Two questions

[slick]

So my first question is for a friend. He wants a new rifle for shooting coyotes and bobcats mostly, but also coons and possum. He can't decided between a .17hmr .22lr or a .223. What are your opinions on these calibers? And the second question is for myself. I am thinking of going with a .243 for the same type of critters as my friend, but I would like to keep my gun legal for deer. Would you say that I need a smaller caliber or is the .243 just fine for the cats? I don't want to mess the fur up to bad with a large exit hole. Thanks in advance for your answers! 

[sirfunkeybut]

IMO i think a .17 is good out to a certain distance. Ive seen them drop coyotes in thier tracks, I would think a .243 would be a little big for cat but thats just a thought, i havent seen much of what a 243 can do so...

[MADMAX]

.223 plenty of juice for a cougar, small hole and legal.
Not for deer

[sirmissalot]

A .17HMR is lethal to 150 yards, past that I wouldn't shoot anything bigger than a bobcat, that little bullet has almost no energy left at 200 yards, but at 150 is still lethal on up to coyote size game with a well placed shot. A 22LR is a great gun to have especially for dinking around with but I wouldn't hunt anything bigger than rabbits and grouse with it. A 223 is probably the best round out of all 3 as far as an all around cartidge, but is not legal for deer so if you want to hunt deer with the same gun I would go with the 243.

[demontang]

I say .223 for the friend, I would trust a 17 or 22lr on a dog or cat unless it was close. For a deer/small game round I would have to go quarter bore

[jackmaster]

i to say 223 for your friend and a 243 for you you can always get solids for  both of them if you want to cause less damage

[slick]

Thanks a ton guys!

[demontang]

Im up in the air about solids in a .243 after this year, I guess Ill have to give it a try again and see if what my experiance was is the same. I have had great success with the 55grbt for coyotes no exit holes and small entrance, I can tell you the 95gr bt is flat out nasty.

[wraithen]

Why not just use OTM? Flies great and leaves little holes like fmj but less danger of ricochet. 

[Big10gauge]

Depends on where you hit them. A direct frontal chest shot usually leaves a small entrance hole and no exit. A shoulder hit with a 17 probably won't put it down with unless you're shooting naglers and even then it's iffy, just a large bullet splash. Of your choices, the 223 is probably the best bet and even it turns into a somewhat marginal round past 250 yrds, it is a really good calling rig where most of your shots are less than 100yds. Beyond 250 yrds the 204, 20 tac, 22-250, 243 and similar calibers are fairly consistent at putting the fur down. The 20 calibers need a good constructed bullet above the 35 gr range with the 39 gr Sierra being pretty much ideal. The 224 calibers anything from the 50 to 55 grs, 6mm 55 to 75 grs just puts the smack on them. The 17 would be good on coons and such but wouldn't recommend it at all for coyotes unless you don't mind them running off to die.

[longrangekiller]

i use a 223 for coyotes and cats and love it very accurate gun. my buddy has a 243 that he uses and it dosnt put any bigger of a hole then the 223. i use hornady v-max and he shoots 90gr soft points

[Fowlweather25]

A 243 is the smallest legal caliber for deer in wa state. It is a great varmint gun and a proven deer rifle. If you use small enough grain age for totes and other varmints you shouldn't have to worry to much about large exit wounds. When you hunt deer up your grain age resight your gun for that weight of bullet and knock em dead! It has plenty of knock down for a deer out to 300 yards or so.

[CAMPMEAT]

22 mag is superior to the 17 and 22 lr. As for you, I'd go with a 243 WSSM.