best Handi for coyotes?

[HR308shootin]

i just started getting into the handi's, and only have 2, a 308 and a 410. i am wanting to get one for coyotes, but dont feel like using my 308, as thats just to much for a yote and to expensive. i heard the 223's are an awesome round, any other recommendations?

[geezerbiker]

I don't see how you could go wrong with a .223 rem.  I'm partial to mine so I'm biased....

Tony

[Ranger99]

that's what i use mine for,
that and crows.

[HR308shootin]

i dont reload my own ammo, so whats your guys fav. brand and grain factory ammo for your .223's?

[cwlongshot]

Don't forget or underestimate the 17HMR or 22MAG. Some will tell the 17 won't cut it... I have kilt a few with it one with a head shot. Good to 125 yards.

Then you have the Hornet. Excellent cartridge plenty O power and all with less noise than the 223. The Hornet gets you another hundred yards or so. Sat 200-225yards.


But if you need more range. The 243 is another choice! This one will get you out to 350+ if you can shoot that far, the 243 with light (ER) bullets will drop them!

The 223 is a good choice too just wanted to show there are others.

CW

[Ranger99]

if i had to buy store-bought, it
would be winchester 45gr hp 40 pk


i roll my own with V-max's.
crow makes a nice black pufffff.

[HR308shootin]

Don't forget or underestimate the 17HMR or 22MAG. Some will tell the 17 won't cut it... I have kilt a few with it one with a head shot. Good to 125 yards.

Then you have the Hornet. Excellent cartridge plenty O power and all with less noise than the 223. The Hornet gets you another hundred yards or so. Sat 200-225yards.


But if you need more range. The 243 is another choice! This one will get you out to 350+ if you can shoot that far, the 243 with light (ER) bullets will drop them!

The 223 is a good choice too just wanted to show there are others.

CW

ive always been a long range kind of guy, thats why im pretty interested in the 223, 243 would be in the question to but ive had one before and would like to try something new like the 223. whats the high end range of a 223?

[LilHog]

My Handi 223 shoots PMC 55gr very nicely. The farthest shot I've taken was 160yds and it did very well. Mine seems very picky on ammo but it is still very new. I've also had good success with 62gr steel case ammo but I try to stick to brass as much as possible. My rifle does not like federal ammo, but again it's still breaking in and shooting better everytime I take it out. I think the 223 is a fine choice for your needs.

[wileynet]

 i use the 204 ruger, we have a lot of coyote calling contest's and its my go to rifle, backed up with a 20 ga for the close ones, also have taken bobcats and coons with little pelt damage

[brayh92]

I 2nd the 204 ruger i have a savage predator hunter in 204 ive takin a few coyotes between 175-250 drops them i have takin a few with a friends .223 handi and its a great little gun for it too

[cwlongshot]

The 204 is another good candidate!! For coyotes I would put it almost equil to the 223.

IMHO the 223 is a solid 250-300 yard Coyote killer.

For real longer ranges the 24 and 25's bullets "carry" better and drift less making them easier to hit at extended range. Coyotes are not hard to kill so its not the bigger calibers power that's as much the advantage. It's ballistics.

I like the idea of long range shooting, but of the dozens of dogs I have killed I doubt the farthest was 200 yards... Of coarse here in New England the yard ages tend to be shorter. My personal favorites for yodelers are the 22 Mag and 25/20 W 75g Speers @ 2000 fps.

CW

[brayh92]

.22 mag is another great also i had a marlin i used before i got my savage really any of the lower calibers are great they all have a good range on them and like CW said yotes arent hard to kill id expand what your lookin at to 17 hmr .22 mag .204 Ruger and .223 check the ballistic reports to find the caliber that best suits what your gonna be using it for

[tomtomz]

Our coyotes give us a 300 yard buffer. Is your AR scoped for that shot?

I like the 22-250 enough to own three of them.  I've stopped counting kills,
we protect cattle and kill coyotes every day, if possible.

With a 6-24x40 scope (Bushnell sells these refurbed for $100)  on the
SB2-22-250 you have a great varminter for p-dogs and coyotes on the
Great Plains..

I also like the M1A from the truck,.ATV, or snow sled. When my eyes are working, that is.

Bring enough gun, I say.

[tturner53]

If you're gonna hunt with factory ammo and want more than a rimfire the .223 is much cheaper to shoot a lot. Practice ammo is pretty cheap too.

[jpshaw]

I've got a spot on a grown-over clear cut where I use a call after deer season and gun of choice for yotes moving through this mess is my Pardner 12 Gauge with #4 Buck.

[Brian P.]

Don't forget or underestimate the 17HMR or 22MAG.

I use 17 centerfires for fur hunting in MN.  If you're buying a dedicated predator caliber, skip the rimfires.  You'll be dissapointed.  17's kill from velocity and 17 mag lacks velocity and there's few options for a tough bullet that will penetrate well.
I strongly recommend 223.  You can load it down to lr velocity, cast boolits from wheels weights, or load it up WOT with heavy bullets for deer.  Surplus brass is cheap and you can reload 223 cheaper than buying 22mag, which is why I sold my 25MN.  Find a Lee loader and some 223 dies and you'll be set.

[GeorgiaDave]

Hello,
   A rifle designated for coyotes must be 1. accurate. and 2. capable of dispatching the animal humanely. Therefore, I recomend the 45/70. They are one of the most accurate Handi's I have heard of, and are certainly enough to get the job done quickly. If however you are saving pelts, a smaller caliber may be better suited. The .22 Hornet makes a nice varmint round, but if you are thinking of moose as well, the ol 45/70 can take care of both.

[brayh92]

Hello,
   A rifle designated for coyotes must be 1. accurate. and 2. capable of dispatching the animal humanely. Therefore, I recomend the 45/70. They are one of the most accurate Handi's I have heard of, and are certainly enough to get the job done quickly. If however you are saving pelts, a smaller caliber may be better suited. The .22 Hornet makes a nice varmint round, but if you are thinking of moose as well, the ol 45/70 can take care of both.

Dave i agree the .45-70 is accurate but so are almost all the rest of the Handis if you tinker with them and a .45-70 isnt as flat shooting as the other calibers mentions plus its way to much to shoot them with i shot a fox with mine because it was gettin in the nighbors chickens i shot it running away and hit it in the shoudler and took its entire shoulder and leg clean off a great large game gun but thats exactly what it is a "large Game" gun

[petemi]

I use whatever is in my hand at the moment.  They all work.

Pete

[cwlongshot]

I use whatever is in my hand at the moment.  They all work.

Pete

LOL Peter!

Now this is about the best advice so far!!! They ALL work!!

I shot one coyote with the 454 and a 200g FTX couple years back.... What a mess!! The bullet went in the lungs/ribs turned expanded violently then tore out the brisket when exiting. The shot was less than 50 yards and the vel was under 2000 fps.

CW

[scratchmark]

i use the 22-250 but i hand load everything. i imagine for box ammo, the 223 would be cheaper to shoot.

[hoytcanon]

I like my 1:9 .223's for coyotes... primarily with 60 grain SST's loaded with 27 grains of Varget... they hold their accuracy out to 300 yards and probably beyond (I just don't shoot any further). I am just starting to use the .22 Hornet for closer brush work... I am loading Hornady 45 grain PSP Hornet bullets with 13 grains of Lil' Gun... haven't shot any coyotes with it yet, but a couple coons and a fox thought it was a pretty good load! 

[Brian P.]

My handi 223 really likes the sr4759 and hornady 45gr hornet bullet at 218 Bee velocities.   I tested 8 bullets in the 34 to 55 grain range and it likes the 45gr hornady the best.  The Midway Dogtown 55gr bullets are not bad either and pretty cheap.  I actually bought the handi for getting into casting my own bullets but these reduced loads shoot so well, I don't know if I can give it up   I do wish I got the std barrel over the heavy barrel, though.  It's surprisingly heavy to be lugging around.

[gcrank1]

I suspect you just want another H&R.........but,
have you considered loading a light, higher velo bullet in the 308 suitable for varmints? If you have relatively quick release scope rings you can have one scope pre-set for your big game load and another varmint type scope set for the varmint bullet. A quick scope swap and the right box 'o ammo and youre good to go. That other scope is easier to case with the rifle than a swap barrel or another whole gun too. It would make a nice combo.

[Brian P.]

That's true, too.  You could take that $$ from a new barrel and get a reloading kit if you do not already have one and make some light 308 rounds.  SR4759 and 110gr bullet might get you around 2400fps and light recoil.
 
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/431004/sierra-varminter-bullets-30-caliber-308-diameter-110-grain-hollow-point-box-of-100
 
 

[tomtomz]

I took two coyotes this morning with my 22-250 Handi. One was shot at dawn, the other three hours later.

They are harassing a herd of cows down in a canyon.  Both were fairly long shots. With a 22-250, your elevation adjustment
is not so tricky since it is a flat shooter out to 300 yards and I can get away with holding 8-10 inches high beyond 300 out to 500 yards.

I use a Speer #1036 match bullet over Varget for this round. My Handi has a 24" heavy barrel.

[HR308shootin]

Hello,
   A rifle designated for coyotes must be 1. accurate. and 2. capable of dispatching the animal humanely. Therefore, I recomend the 45/70. They are one of the most accurate Handi's I have heard of, and are certainly enough to get the job done quickly. If however you are saving pelts, a smaller caliber may be better suited. The .22 Hornet makes a nice varmint round, but if you are thinking of moose as well, the ol 45/70 can take care of both.

i dont load my own ammo and WILL NOT pay 40 bucks a box of shells for the 45-70. especially not for a yote. im wanting a long range shooter to shoot over those big corn fields, not a BEAR GUN hahaha. thanks for the comment though!

[geartow]

I use my 223 handi with a 16.25 inch barrel for doggies . we shoot them from the trap house at the gun club .so we can see the whole trap field . My uncle often uses a 22 hornet , I really think the 223 is way better but dont tell him.

[FPH]

I don't own a Handi, but 22-250 or 25-06 if they make them would be my choices.  .204 Ruger next.  How much wind do you encounter
?

[ncloader88]

The 223 is cheap and the range is all you should need here out east. The 22-250 has a LOT more speed and is capable of reaching to the limits of your shooting ability... on a calm day.  However, if you expect to shoot much further than 250yrds, it is better to have a heavier bullet to combat wind drift.  243 is a good choice, but I would prefer the 25-06.  Sourdough has been hunting wolves in Alaska at ranges well past 500yrds and many consider the 25 to be more than adequate for large game with the right bullet choice.  The reach is better than the 308 or the 30-06 while still keeping the recoil almost the same as a 243!  If you keep to bullets with little to no expansion you can prevent fur damage.  I think that the 25 fits the bill much better than the 45-70 if you are looking at long range shots, ammo cost/availability, and the ability to hunt a moose (sorry Dave) 

Those with experience, please correct me on the moose reference.  I have heard that the 25 is a well used caliber in Alaska, moose included.