Anyone switch to a larger caliber for coyotes?

[Bowhunter57]

All of the coyotes that I've shot have been running or at least, on the move. So, granted the shot placement hasn't been the best and I'm not blaming the weapon. I've learned that coyotes are tough customers and can take several shots and still run off.

I had been using an AR15 and probably should've reloaded some heavier weight bullets, instead of the 45gr. JHP box ammo.

I am now using a .25-06 with 87gr. Nosler BT bullets and it is the "Hammer of Thor", when it comes to knock down power. Even if the shot placement is marginal, they go down and I have ample time to get a second shot...if it's needed.

Has anyone felt the need to switch to a larger caliber for coyotes?

Thank you, Bowhunter57

[keith44]

Nope...


I've killed 'em with .22 LR, .22 Magnum (rimfire that is), .22 K-Hornet running 45 grain round nose at 2,900 fps, .25'06 loaded with 100 gr Rem PSP running 3,150 (do not try this!), .32 caliber flintlock, and .54 cal muzzleloader. 


Of the above if I set out to hunt coyotes, instead of happening upon one while hunting something else, either the K-Hornet or the .25'06 would get the nod, depending on the expected range.  Even at 400 yards the '06 will still act like the "Hammer of Thor" with marginal hits.  Up closer, 50 to 100 yards only the .22 LR and the .32 flintlock would stay home.  With these two headshots are a must if ya want em right there.

[cwlongshot]

My own experiences mirror Keiths.
 
I havs shot coyotes with 17HMR, 22Mag, 22 Hornet, 223, 22/250, 357 Maxi, 8MM Mauser, 454 Cassull, 12Ga and my bow.  one of the ones that ran the fartherst was one of the last ones shot... the 454 with a speedy 200g FTX bullet at about 30 yards. Hit broad side thru the lungs with close to a 4" exit....
The 17 was head shot and DRT, the hornet has the most and that was out of my Contender. 46G HPs and 40G Speer bullets doing a good job on anchoring them. The maxi, Mauser, 12Ga and bow where all kills when deer hunting and thats what I had to shoot them with. The 22 Mag, 223 and 22/250 where specfically for coyotes and worked as one would expect. I know I shot at least one with a 40g HP from the 22/250 and the bullet blew up on the sirface. Making a softball sized hole high on the shoulder, about 1-2" deep. The dog screamed and began spinning, my buddie hit him again and he went down.
 
If I was needing a long range gun your 25/06 or a 243 might make a fine choice. If its what you have, it will be just fine for any yardage.
 
My self, I am going smaller... Uncharted territory for me as I subscribe to the heavy for caliber slower moving bullet theory. IE Torque over horse power...  I am building 17 Hornets for coyotes... 20G bullets at 3600+ fps. We will see how it preformes..
 
CW

[Buckskin]

As  all of you know, bullet placement is key no matter the caliber. I shot one on a deer drive once that came out of the woods balls to the wall hit him 3 times with a 1oz slug at 40-60 yards.  Had to finish him off as he was still trying to run with his one good apendage...  They are tough buggers. I much prefer to see them spin 2-3 times and fall over.  Most of the yotes that I have killed have been with a  204, with 32gr vmax or 223 with 60gr vmax averaging 250-300 yards (I have a natural funnel behind my house at that distance). I have also killed quite a few with a 300 RUM, and really saw no difference in knockdown. Sounds odd, but if the shot is good they go down, if not you are tracking...

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  I am sure what you shoot coyotes with depends  a great deal upon the country in which you live..On the east coast I am sure most shots would be fairly close, unless you caught one in a pasture or big field..also wind is a big factor..In this country wind is a constant problem..what is considered a still day here, usually has some wind..as for bigger calibers sure...I shot two on tues. with a .300 Win. and 150 grain SST's. It hammered them right into the ground..both were about 400 yards..mostly I carry two rifles...one a Swift or .22-250 improved and the other  a .25-06, 7mm Mag. or .300..also picked up a rebarreled 700 in .270...haven't shot a coyote with it..If a guy is calling, the smaller rifles are fine...223 etc..but glassing and stalking the bigger calibers work better for us..I shot a .22-250 for years..at the time coyotes were not as thick as they are today..so we didn't get that much shooting at them..but we still killed some each year..one fall, I picked up a used 25-06..Immediately my score went up and stayed up, due the the heavier bullet in the wind...Sometimes the area dictates using a small bore rifle, but when I can, I like atleast my .25-06...my pal has been shooting a .243 and 7mm all winter...

[Ladobe]

That AR15 would do a much better job with marginal shot placement using 55gr bullets if it wears a 223 barrel, even heavier if the barrels twist can shoot them accurate to your ranges shot.
 
I commonly only used my 17's and smaller bore traditional muzzleloaders for calling predators all the later years, that is unless both the wind was howling and the ranges were extra long for skittish coyotes.   Then the 25 and 26 caliber wildcats always got the nod.   Here in the west anyway the ranges can get very long and the wind furious, W-A-Y beyond what any muzzie, 17 or 22 wildcat can do reliably on any critter.   So it's bring out the heavier artillary, or go home.
 
After not using them for predator and varmint hunting for years, going back to the muzzies was a real humbling education in hitting running game reliably with them again, especial out near their terminal effective ranges.   I just shooed away quite a few running predators before I got back on track using them.   It took me a while to get away from the laser fast wildcat mentality, get the old noggin thinking about lobbing slow round balls again and relearning leads and angles for each of them.
 
 

[Catfish]

I kill most of my coyotes in cron fields when the farmers are running corn and also go with some guys running them with dogs so about every coyote I shoot at is running. My main gun is an AR with a 3 x 9 Leupold scope. In all of the years I have carried it I have only shot at 1 coyote with it set above 3x, and he got away. I like the Mid South Varmint Nite Mares in 55 gr. They are really to soft, but where I shoot I have to worry about rickochets and any hit`s under 200 yrds have knocked them down, and I keep shooting untill they quit kicking. For reaching out my favorite gun is a Savage in 224 TTH. with 80 gr. bullets. I also have a pair of 6 -284`s, but as of yet have not been able to get the accuracy at longer ranges that I have with the 224 TTH. You might have guessed I`m not a hide hunter, but if they were worth carring in I would build up another 17 cal. 17 Rem. or larger case.

[Bowhunter57]

I've had to change my coyote hunting tactics from rifle only to a shotgun for my front weapon (inside 50 yards) and the .25-06 is sitting on a tall bipod next to me, in case something thinks it's out of range. I learned this tactic from the Bucking the Odds hunting videos and it has greatly improved my success.
 
My shotgun is a 12 gauge Mossberg 500 Turkey Special, 20" barrel and a Carlson's .680" extended choke that patterns over 70% of Dead Coyote ammo or Remington HD BBs inside a 10" circle.
 
Bowhunter57

[keith44]

My shotgun is a 12 gauge Mossberg 500 Turkey Special, 20" barrel and a Carlson's .680" extended choke that patterns over 70% of Dead Coyote ammo or Remington HD BBs inside a 10" circle.
 
Bowhunter57

heck man my 870 Remmy with 18" (used to be) cylinder bore that I jug choked does that good with hand loads at 25 yards.  Have you ever thought of loading your own?? with that choke I would expect 85% or better at 25 yards.

[Bowhunter57]

Have you ever thought of loading your own?? with that choke I would expect 85% or better at 25 yards.

keith44,
I reload lead loads for sporting clays, but that's all. I've found good factory ammo and chokes to do the job that I need.
 
As for the 70% inside a 10" circle, that's at 50 yards. I would imagine a much higher percentage at closer distances.
 
Bowhunter57

[cwlongshot]

For shotgun I go back and forth....

Remmy 3" mag BB's or #4 buck or my hand loaded 1 1/2 oz #2's. The 2 & BB pattern excellently but the buck has it all over them in penetration while still patterning well.
All from a pattern  master full choke outta my 20" 870.

CW

[cjclemens]

I don't think it matters what you hit 'em with - coyotes are tough as hell and will wander quite a ways before they expire if you don't hit them in the right spot.  Since shot placement is so important, the best rifle you can use is the one you shoot best with, whether its a .17 HMR or a .25-06.  The largest caliber I've used intentionally is .243 (save for a couple unlucky 'yotes who met the 12 gauge during deer season).  It works great, but I've never felt like I needed it - especially because the AR is so fast with a follow-up shot.  Even if my first shot is off, coyotes seem to pause long enough to put the second in the right place.  One thing you might try (if you call coyotes in) is switching up the call sequence to see if you can get them to post up for a few seconds before they bolt.  That might at least give you the opportunity to put them down with one shot.

[keith44]

Have you ever thought of loading your own?? with that choke I would expect 85% or better at 25 yards.

keith44,
I reload lead loads for sporting clays, but that's all. I've found good factory ammo and chokes to do the job that I need.
 
As for the 70% inside a 10" circle, that's at 50 yards. I would imagine a much higher percentage at closer distances.
 
Bowhunter57

Oh, Ok misunderstood your pattern range 

[prairiedog555]

I use FMJ in 30.06.  I have a lot of it and it works great, plus that ,06 is my most accurate rifle.
I also have a scoped Swiss mil surp.  That also works well. 

[FPH]

I let the amount of wind present on the days I go out dictate my caliber of choice..  Calm=6mm w/87gr. pill.  Windy= .308 w/ 168 gr. pill.

[Hellgate]

My original coyote gun was my sporterized .30-06 Springfield using 110 & 130 gr HPs. Like the .25-06, a poor hit still puts them down with horrific injury. The problem I ran into was if they were running a bolt gun is at a disadvantage. I now prefer a semi auto .223 with heavier bullets (60gr sp). The 'yote I got a week ago was hit twice but both bullets went clear through both sides of the pelvis & shoulders. We hunt in open country so the occasional running in open country coyote can provide great entertainment for both shooter and spotter emptying a 20 round mag. I had one "hail Mary" get a runner in the head on the 12th round 1/3 of a mile away.

[Sourdough]

If the 25-06 works for you, use it.  Second advantage, the 25-06 makes a great Deer, or Hog gun.  Shooting Coyotes is good practice.

[Hodr]

For personal reasons I do not like scopes.  As I have gotten older I have gone to peep sight and post.  I have also limited myself to 100yds as a max.  My brother in law is a genius with his 270 and takes all shots out beyond 100yds when we go varmint hunting.  I take a Win 94 Trapper in 357 mag.  I reload my own and use 125 JHP over Alliant 2400 pushing at over 2000fps.  This tends to stop just about everything out ot 100yds, hogs, coyote, feral dog(Rottweilers) you name it.  Like was said before at 100yds you sort of have to lob it in a bit. We varmint hunt at 7000' up in Az and it goes from brushy to fairly clear depending whose ranch we are on.  For plinking I use 125 lead over Trailboss and cut my range down to 50yds.  This also rolls a coyote over that gets close enough to earn a Darwin award but is not anything I would take out varminting on purpose.
 
Hodr

[tomtomz]

Coyote control is almost a daily activity for me, and a Handi in 22-250 works just fine.

I'm not a fan of the AR, but I do like the 25-06 for flat shooting.
I use the 257 WBY as my 25 cal. varminter.

I don't varmint hunt with anything as large as a .30 caliber, the
drop is too much out past 300 yards, making estimating less productive.

Bullet "Time in flight" is what you're needing to minimize due to windy conditions.
A match/target bullet with a high BC travelling at Mach 3 or faster is my solution.