.
4. Accurate enough to consistantly hit gophers at 1000 yards in the field (some wind, etc) without me having to be a competition quality shooter.
5. Minimal bullet cost, assume I do my own reloading.
6. Open to pretty much any caliber (wildcats, etc) and I'm not scared to fire form, etc.
7. Initial cost of rifle isn't too much of an issue (within reason).

I'm sort of going between a 22-250AI (cheaper bullets?) or .243 WSSM (better wind tolerance)?

Thanks folks, look forward to learning more about this sport.

[wildcat]

I would go with a 6x284 or 6mmAI. You should be able to get 1500 rounds out of both chambering as long as you clean the rifle and don't shoot it like a semi-auto.

The 6x284, with a 30"barrel, will push the 87grn V-Max at 3750fps and the 105grn Bullets at around 3450 to 3500fps. Bullets are plentiful and cheap. The 87grn V-Max, at the above mentioned velocity, is devistating on coyotes even at the longer ranges. I would use the 105grn A-Max for shots past 800 yards.

Good luck with your choice and have fun.

Wildcat

[sigmatero]

Yaa, that's one of the ones I'm considering. I really like the economy of the .224 sized bullets (leaning towards 22-243) but will be shooting in field conditions (wind, weather) and am worried the little bullets will drift on me. Hence the 6mm option

Though something like a 75 grain A-max in a 22-243 has some great ballistics because it's so long and skinny and if it's nearly the same weight as a 6mm bullet then it should be *less* prone to drift since it has less side area (unless you're shooting the 6mm faster because it will get there sooner and be less prone to drift)?

The cost for the 105 gr 6mm vs the 75 grain .224 A-max is the same at Cabelas, about .20 each.

So that essentially leaves brass and powder. How does each compare for the .243 size and the .264 size?

So you can see I'm pretty torn between .224 and 6mm

One of the "considerations" is that when I ask to hunt on private land I can just say I'm using a "22" if I go with the smaller bullet

Any other considerations? How about recoil- how is each for a full day of sage rat busting?

[Flybuster]

Would you expect to get any bullet expansion at 1000 yards with the 87 grain V-max at 6-284 velocities? Or just a pencil hole? I understand they open up well at low velocities, but just how low are we talking about at 1000 yards? Have you shot a coyote that far with your 6-284, Wildcat?

If it was just a pencil hole wound, would it matter if it was a 22 or 243 cal.


I have read some bad things about the 243WSSM. Like the brass was so thick in the neck you had to push them hard just to get the necks to open up. Some people saying they only get 1 or 2 reloads because of this. My friend had nothing but trouble with his Browning A-bolt in .243wssm, sent it back twice they crome lined the chamber the second time I believe. Is this cartridge a complete failure, or what? Someone getting good results with the 243WSSM?

[Andy W]

I would think any of the hopped up .243's should do the job. I am currently building a 6mm AI, not for 1000 yard shots, but because I want maximum flop factor on dogs. Good luck killing a yote @ 1000 yards, with the way they are always on the move it should be a challenge. Not unnatainable but almost.

[drags]

I would go with the .300 win short mag. as it has good barrel life and you can shoot way out there. Also the hot 7mm's are good but I don't know about the 1500 rds barrel life, and the 6mm AI, 22-250 AI and .243WSSM would be iffy for the barrel life you want.
Drags

[sigmatero]

Thanks for all your good suggestions.

I've done some more reading and it looks like the fatter cartridges are indeed a little more efficient. Ones like the WSSM and the 6BR type. When you get to the long cartridges there seems to be more unburned powder and consequently worse barrel life.

I like the looks of the 22-6mm (vs the 22-243) but it seems that the cartridge is so big and long that it isn't very efficient.

Any idea on a fat cartridge that will push a 115grain 6mm A-max 3600-3700 fps? Seems like that would be a great load. Fairly long barrel life, flat shooting, and an efficient burn.