Caliber for Coyotes

Talk about hunting the hunters and their prey.
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Vartarg
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.204 Ruger Guns: Ruger 77MkII Target, Remington LVSF
Location: Louisiana

Caliber for Coyotes

Post by Vartarg »

So far I've killed coyotes with a .204 Ruger and a .223, and have a new .17 Rem upper I'm setting up for hunting them.

I'm also curious if anyone here has used their .20 Vartarg on coyotes, and if so which bullet, and with what results?

I've got quite a few rounds loaded up with 32 gr Nosler BT's and Hornady V-Max's....and wonder if I need to go with the 35gr Berger?

Thanks,

George
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Kale_M
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Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2011 10:00 pm
.204 Ruger Guns: Rem 700 VTR

Re: Caliber for Coyotes

Post by Kale_M »

I have killed 8 coyotes in the last 4 days using the 35gr bergers.. not one runner, spinner, or anything. All dead before they hit the ground! Not one exit hole on any of them and I could not find the entrance on any of them either!!

Very impressed!!
Took down this tank no problem!!
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Sidewinderwa
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.204 Ruger Guns: Savages
Location: Washington state

Re: Caliber for Coyotes

Post by Sidewinderwa »

Very nice indeed. There should be no reason why it should not work. There are some pelt hunters that use the 17 Fireball to kill coyotes to not have pelt damage.
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Please, no Sidewinder today!
K22

Re: Caliber for Coyotes

Post by K22 »

Kale_M wrote:I have killed 8 coyotes in the last 4 days using the 35gr bergers.. not one runner, spinner, or anything. All dead before they hit the ground! Not one exit hole on any of them and I could not find the entrance on any of them either!!

Very impressed!!
Took down this tank no problem!!
Image

Holy Smokes.............wow!!! Nice Coyote.
I mainly use a 17 Rem. with either 25gr. Berger Match or Genco Match. The 17 Rem. works great for me. I have taken some with the 204 using a 35gr. Berger. Again, no exit and no runners...........yet. ;)
I've used the 223 in the past and works great exit for all of the exit holes. The best 223 round I've found is the 52gr.dbl hp Calhoun bullet.

I believe the 17 cal. is the best round for fur hunters with the 19 and 20 cal. running pretty close behind it. But my wife says I'm very dogmatic, so there you are. :roll: :D
I will say that the new 34gr. CRT bullets look very promising and I will be trying them this season since pelt prices still aren't that great yet. For the big 20's those 37gr. CRT bullets look like perfect fur bullets to me. Time will tell. Now if CRT will start making 17 cal. bullets..........hint, hint!!!! :lol:
Bill K
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.204 Ruger Guns: also now, a Savage switch bull barrel in 204R. 23 inch SS
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Re: Caliber for Coyotes

Post by Bill K »

What caliber is the rifle? The brass in the butt sleeve look a lot bigger than 204 Ruger.. :eek:
Kale_M
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.204 Ruger Guns: Rem 700 VTR

Re: Caliber for Coyotes

Post by Kale_M »

Bill K wrote:What caliber is the rifle? The brass in the butt sleeve look a lot bigger than 204 Ruger.. :eek:
Rem 700 VSF in .204. 35gr bergers being pushed with benchmark powder
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DoubleUp
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.204 Ruger Guns: 204 Ruger

Re: Caliber for Coyotes

Post by DoubleUp »

Very nice looking coyote. Keep up the good work.
Guy M
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Location: Washington state

Re: Caliber for Coyotes

Post by Guy M »

Kale - that is one heck of a coyote!
Ryan S Albright
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.204 Ruger Guns: Ruger 204 Ultra Light, Ruger 204 Standard, Ruger Target Gray
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Re: Caliber for Coyotes

Post by Ryan S Albright »

Great Job! Good looking country coyote and rifle. How did you call him in? Lets have the story.
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Vartarg
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.204 Ruger Guns: Ruger 77MkII Target, Remington LVSF
Location: Louisiana

Re: Caliber for Coyotes

Post by Vartarg »

The OP.....me.....asked about the 35gr Berger in the 20 VARTARG....

Nice coyote, but any chance I could have my thread back?

:wall:
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JeffG
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.204 Ruger Guns: Stevens 200 / .204
Location: upstate NY

Re: Caliber for Coyotes

Post by JeffG »

How about 250 savage (75g NBT)?

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Neil S.
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Re: Caliber for Coyotes

Post by Neil S. »

I for one will be taking my 20 VarTarg preditor hunting this season. My main coyote rifle is a 204 ruger shooting 40 V-Max, but the 20VT seems like a great bobcat round. Maybe a little light for a dedicated coyote round. Thats why I chose the 34 CRT (similar to the 35 berger) for my preditor bullet:

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If I happen to call in a coyote, I'll be confident that the bullet will have enough penetration to get the job done.
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