[Deleted by Admins]

You could probably narrow your selection down by looking at everything from the new .17 HMR to the .243/6mm (but you could go higher and they'd still work).

I like the 220 swift, 22-250, 243/6mm rem i think those are the calibers you should focus on more seriosly

ScottFisher

Anything from a 22 Hornet to a 25-06 would work fine to shoot coyotes . All would give you more range than a 12 Ga shotgun . It just depends on what you want,how far your shooting and how much you want to spend .

the first thing you need to do is decide what you want to do with them after the shot,save the hides or leave them for the buzzards.if you want to save pelts then look at the 17 rem,22 hornet,223 if not then the 220,22-250 and anything above.the 243 is also good but depending on what load you use it can cause pelt damage.

Coyoteseeker pretty well hit it right on with his reply. The only thing I would add is your shotgun is a good tool to use in heavey cover where the first time you see him is when he pops out of the brush at 30 yards or less. Most of the time he will be on the move and a moving coyote is a lot easier to hit with an open sighted shotgun than a scoped rifle. For longer range shots I use a Ruger m77 22-250. I`am a animal dammage conyrol operator so I`am not iterested in saving pelts just dead coyotes. That caliber usually leaves a nasty exit hole. If your saving hides you might want to drop down to a lighter gun.(Refer to coyoteseeker`s reply.)

i would go with the .223 simply because of the cheap cost of ammo. its not such a big deal if you reaload but cheap plinking ammo for the .223 can be found cheaper than anything else. if you reload the cases will be cheaper.

Jeff, I live in the Waterford area just west of you and hunt in the West Branch and Mancelona area up north. In West Branch I've hunted coyote with everything from a bow out of a tree stand to revolvers, rifles and shotguns out of a groundblind. But when I hunt in Mancelona I use a Savage BVSS-S .223 with a Burris Signature 8-32 power scope because the land is pretty much wide open old farmland and shots out to 300yds have presented themselves. I have never had to chase a coyote after shooting it with a .223 even on some of the long shots, the most I've ever seen one run after being shot was 40 yds because I hit kinda high. My Savage shoots 5/8" 5 shot groups with factory Hornady 55gr V-MAX ammo at 100 yds and 3/4" groups at 200yds, the only thing i've done to the rifle was install a SSS trigger in it and set it at 1lb pull. All for under a grand.

I shoot the ruger m77 .223 with a 3x9x40mm scope and when using 55gr. rounds and a bi-pod I can hit a fifty cent piece 4 out of five times @ 200 yds! I've had no problem shooting 40 to 300 yds. Hits the mark every time. plus like the other guys have said you still have an animal left rather than glumps of fur and meat. It's a great flat shooting gun.

[Deleted by Admins]