Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Coyote, Small Game, Varmints => Topic started by: jds15151 on February 09, 2010, 08:55:14 AM

Title: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: jds15151 on February 09, 2010, 08:55:14 AM: 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
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: TeacherMan on February 09, 2010, 09:14:37 AM: I like 243 because you can use it for deer also in WA :twocents:
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: C-Money on February 09, 2010, 09:27:45 AM: 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!
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Rgrady35 on February 09, 2010, 09:29:35 AM: :yeah: To hunt deer or larger game in WA you must use a 6mm (.243) or larger caliber.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: jds15151 on February 09, 2010, 09:37:30 AM: 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.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Straight Shooter on February 09, 2010, 10:04:50 AM: 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.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: shaneman153D on February 09, 2010, 10:07:50 AM: 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.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Big10gauge on February 09, 2010, 10:17:12 AM: 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.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Shootmoore on February 09, 2010, 10:21:30 AM: 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 :chuckle:

Shootmoore
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: coriantonk on February 09, 2010, 11:26:51 AM: 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. :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: demontang on February 09, 2010, 12:03:53 PM: 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.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Straight Shooter on February 09, 2010, 12:12:34 PM: Quote from: coriantonk on February 09, 2010, 11:26:51 AM
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. :IBCOOL:

:chuckle: You might have bought the last XS7 (in .243) in the Pacific Northwest!! :chuckle: 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. :IBCOOL:
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Rudy on February 09, 2010, 09:42:12 PM: 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! :brew:
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: rainshadow1 on February 09, 2010, 10:05:01 PM: .243 is a great Cougar round!

Just sayin' ! :P
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: jds15151 on February 10, 2010, 06:28:44 AM: Quote from: rainshadow1 on February 09, 2010, 10:05:01 PM
.243 is a great Cougar round!

Just sayin' ! :P

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. :dunno: 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
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: demontang on February 10, 2010, 11:46:26 AM: If you hav a ar15 already look and the 243 wssm uppers for it :twocents:
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Rudy on February 10, 2010, 12:12:18 PM: :yeah: and dont forget to send me a PM when you get to Yakima. Thats only about an hour and a half from where I'm out, we cand efinatly hook up and kill some dogs.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Intruder on February 10, 2010, 12:24:14 PM: Both are fine. 243, as many have pointed out, gives you versatility to hunt big game and more giddy-up. 223 is much cheaper to shoot and better for other varmints (ground squirrels) etc. Really comes down to what's more important to you.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Wile E. Hunter on February 11, 2010, 11:33:15 AM: I looked at both of those calibers, and ended up getting the 25-06 instead of the .243 because it seemed to be a better "combination rifle" for long range Coyotes, and light deer. I also did end up getting a flat top for my match AR, that has become my "go-to gun" for pelts with a 40 grn blitzking. One other consideration.... If you get an AR, you get a lot quicker second shot when you pull in a double, or triple...

Wile E.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Straight Shooter on February 11, 2010, 12:02:03 PM: Quote from: Wile E. Hunter on February 11, 2010, 11:33:15 AM
I looked at both of those calibers, and ended up getting the 25-06 instead of the .243 because it seemed to be a better "combination rifle" for long range Coyotes, and light deer. I also did end up getting a flat top for my match AR, that has become my "go-to gun" for pelts with a 40 grn blitzking. One other consideration.... If you get an AR, you get a lot quicker second shot when you pull in a double, or triple...

Wile E.

Great advice. I went the .243 route (back-ordered one from Cabelas last Saturday), but I'm already looking at getting a .25-06 for the reason you stated above (I know, another reason to buy another rifle :chuckle:). I'm running 40 gr V-Max's (Fiocchi) out of my two ARs... the A3 bull barrel will print "1/4 groups and the M4 will do "1/2 from the same load. With a #3 Timney trigger on the A3 bull barrel, you're talking about a fast-shooting and accurate rig. :tup:
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Wile E. Hunter on February 11, 2010, 01:03:36 PM: Might want to consider cancelling the back order if you're truly considering getting a .25-06. The .243 and .25-06 are so similar in the ballistic dept. it's not worth having both, in my opinion. I think the .25-06 wins out, and that's why I have one instead of the .243. Mine is a 700 Sendero, but they don't make it in that caliber anymore. Your call, but I don't have enough room left in my gunsafe to have both. Hmmm, maybe it's time to buy a second gun safe! :rolleyes:

Wile E.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Special T on February 11, 2010, 01:09:29 PM: Sundance Or anyone else Where does it say you cannot use FMJ rounds for hunting in this state? I just got done looking in the regs and couldn't find it anywhere? is it one of those WAC that aren't posted in the regs? I would think that it might me illegal for big game, but didn't read it anywhere???
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Straight Shooter on February 11, 2010, 02:22:17 PM: Quote from: Wile E. Hunter on February 11, 2010, 01:03:36 PM
Might want to consider cancelling the back order if you're truly considering getting a .25-06. The .243 and .25-06 are so similar in the ballistic dept. it's not worth having both, in my opinion. I think the .25-06 wins out, and that's why I have one instead of the .243. Mine is a 700 Sendero, but they don't make it in that caliber anymore. Your call, but I don't have enough room left in my gunsafe to have both. Hmmm, maybe it's time to buy a second gun safe! :rolleyes:

Wile E.

I hear you. I went and "put the cart before the horse" and picked up 6 boxes of Hornady 58 gr V-Max loads for the .243... so, I'm going to press on with the purchase. Cabelas has the Marlins on sale every few months for $259.99, so I'll probably pick up a .25-06 down the road. I bought my dad a Winchester 70 Coyote in .25 WSSM two years ago and gave him back a Ruger 77 in .257 Roberts (that he gave me when I was stationed in Texas 12 years ago)... hopefully, I'll be driving down to San Diego in the next few month... and at least, bum the Roberts back from him. :chuckle: You're definitely right on about not having room but, buying guns is my sickness and I can't stop... I NEED HELP! :o
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Oldguy on February 20, 2010, 10:08:15 AM: Quote from: Special T on February 11, 2010, 01:09:29 PM
Sundance Or anyone else Where does it say you cannot use FMJ rounds for hunting in this state? I just got done looking in the regs and couldn't find it anywhere? is it one of those WAC that aren't posted in the regs? I would think that it might me illegal for big game, but didn't read it anywhere???

I too question the FMJ not legal for hunting in Washington. I'm a H.E. instructor and have never heard of this one.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 20, 2010, 11:03:21 AM: fmj bullets are legal here we do not have any bullet restrictions other than must be .240 or bigger cal from what i know. my 223 ar-15 works well for me when i do most of my yote hunting i don't shoot over 250y because hit % goes down past that and i dont like to shoot just to shoot but the 243 works good also i have shot allot with a 243 as well
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: demontang on February 20, 2010, 02:47:10 PM: FMJ realy is practical or ethical if you ask me. Theres just to high of a chance you will just wound the animal. :twocents:
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: jasnt on February 21, 2010, 12:15:02 PM: i love my .243 real accurate round and good distace too
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Pathfinder101 on February 21, 2010, 12:38:31 PM: I think a Remington 700 in .243 is a good choice. Whether or not you get the bull barrel should be determined by how much you plan to hike, how good shape you are in, and how much weight you want to carry... Here's the question: Will you look at a ridge and think to yourself "I'll bet that would be a good place to go, but I don't want to lug this thing all the way up there."...? If you think you may do that, then just get the standard barrel...
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: fishnate on February 21, 2010, 02:46:46 PM: .243 hands down love it for yotes! Mine is a sythethic with fluted heavy barrel model 70. It is heavy but just man up and when I switch to my lighter deer rifle it seems so light and I am ready to go :twocents:
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Special T on February 21, 2010, 07:23:28 PM: I'm guessing from the lack of response ball ammo must be legal... I also looked for it in the regs... but i think 30-06 ball isn't gona leave to many wounded yotes limping around....
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 21, 2010, 07:32:52 PM: yeah there has been no modern firearm ammo restrictions about type of bullet so i am sure you could use it but as far as killing game clean i would not use them on anything but small game.
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: btlsoom on February 22, 2010, 07:43:19 PM: I stick with my Encore set up with a heavy .223.

Randy
Title: Re: .223 or .243 for Yotes in Washington
Post by: Bigbuckhunter_1996 on February 23, 2010, 07:23:43 PM: .243 all the way u can take out coyotes then shoot a deer while your on your way home :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: