22-250 243 or ol reliable 223

22-250.

22-250 is my #1 choice. If wind is going to be a problem and taking longer shots, then the 25-06 will telegraph on out there allot better than the other smaller diameter bullets. Whats nice about the 25-06, it has the advantages of the 22-250 and doubles as a mighty fine deer rifle!

My first 2 choices would be

1) 243
2) 223

It depends on your hunting technique and conditions. I use a 25-06 as my primary rifle for these so I can reach out and touch them if they are a long ways out (my two brothers have shot over a dozen one shot kill coyotes each in the last month between 600 and 900 yards with their 25-06s). If I am anticipating more foxes than coyotes (harder to hit on the run) and close range shooting (inside of 300 yards) I use a .223 in a Bushmaster Varminter... it has very quick follow up shots because of the very low recoil. My other brother uses his exclusively and has shot more than 2 dozen foxes and coyotes in the last month at ranges out to 300 yards. This equates to few varmints escaping. The Bushmaster is more of a varmint irradicator and not many escape. You could substitute a .22-250 or .220 Swift for the 25-06 if your shooting is inside 300 yards. I did that for a few years but prefer the 25-06 because of the longer range under windy conditions. A FAST rifle reduces the lead on running coyotes and foxes to improve your hit percentage. I use 75g JHP bullets at 3750 fps in the 25-06 and 50g VMAX bullets in the .223 at 3450 fps. I used a .243 for a couple of years until I finally got my first 25-06. I never picked up the .243 again after one week of 25-06 hunting. I stacked up coyotes with that 25.

i agree with most above,22-250 or 223,also like to add 6mm to the mix.

There's a reason why most of the answers you'll receive will recommend the .223 or .22-250; they're excellent choices and .22 centerfire cartridges will stretch your reloading dollar. My preference? You'll find rifles for both cartridges on my profile, and I'd have great difficulty choosing my preference between these two rounds so the rifles I own are configured differently (lightweight and heavy-barreled rifles) and I let the conditions choose the rifle & cartridge combination.

I have every caliber mentioned so far and they all will suit your purpose. Price of ammo might be a factor, especially if you do not handload.

IanS, I guess I am just too old to be into insulting other site members. I will however advise you that every rifle drops at long range... you just have to figure out how much. You must not be a 25-06 shooter... my 75 grain coyote bullet drops 28 inches at 500 yards and I know its windage real well too. After you shoot about 10,000 rounds, you will figure it out. I will add though, I have noticed that if you hit a little low on frozen ground, it usually ends up as a kill shot on a coyote and have seen this happen more than once. I'm not that good any more myself because I don't get to hunt every day like a few of my brothers do. It might take me a second shot every once in a while. They are the ones that can hit... I have forgotten how to do it that well but I'm here to tell you 600 yards is NOTHING for a coyote with a 25-06. I also have to mention that I grew up losing about 300 chickens a year to coyotes and my family doesn't hesitate at any opportunity to eradicate or scare one to death. I guess I had an bad childhood... I remember when I was about 6 and we were watching a coyote run with one of our chickens and as dad lined up on it with his old 03-A3, I said, "Dad, he must be 600 yards away. Isn't there a chance you may just cripple him?" and he said "Son, that is a chance I'm willing to take!" Then he powdered him. Things got worse as I grew up... before long, he expected me to elimnate them as well as keep the incubators going. I would suggest you lighten up and dump a couple of thousand rounds at a prairie dog town concentrating on just those over 400 yards... then a coyote will look pretty fat in your scope. Its not that hard.

I have used both a .22-250 and a 6mm and both shoot very well. But I also have a buddy who is getting the a new .223 and I have heard its a great caliber to. If you are wanting to save the pelts look more at the .22-250 and .223.

To Dakota Man

A 25-06 drops over 40" at 500 yards. 900 yards. If you say so!

600-900 yards...pretty broad range don't you think.

I think your next purchase should be a range finder, then start posting how far you can shoot.

DakotaMan-
Good one!

i have a ruger mark VII in the .223 and I wouldnt buy anything else. Ive killed them at 400 yrds and that is far enough for where I am. If you are out west i might get the 22-250 bc of the distance boost. But all my kills have been 1 shot kills and probably killed about 25 this year. I also just picked up a savage .17hmr and at close range >100 yrd that is a fun round to shoot them with. You have to be able to shoot your rifle though, one slip and he's gone.

.243