What's your caliber of choice, for coyotes?

Bowhunter57 · #22 04-03-2010, 06:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by winmag

I havent yet seen if the 300wby is big enough for coyotes, but Im sure that Ill be able to tell you pretty soon hahaha

. Im thinkin itll do just fine, but I can deffinately see the bennifits of a 22 centerfire of some sort, just based on price per round.
I see an AR in my near future hehehe

winmag,
I'd like to hear about your results with your 300 Wby, for coyotes. I was tossing a coin for the .25-06 that I purchased and a Vanguard 300 Wby.

I don't think I'll be dissatisfied with my 25, but it sure would be sweet to see a coyote magically transformed into a canoe with a 125gr. V-Max from a 300 Wby.

As for an AR, I own one, love it, but the .223 caliber requires a 50gr. bullet or heavier, to get good kills on a coyote. They're tough customers.

Good hunting, Bowhunter57

JD338 · #23 04-03-2010, 12:39 PM

My main coyote rifle is a M700 VLS in 22-250. I have killed quite a few with the 50 gr BT but had 3 runners. In all cases, (same stand location on a bluff) I hit the point of the shoulder quartering on at ranges of 100-125 yds and the bullet must have never made it past the shoulder.

I tried the 60 gr PT since I found a load that would shoot in the 1:14 twist that was under .5" and shot this coyote at 80 yds head on. The little 60 gr PT entered the chest dead center and exited just below the vent.
Entrance...

Exit...

Nosler changed the ogive and I can't get them to shot in my rifle.
I now use the 55 gr BT and it works really well on coyotes. Exits through the slats is about the size of a nickel.

Nosler sent me a box of the 35 gr BTLF (Ballistic Tip Lead Free) prior to the introduction of the bullet last year and I shot this coyote with it.
Exit...

Sometimes I use a M700 Classic 257 Roberts. I took this coyote this past winter with a 110 gr AB at 140 yds.

Stay away from the big bones with the smaller calibers/lighter bullets and I don't think you will have many, if any runners.

JD338

txstringbender · #24 04-03-2010, 08:52 PM

I use my Savage 110 in .243 that I've shot for 20 years or my Rem. 870 with 3" mag. and 00 buck. In the .243 I reload with a Sierra 60 gr. HP. Both guns are very effective on the pasture poodles.

Chas1 · #25 04-03-2010, 09:03 PM

JD338, great shooting and really good pics. Thanks for sharing.

Swift One · #26 04-04-2010, 04:09 PM

"Plain vanilla 243, not as popular as some calibers but, a good choice."

The 243 is an excellent choice for the song dog- weather shooting at the western or eastern ones.

I use a 223 alot-especially at night. I also use a 7mm-08- for the longer range stuff. Not real big on saving the fur. With the 223, I have found that using a more heavier bullet for the bigger eastern and northern song dogs helps. I use a 60gr HP in my 223 and have had some excellent results with putting the dogs down quick and not having them run as much. I have not had very good results with the Vmaxs and the Blitzkings. The 7mm-08 of course, will put them in the hurt locker.

Chas1 · #27 04-04-2010, 05:27 PM

Swift One, Eastern and Northern Song Dogs...where'd that phrase come from?

shortgrass · #28 04-04-2010, 06:43 PM

Here in Western Oklahoma I've heard 'um called Song Dogs since I was sprout. If you live in a the country, you can hear 'um sing their lonely song most nights. They communicate with each other that way. Every now and again my Britteny will join in, although her voice isn't as smooth......