.223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington

[jds15151]

Getting ready to move to Washington for 14 months of training the National Guard at Yakima Training Center. So I have decided to reward myself with a new gun. The problem is that I am going back and forth between .223 and .243. Trying to stay with a standard easily available caliber. What do you Yote hunters recommend for Washington? I like the .223 because of less potential pelt damage, but was thinking the .243 because of distance and wind conditions. Any thoughts from those of you that hunt up there all the time? Thanks

[TeacherMan]

I like 243 because you can use it for deer also in WA 

[C-Money]

I agree with teacherman. I use a .243 for coyotes. If you can, should be plenty of coyotes on the firing center to go after! Really, if you want a .223, thats cool too! I'd like a .223 for coyotes. I like any reason to buy a new gun!

[Rgrady35]

  To hunt deer or larger game in WA you must use a 6mm (.243) or larger caliber.

[jds15151]

I'm also bringing an AR-15, .308, .30-06, and 22lr so I think I will have almost everything covered. Just looking for a new rifle. Thanks for the recommendations and keep them coming. I still haven't decided.

[Straight Shooter]

I absolutely love the .223 cartridge, but I ordered a Marlin XS7 in .243 a few days ago from Cabelas (they're on sale).  I have 6 boxes of Hornady 58 gr moly V-Max loads waiting for the rifle to arrive.  Don't think that I'll use it for anything other than predators since I prefer .308 and .30-06 for big game.

[shaneman153D]

If it's just for coyotes you may want to look at something in between.  22-250, 220 swift, etc.  Actually you can get a .223 WSSM upper for your AR, Oly arms and Dtech make them.  I personally wasn't happy with my .223, but it was a 16" bbl and most shots here are 300+.  I've got a .243 now.

[Big10gauge]

Since it looks like you're going to be in the Yakima area, I'd consider the .243 since it's flatter shooting and has good varmint weight bullets and a lot more energy.

[Shootmoore]

I shoot a Ruger MII Varmiter in .223 for Yotes and really like it.  That being said I am currently building a 16" .223 upper for my CAR 15 for a compact yote gun as well.  Both should serve me well, although for Balistic performance down in the Yak and Ellinsburg area I would suggest a .243 for ballistic performance.

The wind is known to blow down in that neck of the woods on occassion.

Growing up my yote gun was a Winchester 670 in .243 using 80 grain match fmj's.  I made alot of my hunting money growing up noogin shooting yotes with that gun.  Payed for several rifle and shotguns, hunting tags and ammo.  Of course back then the pelts were worth a lot more.  My thoughts are you can't go wrong with either.  If I was a rich man I would buy both  

Shootmoore

[coriantonk]

Sorry Straight Shooter,  I bought the last Marlin XS7 at the lacey Cabellas on saturday for my wife.  Cant wait to get to the range to have her try it out.  I might have to use it on a yote or two myself. 

[demontang]

I use a 223 for yotes. I just got a .243 and it's a shooter. If you don't reload the 223 with 40gr vmax are a good round for yotes.

[Straight Shooter]

Sorry Straight Shooter,  I bought the last Marlin XS7 at the lacey Cabellas on saturday for my wife.  Cant wait to get to the range to have her try it out.  I might have to use it on a yote or two myself. 

   You might have bought the last XS7 (in .243) in the Pacific Northwest!!    I was a bit irked that the Cabelas in Post Falls didn't have a .243 in stock (the month-long sale was less than a week old).  Hopefully, they can find one at another store... or it can take up to a month to get one from their supplier.  No sweat... I'm starting to get into the fishing-mode anyway. 

[Rudy]

I know alot of guys who prefer the .243, because they can hunt deer with it too (as mentioned above).  I personally like my 22-250 for the song dogs, but would jump at the chance to buy a .223 or.243.

Easy solution to your problem......buy both! 

[rainshadow1]

.243 is a great Cougar round!

Just sayin' !

[jds15151]

.243 is a great Cougar round!

Just sayin' !

Thanks for all of the replies. After reading all of them I was pretty much set on the .243, at least for this gun, but rainshadow1 sealed the deal. I have always wanted to get a cougar and I am really hoping to get my chance on this deployment. Now I just have to pick out a rifle. I am thinking synthetic or aftermarket, or maybe a laminated veneer like the Remington varmint guns because of the temperatures up there. Bull barrel or plain? It seems to me that you walk a lot more up there from stand to stand than they do down here in Texas so maybe a regular barrel style that I can hit with first round out of a cold barrel? Thanks again and hope to meet some of you when I get up there.  Jeff