Help me pick a new caliber

[adamR]

The wife just told me she was gonna buy me a new rifle for Christmas.  It won't be an overly expensive one, probably $300-$400. I'm not sure what I want. Primarily this gun is for coyotes but it also would be nice to shoot a deer with it.
So here's where I'm at and I'm hoping for some help on choosing the best caliber.

Coyote round with option to save pelts.
It would nice but not nessasary to use for deer hunting.
Some day I'll probably buy an AR so do I really want two 223/5.56 rounds?
With ammo being so hard to come by and so expensive which rounds are easiest to come by?  This is probably the biggest factor.
I'd comfortably like to shoot out to 200 yards at a yote.

Also, any opinions on rifles at that cost?

[chukar58]

I would look at a 25-06 for a coyote and deer gun.   

[Bofire]

243

[JMTaylor]

I've always been a fan of Ruger, not to expensive and a good product. When I bought mine I had the same mind set, so I went with the .243. You can get light fast loads off the shelf for the yotes and heavier hard hitting rounds for deer.

[BullMagnet76]

One more vote 243

[huntnphool]

7mm-08, lots and lots of bullet choices from 100gr. up to 180gr and everything in between.

[Bob33]

Your avatar shows a picture of what appears to be a nice elk.

Are you sure this will never be used for anything larger than deer?

[adamR]

The bull was taken with my muzzleloader... And I already have a 308 win and a 300 win mag

[bobcat]

243 Winchester! Common and cheap! You can't beat it for a coyote/deer rifle.

[fastdam]

If you not shooting farther than 200  yards and you consider ammo price and availability you might give 7.62 x 39 a try.  FMJs for coyote and softpoints for deer.  A savage 250-3000.  Could also pull doubleduty but ammo wont be as common.

[Simcoe hunter]

2fitty savage would be way cool.  I doubt you can find one in the price range the OP suggested though.  So, 243 it is.  Ammo is more readily available at Ma and Pa shops than even 7-08.

[jason stevens]

243

[washingtonmuley]

.223

[coachcw]

just because phool posted 7mm08 I will say .270 !

[Eli346]

 I'd vote 243. Mine groups fairly well at 400 yds (5") but haven't shot an animal that far with it.