.308 varmint/predator

Lost Hunta · January 27, 2005, 10:30:40 AM

would .308 Win be too big for say coyotes? It's all i got but i have plans for another H&R Ultra but varminter version in .223. not for a long while though

rockinbbar · January 27, 2005, 11:49:20 AM

A .308 will kill them for sure....
You might not have much fur left over once they are hit with it though, if you were planning on saving the hides.

Don't they make an extra barrel in .223 that will go on the H&R?

Rockin'

Gmoney · January 27, 2005, 12:16:56 PM

A .308 will destroy a coyote....bad for furs but good for being dead...

Lost Hunta · January 27, 2005, 01:40:20 PM

that's right they do but they havta put the barrel on don't they? I i could do it then i'd just grab a .223 barrel but if they've got to everytime then that'd be a waste of a .308 barrel. Maybe i can swap the barrels regularly my self? otherwise the handi-rifles are cheaper but are lacking in the bull barrel part

rockinbbar · January 27, 2005, 03:25:43 PM

I think they must fit the barrel at the factory, after that, you can change them at will.

Rockin'

Lost Hunta · January 27, 2005, 03:39:47 PM

alrighty then. Ya know i got some lip from others who were dumbfounded by getting a single-shot of all guns. but single shots (break-action) can easily converted from one caliber to another by just a few screws and common-sense, well and a manual just in case.

Lost Hunta · January 27, 2005, 06:22:08 PM

just uh won't the parts get worn out from being removed at put on again aginagin ect. and if i had say a scope for both barrels if the zero would move from removing the barrel then once i was done with the other putting it back on? confused i know :)

Rohann · January 28, 2005, 08:02:22 AM

Hmm,
I think a .308 would work fine for coyote, though you would either need to get about a 100 grain bullet (if can find one, not sure if they factory produce 'em), or shoot with Mil.Surp FMJ bullets (are they legal to hunt with?)

-Rohann

Gmoney · January 28, 2005, 11:36:49 AM

A lot of factory .308's that I have seen do not shoot that light of a bullet very well....

OregonBoy · January 29, 2005, 07:05:26 PM

I've seen one coyote shot with a 180gr factory load. The exit wound was the same size as the entrance, but the 'yote dropped on the spot. I think a 308 would make make a great predator rig in areas where your calling might bring in a bear.

Daryl (deceased) · January 29, 2005, 07:34:11 PM

Having shot a good number of coyotes with larger than needed calibers, I can tell you that you'll get anything but predictable results. One will shoot through and leave a small exit, then the next might nearly blow a coyote in half.

If you MUST shoot them with a heavy caliber, my advice is to use a heavily constructed bullet designed for penetration, and then don't hit any heavy bones.

Good luck,
Daryl

Lost Hunta · January 30, 2005, 10:43:01 AM

say what do hides go for? and what type of a bullet (specific) would you recommend

Daryl (deceased) · January 30, 2005, 11:48:23 AM

LH,

Don't use Sierra. They're very accurate, but they come apart pretty easily from what I've seen.

Any other standard bullet on the heavy-for-caliber side should work fine, at least part of the time. For the .308, I'd suggest 150-180 grains. Light, fast bullets are usually designed for violent expansion; heavier bullets usually have a heavier jacket and won't expand as quickly. I'm partial to Speer bullets, but others work about as well or maybe even better. I've seen ordinary run of the mill Speer 180 grain BTSP's out of a .300 win mag that simply shot a small hole (3/4 inch exit) all the way through a broadside coyote.

Hit a heavy bone with any of them out of a .308 though, and the pieces of bone act as shrapnel that gennerally blow out the other side and leave a gaping hole.

Hides can sell for anywhere from 0-50 dollars, depending on condition of the fur and the amount of damage done to it. A lot depends on what area the coyote comes from.

Good luck,
Daryl

Trucker · January 30, 2005, 01:02:52 PM

It seems to me that the .243 win is one of the most versatile rifle bullets there is. Any comments?
Steve

Daryl (deceased) · January 30, 2005, 01:42:59 PM

Trucker,

Versatile? Yep, a person could say that. Fur friendly? Not a chance! I shot (????? only the good Lord knows how many?) coyotes from the mid 70's through the late 1990's with a .243 Winchester. You bet it's effective, but it blows large holes in hides.

Don't seem to matter what bullet is used...fur friendly it isn't, at least no more so than any number of other calibers including the 7mm Rem Mag!

With fur prices finally going back up to some degree, I've moved "up" in a sense, to smaller calibers. Coyotes are just as dead, and there is, at the worst, less of a mess to sew up.

My first of recent attempts was a .223, and I thought I had the perfect fur friendly calling rifle...until I gutted a nice bobcat about 13 months back. Since then I've been using the .17 Remington, and am very satisfied with it's results so far.

I'm not a big fan of "versatile" rifles these days, unless there's no opportunity for owning more than one or maybe a few. Now days I like to use firearms intended for specific purposes, and that also makes it easy to have an excu....err..a reason to buy another! :)

BTW-I still have a pre '64 model 70 in .243 in my safe, but it's more of a back-up rifle to others that are more suited to specific needs. In that sense, versatile isn't such a bad thing!

Take care,
Daryl

Trucker · January 30, 2005, 01:47:38 PM

Quote from: Lost Huntaalrighty then. Ya know i got some lip from others who were dumbfounded by getting a single-shot of all guns. but single shots (break-action) can easily converted from one caliber to another by just a few screws and common-sense, well and a manual just in case.

I'm considering buying a Ruger # 1 single shot in .243 caliber. I would appreciate your input. STEVE

Trucker · January 30, 2005, 01:53:39 PM

Thanks Daryl.

I agree. All purpose is usually "no purpose" so to speak. I am quite a devotee of specializing. My caliber line up goes from the 204 up to 338. I didn't realize the exit factor of the 243 was so potent.
THANKS

rockinbbar · January 30, 2005, 02:37:10 PM

Trucker,

The so called "varmint bullets" in a .243....i.e. the 75gr V-Max will pretty much blow a coyote in two...While a heavier bullet, like 100 psp bullets will not be quite as destructive.

the .243 got a real good rep for being a great coyote gun in the '60's....but, back then hides weren't considered much. It's still a great varmint gun, but with calibers like the .17 Rem, .204 Ruger, & my fav. the .223, they fill the varmint niche quite well & leave a lot more hide for the taking.

I still hunt with the .243 quite a bit, but my go-to gun is my Savage .223....It will exit, unlike the .17, but the hole is generally under the size of a 50 cent piece.

Rockinbbar

azhdryder · January 30, 2005, 07:37:52 PM

I was, years ago, using my 300 win mag loaded with 110 gr bullets on coyotes. I dont beleive shooting them with a stick of dynamite would have done less damage. Hit like a bolt of lightning. Would cut them in half and pick them up off the ground. Kind of cool to watch, and the rancher I was hunting them for loved it. Seemed like the wreckage would always bring one or two around in a day or so. But as I get older wasting them bothers me more and more. Like throwing away money. I am trying to teach my son theres more to life than Gameboy and TV and thats partly the reason I switched to a 204 ruger( which hasnt drawn blood yet through no fault but mine) and teaching him about fleching hides will hopefully make him love hunting like I do. BTW the 204 is a sweet shooting rifle. I highly recomend it to all of you looking to spend money on a really enjoyable toy.

periscope_depth · February 17, 2005, 02:34:52 PM

For that matter....a 375 H&H would do a good job on coyotes.

The only question is....how badly do you want to get smacked in the shoulder?

Most reject the idea of hard kicking rounds when there is a lot of shooting at praire dogs or other small varmints. Of course with a coyote....your lucky to see one even if you call 'em in.

Advice?

Put the 308 away and dust off your .22 rimfire. Coyotes aren't hard to kill....just hard to hit.

Gmoney · February 17, 2005, 05:02:00 PM

Coyotes are very hard to kill with a 22 centerfire let alone a 22rf.....I would not recommend using a rimfire period when shooting coyotes at any range.....You use a 22rf on coyotes at any range there is a high chance of you never finding it......why do that?

Rohann · February 17, 2005, 06:05:34 PM

Quote from: OregonBoyI've seen one coyote shot with a 180gr factory load. The exit wound was the same size as the entrance, but the 'yote dropped on the spot. I think a 308 would make make a great predator rig in areas where your calling might bring in a bear.

Oh yeah I forgot about that, if you use high-grain bullets on varmints or predators then it usually just goes straight through; not much time to expand. Be careful about where you shoot though...

-Rohann

rockinbbar · February 18, 2005, 02:37:24 AM

Quote from: RohannOh yeah I forgot about that, if you use high-grain bullets on varmints or predators then it usually just goes straight through; not much time to expand. Be careful about where you shoot though...

-Rohann

True, UNLESS you hit a big bone....Then the bullet fragments, the bone becomes a projectile itself, & you have a coyote in two or more pieces again...

Rockin'

Daryl (deceased) · February 18, 2005, 05:59:42 AM

Rockin's exactly right!

Daryl