Best round for yotes
 

OK, now that I can't find any .223 ammo for my new Savage MVP, I've got to switch over to something else until this run on ammo is over. I've been hunting yotes for several years now with my .223 and having outstanding results at shots out to 200yds.

But now I've got to switch over to either .17HMR, or my 22Mag or 204ruger.

Question is, which is going to have similar ballistics and performance as my .223?

I've also got a 22-250, but the ammo is so #$% expensive, I hate to even shoot that gun less I have to.

Last but not least, I may have to re-zero my 762 x 39 and start shootin that if there's any ammo available...

Man, I really miss not being able to shoot my .223!!

My .204 works fine on yotes.

BTW - How many coyotes a week are you killing that your .22-250 ammo is THAT expensive ?

.22-250 costs you THAT much more than .204 Ruger or .223rem? Man, you must be shooting rot-gut stuff out of your .223, or you're shooting premium stuff out of the 250... Even $2/rnd isn't that hard to make up, put up a few extra hides in a season and you'll make up the extra cost.

Out of your list, I'd be leaving the .17HMR at home (which I usually do, unless cats or fox are on the menu), and be looking at the .22hornet or the .204 Ruger, preferrably the .204 Ruger. The .22hornet is a fine 0-200yrd coyote killer for the scrupulous shooter (pick your shots). The .204 Ruger will do fine considerably further, again, picking your shots.

So grab up a few boxes of .204 Ruger and knock yourself out...

I bought a .22-250 this year and the bullets aren't that expensive. I can buy a 40 round box of Winchesters for 13 bucks. I can see where it gets expensive if your buying the Hornady superformance ammo

I've used my 17cal on several fox's and was amazed at how much damage that little 17gr bullet could do. The only draw back for me was any little bit of wind would push the bullet off at distance's over 50yds or so, but it's definately my favorite small caliber round for varmits and pond turtles. Just didn't know how it would perform on yotes, especially on a shot that's not well placed.

As far as cost of ammo, I usually buy Hornady just because they seem to be resonably priced and consistant in performance. Not sayin thier the best, just my choice.

I've been shooting the H-day steel match ammo in my Mossberg 223 and my Ruger mini14for the last few months. My cost has been around $22/box of 50 or .44/round. The last box of H-day 50gr Varmit Express I bought for my 22-250 was $24.5/box of 20 or
$1.22/round. I like the 22-250 for yotes and I really don't think there's much difference in performance b/t the two, I just prefer my 223 b/c the ammo's cheaper which means I can shoot (plinkin) more with the 223.

You need to start reloading! Then the ammo fluctuations will sting a little less.
-Jake

Yep, that's for sure.

I've been saving all my brass for when I do get a reloader. But, I don't think these H-day steel case loads are reloadable...

I used a 22-250 for years. The last ammo I bought for it was from dicks. 40 rds for 20 something I think. it was the umc brand but worked great. I shot a bobcat int he chest and had zero pelt damage. awesome I think. good luck and start reloading as soon as you can.

The .204 will shoot flat and far just as well as a .223,thats what I have been using for Coyote Hunting....a CZ model 527 .204 in the "Varmint" and it is easy on the Hides and will flat knock a Coyote down.I started out with 32 grain Winchesters and changed over to the Federal loaded V-shok 39 grain Sierra Blitz Kings!


I also have a Savage Axis in a .223 shooting 55 grain V-max Hornady shells,that does well in heavier cover or windy days!


If You shop around You can find most Ammo cheaper at different Ammo Suppliers,the part where they get You is the darn cost of shipping where they stick it to You! :(

I also prefer Hornady Ammo ,Remington or Federal to shoot in my Rifles!Oh yeah....a 32 grain bullet will travel at around 4,000 FPS in the .204 and around 3,650 FPS using 40 grain ammo....thats fast! :eek: ;)

new saying;

"The .204 shoots like a .22-250 with 1/3 less powder."

Although a stiff wind will push that little pill around beyond 200 + yards.

$1 -$2 a round is the least of your money concerns with predator hunting !

Hard to have that much fun for that kind of money !!! :-)

I've got a 22-250 but it won't group worth a crap! It's a Rossi breakover with a bull barrel and a cheap scope. I've tried several different types of ammo and nothing seems to group well for me.

My 204 is a Remington 700 and it's also got the bull barrel and with the flat fore-stock, so it weighs a ton and get's really heavy after luggin it around the woods for a while. I may start using this gun if I know I'm not gonna be humpin it to far.

The gun I've been using lately is my Ruger Ranch mini-14. It's light, durable and resonably accurate out to 100-150yds, I'm sure the gun will shoot 200yds plus, just not sure I can.

Here's a pic of the last yote I got with that Ruger Mini-14

Good work !

Go a head and sell that .22-250, if it don't shoot worth a damm !


You are going to want to use that .204 as your long range predator gun !!! :-)

Depending on the range, my votes for the 17hmr. I know there is usually alot of debate over it. There are some guys who have taken coyotes with it at 150 yards and others that say no way. After my personal experience today, im sold. Idk about 150 yards unless its from a great shooter but 100 yards i could see. My shot was around 30 yards and the amount of damage was suprising.

Note:cheap scope and poor groups. May be a correlation.

I shoot the hornady vmax. It's about $22 for a box of 20. That's $1.10 per shot....and if you are going through that many boxes of ammo to make it expensive, you are either putting up a lot of fur (great!), to which ammo price doesn't really matter at that point. Or you are missing a lot, and misses are wasted time/money out of any gun....

Now if we were talking about a 257 weatherby mag at $70/ox I could understand. Can't afford to sight those in....

Cheap and effective... 7.62 x 54r

If your not keeping there pelts use what ever weapon you have ammo for. My last few trips I been using a 300RUM. Good way to keep proficient with anything you have.

With a shotgun, it is definitely Dead Coyote from HeviShot...