any of you fellers call in and take coyote's with a handgun. how tuff is it? hehe, i may just try it.

Kyode, I had an article published in Varmint Hunter mag, issue #41, entitled, "Spotting and Stalking Coyotes", in which I detailed some of my experiences with a .17 Mach IV XP using 29+30 gr. bullets at about 3450 on coyotes. I've also just had Greg Tannel at Gre-Tan Rifles, Kersey, CO build me a .224 Vais (6.5-55 necked to .224") XP, but I haven't had a chance to develop any loads yet. I believe though with a 55 gr. Blitzking, I'll be able to reach out with it some. I've got a 4-12X Burris Mini with Ballistic Plex reticle-- we'll see. He also built a 6.5-284 XP for me as well, and I think the 100 Nosler B.T. ought to reach out as well. It's got a 3-12X Burris with Ballistic Plex as well. By the way just to let you know, I'll never have another pistol/rifle that's chambered in a bottle-necked cartridge without some sort of ranging system built into the scope again. If you've ever used one it's hard to go back to "guessing" bullet impact beyond the point blank range of the cartridge/firearm/target.

I have taken quite a few Coyotes with a handgun if you use the definition loosely. I use an XP100 chambered in 250 Ackley Improved 40. I use a straight 12 Leupold rifle scope and a JP tank brake on it.If they stop within about 200 they have had it. I have also used others, but this is my favorite. Yes, it is a lot of fun. Russ

Kyode,
Have taken several coyotes with a handgun in the past. Some have been called in and one I crawl stalked. sscoyote does a lot of coyote calling and I was with him (he was doing the calling) on most of these kills. Prone is the best way (for me), but it is difficult to be prone and call at the same time.
xphunter

I've taken a couple with a .243 Winchester Savage Striker Handgun with a 3x12x Burris Handgun Scope. One was called in and it was the funniest thing I ever had happen while Calling Coyotes.

I had set up, and was about to start calling. Well along happened a Jackrabbit. the jack stopped out about 100 yards, and I promptly shot him with the .243 Striker. As I was reloading the Striker I thought, Rabbit Screams. So I immediately started screaming with my Sceery AP3. Low and behold another Jack showed up. Yep, shot that one too, and again immediately started screaming with the Sceery AP3. I screamed for about 30 seconds, and stopped and was intent on the area I thought the Coyotes would be coming from. All of a sudden I looked over at the two dead Jackrabbits, and there was a Coyote standing between them. First he looked at the one on the left, then the one on the right, then the Striker roared, dead coyote.

On the other one I was taking my wife and daughter to a neighboring town for supper. As we passed a vacant farm yard there was a Coyote standing right in the middle of the yard. I slipped out of the Blazer with the .243 Striker, made my way to the edge of the trees, and added another Coyote to the list.

This afternoon (if everything goes as planned) I hope to get the chance to take one with my 6mm T/CU VVCG Contender. It is sighted in for the 80gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips, so we'll hopefully see how they perform. I had to shoot a Whitetail Deer yesterday with the 6mm T/CU that had been hit buy a vehicle. It was a smaller Whitetail, the range was about 100 yards, and bullet performance seemed quite good.

Good luck, the CD is in the mail.

Larry

Kyode, Just a few more thoughts here. I always call from a sitting position, never any other, because sitting is the most flexible position to maneuver from, as well as being the most comfortable (not important for a few stands, but definitely so for an all-dayer). I also use a tall Harris swiveling bipod most of the time, unless I'm calling off a bluff where I can't get off a comfortable shot below me with the pod. It's very often more difficult to shoot the ss pistols, than a rifle, but then again I guess the increased challenge is why we're all doing it this way anyway. As far as the comfort factor goes (increasingly important the older I get), pick up one of those closed-cell foam stadium seats at department store. Pick up a burlap bag at a feed store, or wherever. Slide the seat into the bag, cut holes in the bag for the various seat attachments, and presto-- the most comfortable butt protection ever. Also it's a pretty good idea to reinforce the seat aarea a little more by sliding extra closed cell foam into the bottom part of the seat under the velcro. This sure makes for a much more comfortable day of calling (if you're hunting 'em that way).

I've done a few in with a 44 super blackhawk, 221 fireball (10" contender), and even with my ruger 22lr pistol. We have quite a population of the critters in NE Calif., and they provide an excellent winter hunting opportunity! Try it, you'll like it!!!!!

Shrubber

Kyode, just went out yesterday, spotting + stalking dogs. Was spotting off a small bluff which overlooks a cactus flat that drops off into a dry creek bed. I located a coyote bedded along the edge of the creek bed. I ranged him at 912 yds. So I picked up my gear and slowly descended off the bluff straight toward the dog. The sun was behind me, but he was watching me as I moved along the flat. I had howled before so he probably assumed I was a tall coyote--yeah right--. I cut 200 yds. off the range, and the dog was still laying there watching me. But I didn't want to push it , as I figured he wouldn't stay there long. So I set up for a shot. I was using my 6.5-284 16" xp. with 129 gr. Hornady SST bullets. I put the bipod legs down, pulled out the Leica laser and ranged off a small tree I thought he was laying next to. I have a 3-12X Burris with Ballistic Plex reticle installed that I zeroed out to 700 yds. 700 yds. is where the Plex part of the reticle starts (actually my 600 yd. zero with 27 clicks added). On perfectly calm days I can obtain 5-8" groups at that range with the 129 gr. SST, sometimes smaller. There wasn't even a hint of wind. So I held right on and touched it off. You're not going to believe it but I missed him-- at only 712 yds! As it turns out though when I walked over to where he was laying, the tree I ranged off of was actually 125 yds. farther away on the far side of the creek. You'll never know how much I wanted that dog. I'm not saying the reason I missed hin was because I miscalculated the range since 500-700 yds. is certainly too far most of the time. But the important point here is how many guys actually know where their p.o.i. is at ranges beyond point blank. Is a total luck shot beyond point blank range any luckier than a 700 yd. calculated shot ???? Since I've investigated the possibilities I know which one is luckier.

wow, 712 yards. it would be great to practice that far out. i sure don't know my impact trajectory that far away.

I've taken a number of coyotes over the years with handguns. Yes, it's more difficult than doing so with a rifle, but it's also much more rewarding. I've used everything from a little 10" Hornet to a Ruger Super Redhawk (9.5") .44 Magnum -- and a number of calibers in between as well.

The caliber I used most was a little 6mm-.223 (aka 6x45) on an XP action that now belongs to another forum member (jsh).

With an 80 grain Sierra SSP at 2740 fps, it was extremely lethal on coyotes. On one of my most memorable outings, I took a rare double in West Texas (near Balmorhea). I was hunting a rather open expanse of typical cactus & thorn-laced terrain, and after I bagged the first coyote, I reloaded and began a series of "ki-yi" (pup-type squeals) yelps in hopes of stopping the other for a shot. It all happened quickly, but I was able to bag the male coyote as well -- and he was out near 300 yards when I finally touched the trigger. The flatness of the little 6mm-.223's trajectory was a definite plus in this instance.

In their 6mmTCU's....

Bobby Tomek uses 80 grain Sierra SSP and...

SD Handgunner uses 80gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips

I'm looking for a load for my 12.75" 6mmTCU VVCG barrel for bobcats which IMO should be close to the same load they use for coyotes.

What say you guys about what bullet I should use? I was thinking about the 58gr V-Max but am worried about early expansion and cratering.

I want a quick kill and since we have very heavy brush here in Florida I really need it.

Do you guys (and everyone for that matter) think I should consider the heavier bullets such as the 80's? How about a "deer" bullet?

As a matter of possible interest my 6mmTCU really loves the 87gr V-Max bullet also but still it's an explosive varmint bullet designed for prairie dogs (I think)...

I'll call Hornady and Sierra and see what they say too and report back here.

$bob$

Bob-You won't have any problems putting a cat down quickly with the 6 TCU and any expanding bullet. The Sierra 80 grain SSP will do minimal damage on an exit yet will take the kitty out in a hurry. That's the bullet I recommend.

I hope you get the 'cat soon as I know they'll be shedding in a few weeks -- and that doesn't make for the best taxidermy work.

Morning Bob. I tried the 58gr. Hornady V-MAX out of a 14" Savage Striker in .243 Winchester on a big ole Coyote. I was intending that this lightweight bullet would blow up inside and not leave an unsightly exit hole. Well I had that part right. The part I didn't plan on was hitting him square on the shoulder. Yep it put him down quickly, but he didn't stay that way long, and was up and running. Fortunately he stopped when I BARKED with my voice, and a second 58gr. Hornady V-MAX was placed where the first one should have went, and the results were as they should have been in the first place.

Bobby has had excellent results with the 80gr. Sierra SSP Spitzer. However until I shoot more critters with the 80gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip, I'll reserve my comments till then on it.

Good luck.

Larry

[ 01-29-2003, 19:03: Message edited by: SD Handgunner ]

Thanks Larry and Bobby,

I'll work on this some and let you know how it goes....

Looks like the 58gr V-Max won't do....

I'll probably try the Sierra.... Wait... I have some Hornady 80gr SP/SSP (Soft Point Single Shot Pistol) bullets #2435.

Have any opinions on those?

$bob$

[ 01-30-2003, 05:38: Message edited by: LDHunter ]

The Hornady 80 grain SSPs perform similarly to the Sierra SSP but is slightly more prone to jacket/core separations. The reason I have used them minimally is I could never quite get the same velocity as I could with the Sierra. Granted, there's much more to this game than velocity, but the difference, in my guns, was usually around 100-125 fps. And when something works well, I tend to stick with it -- and that's why I've been shooting the Sierra 80 grain SSP since it first became available. No, it's not magic, but whether it's up close or at extended ranges, that little 80 grain bullet does everything one could reasonably expect of it -- and it is so predictable in performance that it is almost boring.

wish i could add some info here. but no luck. i went out with the 6br encore this evening, loaded with my 80gr sierra sspb deer bullet. i bet it would work though. it was my first calling session for coyote by handgun. i contacted sierra a few weeks ago on their 80gr blitz bullet for deer out of a 6tcu. the technician figured it would be just about perfect. may be worth a try. the blitz has a boattail base and looks more streamlined than the sspb. like bobby, i like the 80gr sspb very well, but it's nice to have a go to just in case your in a bind.

Kyode-
If the truth be known, the 80 grain Blitz performs almost IDENTICALLY to the Sierra 80 grain SSP -- except at close range, and that's simply due to the design and also to the boat-tail. But other than that, they perform quite the same.

Guess what Kyode? I wasn't going to post this info. here but I couldn't resist, so here goes. Went out yesterday for coyotes. A friend and I were howling some sandhill country, when I spotted 2 dogs north of me close to the top of of a high hill. One was acting a little nervous, but the other was contendedly sitting there on his haunches just watching us. I thought that this might give me a chance for a long shot, so I ranged them with my 1200 yd. Leica--906 yds. I tried giving them a few challenge howls, but the 1 dog just sat there while the other just milled around. There was absolutely no way to get closer since they were alerted. I had my Gre-Tan Rifles, Kersey CO 16" 6.5-284 XP with the aforementioned (I think) 3-12X Burris Ballistic Plex reticle. The gun was zeroed out to 700 yds. Conditions were perfect, i.e. no wind. I thought why not, and decided to give it a go. I cranked almost a complete revolution into the turret, and got set up. I was using a burlap-covered soft-cushiioned stadium seat that provided pretty good back support (the only way to hunt coyotes, by the way--complete comfort). The rig was on a tall swiveling Harris bipod set pretty comfortably for a sitting shot. so I leaned back into the seat, put the bottom of the grip on my knee and placed the dog right at the intersectiion of the fine X-hair, and Plex, right at his neck. I touched it off. Immediately I could barely see a dog running off on the hill. When I put the binocs up, there was a small white spot on the ground where I shot. I thought-- no way (as did my partner), well as it turns out I got that dog. The 129 gr. Hornady SST at 2950 f.p.s. m.v. took him in the chest and exited about the size of a quarter out the back. Luck? Yeah no doubt about it but did the Leica, Burris B.P. reticle, and some experience shooting at long-range help? I know it did! Longest shot I've ever made. By the way the other dog came back a minute or so after I shot. Of course I shot at her (probably a mating pair since it is that time of year) as well, but can you believe it? I missed her, darn it. Man would that have been a story. Maybe this seems unethical to some out there, but on the ranches I hunt I have to take as many coyotes as I can.

Kyode, went out today, spotted and stalked a coyote to 95 yds. and missed him with the same gun I got the long shot with!!!?

sscoyote,
All I can say is congratulations! I know it sounds unbelieveable to a lot of folks, but not to me. I've seen you at the range, in field, and at the bench. You wouldn't let me get my old XP back now would you?
Okay, I have one question, what made you give almost one full revolution of clicks? Was it a good guesstimate based on experience or do you have your clicks memorized at extreme ranges?
Regardless it is still a Great shot! Not many would even consider it in a rifle little alone in a specialty handgun.
xphunter

what kinnda rest you using in the field? i bet that brings a feller back to reality in a hurry, to miss at close range(hehe,95 yards) after makin those long shots. i've missed deer i could almost reach out and touch, and then pull off a dandy at 250 yards. hopefully, i'll get back out and try to call some soon. i may just like this coyote callin, if i could at least see one. to take one with my handgun would just be icing on the cake.

sscoyote

WOW that's a heck of a shot, Congratulations. As for the next post, yep I think we all have missed a couple from time to time that should have been in the bag.

Great shootin bud.

Larry

Well, my 6mm T/Cu let me down this afternoon, or maybe I should say, I let my 6mm T/CU down.

At any rate, the second stand of the afternoon produced a Called in Coyote. He came in late, and I could barely make him out as darkness fell. After I turned the magnification on the 3x12x Burris up a little I could see him better, so I steadied the Contender on my crossed shooting sticks, thumbed back the hammer, touched the trigger and missed him clean. I could almost hear him laughing at me as he ran over the hill.

In the darkness he appeared to be farther away that he was, so I held high on the chest, and shot right over him. Yep I guess I let my 6mm T/CU down in this case. Once it was all over we checked the distance and it was 150 yards, but I would have almost bet anything it was closer to 225.

Guess I have to wait till next time to harverst a Coyote with the 6mm T/CU and the 80gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips.

Nope things do not always go as planned, but had a great afternoon anyway.

Larry

Larry-
I can sympathize with misjudging range in fading light. When Lone Star Hunts was still in business, I misjudged an awesome aoudad ram and shot over him. But I got lucky: across the next canyon, another (albeit smaller) ram stopped. We were able to close the distance, and I was able to make amends by dropping this one on the spot with a .257 JDJ I had back then.

On the first ram, I held on the top of the back and simply shot over as I made a hasty shot attempt in the fading light. (I did the same thing on a wild hog last summer.)

After settling down and getting a second chance, I was able to make a 190-200 yard shot on a young ram which turned out to provide some terrific eating. But like I noted, I really got lucky on that particular hunt. When handgun hunting, second chances seem to be rather few and far between...

[ 02-02-2003, 08:45: Message edited by: Bobby Tomek ]

OK boys got another one for ya. Got another kitchen pass yesterday, so I headed out. Got to a place that I had seen some dogs running in about a week ago. I got high on some tepee buttes and located a dog about 3/4 mile away in a cactus flat that bordered a ravine. I could barely follow his progress even with the sun reflecting off him, but i could tell he was heading for the ravine, and probable bed (1 o'clock and 60*). A couple hundred yards from the ravine was another small tepee butte that provided a platform to observe the ravine and flat. So i grabbed gear and took off. About an hour later (I had to negotiate some obstacles to get to the butte) I was sitting on top of it glassing the ravine/flat--nothing. So I got set up (range finder out, pistol sitting at the ready), and let out a couple of howls. I wasn't sure how far the sound was going as I was bucking a consistent 20 m.p.h. wind. I looked around for a few seconds--nothing, but I was looking into the sun, and I KNOW just how often this will compromise my sight. Picked up the glasses and scanned around. Sure enuf there he was on the far side of the ravine just standing there watching me. I already knew app. how far he was as I had ranged off the ravine @ 350 yds. or so. I grabbed the gun resting on my pack, and tried to acquire him in the 3-12X Burris @ 12X. By the time I got a decent sight picture, he was loping away from me. I picked up the laser and fired at him again when he stopped-- 400+/-. I grabbed the gun again and watched him through the scope as he loped away. Fortunately he stopped one last time, and turned broadside. I held for 450, and got off a quick shot. I grabbed the binocs real quick and watched him depart, but I knew I had him--his tail was spinning in that typical fashion that signifies a "death run" A couple of seconds later he fell over dead. When I got to him I found the 129 gr. Hornady SST took him low in the chest with about a 1" exit wound.
The problem with this long-range coyote stuff, as I had anticipated is going to be bullet performance. Nobody is making a high b.c. varmint bullet. I can see now that this is going to require some experimentation. I'm going to have a 6(or 25) wssm built by Greg Tannel soon to see if I can get some decent bullet perfromance from a handgun length barrel @ long-range on coyotes???? Maybe the 25 85 gr. Nosler, or 6mm 80 Nosler, or 87gr. V-max?? Everything else is covered, i.e. accurate gun, Leica lasers, practice at long-range. Anybody got any suggestions on pistol barrel length bullet performance on coyotes beyond 400yds.???????

Kyode one last time (sorry to take up this much space), For a rest I use the tall adjustable swiveling Harris bipod, in a calling scenario. With a little practice it works OK. not as good as a rifle of course, but of course it's more fun. The scope is set at 6X for calling --always (of course this means that you can't use the Ballistic Plex reticle, as it should be setup for the highest manification, and is only usable at that particular magnification). But in a calling scenario a ranging reticle is only occasionally useful, as there is usually no time for mental calculations. The best piece of gear I have for calling-- my seat, no question. I explained how to make it above in a previous posting. After putting 15-20 stands in/day calling, you will not believe how much it adds to butt/back comfort.
I have been calling coyotes for 25 years now, and although I still get a thrill when they respond, there's nothing more challenging/rewarding than spotting and stalking--BELIEVE ME!!!