howler, i don't want to start a peeing contest, but i feel i should explain some things.

first, when i said that if the coyote is within 300 yds its dead, yes. it is. i do head shots. i don't risk any chance of runaway's. regardless of what caliber i may shoot (204, 243, 8mm Chec Mauser). if the animal presents me with an open head shot its over.

i may not have all of the experience of some other forum members, but that doesn't mean that what is said is false. yes, 50 coyotes may seen like an unbelievable number, and if i had a way to get you to my farm i would show you in person what its like to be in the middle of two coyote packs working over a couple of deer gut piles with natural food sources (rabbits, squirrels, mice)depleated, heavy snow, and near zero predator hunting practices.

on an average, i'll see (this time of year) anywhere from 5 to 15 coyotes in a pack converge on a gut pile out at the farm. the most i have ever had is the 50. if i posted a pic there would be someone who would say that it was doctored, merely due to the fact that all you can see is a sea of faces, eyes, and body parts.

in my odd years of experience i have seen a variety of calibers fail to bring down a coyote from 200 to 300 yard ranges (17, 204, 22-250, 223) and i feel that i may not have been completely the caliber as shot placement.IE: a 32 gr V-Max was used on the coyote i shot in the rib that ran 5 yds before collapsing. however, a 34 gr winchester jhp in the rib at the same range (243yds) droppeda coyote of similar weight with only one extra step.

we shouldn't be arguing which caliber is best when nearly all calibers discussed (17, 204, 22 lr, 22-250, 223, 243, 25-06, 30-06, 308, 7mm, 8mm)will be, can be, could be, might be, maybe, if the wind is right.. . . . effective in killing a coyote. to each his own.

InMy Honest Opinion, (an opinion is like a skunk, everyone has one lying around their house, and every skunk stinks) a good penetrating round and good shot placement is two main ingredients in killing a coyote.