LONG range coyote gun

[it flies it dies]

Ok, long story short I just moved to an area loaded with super smart coyotes in super flat and open areas... everyone near me is more than willing to let you use practically any method you would wish to use to legal or not to kill the 'yotes in the area. Problem is this has made the coyotes EXTREMELY skiddish of ever coming in to calls and they aren't very vocal. I used to get a lot of yotes by just carrying my .243 with me in my truck everywhere I go but these coyotes high tail it the other way any time they see a vehicle even when you are over a mile away... I have seen 4 in the last month and the closest I could get even using the vehicle tocut them off was about 300 yards. You can see for about 2 miles easy around here cuz its all open fields, and you can bet that if you see the coyotes they've seen you.

I guess what I am asking is if anyone knows a good coyote gun that would be fast shooting, durable, lethaland would be able to be sighted in for 300-400 yards.

[#40Fan]

Your .243.

[it flies it dies]

Yeah...

my .243 is pretty old about 7+ years old and was my first rifle so it has been beaten up quite a bit over the years and is still good for close range but the bullets are all over the place past about 150-200 yards. I was thinking a .204, .222, .223 or .17 but I don't know a whole lot about any of those types of guns and I would need something cheap.

[NMFowler]

If you aren"™t going to collect the pelts, I'd most likely stay with the 243, or something like a 7mm mag if you have one. If you are collecting pelts, I like (and shoot) a 204 ruger. The 204 ruger and 22-250 are about the fastest, flattest shooting rounds on the market.

[it flies it dies]

Thanks,

I am saving the pelts during their prime season... I like my .243 but it just doesn't seem to be working for those distances. I was leaning towards a .204 or a .17, but would a .17 have that kind of range and still be able to kill a coyote?

[mez]

.17 is out of the question. I don't know anything about a .204 but would guess the same.

You want long range accuracy get a .308, snipers shoot them for a reason. Load them with match grade FMJ bullets and they won't tear up the pelts.

[PA Bow/Flinter]

Not sure where you live, but I'm guessing that if you have large flat areas, you probably have a good bit of wind too. For that reason I would suggest a larger more powerful bullet/rifle combo so you won't have to worry about drift as much.

IMO, the .17, .22LR, .222, .223, and possibly the .204 just aren't suited to handle those longer shots under windy conditions...especially the .17.

I would seriously consider the .22-250 and .243.....although the .308 is another good option.

I know you already have a .243 that you can't group that far out there.....but if you are looking at buying another rifle, another .243 in the cabinet would allow you to save money by shooting the same bullets out of both.

Just an idea.

[Ridge Runner]

cheap and long range doesn't fit in the same sentence, believe me I know this, but if it were me it would be a savage varminter in 243, 308, or 260, with a good leupold scope.
RR

[hihopehunter]

i love my 25wssm. it is dead on at 300 yards. it is an awsome gun

[it flies it dies]

Thanks everyone for your input.

I was doing a little research online and found a Rifle Trajectory Table that showed that a .240 Weatherby Mag can shoot out to 322 yards before ever going 3" above or below line of sight. I was just wondering if anyone has one of these or knows if they are any good?

Thanks,