30.06 too much?
 

would a 30.06 be too much for a coyote? i would like to tan my first coyote, but after that it would just be population control.

RE: 30.06 too much?
 

I shot mine last week with a 30-06. Exit hole about 3" by 3" at 200 yards broadside. It's all about shot placement. Doesnt matter what rifle, in hunting all we are trying to do is just punch a whole in the vitals of an animal!

This Alaskan cross fox was shot with a .300 ultra mag. ( i wont show you the other side though)
http://gallery.aaaextreme.com/v/hunting/smallgame/PB090029.JPG.html

RE: 30.06 too much?
 

The 30-06 is probably the most versatile cartridge in North America. I'm sure you could either buy some 100 grain rounds or try reloading some of the light stuff for Coyotes or Fox. It'll work.

RE: 30.06 too much?
 

that alaskan cross fox is beautiful. what grain 30.06 do you use?

RE: 30.06 too much?
 

The 30-06 sould be fine just find the smallest grain bullet you can or look at remminton and try the 30-06 accelarator bullets its a .22 in a sabot that shoots from your 30 cal. the other thing is if you get a well constructed bonded bullet a coy won't be big enough to make the bullet expand much. In theory.

RE: 30.06 too much?
 

Hurley0816,
Yes the 30.06 will be to much to reliably keep the hide. To every rule their may be an exception.
Bullet construction like a Full metal jacket or a Barns TSX type of construction may go a long way in allowing the 30-06 to save enough hide to allow you to keep the hide. Remember to keep your shot placement somewhat back from the front shoulder and you may get by with a little stitch work. If you hit the front shoulder with most anything things tend to get ugly.

AAAExtreem,
"Doesnt matter what rifle, in hunting all we are trying to do is just punch a whole in the vitals of an animal!"

Ill have to disagree, for a few reasons. Yes most any rifle will kill the critter we are after with proper placement. Though different game and different environments favor certain calibers and bullet construction.

Take an individual who is hunting strictly or primarily for fur. Now imagine that the environment that the individual is hunting to be on the edge of a populated area. Personally ill choose a smaller caliber that will rarely allow an exit wound, to save the hide and reduce the chance of a ricochet.

A22 Mag or a 17 Fireball up to a .223 with a properly constructed bullet would be my choice if I was looking to keep the hide. In more populated areas I would likly go with the lighter stuff like the 22 Mag & 17 FB

On the other hand if you are hunting open country with no one else to concern yourself with a 30-06 or 300 ultra mag may work for you. Use a big cal only if you don’t care about keeping the hide and are extremely sure of your backstop.

I am not saying that a guy using a smaller caliber should concern himself any less over the backstop. Though it would be hard to argue that a smaller more frangible bullet will offer a little more piece of mind.

RE: 30.06 too much?
 

what about core-lokt by remington? it has a jacket all the way up except for the tip.

RE: 30.06 too much?
 

Hurley0816,
There are worse options, still would prefer a military surplus FMJ if you can find em. If you go with a core lock I would go with a heavier bullet like a 180-grain managed recoil, (reduced velocity) designed for elk. Between the slower velocity and the thicker jacket you will probably not see much expansion on the first coyote. Though if you line up 4 coyotes in a row, the last one would certainly look worse than the first.

Just for chits and giggles you may want to ask your taxidermist how much stitching they are accustom to working with.

RE: 30.06 too much?
 

I hunt for fur all-times, so the 30-06 is not even close to a caliber that I would pick, if you want to have a small hole with good shot placement. Then use something like a .223 Ackley, .220 swift, .204 ruger*, .17 rem.*. I wouldnt even try to use a .22 long or a .22 mag for them. Not even the .17 HMR.

RE: 30.06 too much?
 

Be careful with the accel rounds from Remington-- tried them in my -06 and never got groups better than 2" something about the sabots and rifling didn't work for me.