What kinda gun to get?

[Bofire]

  I use and have used 223,22-250 and 243 depends on where and when I am going for coyotes. I consider the 22-250 the most efficent and versatile coyote whacker. 223 is good but flat shooting 250 is easier to shoot past 250 yards, 243 is great but 250 is quieter and less recoil and about the same trajectory. I consider a 20 inch barrel the minimum for an all round coyote gun.
 I like the 204 but in this state it is not legal for cougars I'd hate to miss out on a cougar cause I did not have a legal gun.
Carl

[champ41]

Thanks for all the info! you guys are really making my decision hard    hahaha

[700xcr]

Thanks for all the info! you guys are really making my decision hard    hahaha

Give us a little more information. Like where are you hunting coyotes (type of terrain)? Like in wooded areas or open wheat field and CRP ground? What you expect your max range of shots would be? No sense getting a 22-250 or 243win. for a 200yd or 300yd. shot  while a 223rem that is cheaper to shoot and kill a coyote then the rest of the other cartridges. That way we can help you along with a decision even more.

[Big10gauge]

I've never heard of anyone only having one gun for coyote hunting  . If I only had one gun it would be a .243, flat trajectory and lots of FPE also very versatile, maybe cost a little more to feed but you'll never feel undergunned for coyotes. 

[champ41]

I hunt in wooded areas, clear cuts, and the lower fields.. i would shoot anywhere from 25-500 yards just depends.. and i have a 270 that ive been using but i am tired of buying shells for it, so i just want to use that for bear. and i hunt deer and elk with a bow. so im just buying this new gun for something to mess around with and shoot some yotes

[700xcr]

I hunt in wooded areas, clear cuts, and the lower fields.. i would shoot anywhere from 25-500 yards just depends.. and i have a 270 that ive been using but i am tired of buying shells for it, so i just want to use that for bear. and i hunt deer and elk with a bow. so im just buying this new gun for something to mess around with and shoot some yotes

My opinion is to get a 223rem. Cheaper to shoot and plenty of ammo availablity. Sense you are hunting clear cut and wooded areas, you could call them in closer. If you are just hunting coyotes in your wooded area I would tend to a standard barrel versas heavy barreled rifle. I am parcel to Remingtons 700 rifle. Just looked at a Remington model 700 SPS 223rem. blued standard 24" barrel today at Wholesale Sports for $549.99. Even though I have the Remington 700 SPS Varmint with a heavy 26" barrel that I use for short walks I would tend to get the standard 24" in 223rem for a walking gun that I may have 10 shots a day at coyotes versas 200rds. or 300rds. a day at ground squirrels.

[fishnate]

I've never heard of anyone only having one gun for coyote hunting  . If I only had one gun it would be a .243, flat trajectory and lots of FPE also very versatile, maybe cost a little more to feed but you'll never feel undergunned for coyotes. 

.243 all the way 

[champ41]

i think im leaning towards this gun SAV EDGE XP CAMO 223REM 22" PKG DBM VISTA CAMO  i found it online at midwesthuntersoutlet.com

[danceswitharrows]

Get a 204 ruger, Shoots fast, flat and you get to see what your shooting flop in your scope.

 

[400out]

I would get a .223, cheapest to shoot and accurate with enough snot to kill coyotes at 300 yards easily. Don't make the mistake of buying a 16" barreled AR and thinking it's a varmint rifle as the short barrel gives up a lot of velocity and it's long range capabilities won't impress you. If you go the AR route get something with a match type barrel at least 20" but preferably 24-26".

I haven't ran into any problems with my olympic with a short barrel 

[Rudy]

Get both, thats what I did!

[FC]

I would get a .223, cheapest to shoot and accurate with enough snot to kill coyotes at 300 yards easily. Don't make the mistake of buying a 16" barreled AR and thinking it's a varmint rifle as the short barrel gives up a lot of velocity and it's long range capabilities won't impress you. If you go the AR route get something with a match type barrel at least 20" but preferably 24-26".

I haven't ran into any problems with my olympic with a short barrel 

Try shooting a coyote with it at 300+ yards and you will! Unless you are handloading for it and getting your muzzle velocity back up over 3000fps with 62gr or heavier your drop in speed and energy (bullet drop too) at 300m+ might really open your eyes.

[AWS]

I've hunted coyotes with all three and am liking the 22-250 more and more.  Winchester Whitebox 45gr HP's are pretty reasonable and have shot well.  They have actually turned out to be a pretty good fur bullet, only shot a couple with it but both were DRT with no exit, can't ask for more if your saving fur.  I started out with a 223 in 1967 and 55gr SP and 50gr NBT's have worked well for me till I finally burned up the barrel.  The past 10yrs I've been running 224 and 6mm wildcats, this season I'm going to shoot a 223/20ga O/U and a 22-250 bolt gun for giggles and kicks and I'm going to wring out an inexpensive 1.5x6x40 Ill Dot scope on a 6x45mm bolt gun.

AWS

[Special T]

I am battling my next purchase as well... i think it is either going to be an AR with the nikon bullet drop reticle, or a savage 243/12 gauge... I think for you area a over under savage would be the ticket... The 223 are common but if you use a 243 you can shoot bear cougar or anything else that comes to call.... and with buck shot the shot gun will get those close sneeky guys. 
I hunt the basin area for yotes and would like to do more over here but my savage 22lr and 20g doesn't quite hook it up.

[BlackRidge]

I would get a .223, cheapest to shoot and accurate with enough snot to kill coyotes at 300 yards easily. Don't make the mistake of buying a 16" barreled AR and thinking it's a varmint rifle as the short barrel gives up a lot of velocity and it's long range capabilities won't impress you. If you go the AR route get something with a match type barrel at least 20" but preferably 24-26".

I haven't ran into any problems with my olympic with a short barrel  

Same here (keep it local),  
From what I understand, once you get to 22-26" bbls (.223), you start losing velocity w/ no real gains in accuracy. 18-20" would be ideal, though 16" isn't bad

If you like the AR platform, it doesnt take much alteration to bring it up to "big game" standards.  The beauty of an AR is the ease of modification(s) IMO.  The lower receiver will accept nearly any upper receiver, short of AR10/.308 types..  Uppers come in varying cals, and are often reasonably priced.

So if you want to go with the AR setup, you can purchase a 6.8spc, 243/25/300wssm, etc upper for your lower, and you're good to go. The 6.8spc doesnt have the best ballistics, but will help you place an accurate and "legal" AR shot up to around 200+ yrds. The 243/25/300wssm setups are definitely superior to the 6.8, but can run more, both for the price of the upper and subsequent ammo/dies

They definitely come in handy when your BRD and that need to hunt collide

J&S has some of the best prices for uppers I've seen in a while, all from good mfg's (Mostly Oly). Plus, theyre local (Olympia), which is a definite plus.