.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.

[BKMFR]

To big if saving pelts, get a 17 Rem or 204 for pelts and you will be happy.... this is coming from someone that loves a .243.....

[Dan-o]

I don't know about a 243, but I can verify that a 7mm Mag works on both.

[N7XW]

I don't know about a 243, but I can verify that a 7mm Mag works on both.

I'd imagine!   

[konradcountry]

I don't know about a 243, but I can verify that a 7mm Mag works on both.

I'd imagine!   

Can't be beat for a front mount. Cuts them right in half.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I don't know about a 243, but I can verify that a 7mm Mag works on both.

I shot a coyote running straight away in Wyoming with a 180gr softpoint in .300 Win Mag at about 30 yards, bullet entered just above the tail and took the entire face off.  It looked more like 100 hard swings with a dull heavy axe than a bullet wound. 

[captpschar]

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

True story.

[Stein]

Most .243 bullets are of the grenade variety to make up for a lack of penetration due to the small bullet weight.  If I was going to save the hides, I would go with a tough bullet that retains weight, like a TSX, partition, something like that.  I would think you don't need much expansion to kill a smaller animal, so I would go with something that makes the smallest hole possible and doesn't come apart.

[Okanagan]

Bobcats tend to be kind of fragile and bullets tend to tear big holes in their hides.  I have hunted and shot a number of coyotes and bobcats with 6mm and .243, plus some other calibers and arrows.

To sum up what's been said, there are two rifle options for reducing hide damage and yet have high probability of recovering the animal.  (A third option, full metal jacket, usually damages hides little, but the animal often runs off too far to recover, even in snow sometimes.)  If the hide does not matter, blow a BIG hole and put the critter down NOW.

Option one is to poke a tiny entrance hole with a light weight frangible bullet that will expend its energy quickly and disintegrate inside the body with no exit.  When it works it is wonderful.  When it exits, usually there is a BIG hole.  Shots through the length of the body are preferred over side to side, to give more penetration distance for the bullet to stop without exit.

Option two, like Stein and BlackRiver Taxidermy mentioned, is to use a heavier bullet built to stay intact as it passes through with little expansion, leaving a smallish to medium sized exit hole in the hide. 

I have used both, plus the FMJ, and have gradually settled on option 2.  Right now am shooting 95 grain Nosler Partitions for bobcats, coyotes and anything else I may shoot with my .243 and my 6mm.  Am experimenting with some 80 grain GMX mono bullets however.  It is always a trade off and we select which factors we prefer:  i.e. small holes in hide, quick kill, long range, etc.

A large bobcat hit in the chest at 18 yards with a 95 grain NP as it sat up facing me had a .24 entrance hole and about a nickle sized exit hole at the back of its armpit on one side, little hide damage.  That has been typical, but a hit on pelvis bone with the same bullet blows a big hole.

If you hit major bone with ANY of these bullets, expect massive damage in a bobcat sized animal, and I can cite examples.  Decide your priority, choose a bullet to fit your priority, try to place shots to avoid major bone, and accept how it turns out. 

 

[Cougartail]

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....

This is the right answer. Heavy for caliber, well constructed bullet at reduced velocities.

[boneaddict]

alot has to do with the bullet you use, whether you poke holes or mulch.

[Bango skank]

Anybody use a .22 mag for bobs and yotes?  Thinking if im going out calling after cougar quota is met i might leave the .243 at home and give it a try.  the areas i call, shots would be a max of 100 yards, hopefully 50 or less, and my .22 mag is plenty accurate at 100.  Just concerned about knockdown power.  i shoot 40 grain cci game point or maxi mags, both seem to shoot equally well with basically the same poi from my gun.  Just never shot anything bigger than a whistle pig with a rimfire.  And i dont want to take head shots on yotes or bobs, rather not damage the skulls.

[Tracker0721]

My experience with coyotes and rim fires is a headshot is required. One recovered 1 coyote with a 17 hmr popped in his chest and he ran a long way missing a chunk of lung.

[jasnt]

I wouldn’t recommend 105gr vlds if you want to save hides but it does paint the landscape well
I used 58gr vmax for years with out a single exit.  Was 3500ish speed wise.  I’ve heard they will blow big holes but never did have that happen but this was when I was first learning to hunt coyote so less than 20 dogs.  Also was shooting them from a 9 twist barrel so that may have contributed to the rapid explosion inside. 

[jasnt]

Anybody use a .22 mag for bobs and yotes?  Thinking if im going out calling after cougar quota is met i might leave the .243 at home and give it a try.  the areas i call, shots would be a max of 100 yards, hopefully 50 or less, and my .22 mag is plenty accurate at 100.  Just concerned about knockdown power.  i shoot 40 grain cci game point or maxi mags, both seem to shoot equally well with basically the same poi from my gun.  Just never shot anything bigger than a whistle pig with a rimfire.  And i dont want to take head shots on yotes or bobs, rather not damage the skulls.

ive used 22lr with 40gr lrn and under 75 yards the double lung has worked well. They run about 50-60 yards and spin cookies but just tiny holes.  22mag would be great under 100

[Okanagan]

I don't doubt jasnt's experience but came to a different conclusion based on my experience.  Re using a .22 magnum on coyotes and bobs, I'd say yes on bobcats and advise against it for coyotes, though my comment is based on using a .22 long rifle rather than .22 magnum.  I don't think that a .22 magnum will increase the put down power enough for me to choose it for coyotes. 

I killed several coyotes with the .22, both when a teen and it was the only rifle I owned, and later when I started fur hunting.  It kills coyotes but there is too much chance that they will run off too far to find.  Coyotes are tough and tremendously tenacious of life.  My .22 killed coyotes were mostly called and shot inside of 20 yards.  Most required a finisher, or some tracking and luck, and there is no question based on flinches etc. that some were hit and got away.  Hits were chest, spine area and head. 

For a one off situation when the.22 or .22 magnum is in hand, go for it.  But I'd not deliberately select it to hunt coyotes.  YMMV and I'm OK if anyone differs from my choice.

I'd be curious as to your findings if you use the .22 magnum on bobcats.  I have not used it but suspect that it may be ideal for fur hunting bobcats.  Bobcats seem more fragile to me, easier to put down, and called ones often pose to allow precise shot placement, if the hunter has the ability to place it.

[Bushcraft]

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.

In my experience, excess velocity and/or soft bullets are hide (and meat) wreckers.

Do you reload or know someone that can cook up a low power recipe for you with hard-nosed bullets that are heavy for caliber?  What is the rate of twist and length of your barrel?

[hunter399]

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.

In my experience, excess velocity and/or soft bullets are hide (and meat) wreckers.

Do you reload or know someone that can cook up a low power recipe for you with hard-nosed bullets that are heavy for caliber?  What is the rate of twist and length of your barrel?

I was just thinking the same thing.RELOAD
Just a fmj in 243 full velocity would work wonders for fur.

[AWS]

FMJ's not a good idea.  They tend to pass right trough causing them to run a long way before going down.  limited fur damage verses not finding them, I'd go with a little sewing.  You might want to check if it is even legal to hunt with FMJ's.  Now solid/mono-metal bullet like Barnes TSX or Hornady GMX will work.   I've had pretty good luck with V-max 58gr at around 3600fps and 55gr NBT Lead Frees at the same speed.  62gr Barnes VG's have left huge exits.