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Best Coyote rifle #8530760 02/13/22 11:20 PM
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rickt300 Offline OP
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Don't care about pelts and generally will be shooting and calling. Currently I am using a 243 pushing Nosler 55 gr. Ballistic Tips around 3800 fps. Thinking about putting together a 22-250AI with a 1-12 twist and shooting 40 to 55 grain Ballistic Tips. I guess I could build a 224 creed with a 1-12 twist. Brass isn't hard to come by either way.

Last edited by rickt300; 02/14/22 12:06 AM.
Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8530783 02/13/22 11:47 PM
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Lots of good choices there but I am so sick of this ammo shortage

Idk, I’ve got a 22-250 and about 12 boxes of good stuff left

Because of that, my situation and ammo pile that’s what I am using

Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8530793 02/14/22 12:06 AM
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I can keep this 243 running for a while, have lots of good brass, primers and bullets. I could do the same with a 22-250 also.

Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8531046 02/14/22 04:29 AM
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I wouldn’t do an AI just due to fire forming and it’s really not gaining you much over the 243


"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."

Jack O'Connor 1963
Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8531076 02/14/22 08:45 AM
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You’re already using the best caliber for coyotes if you don’t care about pelts. That’s hands down my favorite


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Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8531458 02/14/22 08:30 PM
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Carry my 22 250 more than any but use my 243 sometimes. .

Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8531597 02/14/22 11:33 PM
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If I was considering a custom 22 cal such as 22-250AI or 22 Creed, I'd definitely go with a faster twist like 1-7.5 or 1-8 so I could shoot heavy bullets.

Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8532204 02/15/22 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by rickt300
Don't care about pelts and generally will be shooting and calling. Currently I am using a 243 pushing Nosler 55 gr. Ballistic Tips around 3800 fps. Thinking about putting together a 22-250AI with a 1-12 twist and shooting 40 to 55 grain Ballistic Tips. I guess I could build a 224 creed with a 1-12 twist. Brass isn't hard to come by either way.

I've got both a .243 and a 22-250 (not AI), and they both kill the song dogs really, really dead. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the ones you're considering. I'd just take a careful look at the ballistics tables for each one and find out which performs better at the ranges you normally shoot. Once you've got that down, start building! You can't go wrong.

Last edited by mikei; 02/15/22 06:41 PM.
Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8532599 02/16/22 04:02 AM
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For my shooting the 243 really does all I need, shoots flat enough that I don't really have to sweat holdover out to 300 yards. As for a fast twist .224 I have talked myself out of this idea many times. I really don't shoot any farther than 400 yards ever and over 300 very rarely so in my case a fast well shaped 55 grain bullet will work fine for me. The only reason I am contemplating another rifle is I have shot my 22-250 out and want to rebarrel it. Probably just get another 22-250 barrel. It is a great cartridge. I do have a bunch of Hornady 75 grain BTHP bullets so I might go 1-9 twist so I can use them if I want.

Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8532650 02/16/22 09:24 AM
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Build a 22-243


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Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: WBT] #8532936 02/16/22 06:20 PM
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Originally Posted by WBT
If I was considering a custom 22 cal such as 22-250AI or 22 Creed, I'd definitely go with a faster twist like 1-7.5 or 1-8 so I could shoot heavy bullets.

basically longer bullets


hold on Newt, we got a runaway
Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8533323 02/17/22 02:26 AM
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I don't know how many times I've switched rifles but I always end up putting the 243 back in the truck. 58's at around 3850 to 3900 fps puts them down hard.

Not a fan of anything under 22 cal and less than 3500 fps. Shot a 204 for a little while and loved how flat and fast it was, hit more running yotes with that rifle than any other. I also had to shoot several yotes twice with that one. I've got some 70 grain loads for my 240 Weatherby that ran 3700 fps but have tried it one a yote yet.

I'd personally go with the 243 and no smaller/less than a 22-250.


Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8538246 02/22/22 07:26 PM
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I started shooting a 224 Valkyrie 2 years ago & have been very impressed with it. It handles heavier bullets than standard 5.56 & has proven to be a sledge hammer for coyotes. Mine patterns best with the 78 grain Barnes bullet & it great out to 500-600 yards.

Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8538464 02/23/22 12:07 AM
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What part of Texas do you get shots at coyotes that far?

Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: GusWayne] #8538487 02/23/22 12:34 AM
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Originally Posted by procraft05
Lots of good choices there but I am so sick of this ammo shortage

Idk, I’ve got a 22-250 and about 12 boxes of good stuff left

Because of that, my situation and ammo pile that’s what I am using

If you are sick of the ammo shortage, make sure you vote so that elections have consequences.

To stay on thread, for me the best coyote rifle would be a Remington 700 or custom action in .22-250AI with a 1 in 8 twist, 26 inch SS Sendero contour barrel, good optics. They won't have a chance, even at 500-600 yards with a load the rifle likes.


"Whitetail Deer are extinct because of rifles with telescopes mounted on them." - My 11th Grade English Teacher
Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: LeonCarr] #8538599 02/23/22 03:06 AM
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Originally Posted by LeonCarr
Originally Posted by procraft05
Lots of good choices there but I am so sick of this ammo shortage

Idk, I’ve got a 22-250 and about 12 boxes of good stuff left

Because of that, my situation and ammo pile that’s what I am using

If you are sick of the ammo shortage, make sure you vote so that elections have consequences.

To stay on thread, for me the best coyote rifle would be a Remington 700 or custom action in .22-250AI with a 1 in 8 twist, 26 inch SS Sendero contour barrel, good optics. They won't have a chance, even at 500-600 yards with a load the rifle likes.


Little heavy for a calling rifle unless your young and tough. I did vote and I am still sick of the primer situation!

Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: BigPig] #8538651 02/23/22 04:36 AM
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Originally Posted by BigPig
You’re already using the best caliber for coyotes if you don’t care about pelts. That’s hands down my favorite

Was about to say the same thing.


To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

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Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8539749 02/24/22 01:11 PM
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Originally Posted by rickt300
Originally Posted by LeonCarr
Originally Posted by procraft05
Lots of good choices there but I am so sick of this ammo shortage

Idk, I’ve got a 22-250 and about 12 boxes of good stuff left

Because of that, my situation and ammo pile that’s what I am using

If you are sick of the ammo shortage, make sure you vote so that elections have consequences.

To stay on thread, for me the best coyote rifle would be a Remington 700 or custom action in .22-250AI with a 1 in 8 twist, 26 inch SS Sendero contour barrel, good optics. They won't have a chance, even at 500-600 yards with a load the rifle likes.


Little heavy for a calling rifle unless your young and tough. I did vote and I am still sick of the primer situation!

I personally prefer sendero/heavy barrel type rifles for most of my rifle hunting. The lightest deer rifle I have weighs a hair over 11 pounds. YMMV.


"Whitetail Deer are extinct because of rifles with telescopes mounted on them." - My 11th Grade English Teacher
Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8540178 02/24/22 07:14 PM
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I have an old tang safety Ruger 77V in 220 Swift, with a 20” barrel. If our place is pigless, like right now, that’s what I’d normally grab. 55 gr Nosler BT at approx 3800. Been using it since the last century (about 40 years). When the cameras tell me the pigs are back, I take the 260 with me.

For a pure Coyote rifle, that 220 is about perfect.


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Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8540253 02/24/22 08:12 PM
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I still say my favorite is a Remington 700 Classic in 17 Remington. It has a fast barrel and spitts 25ht bullets at 4250fps and do not have to aim off fur out to 325 yards from very close to that. Doesn't tear them up at all either.

The 22-243 with it's 27 inch barrel would be my #2 but it does love to make a big mess of them which suites me also.

22-250 would be my #3 rig though like others have aid it is a dang good one.


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Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: kmon11] #8540806 02/25/22 05:22 AM
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Originally Posted by kmon11
I still say my favorite is a Remington 700 Classic in 17 Remington. It has a fast barrel and spitts 25ht bullets at 4250fps and do not have to aim off fur out to 325 yards from very close to that. Doesn't tear them up at all either.

The 22-243 with it's 27 inch barrel would be my #2 but it does love to make a big mess of them which suites me also.

22-250 would be my #3 rig though like others have aid it is a dang good one.


What bullet and what speed are you getting from the 22-243?


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Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8541259 02/25/22 08:31 PM
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My favorite is my 22-250 Tikka with a 17" barrel. Even with a suppressor on it's still handy. I'd say 90% or more of the coyotes i've called were shot at inside of 150 yards though so being flat out to long distance isn't really a concern for me.

Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: BigPig] #8541766 02/26/22 04:09 AM
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Originally Posted by BigPig
Originally Posted by kmon11
I still say my favorite is a Remington 700 Classic in 17 Remington. It has a fast barrel and spitts 25ht bullets at 4250fps and do not have to aim off fur out to 325 yards from very close to that. Doesn't tear them up at all either.

The 22-243 with it's 27 inch barrel would be my #2 but it does love to make a big mess of them which suites me also.

22-250 would be my #3 rig though like others have aid it is a dang good one.


What bullet and what speed are you getting from the 22-243?


Wade I wish I still had all that data but I do not or as good of places to recreate it. 90gr Berger VLDs in that 1:8 barrel had to be running north of 3200 before any accuracy beyond a pattern could be seen but at almost 3300fps it wasn't bad but fell off with distance as just no stabile enough.

A mild load load at 3200fps with 80gr Nosler RDF made for some real nasty coyote pics that were bad enough I would not post them. The 75gr Swift Sirocco deadly on hogs and deer be it running starting at 3100fps or 3600fps which was getting a little hot for accuracy but never shot a deer, hog or yote with the Sirocco more than once and never had any problem seeing critters drop for 10 yards to well over 400 with it.

I could have pushed lots of it faster but in reality why, Velocity wise with the long barrel it is fast and the general relationship 260 to 6.5 Creedmoor are there for same cases with smaller diameter bullets. same velocity with a little more powder in the less modern brass the those extra few inches over what most have on their 22 Creedmoors make up for it easily. I still shoot it some but not nearly as much as when I had lots bigger places to hunt


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Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: kmon11] #8542637 02/27/22 03:38 AM
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Originally Posted by kmon11
Originally Posted by BigPig
Originally Posted by kmon11
I still say my favorite is a Remington 700 Classic in 17 Remington. It has a fast barrel and spitts 25ht bullets at 4250fps and do not have to aim off fur out to 325 yards from very close to that. Doesn't tear them up at all either.

The 22-243 with it's 27 inch barrel would be my #2 but it does love to make a big mess of them which suites me also.

22-250 would be my #3 rig though like others have aid it is a dang good one.


What bullet and what speed are you getting from the 22-243?


Wade I wish I still had all that data but I do not or as good of places to recreate it. 90gr Berger VLDs in that 1:8 barrel had to be running north of 3200 before any accuracy beyond a pattern could be seen but at almost 3300fps it wasn't bad but fell off with distance as just no stabile enough.

A mild load load at 3200fps with 80gr Nosler RDF made for some real nasty coyote pics that were bad enough I would not post them. The 75gr Swift Sirocco deadly on hogs and deer be it running starting at 3100fps or 3600fps which was getting a little hot for accuracy but never shot a deer, hog or yote with the Sirocco more than once and never had any problem seeing critters drop for 10 yards to well over 400 with it.

I could have pushed lots of it faster but in reality why, Velocity wise with the long barrel it is fast and the general relationship 260 to 6.5 Creedmoor are there for same cases with smaller diameter bullets. same velocity with a little more powder in the less modern brass the those extra few inches over what most have on their 22 Creedmoors make up for it easily. I still shoot it some but not nearly as much as when I had lots bigger places to hunt


I’ve considered the 22Creed. Would be a no brained if it was commercialized. Ideally this would be a 18 inch barrel sling something in the 60-70 grain range


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Re: Best Coyote rifle [Re: rickt300] #8546885 03/03/22 07:38 PM
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Just my 2-cents

All will do the job, dead is dead! Based on ballistics and my personal favorites, they are listed below in order of preference. But if I had to choose one cartridge from my list as a do all then the 243 Winchester would get my vote. Even though I have a soft heart when it comes to my Swift, the reality is it has limited uses and is kind of a safe queen because of this. When shooting prairie dogs in Western Kansas it is the first thing I grab. It makes it rain chunks with red rainbows. With a 243 you can shoot lighter bullets for thin skinned varmints or loaded with heavier bullets to harvest animal as large as Mule deer. So if you are looking for a multi-purpose cartridge go with a 243. If you are looking to add to your collection then the 22-250 Remington would be my choice as an addition.

220 Swift
1st choice - 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips at just over 3,800 fps
2nd choice is 36 grain Barnes Varmint Grenade at just over 4,300 fps

22-250 Remington is more prevalent than the Swift, ammo is easier to locate, and the difference of 200 fps (slower than the swift) whatever you shoot won't know the difference.
243 Winchester is even easier to locate ammo for than either of the other two. It is more versatile than any of the smaller cartridges. In my opinion it is the transitional cartridge between varmints and medium to large game. On more than one occasion I have witnessed a 243 Winchester drop a Mule Deer at distances of 350-400 yards, none of which have taken another step.


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