Early January, was asked to help reduce the coyote population on a friend’s farm. Used my 25-06 w/87gr Speer TNT HP, RL 19. No issues…it’s an exterminator.

Have been asked to come back later this year for a few days, same mission. I don’t own a .223 but am seriously considering purchasing a Thomson Center Venture Compact in this cartridge. The rifle is priced right, fits me perfectly, looks well made, floated barrel and good trigger. My other rifles have more expensive glass…this one, considering its singular role, I’m thinking maybe a Vortex Diamondback, 4x12x40…$199 @ Cabela’s.

Any thoughts on this particular rifle / cartridge / bullets / scope for this dedicated coyote rifle, shots typically under 200 yards.

Thanks.

Perfect cartridge for your needs and a absolutely suitable rifle too.
While I have not owned a Vortex Diamondback, the shop I deal with has stopped selling them due to customer complaints on quality. Terry tells me Vortex's higher end scopes are decent quality but their lower end scopes are lacking.
In that price range for glass I would opt for a used Leopold or Nikon.

Have fun yote shootn'

The .223 is an excellent cartridge for coyotes well beyond the range you mentioned. I use 50 grain ballistic tips in mine.
My success with accuracy in Ruger rifles has been very poor, so I can't answer that issue.
I use a 4-12X leupold on my coyote rifles. I have not owned the scope you mentioned so can't comment on its quality.

I think the .223 will be excellent. I happen to have a Rem 700 LVSSF that I really like, but it is heavier than what you are looking at. As long as the T/C shoots well, it should be fine.

I have no experience with Vortex scopes. Since you are not talking about great distances, I would just opt for a Nikon 4x12. You can find them very reasonably on Sportsman's guide and even as refurbs at Nachez when they are available. Mine are every bit as good as my Leupolds at half the price.

For bullets, you can do just about anything. I do Varmint Extreme from Midsouth which is very reasonable, but my preferred bullet is the James Calhoun 52G Double Hollow Point Rebated Boat tail. They just shoot very well from my rifle.

All of my coyote hunting has been done with a Rem 700 222 with 50 grain Nosler BT's under 24 grains of Benchmark powder and Federal BR brass. It's a true 1/4 MOA load in my rifle. Broadside lung shots generally go in and shred clock works without exiting. You should see the same performance in the 223.

What's wrong with using the 25.06 again?

My typical ranch coyote exterminator is a 22.250 but sometimes if I'm calling them out of the big fields from long distance, I'll use the 6.5x284.

I think the .223 would do great for what you want to do...if you aren't wanting to use the .25/06 for this duty anymore. I bet the 87gr bullet out of the .25/06 is impressive.

The Vortex Diamondback I have on one of my .308 rifles has given me zero issues. It is actually a great scope for the price. Vortex has an awesome turn around time and no questions asked warranty from everything I've seen...

Can't comment on the T/C rifle...I think the only thing T/C I've had is a Contender and a few muzzleloaders.

I would use a AR based rifle. A quick second shot can be helpful.

quote:

Originally posted by Fjold:
What's wrong with using the 25.06 again?

My typical ranch coyote exterminator is a 22.250 but sometimes if I'm calling them out of the big fields from long distance, I'll use the 6.5x284.

Absolutely nothing Fj...if the distances get longer, the .25 will get the nod. Most distances on this farm are under 200 yards. I thought about a 22-250 but a) already have the .25, and b) IMO, a compact rifle makes more sense in a .223. The Venture has a 20" barrel.

For 200 yards, even a 22 Hornet would due nicely. I'm betting the TC Venture in 223 will be just perfect for you.

I have a TC Icon in 243 and it does shoot sub-MOA as advertised, and it does it with most loads I run through it.

The 223 will work very well to about 300yds for a facing-me type shot, and a bit more than that when broadside. Since I use calls, I get head-on shots the vast majority of times.

I've found Hornaday Vmax to give more splash wounds than I care for, so usually use something else. This year, it's been the Sierra 55gr SPBT.

In general, the Vmax and Btip type bullets give more dramatic kills, where on a frontal chest shot, the coyotes get all stiff and tip over. Using softpoints, the coyotes front end goes down, followed by the rear end and maybe a flag wave as well.

I had a Diamondback 4x12x40 on a coyote rifle, but moved it to a big game rifle. It just wasn't bright enough for me to stay out coyote hunting when it got dark. For the normal big game hunting hours, it works just fine.

I'll give a thumbs up for the .223 in whatever type of rifle you like.

I prefer the 60+ grain bullets for coyotes. Soft point, not v-max or varmint-type bullets.

Anyway, you will be very happy with whatever type of .223 you go with.

Thanks to the OP for asking the question and to all those who give assurances that the .223 is fine for coyotes. I've never shot one but may get a chance this year. It's reassuring that the .223 gets a "thumbs up."

if I were to build the perfect coyote rifle, the .25-o5 would be on my short list of calibers as I like to use a rifle that I also use for deer: mine is an old M70 in .270. like you, the distances I shoot coyotes is 100-200 yards. no experience with vortex optics. I use an old Leupold 2x7 and always have it set on 4-5 power and almost never turn it up. The last one I shot was just a couple weeks ago: about 140 yards and 4x was just fine.

After reading these posts I purchased the TC Venture Compact. I don't creep a stock like most folks do so most new rifles are too long for me. This one fits me perfectly right out of the box. The rifle isn't light or heavy, just has a nice heft to it and balances well in the hand. Internet references on accuracy have been excellent, especially in .223. I passed on the scope merely because I was on the fence with the Diamondback, nothing more. I'll scope it in a month or so, make, model TBD. Something in a 2x7 or 3x9. Most of my rifles stay on 4 or 5 anyway.

Dies, Remington brass and Speer 52 gr HP are on the way. It was either that or the 50 BT and I thought the HP a good choice...goin' old school I guess.

Thanks everyone!

quote:

Originally posted by TASK1:
Dies, Remington brass and Speer 52 gr HP are on the way. It was either that or the 50 BT and I thought the HP a good choice...goin' old school I guess.

Thanks everyone!

Make sure that the Speer HP's are the flat based varmint bullets and not the boat tail target bullets, which likely won't upset on coyote flesh.

quote:

Originally posted by TREE 'EM:
Perfect cartridge for your needs and a absolutely suitable rifle too.
While I have not owned a Vortex Diamondback, the shop I deal with has stopped selling them due to customer complaints on quality. Terry tells me Vortex's higher end scopes are decent quality but their lower end scopes are lacking.
In that price range for glass I would opt for a used Leopold or Nikon.

Have fun yote shootn'

Lower end Vortex scopes are made in China. Only the high end stuff is American made.

quote:

Originally posted by TASK1: I passed on the scope merely because I was on the fence with the Diamondback, nothing more. I'll scope it in a month or so, make, model TBD. Something in a 2x7 or 3x9. Most of my rifles stay on 4 or 5 anyway.



Thanks everyone!

Add about $25 to what you were going to pay for the Chinese 4-12 x 40 Diamonbback and you could buy an American made Luepold VX-2 4-12 X 40

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Leupol...7:g:HRMAAOSwPc9W2D2v

quote:

Lower end Vortex scopes are made in China. Only the high end stuff is American made.

Unless I'm mistaken, and I could be as just this morning, my wife told me I was wrong, the low end Crossfire is Made in China, the Diamondback and Vipers are made in Philippines and the Razors are made in Japan.

No Vortex are Made in USA.

quote:

Originally posted by ColoradoMatt:

quote:

Originally posted by TASK1:
Dies, Remington brass and Speer 52 gr HP are on the way. It was either that or the 50 BT and I thought the HP a good choice...goin' old school I guess.

Thanks everyone!

Make sure that the Speer HP's are the flat based varmint bullets and not the boat tail target bullets, which likely won't upset on coyote flesh.

Just checked, they are varmint as ordered. Thanks.

For 200 yards, just about any centerfire cartridge will work. I've taken a few with the 223 in an AR using 50 grain varmint bullets. I just like the extra reach of the 22.250

in case you're still looking for a rifle, here's one on rokslide that might fit your needs. i do not know the seller

http://www.rokslide.com/forums...-4x12-scope-nib.html

My favorite coyote rifles are the .222 rem and the 6x45..

BTW, there is no such thing as a medium range coyote or any other animal caliber, Even in the thickest of bush you will get very long shots at times and in the wide open country you will get short range shots..

Your trying to limit yourself for some reason, but it won't work..A decent coyote is a a 22-250, 6x45, 243, all the 25s, 28s and 30s to name a few. but hey this also applies to deer, elk and all else that we hunt. No need to limit oneself.

Kind of late to this party, but I will throw in my 2 pennies.

I will start out by saying that for me, 200 and in is close range, not medium. I consider medium to be from 200-500 or so, and long past 500. I do kill 90% of mine within 200 yards though.

223 works great out to 200 or so IMO. Especially if winds are fairly calm. And for sure, a nice light 223 sporter for when there is lots of walking sure is handy. My favorite little rifle for that is my CZ-527. What bullet you shoot is going to have a lot to do with what twist you get. If it is a 1:12 you are probably going to want to stick with 40-50 grain bullets. I have had excellent results knocking coyotes down with the Midway Dogtown 50 spitzer. Faster twist than that, and one of the first bullets I would look at is the 53 VMAX. Really good BC on that one that will help cut the wind.

22-250 would be really hard to beat though. Sure it burns more powder, but when the wind starts to blow and ranges stretch out, it beats the 223 hands down. Performance is about the same as the 220 Swift, and I have shot a Swift barrel out on coyotes. Both solid performers, and hard to beat.

I have killed my fair share with a 25-06 too, and when conditions get really crappy it is a hammer. As long as you don't care about fur, that is.

But my hands-down favorite for killing coyotes is a 243 with an 87 grain VMAX. That is my day in and day out calling rifle. The 87 VMAX has a good BC, is accurate, shoots very well as far as I want to shoot it (800 yards or so), and lays coyotes down like the hammer of Thor. It is not for the squeamish, it blows big holes.

Of course, there are lots of other options as well. A 204 would work pretty good, better than the 223 IMO. Or one of the hotter 17's. Nearly anything will work though, just depending on what you want to shoot, and as long as you work within the limitations of it. Personally when I am killing coyotes I don't like limitations.

I pulled this triple on my first stand the other morning using the 243. Last one was killed off sticks at 387 yards.

JTP,
Your post changes the whole picture..simply requires a bit more gun for sure.

I use 85 gr Sierra blitz in my 243 they just hammer yotes for past 300 I prefer the 243 or 25-06.

I like my 6mm Remington with 55 grain Ballistic tips.....at around 4,000 fps, it's a serious varminter at serious ranges.....and yes, it shoots right on the 1" mark.

One can do the same with the .243 as well.

If I was saving coyote furs, I'd find a 204 or 17 Remington.

If I was just killing coyotes anything 223-22/250 is great. Nothing wrong with 243, 25-06, 7mm Magnum whatever.

I have shot the 243 Win on the Mexican Wolf back when it was legal and had one of the head mounted to save for the trophy room. This was 57 yrs ago!!! How many of you have a wolf hanging on the wall?

I bought an AR15 a few months ago in 5.56 and bought a Nikon P223 3X9 scope which is made to match the AR15 M4. This scope has an app to apply the scope range markers for any caliber and bullet velocity. Download the app on the iPhone and you have a field guide for any rifle with the total info in your hands. It is free for the download. It can be used as a change over scope for my other varmint rifles. It appears to be ideal for what I was looking to use for calling. Scope was on sale for $149 when I bought the AR15. I had the Krieger barrel in 20 caliber which was the original barrel on the 204 Ruger so I cut it down to 16 1/2 and added the flash hider for about 18 1/2. The 204 Ruger shell will fit into the magazine if it is under 2.245 inches oa. Now I have a quick change system from the 5.56 to the 204 Ruger in about 10 minutes as I didn't buy the complete upper unit. That may come later