.243 for coyotes and bobcat

[Jrzbullelk]

Hello everyone, I wanted to see how many of you use a .243 to hunt coyotes and bobcats, I just sold my 22-250 and wanted to use my .243 since I already use it very little. I'm wondering if it would be too much gun for them even if I use the varmint loads. I'm trying to kill two birds with one stone and not have to go out and get a smaller caliber rifle. Any info will help, thanks.

[Bofire]

Hell No, 243 is a kick ass coyote gun, kills them quick shoots flat. I love it. I use 223/ 22-250/ and 243 on coyotes. If It is important to KILL them I use the 243 every time. Great deer gun too.
Carl

[JakeLand]

Yes it will kill em! But it will blow the you know what outta cats ! Most bobcats are under 25 pounds

[carpsniperg2]

Fine for killing but not fine if your saving fur

[ELKBURGER]

Fine for killing but not fine if your saving fur

You could probably reload a fur friendly round but most factory stuff would be hard on them. A good frontal shot keeps the bullet from passing through.

[Evil_EdwardO]

I reload 58g Hornady Vmax for coyote. Haven't had any pass through shots.  Scrambles their insides and sometimes the shrapnel will do a little fur damage.

[ELKBURGER]

I reload 58g Hornady Vmax for coyote. Haven't had any pass through shots.  Scrambles their insides and sometimes the shrapnel will do a little fur damage.

[Karl Blanchard]

I load the 58gr vmax as well but apparently I'm doing it wrong because out of literally hundreds and hundreds of dogs, only a handful have been salvageable.  That POP when they hit though is something special

[HoofsandWings]

Have you tried a solid base bullet? Almost no shrapnel. If there is a round nose available, its lower velocity should be a plus.

[Karl Blanchard]

Have you tried a solid base bullet? Almost no shrapnel. If there is a round nose available, its lower velocity should be a plus.

I've dabbled a bit but the vmax are cheap and I'm not a pelt hunter.  Load em hot and send it

[BlackRiverTaxidermy]

I get quite a few people that bring me coyotes every year and its amazing to see the size of holes even a small caliber can create! On the flip side I have a few clients that are as close to 'professional coyote hunters' as there is. One of them uses a .300 blackout for his weapon of choice and they all consistently bring me in coyotes and the occasional bobcat with TINY holes in the them. Some of them use a 6.5 and .223 as well with the same results. After having a conversation with them some time ago about how they keep their exit holes so small they said its all about the bullet, NOT the gun per-say. They like to shoot extremely hard nosed bullets. On a smaller animal like a coyote or bobcat is just "zips right through em" while still giving plenty of humane kill ability in power. Shot placement has some factors as well of course. They know the value in the furs at winter time and therefore they've switched to shooting such loads.
Something for thought if your wanting to knock down some predators with a good hide on em....

[b23]

I'm not a pelt hunter.  Load em hot and send it

 

Don't have a 243 per say, but I've shot quite a few coyotes with my 6-284 which is the same caliber, just slings the same bullets a bit faster.  I don't have any experience with the really light 55-65gr .243 bullets but I can tell you the 75gr Vmax out of my 6-284 is far from being pelt friendly and usually leaves them with really large messy holes. 

[rasbo]

I ran a 125 grain 3006 for years for fur,head shots.. a core lokt 100 grain would be my choice for your gun

[konradcountry]

I get quite a few people that bring me coyotes every year and its amazing to see the size of holes even a small caliber can create! On the flip side I have a few clients that are as close to 'professional coyote hunters' as there is. One of them uses a .300 blackout for his weapon of choice and they all consistently bring me in coyotes and the occasional bobcat with TINY holes in the them.

Something to note here though is that the 243 has about twice the energy of blackout and that is for supersonic. The 243 has the reputation as a kid round but it is still a rifle round that is packing a lot of punch.

Upside to 243 is that you can use it as a deer rifle. I also wouldn't hesitate to shoot a bear at the right range.

But 223 is nice because you can buy a big box at wally world and shoot all day.

[b23]

I think if you are saving pelts, it's much more about bullet choice, than it is caliber/cartridge choice.