Rifle question for dogs, go 30 cal sell off all my 223 stuff?

[Ziptie]

Why not use 30 cal for coyote? 

Back story: In my younger years I hunted with a .223 for coyote and other small game.  I have not hunted with the gun for almost 10 years.  In the last 10 years I have started a family and my hunting time is all spent on elk/ deer.  I also have 2 small kids, one has his hunter card.  They are set up with 308’s shooting 110gr V-Max for practice and 150’s for deer (I am a hand loader).   I want to start up hunting coyote again with them.  I am thinking that they will be using there 308’s with 110’s, keeping it simple and giving them practice with their big game rifles.  Just seems like the play.  But for me I am thinking about also using 30 cal (why not get the same practice with my big game gun? maybe swap to a less expensive bullet with the same bal. co.) and selling the .223 and all my reloading stuff for it. I am not a fur hunter and if I became one I could swap to the 150 FMJ’s…

What do all you Varmint hunting experts think? Am I nuts to go all 30 cal and sell off all my 223 stuff? $ would go into more hunting gear for the family.... 

Thanks,
Zip (AKA Jason)

[coachcw]

30 all the way

[h20hunter]

You may be nuts to get rid off your .223 stuff but that is just me.

Shoot them yotes with whatever makes you smile!

[BOWHUNTER45]

I had an old buddy ...he has passed now    he would head to Montana every year with his .223 -25-06 .243 and his 300 win mag just to shoot prairie dogs  his videos were just nutz when he hit those hole diggers with that 30 cal ....

[jrebel]

Shoot with whatever makes you happy.  I personally shoot many different calibers and like to have variety.  In my humble opinion a guy can't have to many guns so even if you choose to use the 30 cal I would still hold on to the .223..

[coachcw]

if getting more hunting calibers for the family means selling the .223s then that's a choice i'd make , but if you can pull it of by keeping all your guns then go for it . im not to sure there is over kill for yotes as long as you can hit them , but you cant shoot a deer with a .223

[Ziptie]

Thanks for the info!  Nice to know that others shoot them with larger calibers. 

[Gringo31]

The old saying of beware the man with one gun..... (he knows how to use it)

I think you are on the right path.  Get comfortable and build confidence in the rifle you intend to use when it matters. 

[Bofire]

  Yer always nuts to get rid of a rifle! 223 is a great gun keep it.
Carl

[Wanttohuntmore]

I'm actually thinking of selling my 22250 ackley to make room for a new big game gun for my son.  I have 223's still, but find I never use my ackley.  Your choice makes sense to me.  I would however sick with the same bullet all year long, get confidence in that load/rifle.

[KenPCPilot]

Hornaday makes a "Custom Lite" ammo that is managed recoil .308.  However it is very accurate ammo.  120 gr blastic tip ammo.  not back on dogs and is only about $20 a box.  I have shot a ton of it and love it for accuracy out of my Remington VTR .308.  I bought it for my son and put a Axiom short action stock that has adjustable length of pull for smaller shooters and springs in the stock to reduce recoil.  The barrel fully floats.  It is a cheap way to make a nice rifle for younger or smaller shooters.  Recoil is a *censored* cat. 

[JackOfAllTrades]

If you're not a fur hunter, it doesn't matter what you kill varmints with. 223 would be cheaper to shoot over a 308, but there's nothing wrong with guttin and skinnin in one shot!
 
-Steve

[Heredoggydoggy]

Do whatever you need to do to keep shooting.  I have a .223 but I prefer my .20 cal.  If you don't want the fur, it doesn't really matter how bad they look.

[Ziptie]

Thanks for the replies.  If I do it, all the $ from the 223 stuff will go into improving 3, 30 cal rigs.  I did some math last night.  I can match the bullet path of my 180gr elk load with a 150 FMJ.  The bullet path is off less than 1” all the way out to 500yds and at 500 it is low .6”… I love hand loading    Also my hunting partner hunts with 30 cal and his kid (same age as mine) hunts with a 308 too.  I will be loading for 3 kids (all 308) and 2 adults (300’s) will be nice to streamline the proses.