.223 big enough for coyotes???
What is your opinion? Looking at a dpms bull 20. What is my effective range on these critters. Thanks.
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A .22 mag is big enough. 0 -
.223 is perfect. Effective range is longer than you should take a shot. Coyotes make real small targets at 500+ yards. I used to use a 22mag killed a bunch but lost a few too. Now I use a browning a-bolt2 in 223wssm. I bought it when it first came out. If I had to do it all over again I would go for a 22-250, but .223 is awesome and the ammo is cheap. 0 -
A 223 is more than enough on a Coyote along with being one of my favorite cartridges for taking coyotes. I have also used everything from 17HMR and 22 Hornet all the way up to 45/70 and 12ga w/ slugs to get the job done on them. They die just as fast with everything.
Effective range on a Coyote is going to be more about your skill and ability to hit the target than it will be on the ability of the cartridge itself. However saying that, 400 yards is not unheard of with a properly placed shot using quality bullets.0 -
223 rem is a fine choice for coyotes. If you are NOT planning on keeping the hide, use Hornady V-Max ammo (I prefer 60gr V-max but any bullet weight in 223 should work fine). Your effective range will be based on your shooting ability, so buy as much ammo as you can afford and hone your marksmanship skills.
My experience hunting coyotes has been shooting from a few feet to several hundred yards, seems like most shots were between 100-300 yards. In really open country the possibility of much longer shots is very likely, 223 will work for longer shots but remember that 22 cal bullets will drift if there is much wind, so if you plan on shooting much over say 300 yards you may want to consider a larger caliber.
Hope this helps!0 -
I wouldn't hesitate to use a .223 on a coyote. 0 -
I have killed many coyotes with a lot less. I used a .223 for a couple of years and will attest it is a very good caliber for coyotes. Use what ever ammo shoots good out of yours. 0 -
As long as the range isn't past 350 to 400 yards the 223 will do the trick admirably. Anything beyond that and I would opt for the 22-250 but that one will burn a throat out generally a bit quicker. A 1 in 7 inch twist barrel will stabilize bullets in the .223 Rem up to 77 grains and those will buck the wind pretty well for a 223 caliber. 0 -
quote:.223 big enough for coyotes???
Yes it is.
Next question. [;)]
Edit:
quote:What is my effective range on these critters?
You tell us.
At 300 yards most .223 rounds will retain more energy than a .22 magnum has at the muzzle.
Even at 500 yards most .223 rounds will still be packing quite a bit more energy than a typical high-velocity .22LR at the muzzle, meaning there is enough juice there to potentially kill a coyote.
So in practice, the biggest limiting factor is going to be your ability to connect, not the ballistic power of the round.
That, in turn, is going to depend on the quality of your gun, your load, your setup, and your fundamental marksmanship skills.
Assuming a good gun, glass, and ammo, 300 yards should definitely be within reach.0 -
I have many coyote calibers ranging from 22-250 up to a 300 WSM. If you stop to talk to me on the road you will find 90% of the time I will have my savage model 10 predator in .223 with me. It loves Black hills 50 grain v max loads and topped with a newer redfield 3X9X50 is deadly, given the above stated replys that the guy behind the trigger can do his job. Cannot say that the round has ever let me down, the shooter has before, but never that combonation. Shoot well and any of the above rounds will take out Mr Wiley! 0 -
I'll stir the pot. When I tried the 223 30+ years ago, I was totally unimpressed with it as a coyote round. Compared to my 22/250 it was a poor killer frequently producing long blood trails or lost animals. This was mostly due to the bullet performance and the ranges used. I also found the 22 mag worthless unless the coyote was very close for the same reason. Recent advances in bullets and loadings of both have changed both of these impressions. The 223 has it's limits regardless of what the fanatics say. It's a small case and cannot possibly produce the velocities the 220 Swift or 22/250 can. Within it's range, it will kill yotes but, the others will bang-flop a coyote a higher percentage of the time at longer range. I shoot the 223 often since it is cheap and will say that the drop and wind drift over 300 yards will make the "quick shoot before he runs" shot at a yote over 350 yards pretty iffy for most recreational shooters. 0
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