coyote hunting
 

im just curious to see y'alls opinions on using a 17HMR to coyote hunt with. ive thought about using either my .308, .270, or .30-30 but... .17HMR is a varmit rifle and a coyote is a varmit so... im thinking head shots? would like to hear your $0.02

Re: coyote hunting
 

I prefer to use my .223 bolt action with bi-pod, sling, black synthetic stock, and BSA optic, but it really depends on the distance, wind speed, etc. But if you want to take it down with one shot to the body i suggest a .270

Re: coyote hunting
 

thanks for the input. im not going to get to go til tuesday.. havent made up my mind what im gonna take yet, so more input from y'all would be appreciated.


im gonna be using an electronic "rabbit in distress" call. ill come back with a debrief on how it goes..

Re: coyote hunting
 

The .17 HMR works great on c'yotes but you have to be accurate. Its got a lot of speed and a lot of energy for such a small round. If you are a even an Average shot I'd see no problem.

Re: coyote hunting
 

thanks BU i know im not the greatest shot in the world but i like to consider myself an experienced shooter. thanks for the input

Re: coyote hunting
 

Always remember there is room for improvement. Even the best Marksman is only a fair shot in his own mind. I will argue this point with any conceded joker who thinks he is the best. I seen a 50 year old self proclaimed sharpshooter get beat by a 15 year old. Both were firing the same gun and the same rounds at 700 yards.

Re: coyote hunting
 

For me its all about one shot one clean kill. I recently shot a large skunk at close to 100yds with the 17HMR and it ran off requireing a second shot. Thats why I like the 22/250 or the 220 swift proven dog killers. I think there is a good use for the 17HMR just not a big coyot thats my 2cents worth.

Re: coyote hunting
 

trust me BU.. im always tryin to inprove my shooting skill.

as you can tell by my avatar im in the army.. i qualified "sharpshooter" (i knocked down 33 out of 40, missed "expert" by 2:mad:) at Ft. Leonard Wood, MO in Feb, in the snow with targets freezing to the ground.....and i still get out shot by a friend of mine that has never had any type of "formal training". usually, the only times i can out shoot him is if i want to get serious about it and he is foolin around :rolleyes: like it was said in another thread, by Tranter i think, "practice, practice, practice"

Re: coyote hunting
 

My brother was there back in 2001.

Re: coyote hunting
 

Id say use your .308, you owe it to the animal, even if it is a coyote it still deserves a quick death. I have seen a few taken between 30-50 yards with a .17 and it does fine, anything further, go with your .308.

Re: coyote hunting
 

Never thought to use that high of a cliber for coyote, but a buddy of mine used a 7mm bolt action and said that did good.

Re: coyote hunting
 

well... i went coyote hunting today (crazy me.. huntin instead of gettin drunk on my patron saint's day ...St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Engineers:D) anywho... went, used a "rabbits in distress" preditor call, took my .17HMR .....didnt even see a coyote:mad::mad: i did see 2 hawks though. they came right to that call!! beautiful birds.... i guess the problem was all the ammo i had said "coyote" on it instead of "targets of opportunity":rolleyes::cool:

Re: coyote hunting
 

Hey, any day hunting is better than a great day at work.Will admit that when growing up in Oklahoma all birds of prey were "Chicken Hawks" and were treated as such. Haven't shot one in over 40 years just because it was a hawk. Now if they get into the wife's chickens I have to try to convince them to leave. I have some"shellcracker" 12 gauge that work great for that most of the time.Personally for Coyotes I use a 22-250 but you 17 I believe is fine for moderate range shots of 50 yards or less,I also agree with one of the earlier posts that even a lowly coyote deserves a correctly placed shot.Have a great day shooting and Thank You for your service to our great country. Take care and stay safe as possible. catfish

Re: coyote hunting
 

I agree with catfish the 17hmr is a little light but with proper shot placement it will do the job. Personally I like my 22/250 also but a 12 guage shotgun with #4 buck is a very constant killer for coyotes under 50 yards.

Re: coyote hunting
 

just me i would go with the 270 using light bullets....

Re: coyote hunting
 

Amen to the first catfish!!:D we were plannin on shootin the hawks (even though i think its illegal here in NC) but by the time we would find where they landed in the trees and could put the crosshairs on them they would fly to a different spot trying to find the rabbits from the call.


john, i think i have decided that from now on im using my Remington 700 .270 with some 130gr bullets.. like one of the NCO's at the Demolitions Range (range 33, Ft. Leonard Wood, MO) always told us when it came to how much C4 or TNT to use.... "P for plenty privates!!". theres no such thing as overkill i guess.:p:cool:

Re: coyote hunting
 

The question that comes to my mine is the expected range.
see my post "check it out". That rifle (in my post) is only good for 100 mts (110 yds).
After that I start using my 6.5x55.
So it becomes (IMHO) a matter of the right rifle and skills at the right range.
I learned a really ugly lesson once trying to pull off a 250mtr shot with a 30/30. it took me 30 minutes to find that gut shot roo. I swore right then and there that I would never do that again. It's a truely horrible feeling.

Re: coyote hunting
 

personally, i like to use my 308, i shot 4 nice coyotes this year 3 w/ my 308 and 1 with a bow.. i would go 308 because it has good range, and lots of takedown power, i got one on the run straight away at roughly 400 yards.. but if you want your pelts, it may be a good idea 2 go w/ a lighter caliber

Re: coyote hunting
 

If you are going to keep/sell the pelts, you want as small a round as possible. I use a .223, but it'll knock a bigger hole than I like - too big of a hole to sew up. My hunting buddy has a .22-250 Howa, and it's a perfect gun for dawgs. A lung shot passes right through, but with a lot of energy - they'll drop right there. The hole is pretty small too.

On the .17HMR: I agree with Red. Up close, especially if you are hunting the smaller Western doggies, but be sure you do good shot placement so he dies quick. Stay ethical. It's not fair to the dog to use an underpowered round.

Re: coyote hunting
 

While I am a fan of the HMR, it would be low on the coyote list. And it would be 20 grainers.

It really depends on where you hunt, terrain means a lot.

In south Texas I use a bolt gun for longer singles, but like the AR platform best. Inside 150 yards and a dot sight at night using spots, you can sometimes collect three at on calling station.

Re: coyote hunting
 

I have taken crows at 500 yards with my .17 HMR savage Model 93R17-FVSS. but i have not shot coyote with it yet but i think it would do find just if you hit it in the right place between 100-250 yards.

For coyote I use my 22-250 Remington 700 and 45gr Winchester ammo at 4000fps you can usually get them at your local Walmart, for around $25 a box (40 count). it dose very little damage to the pelt.

http://www.cabelas.com/link-12/produ...2210889a.shtml

Re: coyote hunting
 

I would go bigger, don't like to see anything suffer, not even coyotes.

Re: coyote hunting
 

Yes very true i didn't think of that aspect. So im going to have to agree with Islenos us a larger round. I wouldn't use rimfire even the 17hmr for coyote size game unless you are very sure in your ability that you can drop it in 1 shot.

Re: coyote hunting
 

.223 is my preferred cal. for coyote.

Re: coyote hunting
 

I just sold my 22-250 which was my Coyote gun but if I was going now with what I have it would be my 243 as it's an excellent round and I go for center chest shots.