Coyote Rifle

[huntorride365]

Is there any reason in particular that you're looking at something larger than a .223? Longer range, heavier bullet, flatter trajectory, etc.?

Personally, I prefer a .204 or 22.250 because of the speed and flat trajectory. Only issue I have with the .204 is the small bullets don't do very well in the wind. Bumping up to a .243 would be a good option. You will lose quite a bit of speed, but the larger bullets will be able to buck the wind a little better.

All in all, my vote stays with the .204, with a 40grn bullet (take your pick on brand).

I shoot a .243 with 58 grain Vmax, I don't think you have to give up any speed. I'm not. I also use a few different 5.56's/.223, one that'll shoot well out past 500. I like my AR's for prairie dogs, don't particularly care to use them for coyotes, much prefer a bolt action; I have a .204 I use occasionally, it's great out to 400 if there's not much wind; they all get the job done if I'm shooting well. I think the .243 is the best choice if you're looking at shooting regularly past 4-600 yards (or anything less). FWIW, my .204 shoots the 32 and 40gr real well, the 45 grain sucks for keeping groups tight.

 

[deleted member]

I haven't been paying attention... what is that set up?

 

[ItemB]

What are your guys thoughts on a kimber Montana in 243 for a coyote calling gun? Some days a guy puts on a lot of miles and sometimes thorugh deep snow so I was thinking a lighter gun would be nice.

 

[SDMF]

What are your guys thoughts on a kimber Montana in 243 for a coyote calling gun? Some days a guy puts on a lot of miles and sometimes thorugh deep snow so I was thinking a lighter gun would be nice.

Yes.

 

[Petras]

The savage 111 package that I won out of the Harvey raffle last year shoots less than .25" groups at 100 yards... and it's light as hell... I run 55 grain nosler varmageddon rounds thru it... with groups like what I'm getting it's hard convince myself to try working up a handload to do better

 

[Kurtr]

I shoot a .243 with 58 grain Vmax, I don't think you have to give up any speed. I'm not. I also use a few different 5.56's/.223, one that'll shoot well out past 500. I like my AR's for prairie dogs, don't particularly care to use them for coyotes, much prefer a bolt action; I have a .204 I use occasionally, it's great out to 400 if there's not much wind; they all get the job done if I'm shooting well. I think the .243 is the best choice if you're looking at shooting regularly past 4-600 yards (or anything less). FWIW, my .204 shoots the 32 and 40gr real well, the 45 grain sucks for keeping groups tight.

I think we are going to get the boy a 243 for Christmas. Those 58 would be good for him to.practice with to low.recoil. what powder you using to push them.

 

[sbe2]

if you have the right twist rate the 105 berger in 243 doesnt make to big of a mess i think that its due to slightly less velocity and heavier bullet jacket. In the 204 if you have to correct twist the 55 grain berger is very nice the other 204 option that works well on coyotes is the 35 grain berger.

 

[Enslow]

I have a .22-250 with a 1:8 twist 24 inch barrel for stabilizing the long bullets. That gun with a 75 grain amax is a long range monster.

 

[deleted member]

So what's the right twist for a 105 in a .243?

 

[Enslow]

So what's the right twist for a 105 in a .243?

From what i have read 1:9 is recommended twist rate for the 105 amax. I havent tried them in my ruger .243. I think i have a 1:9 twist but not sure.

 

[deleted member]

Can the twist be too fast? ie... if 1:9 is recommended, can there be a detriment to getting a 1:8?

 

[Enslow]

From what i have been told you cant overstabilize but you can understabilize.

 

[sbe2]

I shoot my 105 bergers with a 1:8 twist and does great with them no matter what the temp is. The gun chronos around 2850 and could probably be pushed a little faster but that is out of a 22" barrel and it shoots so well i am not going to mess with it to much. My 204 was built for the 55 grain bergers and shoots them at 3250 very well. The advantage with the 20 caliber and a 55 grain bullet is the high bc for weight and the minimal pelt damage.

 

[SupressYourself]

From what i have been told you cant overstabilize but you can understabilize.

I've heard that as well, but if that were patently true, why wouldn't every gun be like 1:7? Does over-spinning wear out a barrel sooner?

 

[Kurtr]

If you spin to fast at higher fps the bullet will come apart. You see that in fast guns with light bullets and jackets.

 

[Ristorapper]

The only way to go, I wouldn't use anything else.

Hate to pirate this photo/post but what kind of camera you shooting? Great color, clear, slightly underexposed (perfect) with the bright snow....nice photo

 

[huntorride365]

I think we are going to get the boy a 243 for Christmas. Those 58 would be good for him to.practice with to low.recoil. what powder you using to push them.

Was using Hunter, couldn't find it anymore so tried some TAC with accuracy not affected. I have a bunch made up, same with 65 gr. Vmax that my rifle doesn't like. If you want to try what I have let me know. I also have 80 gr TTSX's that I put together for my daughter. My .243 is a slow twist and really likes the 58's.

 

[Kurtr]

Nice I have some tac and will get a hold of you about the other rounds. Now we need to decide what to get him. We were in scheels the other day and he told me on our way to the gun section he wants a rifle like mine haha. I told him we probably won't start with a custom he said ok and walked over to the rack with the coppers and told his mom that's the one he wants she looked at the price and about tipped over. I am thinking a tika might be what he gets.

 

[USMCDI]

Hate to pirate this photo/post but what kind of camera you shooting? Great color, clear, slightly underexposed (perfect) with the bright snow....nice photo

It's a little Sony DXC-TX30.

 

[Enslow]

I've heard that as well, but if that were patently true, why wouldn't every gun be like 1:7? Does over-spinning wear out a barrel sooner?

Because that fast of a twist would limit the number of bullet choices for some rifles. The fast twist barrels are best suited to high g7 bc bullets. Those long bullets touch the barrel less and require a faster twist to stabilize their flight.