I am researching coyote hunting and am not entirly sure which caliber rifle would be best for my application. Since I am also doing this research for a college project I need very specific information. First of all I want to sell the pelts so fur damage will be a consideration. Please tell me which caliber would be most appropriate and why. If possible please include make model and a link that shows the technical specifications for that gun.

Well me and my brother use a .243's for yote hunting. I use a 70 grain bullet it shoots about 3,500 Fps and shoots flat for a couple hundred yards.

Personally I use .270 Win PSP, 100 or 130gr for good trajectory - recommend doing lots of target practise 200 to 300yd, then headshot them to avoid pelt damage. A rest will be needed if headshotting at 200-300yds.

Sight your scope in at around 30yds and your 180yd shots will be about same place. 100yds will be about 1.5" high of crosshairs, 300yds about 1.5" lower than crosshairs.

HTH

This all depends on how you hunt. For me I like the .223 in an AR. Fun to shoot cheep ammo and great for home protection. Better for my wife than any pistol.

All calibers follow the laws of physics.

All bullets fly in a arc and are falling at the rate of 9.81 m/s^2 immediately leaving the barrel.
To compensate for this 2 things are done.
1. Aim the barrel above the zero point
2. get a faster bullet.

If you want a fast bullet then these are the fastet:
204 Ruger ~ 4225 fps with 32 grain bullet
220 swift ~ 4200 fps with 40 grain bullet
22-250 Rem ~ 4150 fps with 40 grain bullet

Now the heavier bullet will not be as affected by a cross wind. A heavier bullet will have more energy at the distance.

If you want to minimize pelt damage then you need to determine your normal shooting distance and try to get a bullet that will stop inside the animal as exit wounds can be extremely large and damaging.

If you normal shooting is less than 100 yards then the above mentioned bullets in hollow point will blow 25% of the animal off on the exit side.

Another option is to get a bullet that expands that has 100% weight retention so that is doesn't fragment.

.243 70 grain bullet!

That question is like asking what the best beer is. I don't know how many responses you may get but most will be different. I see already you have recommendations for .243., .270 , .204 and .223.

All are good. The faster bullets do shoot as they say, flatter but they also destroy fur. If you are new at this go out and see how far 200 yards is. Then see if you can see about a 4 inch circle out there. That is what they are talking about when they say head shots. Most shooters are incapable of that shot. Maybe off a bench with a target that is not moving at all some may hit that 3 out of 5 shots. It is easy to say shoot them in the head but very difficult to do so. Yes the head is larger than that 4 inches I mentioned but it includes ears nose jaw and other areas that will just wound and maybe kill where you have no chance of recovery. My preference is a 223 or a 22 hornet My hunting area limits me to just about that 200 yard shot. I much prefer shots much closer. I prefer a SP (soft-point bullet). I try to aim just barely behind the front leg elbow. That way I have a target that is 6 inches wide and 8 to 9 inches high. That target is much easier to hit when you are excited and shooting in field conditions.

What kind of ranges are you looking at?

Minimal pelt damage for 200-250 yards tops look into a .22 Hornet

Don't live in a windy area, look into a .17 fireball

LOTS of good reviews on the .204

.223 best probably all around, but you still have to be carefull of your bullet choice to reduce pelt damage.


I've got two heavy barrels 22-250 & a .220 Swift

And some lighter weight sporters in .17 Fireball, .22 Hornet, .223, and .204

I like the 22-250 (Browning 78) for coyotes. If you are concerned about pelt damage you have 2 choices; do you want one larger hole or 2 smaller holes?

55 gr. V-max if you want 1 larger hole. I guarantee if you shoot a coyote in the boiler room with this bullet it will drop him in his tracks. You will have a 1-1.5" hole and liquid inerds.

If you go with a non expanding or minimal expanding bullet you will get 2 small holes but you need a better shot to drop them.

pick your poison I think you know where Im at