What's your caliber of choice, for coyotes?

[Michiganhunter]

Glad to hear your killing Coyotes in Gods Country (B.C.) I'm still looking for more input on caliber choices. Like I said in my first post, I have a 223 in a Stag AR-15 platform. It's a 24inch bull barell with a Vortex Viper 4x12x40 dead hold BDC. I have been reloading for that, and have it shooting pretty tight 3 shot groups at 100 and 200 yards. I would just like something in a bolt action that's a little bit bigger, and a little bit faster. I just can't see spending several thousand on a "Gun Werks" rifle, if I can build something fairly close to that, for half the cost, or less?gun)

 

[mcseal2]

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!!

I went on a hog hunt on the King ranch one time with a relative. Another guy had paid already and then couldn't go so I got invited for splitting gas money. Anyway, I watched the guides train their bird dogs to leave snakes alone. They put shock collars on a few dogs at a time and turned them out in the yard with a rattler they had caught and de-fanged. Anytime a dog got near the rattler they zapped him. Once they learned to leave it alone they switched dogs. A few sessions of this and they were cured. They said it sure saved lots of good bird dogs.

 

[coyotewallace]

If it were about money today this would be it...pick a cal. 243,25-06 or ????

Pick one it will do everything you need to do on a dog


Savage Arms Firearms > Axis Camo

 

[Trickymissfit]

I've used lots of calibers to shoot 100's of coyotes over the years. My favorites were the 220 swift and 22-250. Very Very few have gotten away, most of the ones that did............would have even with a bigger caliber(poor shot placement, leg hits). I've taken a fair number of song dogs at 400 to 500 yds with the fast 22's, no problem at all with decent shot placement. I have had a couple get away that were beyond 500 yds, and they were shot with a 6mm and heavy bullets designed for deer size game. Don't know where they were hit, could just tell that they were.

I've shot the barrel out of my old Swift(made in '73) and am currently getting it re done in an Ackley Improved 6X47 Lapua. My other choice was a 22-250 Ackley, but the smith I'm using prefers to work with 6mm's; so I thought I'd give the 6X47 Lapua case a try. Still have and use a highly accurate 22-250 that shoots Bergers great.....knocks coyotes DRT usually and doesn't tear up much fur.

try the 6/250AI reamed with a 6mm Ackley reamer in a 1:9 twist barrel. Will not work with VLD's all that well, but is a killer with 80 thru 95 grain bullets. If you go with the 1:8 twist barrel you can shoot the 105's without any problems
gary

 

[Trickymissfit]

Gary, Sorry for the late response. I've been working out of town alot, plus it's hunting season (which I haven't seen much of yet ).

I am zeroed at 200, and using 10.1 moa at 600 yds.

Heading north to the Rudyard on the highline today for a memorial service for my wifes aunt and uncle. Good longrange coyote country. Will be taking the 6.5L , snow camo, and call just incase....

well looking at the weather map last light, all I'm gonna say is I'm jealous!! It was almost thirty degrees warmer out your way and clear!! I'm going dog hunting later this afternoon with my .223. We have a good snow cover, and they've been holed up for the last three days. Had a female fox out behind the house this morning harrassing the local squirrel population (I was encouraging her to get all the little tomato thiefs!!!). The local police chief sent word to me Saturday wondering if I might be interested in shooting a few coyotes on the east edge of town as they're back in force (we killed 17 over there a year ago). And sometime soon I gotta hunt dogs on three farms that raise cattle (they want me there before calving season). Last time I hunted those farms I killed close to a dozen in four outings. If a guy worked at it, I think he could kill well over 60 a year around here. Also have permission to hunt four large farms belonging to relatives that live west of me a ways (Putnam and Morgan county). Everytime I'm over there I see at least a half dozen dogs (many are coydogs), but have never taken the time to hunt those farms.
gary

 

[Michiganhunter]

Ok Guys,
So how about the difference between a 243, and a 243AI? What is the advantage of the A.I. and what is the difference as far as re loading, I/E different dies for the shoulder/ and or neck? How much more work is the A.I. to re load vs. a standard 243? Again, I have never "fire formed" brass, so this would all be new to me. I am not against buying the tools necessary to do the work, but as of right now, I don't even own a dial caliper!! My neighbor is a retired engineer, and has built several guns, as well as re barreled old ones. He is a whiz with all of the lengths, and how many thousandths off the lands, and would probably enjoy schooling me on that part, along with helping me with the build. I should ask him for his input on caliber too? Just thought there were sooooo many hunter/shooters on this site, I probably couldn't go wrong with your input.gun)
Thanks again,
Mike

 

[Trickymissfit]

Ok Guys,
So how about the difference between a 243, and a 243AI? What is the advantage of the A.I. and what is the difference as far as re loading, I/E different dies for the shoulder/ and or neck? How much more work is the A.I. to re load vs. a standard 243? Again, I have never "fire formed" brass, so this would all be new to me. I am not against buying the tools necessary to do the work, but as of right now, I don't even own a dial caliper!! My neighbor is a retired engineer, and has built several guns, as well as re barreled old ones. He is a whiz with all of the lengths, and how many thousandths off the lands, and would probably enjoy schooling me on that part, along with helping me with the build. I should ask him for his input on caliber too? Just thought there were sooooo many hunter/shooters on this site, I probably couldn't go wrong with your input.gun)
Thanks again,
Mike

the .243AI fixes a couple major defects in that case design, but also increases another. The vortex of the flame path ends up in the throat on a regular .243, and causes the barrels to go south in a hurry. But with the 40 degree shoulder angle it brings it back into the neck where it should be (actually the first half of the neck length). It also decreases the brass flow, and increases case life. But then it creates another problem in case shrinkage during fire forming. Usually about .030" in an already too short of a neck length. The best way to fix this is to form your cases out of .257 brass or even 6mm remington. This will restore the longer neck length you need so badly. I've seen several folks run a 6mm Ackley reamer in short to create a .243AI with the 6mm neck length (they both have the same taper per inch and the same basic diameters). For a die you can either shorten a .257AI bushing die or do the same with a 6mmAI die. Then run the reamer in the sleeve on a Forster seater (use a standard .243 sleeve). Sounds like a lot of work, but it's really pretty easy. By going with the longer neck length you will be able to seat the bullets correctly, and also keep the bullets from being seated past the shoulder.
gary

 

[HOG55]

What bullet in the .223 are you using? I reload with Hornady's SPXP in 50g. I have never had a pass through. Just dead dogs.

 

[Speedo]

My last coyote was put down with a 375 H&H with a 300 gr. Swift A-Frame. Since it was the rifle that I had in my hands at the time it was an easy choice. I usually go after larger predators and coyotes, if they show up, just get shot with what I've got at the time.

Gus

 

[Michiganhunter]

Thanks Gary,
You right, that does sound like a lot of work. I have a Lee Turrett Press? Will those Dies work in there, or will I need a second press? I guess I can look to see if Lee makes those dies as well?
By the way. How did your Coyote hunt go? Sounds like you have some pretty productive lands to hunt. That is great. I only have some abandond gravel pits right up the road from me. My neighbor has lived out here since the late 30's, and shot several hundred Fox, as well as Coyotes from the pits. He, his Father, and his Grandfather ran trap lines thru my land, and down to the south of me for a mile or more, and then to the west. I go have coffee with him, and listen and learn from his stories. Got to love first hand history, and stories of calling in fox with his mouse squeeker (lips) during deer season from his blind, just to watch him look around for the mouse! I'm going over there this morning to talk rifles, and see if he would be interested in helping me build one. I'm sure he will.
Have a grat day, Mikegun)

 

[Ksmirk]

17 Remington with 27.5gr Hammett bullets, it's kinda like the yotes just got hit with a lightning bolt so far all bang flops.

Of the shelf calibers gotta love a 22-250, shot many with the 85gr NBT from my 25-06 while they would die it wasn't pretty the 120gr bullets seemed to work better without so much canage. Later,

Kirk

 

[struff55]

I use two different calibers out to 250 yds 6x47 Rem 222mag. case 70gr bullet with imr 3031second win 270 with 110gr accbond loaded with varget.

 

[efw]

I've got a 6mm-250 that does very nicely w/ Hornady 75 gr HPs and a 257 AI that shoots 75 gr VMaxes as well as 100 gr Speer HPs for heavier varmints.

 

[cva54]

My go to for convenience /walk about are my AR's in .223, but for dead nuts accurate and short walks - .243 Rem-Varmint. I am interested in the Olympic Arms .243 WSM. I could see trading my Bush/varmint for, as they are the same style. I impressed myself the other day with my M-4 , Burris bdc , clang the steel 300 yds - no problem. Watch your backdrop and ricochets.

Thats my worry backdrop were is it going after it leaves Iam using .06 and .308 thats going to stop them.