Coyote caliber - help me decide

[42769vette]

and it's "Tennessee elevation".

Not that it matters, but Ive always called it, and heard it as Kentucky as well.

 

[bwframe]

I'm very much against taking a round that is capable of 600 yards or more hunting in Indiana. .224, 308, 300WM, any of them. I prefer a round like 300 BLK. Even supersonic it looks like its dead at around 500 yards. Sub, its even better. Not sure what it will do to something as small as a coyote.

Further, if you (anyone, not just OP) haven't taken a shot beyond 100 yards, you have no business taking a shot over 100 yds. Just my opinion.

I understand everyone has different areas they hunt in, but an errant round can do some damage. Northern Indiana is a FLAT flat place and a round can travel......


-JD-

Imtalking about that "IF".

How many good ole boys zero a rifle at 50 and 100 yds and use "Kentucky Windage". Guess wrong and yer asking for trouble.

Better to use a shorter distance caliber and know it before taking long range shots.

Then there's this:
Pregnant nanny, 24, dies after being hit by stray bullet in Arizona desert popular for target shooting | Fox News

Granted this is a one off but i sure as hell dont want this on my conscience.

-JD-

My friend, I agree whole heartedly agree that any shot taken, the shooter needs to know absolutely where the bullet will stop.

That said, I'm not with you on assuming that a caliber or cartridge choice will do this. Cartridges intended for longer range can easily be determined where their flight will terminate. Consequently, even rimfires can ricochet enough to kill over a mile out.

Shooting into "the woods" is NOT an adequate determination of where your bullet will stop.

If you are not a safe shooter/hunter, then education is in order, not a milder caliber/cartridge.

 

[JonProphet]

Did she get hit with a bounced bullet or one that was fired high?
What kind of bullet was it (caliber and construction)?
Was she on the back end of a known shooting area (heightened risk)?

If you don't want it on your conscience then don't shoot any gun, as any bullet poses risk.

We were talking about varmint hunting. And when doing so anybody with half a brain, should be using varmint bullets.
They are MUCH safer, as they often fail to even exit the animal, they are so frangible.
Have seen the lead powder where they have hit the dirt and come apart.

Of course, not everybody out chasing Wile E has half a brain.

And Ft Wayne was according to USA Today, the dumbest city in America.
Danger might be higher up there.

So drive to another county and hunt.

I'm sorry, but this is absolutely the most ignorant thing I've ever heard anyone say in regard to gun safety.

I'm not even sure I want to respond to any of what you posted in response.

The only halfway intelligent comment you made was that not everyone chasing Wile E. has half a brain. Well said.

Good luck with that half a brain.

-JD-

 

[Fargo]

Imtalking about that "IF".

How many good ole boys zero a rifle at 50 and 100 yds and use "Kentucky Windage". Guess wrong and yer asking for trouble.

Better to use a shorter distance caliber and know it before taking long range shots.

What the heck kind of shot is going to have a windage or elevation correction such that it becomes unsafe to 3rd parties? Are you really suggesting that the target is supposed to be the backstop when hunting game?

 

[JonProphet]

What the heck kind of shot is going to have a windage or elevation correction such that it becomes unsafe to 3rd parties? Are you really suggesting that the target is supposed to be the backstop when hunting game?

I'm not entirely sure about your first question, but I'll move to the 2nd.

That is exactly one of my points. I am not suggesting the game be the backstop, quite the opposite. What I'm really talking about is taking a shot with a round that is capable of long range yardage and someone making a mistake on the elevation and the round keeps going and making it dangerous to people and property.

This is based on my assumption that a lot of hunters (good old Ole Boys) don't know ballistics. How long has the 300WM, 300BLK and 308 have been legal for hunting deer? And what was the reason why it wasn't legal before?

 

[phylodog]

And what was the reason why it wasn't legal before?

Ignorance? Fear mongering? Same reason switchblade knives were illegal for so long? Or short barreled shotguns? To prevent complete and total annihilation of any and all innocent Hoosiers?

 

[KJQ6945]

I'm not entirely sure about your first question, but I'll move to the 2nd.

That is exactly one of my points. I am not suggesting the game be the backstop, quite the opposite. What I'm really talking about is taking a shot with a round that is capable of long range yardage and someone making a mistake on the elevation and the round keeps going and making it dangerous to people and property.

This is based on my assumption that a lot of hunters (good old Ole Boys) don't know ballistics. How long has the 300WM, 300BLK and 308 have been legal for hunting deer? And what was the reason why it wasn't legal before?

I am a new coyote hunter. I had never been until this year. I am not new to shooting, and I find your posts condescending, and outright insulting.
I shoot 77gr Black Hills 5.56. It's as about as hard hitting, and long range as 5.56 gets. I hunt in the middle of the night in total darkness. I've never hunted in a field, that wasn't surveyed in daylight by myself or a hunting partner. When we survey a field, the main concern is adequate backstop. Safe shooting determines the position of the shooters more so than wind direction. I've been busted by a yote that winded me. He didn't wind me because of my inexperience, it happened because I positioned myself for the safest shot. Safety before success.
My rookie year has been an education, and I've yet to get one, but every miss has been on video, and I can see the impact. There has not been any unsafe shots.

 

[Rookie]

I guess I need to figure out how to mount my thermal onto a blow gun.

 

[Hookeye]

Why have all the new deer cartridges been legal on varmints...........for decades?
Because most varmint hunters use cartridges that allow for flat shooting, low recoil and frangible bullets.
And varmint hunting tends to be over wider spaces (hunter density is low).

 

[Hookeye]

Varmint bullets come apart if you miss. Sometimes enough jacket remains to have a dust up beyond.
Most times it's just fragments.

I actually found one base, 75 gr Speer HP that blew a small chuck to pieces. 15 ft behind w partial petals was on the ground.
Little copper star that weighed maybe 10 grains. Big whoop.

Have seen the grey dust (lead core puffed) where the bullet hit and came apart in the dirt.
Not ignorance. Actual experience.

Even when employing varmint bullets, I only take safe angle shots.

BTW, fast helps make things come apart.
Probably why IN finally allowed HP rifle for deer.

http://www.ihea-usa.org/_assets/documents/AFWA_Presentation_9-18-07.pdf

 

[Hookeye]

Not that it matters, but Ive always called it, and heard it as Kentucky as well.

My reference was to .223 drop tables, nothing pertaining to wind drift.

Hold over was always "hold over".....and "Kentucky Windage" was in reference to horizontal only issues (wind).
Then I met some shooters from Tennessee

Rather like the breakdown by component/state LOL

 

[Hookeye]

The heyday of groundhog hunting is gone, but it still was decent in the 70's and 80's here.
People used to actually know something about the sport.

 

[Hookeye]

I guess I need to figure out how to mount my thermal onto a blow gun.

Use really heavy darts if hunting in Allen County.............

 

[BluedSteel]

With respect, and admitting my ignorance of all that is going into your decision; would it not be best to just stick with the gun/caliber that you have and put in the time doing load development? Optimum bullet weight [for accuracy] is decided by the twist rate of your barrel. Your plan of experimenting with different bullets/loads should give you something reasonable to work with [with 14k posts I don't believe you hunt with a junk AR]. Any reasonable .223/5.56 load is more than enough for coyotes, and most people's effective hunting range is governed more by their own marksmanship than their equipment. And quite frankly it's easier and cheaper to work on your calling skills and bring them closer rather than buying a new gun, optic etc and go through the barrel break-in and load development process.

 

[churchmouse]

 

[churchmouse]

I'm sorry, but this is absolutely the most ignorant thing I've ever heard anyone say in regard to gun safety.

I'm not even sure I want to respond to any of what you posted in response.

The only halfway intelligent comment you made was that not everyone chasing Wile E. has half a brain. Well said.

Good luck with that half a brain.

-JD-

Just a note to all involved in this discussion......This comment crosses the line. Not far but it does. We can make our points in a civil manner. If not.......stop trying.

 

[Hookeye]

With respect, and admitting my ignorance of all that is going into your decision; would it not be best to just stick with the gun/caliber that you have and put in the time doing load development? Optimum bullet weight [for accuracy] is decided by the twist rate of your barrel. Your plan of experimenting with different bullets/loads should give you something reasonable to work with [with 14k posts I don't believe you hunt with a junk AR]. Any reasonable .223/5.56 load is more than enough for coyotes, and most people's effective hunting range is governed more by their own marksmanship than their equipment. And quite frankly it's easier and cheaper to work on your calling skills and bring them closer rather than buying a new gun, optic etc and go through the barrel break-in and load development process.

You must not watch the Outdoor Channel....................to be successful you have to buy very specific products

 

[saddlegunfan]

That's about Ft. Wayne. I generally just look at the discussions but since I'm trying to get to 50 posts to buy a used Green Mountain 10/22 .....and other 10/22 match parts

 

[two70]

With respect, and admitting my ignorance of all that is going into your decision; would it not be best to just stick with the gun/caliber that you have and put in the time doing load development? Optimum bullet weight [for accuracy] is decided by the twist rate of your barrel. Your plan of experimenting with different bullets/loads should give you something reasonable to work with [with 14k posts I don't believe you hunt with a junk AR]. Any reasonable .223/5.56 load is more than enough for coyotes, and most people's effective hunting range is governed more by their own marksmanship than their equipment. And quite frankly it's easier and cheaper to work on your calling skills and bring them closer rather than buying a new gun, optic etc and go through the barrel break-in and load development process.

That is a very sensible approach and as such it really has no place in this or any other discussion here. It also misses the main points of the topic. The point of such discussions are never to end up with the same gun/caliber you already have, the point is to A) come up with a good excuse for a new gun/caliber and B) to have something to talk about, not necessarily in that order.

 

[Rookie]

So, I've decided I'm going to stay with .223 for at least another year. However, I still plan to spend the summer working up the best round.

Some people didn't read the whole thread...