I shoot P/Dogs and Groundhogs. Here in Southwestern Ohio there are a lot of houses so I only use centerfire on Groundhogs when I am comfortable that I am not going to hit a house and that the Farmer is not going to flip when he hears the noise. So, I use .22 rim if I have to.
I recently purchased a Ruger 77/22 in .22 mag. I have just started hunting coyotes.. so my question is .. how effective is a .22 WMR for shooting coyotes. A couple of places where I hunt coyotes don't want me to use my .223 'cause of the noise. (sheep farms .. yeah you got it .. lamb chops for Wilecoyote). I have had a couple of chances at C'yotes with the .22wmr and passed up because I didn't want to chase them and listen to them holler. The bottom line is .. if I can't use the .22wmr... then I won't be able to hunt them on these farms ...

Whatdoyouthink?

Bill 22250
I have killed several coyotes over the years with a 22 mag. useing Winchester H.P. out to 175 yards.. Be sure of shot placement..I killed one last fall was 125 yards shot in the chest looking at me it just spun around fell over dead . The 22 mag is very underated I think . My $.02 worth

Thank you Yote Hunter. This is the kind of info I was looking for.

I will second a 22 Mag is underrated. Shot placement is key however. I have dispatched deer that have been hit by cars with head shots at 125 yds or so ( resting on the hood of the truck, not off hand).

However, last weekend up by Crater Lake ( Oregon) I had a "Coyote" run out in front of my Truck at about 30yds, across the Dirt road at a full gallop. I put Coyote in " " because this thing had black fur over most of its face and was as big as an Average sized German shepard.

From the coloration of it, I assumed it was a cross between a German Shepard and a Coyote (if that is possible, which I think it is). It had all the looks of a coyote but the size and coloration of the Shepard. A 22 mag would have Definitely had to have Effective shot placement on that. Wish I had time to get a bead on him before he disappeared in the brush at his dead run.

The last coyote I saw had coloration a little like a dog and it was pretty good size... when they are that big, I get worried about the knock down. But, I think I am going to try it. Using the 22mag sure gives me more hunting opportunities around here.

I have been shooting the Win 40gr HP and the CCI MAXI HP 40gr. I think the heavier bullet is a plus... any thoughts about that?

Thanks

bill22250,

'Yote Hunter' has pretty much told it like it is. The .22 WMR will do the job within range if you do yours. As far as having them run off and holler after being hit, it happens to the best of us even with good shot placement. I prefer to use a .22 Hornet basically because you can reload it. It's not that much louder with a 24" barrel than a short barreled .22 WMR. Lawdog

I personally think that coyote + 22wmr= bad idea. unless its way up close and in the head. having killed 100s of song dogs, i have seen them get hit and keep going. my personal minimum is 22.250 and up. even 223s out past a couple hundred yards run out of energy.

Why not use a cast bullet in a .22 centerfire? I load the 58 grain(RCBS Mold)in centerfires 2000-2200 fps and I haven't tried it on a coyote--but based on what it does to jackrabbits(yes much smaller even here in Texas)I don't see a problem.

I have been using my 22-250 in areas where the noise is not a problem. I also carry my 25-06.

But where I gotta keep the noise down... these are out .. unless I go with the cast bullet loadings... that is a good idea. That is popular at my gun club.

If the range isn't too extreme I'd opt for the .22 Hornet or K-Hornet.

Good Shooting,
Ben H

The other suggestions about a 22 Hornet are a good idea. I load 223 ammo to Hornet speeds or even to 22 Mag speeds.

My powder of choice is good old Blue Dot powder.
Handloading a 223, cases are cheap, last forever with blue dot loads, and if you need a heavier bullet than available for 22 mags, you can load it.

My preference is 50 TNT speers.

Those of us in the West have better opportunities to use 22/250s and their range moreso than some of our eastern hunters do.

For whatever is is worth, I tend to agree with hvyw8t about it not being a real good choice. I have shot coyotes with a 22 Hornet and had them run off with solid double lung hits. I really don't think a 223 is a good coyote gun. I use a 223 on occasion when a lot of walking is involved and have found the 60 gr. VMax at 3190 fps does a far better job of putting them down than any 50 or 55 gr. bullet and a 69 gr. MatchKing is better yet. Coyote guns IMHO beging with the 22-250 and get better as you go up. Be very careful with shot placement using the 22 WMR or you will be chasing coyotes frequently. I guess maybe I better go put on my fire retardant clothes after the MatchKing comment.

Shoot Safe, Shoot Straight......RiverRat

I have to agree with RiverRat about the hornet being a poor choice for coyotes, a 22mag. is even worse. Years ago I had a small action Sako barrelled for the 221 Fireball. I remember I shot mostly 45gr. hornet bullets about 3000fps. and was very dissapointed when I used this as a coyote calling rifle. With a perfect hit the coyote would die, but often after running some yards. A poor hit and you might as well forget it, not so with a 22/250 or larger. I like to spend my time calling for and not looking for coyotes. Call em in close_____Pete

With my Hornet, I limit my shots to under 100yards if they are facing me, and will stretch out to 150yds if they are standing broadside. I think I would cut those numbers in half if I were using a 22mag, and use the heaviest bullet you can get. Coyotes are very tough critters,
Fred in Colorado

8 eastern coyote pelts hanging on the wall can't be wrong. Not those scrawny western types.
Centerfires are great for smacking them, like a flyswatter on a fly, but as long as you don't mind fetching them 50-75 yards, the mag is great.
Hell, anything is better than the almighty 17 HMPR.
Trigger

Bill22250, I just sent you a PM.

BigIron

a 22 mag is always in the farm truck so of course it's shot a few coyotes. I only shoot the win supremes 33 grn HP as they are tack drivers in my rifle, and the damage they do at 100 yds or less has to be seen to be belived. I have only shot coyotes broadside, and 125 yds max, none made it over 75 yds after hit.

You have got it....seems like it is your only choice in some spots......go for it! Let us know how you do.

Good Hunting,

Bob

[ 09-10-2003, 18:10: Message edited by: Bob in TX ]

There is public land here in Illinois where you are allowed to use 22rf. I have a 22 mag to use there. I will only use solid bullets. I personally stay away from HP's in a 22 mag or 22 hornet when hunting coyotes.

I hunt every day around my place. I've tried every .22 mag. bullet made and I can tell you for sure that the only bullet I like is the Winchester Supreme 34 grain hollow point. It has a serated tip and upon contact it's devastating. I shot 5 coyotes in 2 hours with these bullets and they're accurate. If you use solid bullets the 22 mag doesn't have enough velosity to make them react and they will go in and out without much damage and the critter will run off. I shoot a Ruger 77 Varminter all Stainless rifle and I love it. I did have to get a trigger job but that's all. It's got a 6X Leupold scope and if I want it I've got it. It really loves house cats.

I've shot a couple 'yotes with a .22 WMR. Both were between 75 and 100 yards, standing broadside. Both went right down. However, I would not want to shoot one much past 100 yards. If memory serves, the .22 WMR has about the same energy at 100 yards as a .22 long rifle at the muzzle. I do like a semi-auto .22 WMR on yotes [assuming you have an accurate one] because it gives you a fast follow up shot, should you need it.

Jordan

I would have no problem shooting called in coyotes with a .22Mag. The only bullet I would consider though is the Winchester 34 grain HP. Granted it probably won't exit but it's like a little buzz saw inside. When squirrel hunting it does more damage than my .223 up close. I would limit shots with a .22Mag to under 100 yards.

NoCAL

The .22 Mag will kill coyotes, as with anything shot placement is important. I would recommend keeping shots under 100yds, but under that it WILL deliver the goods. I have only taken 2 coyotes with it but that has more to do with my calling ability than than the gun which is a Rem 597 .22 mag that will shoot 1" groups at 100 yds all day long with the Remington premier 33gr bullet(V-max) and is simply devistating on game. I tried the CCI TNT's and Win HP's but they would not group near as well in my gun (but those TNT's sure smoke out of the barrel!), so I'm sticking with something that will hit where I aim. The .22 mag has taken more game over the years than some people will admit(if you know what I mean). Like anything, when used within it's limitations you should have no problems.

I have shot coyotes with a 22mag at about 75 to 100 yards using the Federal HP in my Anchutz. I used it on Montana gophers, rabbits and coyotes since 1997. It is an extremely accurate rifle with the Federal ammo. When they are too far away for the 22 mag I just switch to the 223 or 22-250. However, the 22 mag is the gun by the door.

Steve

My great uncle's favorite deer and hog rifle is an Old Marlin in 22 Magnum. He has killed MANY of both and hasn't lost a one of either. He is an excellent woodsman. He says; "Up to 100 yards it will kill anything in Alabama". In his hands I would not argue the statement. He has an old Leupold 2-7 by 32mm on it. He has killed Quail and Ducks with it as well.

Kinda off subject, but I've shot eastern and western song dogs with a .223 using 55gr bullets and none that I've shot have failed to made it onto a stretcher.
FYI, a dog and coyote will readidly breed. However, if there is a viable population of coyotes available, they seldom will. That said, a dog coyote and a domestic dog will breed any females that will stand for him.
Does that remind you of anyone you know???