Howdy. I was thinking on doin some coyote hunting i never have and now that im geting divorced i should have plenty of time for it. This means i may need a new gun was hopeing for some imput on calibers i was thinking 22-250 any imput would be helpful. thanx

shrpshterjoe

If you plan on saving hides - a CF 17.

If you don't plan on saving hides - CF 22, 24, 25, 6.5, or anything else your heart desires.

I'd make it light, short, and low powered on the scope.

Right now I'm making up a mange infested coyote gun - Contender w/ 16" 223 barrel and a 2x (maybe 2.5x) fixed powered scope. Same steup in 22 Hornet or 17 Rem to save hides. The 204 Ruger when Berger starts making bullets might be the best of all worlds.

I shoot a Ruger 77 in .243 Winchester. It has a leupy 3x9 on it and I am shooting 55 grain nosler ballistic tips out of it at high velocity. If you don't care about the pelts this is a good way to go. But, as previously posted any centerfire in .22, .24 or .25 caliber will work. They are not hard to kill, but they can be tough to hit.

I'd be inclined to go with a .22-250 or even go up to a .243Win. If you plan on saving the hides you might want to be careful in your bullet selection. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I have buddies that use 243s and .270s for c'yote guns. The choose their bullets and velocities very carefully, as they sell the hides. Not me though, I use a 22/250 at close to 4000 fps with a 50 grainer. I'm not much help on the hide-hunts .

I've killed alot of deer with a .22-250, and my dad 10x that amount (its all he uses) so I have zero doubt about its coyote killing capabilities. As others have stated, bullet selection depends on if you are saving the pelts or not. Barnes Xbullets would give you expansion in a hot .22 without the blowup effect I'd guess.


-DallanC

I would have to recomend the 22-250, shoots a long ways really flat. Just get the right bullets and you wont ruin the pelts. Unless you hit a sholder bone then your screwed with any gun you shoot. But I would definately say 22-250 one of the most accurate firearms out there for small critters.

Knifeboy
I'd rather be lucky than good.

I had a guy in Oklahoma make me a 22-243 a couple of years ago, to shoot P dogs. This gun shot so flat and so well I had him make me another one using a howa action and a short barrel, specifically for coyotes. I have a one in 8 twist in the barrel and can shoot up to an 80 Gr bullet. I use a 52 gr Calhoon Hollow Point RBT bullet, going about 3600 fps. This round is deadly on coyotes and exteremely explosive on P Dogs. I think the 22-243 is a hell of a caliber.

buy a cheap 243 and have it rebarreled to a 22-243. You will be amazed what the will do. I would recommend a 1 in 8 or 1in 9 twist. I did this weith a Howa and really love this gun for coyotes. I used a Mauser action for my other one and had a prairie dog gun built. I reall love this caliber.
You can get the dies and use 243 cases. Really easy to load and extremely fun to shoot. Very easy on the shoulder.

Pay no attention to the double posts, Its the drugs the VA feeds me.
sorry for being so redundant

I shoot either a 243 Win with 55 grain Nosler Ballistic tips or a 223 Ruger Varmiter in 223 with 50 grain Ballistic Tips.

I shoot several rifles for yotes...favorites are .243 with 65 Vmax at 3700 fps.....25/06 with 75 Vmax at 3700, and 223 with 50 gr Vmax ar 3350.....all work well...223 for 300 yards and in, other two for longer distances...still need to make shot placement a priority....they are tougher than you think.....

Joe,
My humble .02 for you. I have hunted and called coyotes in Central Kansas for 30 years and shot them with anything from a 22 WMR to a .270 to a shotgun with 4 buck. My two favorite calling rigs right now are a M-70 .223 with a 3X9 Simmons. I handload 50 gr. Nosler BT's, and it will put them down from 10 to 250 yards. The problem is that at short ranges it is not very fur friendly! I just put together a Ruger .22 Hornet with a 3X9 Simmons that is very accurate. I have not tried it on coyotes, yet, but am using 46 gr. Win. HP's, and it will be a very good calling gun. I don't plan on taking a poke at a coyote past 150 yards with this rig, however. Both of these can be carried all day without being too heavy. You certainly could not go wrong with a 22-250, or a .243 with lighter bullets! If the other half would limit me to only one rifle, I would have to go with the .243 due to it's versatility in bullet selection! The local fur buyer indicates that the coyote price will be in the $15-20 range this year, so I will probably carry the Hornet more than the .223.
Tim

Welcome to the site tbox61.

-DallanC

I use either a ruger .204 or a 25-06 with a 75 grain V max. Usually have the other guy with me carry a shotgun with #4 buck. Then we will switch after a while. Not very good at it, but it is still fun to try, and at least it get's you out of the house.