Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: Scheindogg on May 11, 2017, 08:13:48 PM

Title: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Scheindogg on May 11, 2017, 08:13:48 PM: As many of you have already read (maybe more than once) this will be my first season hunting and I'm super excited!!

I am very excited for deer season and that is what my intent was when I (just this week) completed my hunters-ed.
However other than getting to know my rifle by bringing it to the range a lot of times between now and deer season id love to get out there and shoot some game!

My question is- is .308 too high caliber for yotes? I wouldn't be having the meat most likely I would just like to get the experience down of hitting real life game.

If this sounds ludicrous go ahead and call me out.

I just want some opinions.
Thanks 😁
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on May 11, 2017, 08:21:03 PM: Go for it! The more shooting you do, the more comfortable you will be with your rifle, and getting experience on real targets will be quite the learning experience!
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: GBoyd on May 11, 2017, 08:21:13 PM: No, that would be fine. It might damage the fur more than you would like, but you can go for head shots if that's a concern. There are also some different bullet options, down to 110 grains if you want a faster and flatter options.

So, no need to run out and buy a new rifle. Focus on learning how to find the coyotes!
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: kselkhunter on May 11, 2017, 08:27:30 PM: There are varmint bullets for the 308. Nosler makes their Varmageddon line in 110 grain. As do others. The Hornady custom lite 125 grain might do less damage on shots on coyote. Or if you reload can just load up light 110 grain loads yourself.
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: jrebel on May 11, 2017, 08:30:57 PM: Use the same ammo you will for deer and go blast some yotes. Who cares if you damage the hides this time of year, the birds don't mind....just makes it easier to rip them apart and eat. :bfg:
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Scheindogg on May 11, 2017, 09:20:26 PM: Awesome feedback thanks guys!!
Better than what I thought I might have heard 😁.

Whenever my father in law gets his rifle we'll have to start looking around for some coyote hunting area.

Anyone know an area within an hour of Bellevue/redmond that I could get a shot at one? Or atleast within a couple hours?
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Scheindogg on May 11, 2017, 09:42:27 PM: Wow crazy!
If I can find a low grain like 120ish like these guys mentioned I might try it but honestly it would be more for the experience than the pelt. I would be proud if I did that to a yote myself :chuckle:
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Oh Mah on May 11, 2017, 09:43:34 PM: A head shot would have been fine lol. :chuckle:
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Special T on May 11, 2017, 09:48:21 PM: I've used my 30 06 with ball ammo. Knick them and they die

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: JakeLand on May 12, 2017, 05:39:12 AM: Western Washington coyotes aren't worth a dime even when they are prime ! My motto is shoot every coyote legally year round, you will save a lot of game animal offspring and get better at shooting
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: DOUBLELUNG on May 12, 2017, 10:02:03 AM: Quote from: jrebel on May 11, 2017, 08:30:57 PM
Use the same ammo you will for deer and go blast some yotes. Who cares if you damage the hides this time of year, the birds don't mind....just makes it easier to rip them apart and eat. :bfg:
There's no money in the hides between now and deer season. Wait until you get a prime December dog to get a hide tanned, but for now just use whatever ammo your .308 shoots best. Coyotes are dinks, accuracy is far more important than bullet weight or style.
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: JDHasty on May 12, 2017, 10:09:37 AM: Be careful about shooting 308 caliber bullets at coyotes because coyotes are frequently shot at when on the run and a 30 cal rifle can throw a mean ricochet that will retain enough weight to really carry. I have a relative who was on the receiving end and the shooter was miles away and sent four or five 168 grain rounds downrange at a coyote from an HK model 770. Always be careful, but be extra careful w/that combo.
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: DJ_Mack on May 12, 2017, 10:14:52 AM: Get good with your deer rifle and have a blast! Knowing your rifle and being comfortable with it is the most important thing. Especially when you have never killed something before and your heart starts racing and you hands start shaking. Have fun!
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Gringo31 on May 12, 2017, 11:15:40 AM: Often the mistake is made of buying a coyote gun when one lacks experience with their go to rifle. Use the hunting combo you plan on using. Build your self confidence and soon you'll be looking at a little black tail and you'll say to yourself, "I can't believe how big that thing is".

I shoot a lot of coyotes with a rifle and it's part of the reason I bow hunt.
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: clockwork on May 12, 2017, 11:35:07 AM: what about FMJ? wouldn't this solve the problem with pelt damage?
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: DJ_Mack on May 12, 2017, 02:37:34 PM: Quote from: clockwork on May 12, 2017, 11:35:07 AM
what about FMJ? wouldn't this solve the problem with pelt damage?

I would imagine it would solve most of the problem unless you hit bone. My buddy out in the Midwest says he doesn't waste good bullets on yotes and only uses fmj's. They just pencil through. He is shooting .223 though so who knows.
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Biggerhammer on May 14, 2017, 08:24:48 PM: Not at all! I can't stand coyotes. Around here they will be on a calf at birth in a heartbeat.

Here's one I jacked up with a .375 Ultra Magnum and a 260gr Accubond. Right at 300 yards.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi90.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk269%2Flandonmoses%2FDSC01072_zpsb9b678fb.jpg&hash=25c6a48e63b2ed6176d0c1f12ed50e5c552dbf93) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/landonmoses/media/DSC01072_zpsb9b678fb.jpg.html)
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: kselkhunter on May 14, 2017, 08:31:43 PM: Wow, nice gun.
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Biggerhammer on May 14, 2017, 08:40:18 PM: Another one that took a Texas heart shot with a old school 7x57 Mexican Mauser and a 140gr Accubond. The rifle was given to me by my father 30 years ago. It's taken allot of game.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi90.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk269%2Flandonmoses%2FDSC02479_zps9a54519f.jpg&hash=3edae1c011da3e1314645438e4b05186e1262ff4) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/landonmoses/media/DSC02479_zps9a54519f.jpg.html)
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Biggerhammer on May 14, 2017, 08:46:43 PM: Another Yote I dumped at 580 yards with a Mike Bryant built 7mm WSM and a 30" Hart barrel, using a 168gr Berger. It had snowed on him some by the time I hiked out to him.

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi90.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk269%2Flandonmoses%2Fcoyote1_zpsa93e477d.jpg&hash=13e80ea772f09eb9a6fc4a2598702dc1c96f7618) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/landonmoses/media/coyote1_zpsa93e477d.jpg.html)

(https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi90.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk269%2Flandonmoses%2FIMG_1248_zps4a4ed7b6.jpg&hash=3eef1ccd085c5d1f6bfc5c2ae712293591d8b0a5) (http://s90.photobucket.com/user/landonmoses/media/IMG_1248_zps4a4ed7b6.jpg.html)
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Boss .300 winmag on May 14, 2017, 08:58:27 PM: Quote from: kselkhunter on May 14, 2017, 08:31:43 PM
Wow, nice gun.

That's what all the chicks tell him. :chuckle:

And dudes. :yike:
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: konradcountry on May 19, 2017, 10:34:34 PM: I would look into getting an inexpensive 223 rifle. If you shoot a lot it will pay for itself through lower ammo cost.

PM me if you want to go coyote hunting sometime. I know a decent area about 1.5 hours from you.
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Scheindogg on May 19, 2017, 11:13:57 PM: Pm sent
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: yakimanoob on July 07, 2017, 11:55:05 AM: Quote from: Boss .300 winmag on May 14, 2017, 08:58:27 PM
Quote from: kselkhunter on May 14, 2017, 08:31:43 PM
Wow, nice gun.

That's what all the chicks tell him. :chuckle:

And dudes. :yike:
:chuckle:
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: idaho guy on July 07, 2017, 12:14:50 PM: Quote from: Scheindogg on May 11, 2017, 09:42:27 PM
Wow crazy!
If I can find a low grain like 120ish like these guys mentioned I might try it but honestly it would be more for the experience than the pelt. I would be proud if I did that to a yote myself :chuckle:

Shoot the yotes with the same bullet you would use for deer hunting. The pelts aren't any good right now anyways and it will build your confidence to shoot the same stuff and you wont have to mess with sighting in for a different round. I have shot them with my 30-378
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: PNWWARRIOR94 on September 08, 2017, 03:58:41 PM: .300 blackout blacked em out
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: Ziptie on October 26, 2017, 09:23:35 AM: I have killed them with 308. I love 308 i load it with 110's to 180gr bullets. Over the last couple years i have settled in on a 125gr nos ballistic tip load. It shoots reasonably flat kills small game and deer well. Good luck.
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: jjaba on October 27, 2017, 07:57:02 AM: Lets keep the pictures in good taste please.....
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: hunter399 on October 27, 2017, 08:17:40 AM: Quote from: jjaba on October 27, 2017, 07:57:02 AM
Lets keep the pictures in good taste please.....
What's wrong with the pic,be more specific,this is a hunting forum right,Only good coyote is a dead coyote,keep up the good work. :tup:
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: h20hunter on October 27, 2017, 08:27:20 AM: It has been asked in the past to refrain from posting overly graphic pictures. Those posted so far are perfecly fine. Please respect the request as it is not up for debate.
Title: Re: .308 for coyotes
Post by: jjaba on October 27, 2017, 09:36:30 AM: Quote from: hunter399 on October 27, 2017, 08:17:40 AM
Quote from: jjaba on October 27, 2017, 07:57:02 AM
Lets keep the pictures in good taste please.....
What's wrong with the pic,be more specific,this is a hunting forum right,Only good coyote is a dead coyote,keep up the good work. :tup:

The pictures that showed half the insides hanging out and with the head mangled have been removed.