.223 for coyotes?

[Soundtrackzz]

Hey yall. Im going back to college in a few days. I only have limited room in my truck and right now im taking only three guns: a savage 110 in .270 wn, and ruger 10/22 and a mossberg 500. Im thinking of trying coyote hunting as well and i dont think a 22lr would make a dent in a yote and i think a .270 would be overkill. So ive got an AR in .223, and im wondering if that would make a good coyote gun?

Thanks

 

[buck460XVR]

'pends on how you're gonna hunt them. Over the years I have killed as many coyotes with my 22's and shotguns as I have with larger centerfires. As far as comparing the AR to your .270, which one do you shoot better?

 

[Soundtrackzz]

i probably shoot the 270 better, although the recoil is pretty rough and i have never put any good optics on the AR, so its sort of a toss up i guess

 

[Ankeny]

So ive got an AR in .223, and im wondering if that would make a good coyote gun?

An AR in "varmint" or "light varmint" weight has become very popular in the west. There are several dedicated predator calling forums on the Web and I think you will find the .223 to be in the top three calibers used when calling yotes. I would imagine the .22-250 is at the top and will remain there for eternity.

 

[koja48]

.223 in the AR platform does just fine . . . this one was at 250-yards on a trot. It dropped & stopped.

 

[The_Sheriff]

.223 is a fine choice.

 

[K3]

That's my preferred medicine for coyotes. Day or night hunting. I use a 60gr Vmax and have taken dogs as far out as 175 so far. I do most hunting at night, so usually I'm 100 yards or under.

 

[Art Eatman]

Iron sights are just fine, if you do your calling between first light and a tad past sunrise, or in the late afternoon. You're only limited by your own skill level...

Coyote shooting is not a high-volume-of-fire deal, so I doubt that a .270's recoil will matter.

 

[skinewmexico]

I didn't know you could have overkill on a coyote. I've always just shot them with whatever i was carrying. You could rebarrel your Savage pretty cheap though.

 

[Griz44]

I do my best long distance practice with Hornady 165g interbond ballistic tip bullets in my 30-06. Keeps me sharp and ready for the real hunting season. Great for on the fly range estimating, with real world windage and elevation variables to play with. Beats the heck out of killing paper all year.
Does not matter if I miss a few at 300 + yards, they always come back...

 

[Art Eatman]

An '06 is sorta rough on pore ol' Wily...

A tad gory:

http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=16431&d=1135262262

 

[Cougfan2]

An '06 is sorta rough on pore ol' Wily...

I say never give a Yote an even break.

 

[koja48]

An '06 is sorta rough on pore ol' Wily...

'Specially if you use ACME ammunition & let Wiley pull the trigger . . .

 

[cpttango30]

There is no such thing as over kill for a yote.

shoot them with a 50bmg if ya want. they are just yotes. 300 rum shooting 110gr V-max sounds like a great 300+ yard load for a yote.

YOu can get them with a 22lr. But you have to get them up close and don't shoot till you see the whites of their eyes. them make it a head shot.

 

[HB]

There is no such thing as over kill for a yote.

Unless you want to get a nice pelt without a .50 entry and a 3'' exit

 

[Griz44]

Range dog pelts? Yeeeeeweeeeeeeee.....

 

[Art Eatman]

Hey, Griz, a winter hide from a healthy coyote is great vest or jacket material. It takes seven skins to make a vest, I'm told.

 

[Bartkowski]

My friend shot one while deer hunting with a .300 RUM. The entry hole was very small and the exit hole was about 1.5". He was using bullets appropriate for deer so maybe they didn't expand very much in the coyote...That said, if you use FMJ bullets or something that won't expand the .270 will work fine.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

You betcha. Great choice of caliber at ranges out to 200 or so. If you're gonna shoot long range - 300 or so - grab the .270 or at least a .243 win.

 

[skinewmexico]

Hey, Griz, a winter hide from a healthy coyote is great vest or jacket material.

Gotta agree. I saw a gorgeous Coyote coat at Overland Sheepskin in Taos, if it wouldn't have been $2600, the wife would have been wearing it.

 

[usmccpl]

I carry a 16 inch T/C Contender in 223 when ever i think i might see a coyote. It does the job fine unless they are causing problems with my horses in which case i grab whatever is close that holds more ammo.

 

[koja48]

takes seven skins to make a vest

Takes a lot more than that to make a comforter, but I'm working on it . . . hopefully a few more exceptional pelts become mine this winter.

 

[HoosierQ]

Good coyote pelts are fine fur. Got to get 'em in season though so the fur underneath and the guard hairs are nice and fluffy and stuck on good. Too early and they aren't furred out...to late and they get kind of mangy.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

What's the best month to get them? (and what state/province is that?)

 

[publiuss]

the 270,22,or shotgun will be fine. I would use your 270 and leave your AR at home. when I was in school I tried to keep only the one's I needed with me. Too many problems associated w/trying to keep up w/them. Gotta keep them hidden in your room in your apartment, don't want drunk buddies going in your room to admire your guns. If your out of town you don't want roommates or their guests messing w/them. If you live on campus you have to leave them w/someone or in your trunk and keep a closed mouth. I would stick w/the three you planned on taking, you'd be pretty mad if your AR got stolen or you got arrested for driving through campus w/it in your trunk. Both these bad scenarios are more likely w/an AR.