22. for coyote

[MarinePMI]

Hmmm...Okay let's get this straight, once and for all.

DO NOT USE A .22(ANYTHING) FOR COYOTES!

I know some of you have done it in the past (playful youth and ignorance) but this poster seems to be a youth as well, and we'd be well advised to point him in the right direction (using a centerfire).  The anti-hunting crowd already has enough to spout out, no need in giving them more ammo to throw in our general area!

Yes, a .22LR will kill. IF you're an excellant shot, and IF you're presented the right angle, and IF  your rifle can drive tacks.  That's a lot of "IFs", especially for a young shooter.  How many of us can say as youths we never got "buck fever"?  Let's do the right thing guys.  Point this young hunter in the right direction and get him started right.  We don't need to see a wounded, maimed coyote draggin' it's back hind legs through the local neighborhood on the 6 o'clock news...

 

[Pasco]

Here's some numbers to ponder...

Shoot a 36 grain .22LR at 1300fps and muzzle energy of 130 ft-lb and get 1000fps and 80 ft-lb at 100 yds.

Shoot a 50 grain .223 at 3300fps and muzzle energy of 1200 ft-lb and get 2500fps and 700 ft-lb at 200 yds.

Notice the .223 is out twice as far as the .22 and still has a lot more thump.  It shoots flatter, and the terminal ballistics would be much more severe.  You can also shoot it all day and not worry about recoil.

When I shoot a strung up bowling pin with a HP .22LR it barely moves and the bullet stays inside, with the .223 the pin swings wildly and wood splinters are blown out the back.  I wouldn't want to be shot by either, but the .223 is a whole lot different than the .22LR.

I shoot a Rem Model 700 in .223 and am real happy with it, there are lots of models and makes to choose from, happy shopping.

 

[Speckmisser]

I've been steering clear of this one, but just wanna say "Bravo" and dead-on to MarinePMI's post.  

A new hunter should be directed the "right way" to do things when asking for suggestions.  As some of you guys mentioned, when you were learning the hard way, you may have had some success with the .22lr.  But now that you're experienced hunters, would you still intentionally pursue coyotes with a .22?  

Sure a .22 will kill a coyote.  Heck, it'll kill a grizzly bear.  But it won't do it consistently, nor cleanly.  At 100 yards, it sometimes takes multiple shots just to stop a ground squirrel!  A lot of new shooters/hunters don't really understand that there's more to making a clean kill than just putting a hole in something.  Let's teach them right.

 

[Eric Mayer]

The best advice I can give is to listen to the experts in this thread who have given their knowledgable opinions about NOT using a .22 LR for shooting coyotes.

Eric A. Mayer

 

[pitdog]

MarinePMI, well said!

A .22 is a good plunker but not meant for much more than a squirrel (IMO).
Also, IMO, using too much gun, 7.mm, 30.06, 300mag, etc., is not always a good idea. I shot a Coyote with my .270 and the bullet went clean through and kept going for quite a distance. With the 22.250 and the 243, the bullet (ballistic tip) expanded quickly and ricochet danger was minimal.

I'm no expert. Just my personal experience.
steve

 

[Frank]

Ditto MarinePMI & Wingman,

There are lots of weapons / calibers that will kill any given animal....."EVENTUALLY"!  Reference the post on minimal caliber for deer. Interesting / same theory!  Stopping them, Finding them & preventing them from eating you, is quite another thing. Use enough medicine!

We all want quick, clean kills at "various" distances, which certain calibers for specific game, just plain cannot do and why we should stay away from.

I am a big fan of the 22's. Just not for coyotes is all.

Dermody15, a 223 caliber is an exceptional for yotes IMHO. Lots of factory ammo available, with lots of choice types, affordable and has very light recoil. Fun to carry & shoot.  A 243 is also excellent, as it can double as a deer rifle. Recoil is somewhat stiffer.

The 22-250 is a cat of a different breed. I have owned 2 of them, but hesitate somewhat in recommending. Factory ammo is only slightly available, with usually minimal selections and are expensive.  Better a handloaders caliber in many ways.

Good Hunting
Frank  

 

[headshot223]

I still dont see why a 22 isnt a good idea for yotes. In michigan you can carry a 22 rimfire while deer hunting for yotes and coons thats what it says in the rule book.

Also if you have a 22 pistol I could see carring that with another more high powered rifle, that would be a good combo. 22 for the dumb one that come in close and the high powered rifle for anything else.

I dont know where you all shoot yotes at in the body but I like the head shot there isnt any other shot I will do on yotes. Unless they are runnin and only get a shot at there side then I will take that.

Headshot223

 

[MarinePMI]

hs223,

This board is made up mostly of western hunters.  Out here shots are either long (read 200yds) or they are close, but on the run.  

As to the recommendation of not using a .22, just 'cause the rules allow it doesn't make it the best tool for the job at hand.  Again, this is apparently a young shooter who is askin' the question.  Hence the sage, wise, and all to often "learned the hard way" advice.  This thread has become one of what should be used, not what can be used.  The only place a .22lr has with coyote hunting (IMHO)is for a coup de grace shot to the head when the animal is down, but still breathing.

 

[Frank]

headshot223, I too carry a 22, a 22magnum in fact, with a 9 1/2" barrel, that produces almost 1600f.p.s with win supreme 34 gr h.p. bullets.  I carry it specifically for yotes as a "side" arm, a "secondary" tool if you will, while bird hunting.  Now the "BUT" part

"But", while the 22mag is stronger than a 22lr, it is still weak medicine overall and "any" 22 at close range, especially to the head, will certainly kill a yote. However, like Marine states most yotes out here are not shot that way. A 22 is definitely a poor choice as a weapon of choice, when yotes are the "primary" animal hunted that will be taken at various distances, angles, conditions and parts of the body. A poorly hit coyote with a 223 will cause serious damage. A 22lr or magnum will not and thus the reason for it not being a good choice in some of our opinions.  
 
Hope this helps and good hunting
Frank

 

[headshot223]

Still a yote shot in the right spot with a 22 will take it down at a close range nothing over 100 yards. In Michigan where I am one of the longest shoots is going to under 300 so it would make sence to me to carry a rifle for 100-300 yards and a 22 for the close stuff. Thats just me.

Headshot223

 

[grtwythunter]

A .22 will kill anything when "put in the right spot"....even a grizzly. Does that mean it's a good idea to hunt them with a .22?? Not in my book. 22 and .22 mag just don't have the power to CONSISTENTLY kill coyotes at any range.               Scott

 

[songdog]

I've been busy this week... looks like this thread has been too...

Re: this talk about head shots - If you've ever skinned a coyote and looked at the size of it's head sans fur, you're realize that it's much smaller than you would think.  Take away the ears and the whole snout area, since hits there will irritate the coyote at best,  and you're left with a target about 2x3".  

I don't want to sound arrogant or condescending here but I'll go out on a limb and trust that most of the folks here know me well enough or have even hunted with me at some of the JHP hunts but...  I'll go so far as to say that if someone can actually recommend hunting coyotes with a .22 rimfire and not see a problem in it... they simply haven't shot enough coyotes to formulate the correct opinion yet.  It's not intended to flame anyone... just to point out the fact that when you take into consideration that you have people here (grtwythuntr, Eric Mayer, etc.) who I know have killed dozens if not hundreds of coyotes and they're telling you not to... I guess I'd listen to the numbers on this one.

 

[wildbirdhunter]

I know I’m not a moderator for this forum and  do not wish to over step my bounds but I think this post is going no place and fast so let just let it die if we can please.
Thanks Wildbirdhunter

 

[Eric Mayer]

I think all the moderators are watching this one with our fingers on the "trigger" so to speak.  

Eric A. Mayer

 

[wildbirdhunter]

Good I was hoping I was not the only one.
WBH

 

[californiacoyotes]

thats exactly why i quit posting to this one, if they aren't getting the picture by now they wouldn't.

cc

 

[EVAN III]

(Edited by EVAN III at 5:11 am on Aug. 10, 2002)

 

[Dermody15]

alright boys this is the final post! i just took my hunter saftey class this weekend and this is what i found. the agents who are avid hunters said that if a 22. was placed in the head of a deer it would succesfully cleanl kill it. which means that a 22. would defently kill a coyote easly!! of course your shot would be under 75 yards it would defently drop a coyote! think of your family dog a 22 would kill that animal. everyone who says it cant i dont believe there was a video of a 22 going through 5 3" board of pine and continuing to go straight through a steel can i truely believe that we shouldnt underestamate this small cal. it can do some serious damage!

 

[Maverick]

You can lead a horse to water but you can't mank him drinl.....

 

[grtwythunter]

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