Caliber for shooting Coyotes and Bobcats.

I am wanting to get both a Coyote and Bobcat mounted to add to my trophy room. Mostly a Bobcat, but if I shot a big coyote I would get it mounted as well. My problem is that I have shot my previous varmits with a 7Mag ballistic tips. In short, everything I shoot has a hole beyond repair.

I'm looking for a caliber that I can kill them with and not tear them up. Some of the shots may be out around 200 to 300 yards.

What do you guys/gals think would be the best for my situation. .223 22-250 .17? Open to all suggestions.

22-250

I had an NEF 22-250 break over once. Never could get that thing to be consistent after three different scopes and two ammo changes I gave up and sold it. Any better brand recommendations? Would like something with a heavier barrel.

.243 75 grain

I like my 204 for varmints I have also heard that the 17hmr will do a number on em as well.

Just about any of the smaller calibers will do just fine. 223, 22-250, 243, just stay away from the ballistic tips.

You don't need a heavy barrel. The 22-250 is not inherently fur friendly, a .223 with a soft point is a better choice. If you are hunting for mounts, learn to call them in and take them with a shotgun. Both the 22-250 and .223 are very accurate. The .223 gives you more factory ammo choices if you don't hand load.

I use all 3 of the above. I do not recommend a .17HMR. I have seen too many animals shot with a .17HMR lost..

Bob

.223, 243, 22-250, .220 swift, .204 .22mag, .17hmr, I used a 30.06 on the last three yotes and it wasnt pretty!

i use a 223 270 and 12 ga on my critter hunting adventures. the 270 will leave a pretty large hole though

17 Remington or 17 Fireball

I would say .223, ammo is cheap and readily available grains range from 45 to 75. Depending on the tip, the exit hole isn't that large (if there is an exit).
You can shoot yotes, bobcats, pigs, etc.

Here are some ballistics

.22-250 energy @ 200yrds = 1010 ft·lbf w/55gr vmax
.223 energy @ 200yrds = 767 ft·lbf w/55grn vmax
.17 hmr energy @ 100yrds = 136 ft·lbf w/17grn vmax (more impressive than a .22mag)

I used to have one of those too. NEF had a recall on the 22-250 barrels due to faulty extractors (I was having that problem with that barrel) so I sent it in and they replaced it with a bull barrel in my choice of caliber. I went for a .223 barrel and it's been great ever since.. I still have that rifle. It's a tack driver.

Yeah, I blew the front legs off a coyote with ballistic tips.

.223, .243, .17hmr but must have a good shot placement. Taxidermists can fix alot of thing you would think would be unrepairable its just a puzzle peice to put back together. But a 7mm you should just throw a gernade at them haha.

I use my .17 HMR.....no pelt damage, never had an animal move after it was hit. Use common sense and take good shots. I reckon people have lost animals shooting them with any gun calibur. Just make good shots, actually call them in. If you do your part the .17 HMR will do his. Without F$*!?ing up your animal I might add.

killer u just like to see total devistation

My .22mag has killed both with no distructive exit wound.

hey can you add the ballistics for the 22 mag and a 204

.204 Ruger energy @ 200yrds = 689 ft·lbf w/32grn pp
.22 Win mag energy @ 100yrds = 127 ft·lbf w/30grn jhp

i like my old 222 on yotes. fast enough for one on the run if he running just aim ahead and let yote run into scope when it hits cross hairs pull trigger.

thanks

how about a 243
are you useing a program to get these ? i would also like to know the energy at 400 yards

17hmr all day long. unless you suck at shot placement

220 swift

And or if the wind blows, or if you are ever more than 1" off. not enough gun, If you say you are never more than an inch off i say you dont hunt much, i like this round and while ok for cats and foxes it leaves a lot to be desired on yotes.

This coyote was shot 1" to the right of his nose and if the bullet would have stayed on corse it would have exited under the passenger side ear. this was with a 204
i think there are to many veriables to shoot a yote with anything less than a 222

oh yea the coyote was recovered 480 yards away

ok before everybody jumps on me i have killed coyotes with a 22 rimfire and killed quite a few with a 22 mag but if i am going to buy a rifle that is just for that purpose it would be a 22-250 223 222 or maybe a 243 in that order

make head shots with the HMR.

and set up in areas where the wind is blocked. Trees help alot

There are places that the nearest tree is a mile or more away. And that is one tree, not trees, so what do you do in these cases? Some parts of New Mexico and West Texas, have trees that are almost as scarce as hens teeth.

I never was a fur saver, never will be, so I personally I prefer a good 243, then a 223. With the 243, if another target opportunity presents itself, I know I have enough weapon to go for it.

.223 for me

I'm getting ready to get into yote hunting and ask the same questions as the OP. My 22 mag would be great for shots within 75 yards but I need a little more gun for longer shots.I have a 17hmr but I don't consider it a proper round. I am currently waiting for a 223 to show up at my FFL. It will be perfect for my needs.

Reggie

.17 may not be the all a round favorite round. And if you want a predator rifle to shoot in any situation than get a .223. But on calm days in north tx we have trees and you can always find a clearing that wwill give a 200 yrd shot and under. I feel my .17 is a capable rifle.....to me, not every Tom, Dick, and Harry. It's like if asked what the best truck to take off road was asked. We would never get everyone to agree. They go by what they have experience and learned about the ride of their choice. Same thing about a mans gun selection in the field. In my area and in my hands I use the .17 HMR. Didn't say it would shoot in the wind or shoot a mile long. But I don't hunt that way you see I'm a caller, not just a shooter. Anyone can shoot 300 yrd yotes but not everyone can call them in close. It's called hunting not snipeing.

Did I read that right? A 204 to the cheek and the coyote ran 480 yards? What range was the shot and what kind of bullet?

winchester makes a 55 grain for the .243...

reload 22-250 with a 55gr v-max H-380 powder....

reload 243 with a 95gr SST bullet...

all do a great job....

Best advice in this thread


Chupa

the only caliber and load for our team is 22-250 and the new hornady superformance varmint load ,we got alot of country with super fox we call them because they simply wont die and since we started shooting that load one shot and done.

"Head Shots" are not lethal. Brain shots are.

The coyote's brain is roughly the size of an egg.

Ever try hitting an egg at 100yds?

Since coyotes rarely stand still for long, ever tried to hit an egg that is doing Mach 5? <-----this is a stretch, I know. But I use it as an anology.


Chupa

The question isn't can a .17HMR kill a coyote? Ofcourse it can.

The question is: Can the shooter kill a coyote with a .17HMR reliably?

How many limits are you willing to put on your stand?


Chupa

I would prefer a 243 with 80 - 100gr bullets. The heavier bullets stabilize a lot better than the 45-75gr bullets on smaller calibers. I rather have a bigger round just in case a "once in a lifetime" mt.lion shows up.
You can also use a .243 for deer, pigs and all other critters in our great State of Texas.

you never really know what a bullet it going to do to one. I've had 223s mess them up just as bad as a 300wm has. Like previously stated, a shotgun is the best option for keeping one intact to get mounted, but need to get them in somewhat close.

17 HMR seems to do the trick, last three dogs I shot with it had no exit.

Years back we used .223 loaded with hornandy
Xtp loaded hot and that little 55 gr bullet
Blew coyotes in half