Coyote and Deer Rifle caliber Choices??

05 November 2002, 10:55

<Ryan>

I am thinking of getting a small caliber rifle that I can use for coyotes with out fear of destroying pelts. However, I also want a rifle that can be used with faith for antelope and mule deer. Any thoughts?

I was considering the 6mm and the .223.

05 November 2002, 11:09

<FarRight>

A 6mm may do the trick if you load it right. Personally, I would go with a .257 cal like the .25-06.

05 November 2002, 11:12

B_Koes

The 6mm is a good deer/antelope cartridge. It is also a good coyote getter, but you will need to excercise some care when reloading because it will be pretty easy to mess a coyote up with a 6mm too.

05 November 2002, 11:37

Handloader

Either a 6mm or a 243 Win would make you a fine light caliber Deer Rifle when loaded with 100 grain Partitions and will do a good job on Coyotes when loaded with either the 55 grain or 70 grain Ballistic tips. [Wink]

05 November 2002, 14:30

Vman

The 243/6MM is listed as minimun caliber for legal harvesting of big game in Colorado. I have hunted coyote with success and realize a bullet harder than Vmax or BiltzKing is required in 224 caliber so I now pack a 243 in Wby SPM for coyotes/deer/pronghorn.

05 November 2002, 15:10

<Eagle Eye>

I have tried all the smaller deer cartridges for double duty on varmints. I ended up with the 25-06 and stuck with it. It is devastaing on deer, antelope and 'yotes at incredible distances. Much more reliable as a deer slayer than the 6mm choices.

05 November 2002, 16:09

tom holland

quote:
Originally posted by Ryan:
I am thinking of getting a small caliber rifle that I can use for coyotes with out fear of destroying pelts. However, I also want a rifle that can be used with faith for antelope and mule deer. Any thoughts?

I was considering the 6mm and the .223.

Better check with fish and game I think you have to use a min 6mm with a 85 gr bullet to hunt big game in co (deer). just my .02 worth Tom

05 November 2002, 17:00

Wstrnhuntr

That is just what Im building a 257 AI for. Light enough recoil for regular varminting and yet enough gun for long shots at Mule Deer. If you dont want pelt damage Id try something like a Matchking. Im not one who uses them (Matchkings) on big game but it should do a dog easily enough.

05 November 2002, 19:25

markus

they have full metal jacket bullets for the 6mm's don't know how they would work on a coyote but it may be an option.

05 November 2002, 20:55

m700

My 7mm Rem mag doesn't exactly "destroy" coyote pelts but it does slam 'em down!

If you really want the pelts you need a bullet that won't expand too much and penetrate completely. That combo is a sure way to destroy the pelt. I just want to clobber the 'yote, and don't particularly care how big a hole I leave in it, so the 7mm mag is fine with me.

When I'm feeling like saving the hide, I go with a 6mm Rem and 100 grain soft points of one make or another. Doesn't really seem to matter. They penetrate and expand, but leave a relatively small exit wound. At least compared to my alternative! Oh, and the 6mm kills deer just fine. Regards, Guy

06 November 2002, 03:17

Dutch

The faster 6mm can really do a number on a coyote, too. My father-in-law has a 240 WBY I load for, and even with 55 gr. Ballistic Tips, it blows great big chunks out of the fur.

The only option I can see is to go with something like an "x", which leaves small entry and exit holes in a larger caliber. JMO, Dutch.

06 November 2002, 03:37

<Dan in Wa>

If you stay from major bones the Speer 120gr. flat base in the .25/06 works great on coyotes if you want minimum pelt damage. I use the Speer 100gr. flat base on deer and antelope, the 120gr. on larger game.
P.S. Got a larger rifle for larger game.

06 November 2002, 04:00

Pecos41

The only way the half-way insure no pelt damage is going to require shooting something akin to AP bullets. Only problem with them is you may not like the way they kill. Most animals can cover a LOT of ground with a fatal wound which means you will be spending a lot of time and energy chasing and looking for them.

The next best option in my opinion is going to be using heavy premium bullets designed to ensure against bullet desentigration. Expensive and you will still get some damage.

Least appealing option to me would be load your rifles down considerably. Drawbacks are poor trajectory and velocity and you may still get a bullet that "blows" now and then.

I would go with 223 just for the easy access to 55 gr fmj if you're all that concerned about pelts...but as some have suggested, check game laws.

06 November 2002, 07:35

Gringo

I use the 70 BT's on Coyotes with a 6mm-284, but is not a hide gun for sure. Unless you are doing serious hide hunting, I recommend buying a rifle set up for the Muleys 270, 7 mm, 25-06, ect. and kill coyotes with it. I used a 30-06 for years with 165 gr Sierras (Not Match Kings)before I got addicted to speed. It killed about 6 times as many coyotes as deer. But after 9 months of coyotes, deer looked like elephants in the scope.

Suerte...Frank

06 November 2002, 10:37

Lucky Shot

How about a 260? Any of the guns listed would work fine in the double duty roll but bullet selection will be key to success. If a hide is wanted then my vote would be go with a match grade bullet since they don't expand much.

06 November 2002, 11:02

<XTARHEEL>

How about the good old '06? There are plenty of 150gr military FMJ bullets that should punch through a 'yotte without too much dammage.

07 November 2002, 03:55

<Ryan>

Thanks for the comments fellas. Well I think I need to reassess why I would want a double duty rifle. I also own a .270 win and a .300 weatherby so why not just go with a varment rifle.

Thanks -

07 November 2002, 05:25

<Ol' Sarge>

.25-06!

07 November 2002, 14:11

yotecaller

I would choose the 243 Winchester.It is a great round for Yotes and Deer size animals.

07 November 2002, 14:56

DannoBoone

quote:
Originally posted by Ryan:
Thanks for the comments fellas. Well I think I need to reassess why I would want a double duty rifle. I also own a .270 win and a .300 weatherby so why not just go with a varment rifle.

Uh-huh. If you have a good .270, then you KNOW you already have a good antelope/
deer rifle! I have its little sister, the 25-06 and it never met a deer it couldn't handle,
even with little Hornady 75gr HP's, but wouldn't THINK of using them on a coyote with
intentions of saving the pelt.

IF you like wild-catting, there are many calibers out there which give a quick, clean kill
without exit wounds, .17's, .19', and .20's. Chest shots with these calibers are
devestating.

07 November 2002, 17:56

<Doc in Texas>

My Choice would be a 257 Robts.AI you can load it down for just shooting and load it up to 25/06 Vel. for Deer and other things. My kids use one for hunt Yotes and Speedgoats.

Just my 2 cents

Doc

07 November 2002, 18:11

BigNate

Ryan,
Try a .257 Roberts! I have used many things over the years but the Roberts is more than capable of double duty. I tried the 60gr. pills and if they were fast they made a mess. I liked and continued to use Hornady 75gr. hp's and for deer 100gr. and bigger work great. I loaded the 75gr. HPs pretty fast but not pushing max and they didn't exit when put into the chest. I did make a mess of one with a neck shot.
For a real fur gun you should look into the .223 Rem. I used Speer 52gr. HPs loaded up near max and not only does it dump 'em but doesn't exit at all! I have also done quite a bit of shooting with the .22-250 and it works well but again the bullet has to come apart or it blows a big hole if they are close. I usually took a battery along calling so I could use whatever fit the need. The 12ga. in brush with #3 buck, .223 for areas where they come in well, and the .22-250 for the open areas. I think the .223 was the most useful in most situations. Incidently my closest yote was with the .257 and there were bits on my boots, gun barrel, and the tree. They can get pretty close!