Trying to figure out the best caliber to hunt coyotes, fox, and bobcats. Trying to make a decision and everyone I talk to tells me something different! Trying to get the majority rule!!

Thanks in advance

If your a pelt hunter the 17 remington is simply amazing.
If you just want them dead then a 22-250 or a 243 are the ticket, but it will mess up the hides something awful ever now and then.

.204 Ruger

If you don't hand load, I would get a .223. There are plenty of ammo options for you and it will do the job on any coyotes, fox, bobcats, coons, badgers, etc.

Good Hunting,

Bob

Adicted

For what your trying to do, a 223 will fix anything out to 300 yds. It is also one of the most common rounds anywhere and you have several bullets to choose from. Save your brass and maybe later on you might want to reload and it will get better yet. Enjoy

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
.204 Ruger

+1

I've seen squirrels killed at 400+ yards with it.

Addicted,
Your question strikes me as awful broad?
Best varmint caliber to hunt etc.......

I/ve shot coyotes with shotguns up to 45-70. If the objective is killing anything from a 22 lr. up will work.

What range will the majority of your shots occur. Most of my shot are 50 yds and under.

Do you plan on keeping the pelts, if so, any thing much bigger than a 17 hmr using a frangible bullet above 3000 fps is going to do some pretty major fur damage. A 17 remington or a 204 ruger will pretty much destroy a coon, fox or bobcat under 100 yds.

Do you reload, if not, as Bob suggested above, a 223 is probably the cheapest and most available. You can purchase fmj ammo to hollow points to big game bullets in 223.

I reload for four 17 caliber chamberings, one 20 caliber, six 22 caliber chamberings. Each has a place. However, I find myself more and more going to the 17 fireball. I would pobably use the 17 ackley hornet more but I have that in a contender. It is more fur friendly than the 17 fireball but I like the second shot capabilty of the bolt gun over the single shot of the contender, but that's digressing into action types rather than calibers.
Consider your options and then make your choice.
GWB

Thanks GWB,

I will be mostly walking and setting up stands. Shots could be out to 350yrds. Everybody has an opinion and everyones is different. "Not Suprised," we all like something a little different than anothers. Not trying to get pelts really. I will have them tanned but this is just for fun, something to get me through the months where deer season ended and turkey season begins. I have a bad coyote problem at one of my best turkey spots. I am sure that once I get full steam into this new outdoor activity I will once again become addicted and consumed with another type of hunting. So...Just trying to get the best bang for my buck and get the best caliber for the purpose. After I posted the question I realized what a broad topic that was.

Thanks very MUCH GWB and everyone alse who has helped!

Amen on the 223!!!
That cartridge has so much going for it; few others come close. All things considered too.

.223 again
22-250 reloads work for me too

Cats you say? A 375 H&H Magnum shooting 300 gr. Hornady FMJ round nosed bullets worked well on this African Wild Cat.

Grumulkin,
Its hard to argue that. My only triple on hogs with one bullet was with my 375 H&H. A 260gr sierra spitzer went through all three and kept on going. That was a couple of years ago. As it was an uphill shot, for all I know it still may be flying and killing, unless gravity has taken its effect
GWB

Ain't many things a man can't fix with $800 and a 30-06.

quote:

Trying to figure out the best caliber to hunt coyotes, fox, and bobcats.

Are you allowed suppressors in your parts? If you lean that way, a 223 with a half decent suppressor of the over barrel type is so quiet you would think your shot did not go off! (It might be same for a 22-250 but I havn't heard one). Just a consideration.