30 caliber coyote rifle

[itsa pain]

I saw many coyotes while glassing for ground hogs watched them eat a lot of field mice. could never drop a hammer on a coyote they look to much like a dog

 

[dagger dog]

I guess if you are dead set on a 308, you can use that 125gr. Speer TNT but the max' launch is barely 3000 fps out of a 26" barrel, the BC is only 0.326, with a 200 yd zero it will drop 7.6 inches at 300 yds but almost 2 FEET 22.7" @ 400 yds and only traveling at 1914 fps when it gets there.

Even though the TNT's striated jacket is made for "explosive expansion" I don't think there will be much fire works if your target is at 400 yds.

I've shot that load in 308 at paper, benched @100 and did get acceptable accuracy, hunting it leaves a headless ground hog at that range and a little farther.

Never shot that bullet any farther and I bet wind would be a big factor at longer range and it would probably just punch a hole.

 

[Outlaw Man]

I'd probably pick a .300 Blk if I was going to use a .30 cal rifle. I know they're not as common as others, but most of the others are tremendous overkill.

I've seen what a .243 can do to a coyote, and it is MORE than adequate.

 

[jmr40]

300 WSW............. talk about over-kill!

A 130 gr Barnes TTSX at 3550 fps isn't such a bad idea. Only 14" of drop @ 400 yards with a 200 yard zero. It is still a deer killer well beyond 500 yards.

I guess if you are dead set on a 308, you can use that 125gr. Speer TNT but the max' launch is barely 3000 fps out of a 26" barrel, the BC is only 0.326, with a 200 yd zero it will drop 7.6 inches at 300 yds but almost 2 FEET 22.7" @ 400 rds

I can get 3100 fps with the Barnes bullets from a 308 with a 22" barrel.

But unless you really want a dual purpose rifle there are lots of better choices. I have to ask why you really want a .30 caliber for this?

 

[Kachok]

30 cal is quite a bit of overkill on a medium dog sized target, as is the Barnes TSX which would expend the vast majority of it's energy out the far side of the target. 243s and 25-06s are both fine dual purpose cartridges

 

[Bowhunter57]

Along with the 22-250, I'm going to have to consider the .243 too. The bullet selection for the .243 is off of the chart...not to mention the ballistics comparison to the 22-250.

Since I'm considering Savage rifles, there seems to be 2 barrel types/lengths to choose from, in both calibers.
There's a 22" sporter barrel and a 26" heavy varmint barrel.

What would make you choose one over the other?

Thank you, Bowhunter57

 

[dprice3844444]

would meloniting the barrel after breaking it in increase barrel life on those barrel burners?

 

[allaroundhunter]

would meloniting the barrel after breaking it in increase barrel life on those barrel burners?

Yes, it would, but it limits what you can do to the barrel after it is melonited. You can't recrown it, cut it down, or rechamber it.

 

[mnhntr]

All you need is a good AR in .223 and you can take song dogs out to 600yds. I have shot a ton of them with the .223 and some into the 50+ lb range that never took another step. The AR give me fast follow ups when running hounds and you need to hit a fast mover.

 

[JohnhenrySTL]

It is funny you mentioned .30 caliber. I love shooting coyotes with my .300 weatherby. It does to them what a 12 gauge does to a sprung missouri copperhead. I am positive there are better utilitarian choices to kill them than a .300WYB with a 180grn sphire tipped hornady, but it has become my favorite part of deer season.

I have never had one of atleast six I can think of remain standing or even take one step. Infact, I usually think I miss them because after the devastasting and addicting recoil of a magnum cartridge the coyotes are no where to be found. They aren't running away or spinning in a loud yelping circle. They are dropped dead.

Forgive my irrational response, but I just realized to what extent I enjoy this experience, lol. I can tell you I have killed them with every .30 caliber you have mentioned. None of them are quite as fun as my .300 Weatherby.

 

[Scrumbag]

Must admit I would go with something like .22-250, .243 or maybe a .25-'06, Would you think about a 7mm Rem Mag? Why the .30 requirement?

 

[allaroundhunter]

Must admit I would go with something like .22-250, .243 or maybe a .25-'06, Would you think about a 7mm Rem Mag? Why the .30 requirement?

I would recommend a .308 well before a 7mm Rem mag...

 

[Scrumbag]

Yeah I take your point, only thinking is the 7mm Rem Mag shoots flatter than the .308

Scrummy