coyote rifle

[frenchbar]

The son wants to get into coyote and bobcat hunting..been looking at the 17hmr..would it be sufficent for dogs and cats ..never had much to do with small calibers.Any help from the varmint hunters on here would be muchly appreciated .
Thanx

frenchbar .

[d6dan]

A 22-250 would be a great caliber for yotes and then you can still use it on deer.

[roping_tom]

I took one coyote at about 40yrds with my 17 but i think your better to look at 204 ruger, 22 hornet,223 or 22-250 the 243 is a great gun loaded light for dogs then bump it up in the fall and take it deer hunting.

[islandhunter]

If you must go rimfire, I think a .22 mag would be far better.

[Gateholio]

No experience with the 17HMR but I've lookd into them. You woudl want a good bullet (liek the XTP, IIRC) and limit to 100 yards or so

More versatile would be a .223

Always thought your area would be a good yote and bobcat spot. I've hunted yotes up towards Cache Creek but never in Lillooet.

[frenchbar]

If you must go rimfire, I think a .22 mag would be far better.

Ive got a 243 that i could load light ..but i thougt a smaller caliber might be more practical..maybe i will look at the 22-250...223 tommorow in kammy .

[frenchbar]

No experience with the 17HMR but I've lookd into them. You woudl want a good bullet (liek the XTP, IIRC) and limit to 100 yards or so

More versatile would be a .223

Always thought your area would be a good yote and bobcat spot. I've hunted yotes up towards Cache Creek but never in Lillooet.

lots of coyotes along the river ..i see many in a night at work..see lots of bobcats in a cetain location down the highway towards pemby..need a winter hobbie myself .so going to give er a whirl this winter .

[Chuck]

I also think a .22 Magnum rimfire is bare minimum. Better something like .243. I don't think a 22-250 is as versatile.

[tim3500]

17 hmr is a nice round for smaller game its lacks the penetration for dogs at any distance ballistics are impresive but bullet construction isnt if they came out with a FMJ and I think cci does that would work . The yotes I have hit the TNT barley made it into the lungs get a 223 rem if you reload prices are almost the same

[pazz0]

.223, IMO, is the best coyote caliber around. Fast, flat shooting, no recoil, cheap and it can take deer with ease.

[todbartell]

17HMR probably near ideal for cats, for coyotes a 204 or 223, 22-250. 243 hammers them but she's hard on fur

[Farmer]

We use a 243 loaded with 58 or 75 grain Vmax bullets for coyotes. It has done the job nicely out to 250 yards so far. We haven't had an opportunity farther than that yet.

[Pete]

I have shot 22-250 since the middle 70's It is my go to predator gun. I have a friend who is an excellent reloader. Ed worked on loads for this rilfe until we had it dialed in. Man does it shoot. 1/4 in, X ring @ 100m benched, cold barrel. Coyote standing out at 300m is going to get skinned.

[rocksteady]

IMHO the .17 is too small for yotes , at any decent distance....

The .243 with the Hornady V-Max (whatever wieght you desire) will do more, with less potential for wounding and not recovering...

I shoot 75 grain V-Max in my .243 and they will consistantly kill coyotes at up to 400 yards....Good entrance wound, usually no exit...Insides...JELLO

[Brew]

The 17hmr would be puurfect for cats. I have one and shoot the 20gr gamepoints. Would not hesitate to shoot a yote in the head at 150 with it. inside 100 yards with the gamepoints lung shots would work. I also have a 223 but am concerned about damage on a bobcat if i could ever call one in. The 12 guage would work great with #4 turkey loads for both. I shot a yote with them at 65 yards with those loads and he piled right up.

[Savage Man]

Well I don't know how many of you have actually seen coyotes killed with a 17hmr , but I have seen at least 20 shot with one out to 150 yards and they have all been bang flop. I am not saying it the best choice but its is more that capable of doing the job and leaves almost no whole. I personally shoot a 22-250 and is a great choice, I would also give a real good look at the 204.

[frenchbar]

Thanks for the replies. im leaning towards the 17 hmr to use for the cats ..and he can use his 243 for the dawgs.
any body use the electronic fox pro calls?and are they worth it or will a hand call work well on the cats and coyote...for a HELL of a lot less cash .:)

[500grhollowpoint]

243 if you are not skinning it.

[Brew]

I have a foxpro and it is great. Been reading lots on how to call in the cats and they say cats like a more constant call. Calling constant with hand calls gets pretty tiresome seeing how cats tend to take a long time to come to a call.
Plus the electronic call takes attention off of you while calling giving you the added edge.

[frenchbar]

I have a foxpro and it is great. Been reading lots on how to call in the cats and they say cats like a more constant call. Calling constant with hand calls gets pretty tiresome seeing how cats tend to take a long time to come to a call.
Plus the electronic call takes attention off of you while calling giving you the added edge.

sounds logical:) Whats the cost of the fox pro ...im to lazy to look them up :wink:

[Brew]

The foxpro spitfire is the cheapest and its 199$ american from their site. Comes with 20 sounds which you can choose or they will load it with factory set ones.

[frenchbar]

The foxpro spitfire is the cheapest and its 199$ american from their site. Comes with 20 sounds which you can choose or they will load it with factory set ones.

Thanks.. sounds good .

[todbartell]

Ive been using Foxpro since 2006. It can work well, but I probably called in just as many with mouth calls before. Nicest thing about electronics w/ remote is being able to place the call upwind or crosswind of you, so the predator will likely circle downwind between you and the call when approaching, not scenting you. The Spitfire looks like a good unit from what Ive seen/heard


I also have a 223 but am concerned about damage on a bobcat if i could ever call one in.

try a reduced load in the 223. Ive played around recently with IMR TrailBoss and two levels of reduced load. A super quiet one is the 45gr Hornady SP over 4grs for 1250 fps. Basically like a 22LR. The next is a 40gr Hornady Vmax over 8grs for 2150 fps. A bit snappier than a 22 Magnum. Point of impact of the 2150 fps vmax load is about 2" low @ 100 when +1.5" w/ full power 55gr @ 3150 fps loads


this thread needs a pic or two :mrgreen:

http://predatorhuntcanada.ca/photos/data/500/Jan_10_2007_008.jpg

http://predatorhuntcanada.ca/photos/data/500/Jan_10_2007_004.jpg

[Brew]

The spitfire has a remote. It works up 100 yards away if its free of bush.

[chinookkiller]

I ever used .22MAG and .17 both,but all not good for the winter preadtor hunt, beacuse lot's of time are windy hardly,big problem to aim well,now I use .223 cizi ,perfect to do the deal,and can also for deer hunt,but just need head or neck shoot.

[todbartell]

The spitfire has a remote. It works up 100 yards away if its free of bush.

yup I had a brain fart. Was thinking of the discontinued Zr2.:-D

[hunter1947]

If I was to get a varmint gun it would be a 2.43 http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/icons/icon7.gif..

[Camp Cook]

If I were to look for a coyote gun that would reach out to 250 - 300 yards and a cartridge that would not blow up bobcat/lynx I'd be looking at a 17 Fireball or 17 Rem I feel the 204 Ruger would also be a good choice and with a Varmint grenade may not exit from a cat.

Get a T/C Contender carbine and switch barrels you can get barrels chambered from 17HMR - 223 and almost anything in between...

My barrels for coyotes/bobcats/lynx are a 23" blued bull in 204 Ruger and a far lighter 21" tapered s/s in 223 both barrels are extremely accurate.

I was talking with a fellow that has shot 3 bobcat with his 17HMR longest shot was appr 200 yards he likes the 17gr tipped bullets and the 20gr XTP's for coyotes max range he shots is 100 yards on dogs...

If you go for a bolt gun in 223 look up Blue Dot loads...

My thinking is a coyote gun will always be to much gun for a bobcat why I do not take my 22-250's or 6mm-284 if there is a chance I am going to see cats.

[kishman]

I love 'yote hunting as well:mrgreen:! I'm shooting a Weatherby Vanguard Sub MOA - Varminter in .22/250 topped with a VX-III 6.5-20X40(pictured).

http://i85.photobucket.com/albums/k43/kishman_2006/Poochie.jpg

I shoot 45gr Barnes TSX and the 'yotes drop in their tracks. I noticed a Foxpro pictured in a previous reply, this Dog was drawn in with a Foxpro as well. Definitly worth the money, draws all sorts of critters in.

[Brew]

I have called in otters and racoons with my foxpro. Swa some movement on the edge of a pond and then it vanished. Thought for sure it was a cat. All of the sudden I got 3 monster otters 10 feet in front of me hissing and barking. Called 5 coons last year in one day in 2 seperate stands. Pretty fun

[cariboobill]

For me I like a gun with good ballistics, less recoil, I can reload, right for the job and not over kill and FUN to shoot.

Also gun availability is important, as well how the physical gun feels etc. and shoots for you. If you can try to shoot a few of the ones stated here.

So my recommendation for a good gun for the job is the .223 Remington. .243 is also great for longer range with less drift, but for me not as much fun to shoot as the .223.

CB