There are a lot of guns that will work, I shoot a .243 but most guys like .223 or .22-250s. The most important thing is the scope because all these calibers are good. I prefer a 4-12 adjustable power scope with crisp optics.

Anything that you can get 90 grain or less bullets for will work. Hell, if your a reloader you can make 90gr. rounds for a .270 that will scream. Find something that you are comfortable with and happy hunting.

You want a flat shooting caliber and I believe after using several different small calibers the 22-250 surpasses all. I use the Federal Sierra BlitzKing 55 Grains; if your zero is 200 Y any shot within 200 Y will be dead on, enough to kill a coyote and even a fox. You get out to 300 Y and the bullet has only dropped -5.2 inches, hold on the back of a coyote and you have a dead dog. With the addition of a long range large objective lensed scope you have a varmint killing machine!

If you are in open counrty i would choose the .22-250, like other have said above it is fast and very flat out to 300 yards. But if you hunt in a tight area, you can't go wrong with a 12 ga. and buckshot.

Another option you have other than buckshot is Hevi-Shot Dead Coyote shells; sold in 12 gauge in 3" and 3"1/2.

http://www.hevishot.com/images/panels/dead_coyote/HeviShot%20Dead%20Coyote!%20Sell%20Sheet.pdf

In terms of weight and barrel contour, the answer depends on the environment in which you normally hunt coyotes. As for the cartridge choice, I personally rely on a .22-250 and Hornady 55-grain Ballistic Tip bullets, but the .243 is also a fine choice.

i would have to say 17hmr thats what i use i have killed alot of coyots with it and it is cheap to shoot

The best caliber depends on your hunting situation. In open fields where long shots abound, something with higher horsepower such as a .243, 6mm Remington, .25-06, etc will be a better choice. Great all around choices include the .22-250 and .223. If you're hunting in thick brush a turkey gun loaded with buckshot will work great on the song dogs. Just use quick expanding bullets if you want to save the pelts. Stay away from full metal jackets as you can lose game rather easily unless you shatter major bone structure. Hapy Hunting!!

I've heard it said that the best gun to shoot coyotes with is the one you have with you. I would generally agree with that statement especially if the 'yote is too near your house or your henhouse. There is no shortage of debate on the 'best' rifle cartridge, but the truth is that any centerfire .22, or anything in the .243/6mm, or .257/.260/6.5mm range will work just fine with the proper bullet sellection being the most important thing as stated elsewhere on this thread.
I would add one thing concerning the 00 buckshot that some believe as I do that you are better off with #2, #3, or #4 BUCKSHOT for coyotes because with there smaller size you are more likely to get more pellets where they need to be.

a 223 will hold up to 600yd.
a 17HMR will hold up to 350yd.
a 204 will hold up to 850yd.
i would pick any one of these.

I am a fan of the 25/06 myself. I call it a coyote's worst nightmare. That 85 grain bullets at somewhere around Warp 6 will really let the air out of them.

20 gauge with 3 buck

22 thats all i got that and a 30/06 with low ammo andthe kick of a donkey espesily for a 14 year old

I use a 12 gauge Mossberg 835 with either #4 buck or a load called "deadcoyote." This combination will easily anchor a coyote out to 40 yards.

A .223 is a darn good Coyote round especially at longer ranges.

.223 is a good round for yotes remington model 700 is a good .223

i just got an ar 15 .223 it is the best coyote gun i have, i used to shoot coyotes with a 375 h&h that gun was impressive... dropped'em like a rock

I use a 22-250 and a 12 gauge with hevi shot when they get close. They havent let me down yet

That's why they make chocolate and vanilla. There a so many choices you can decide what you think is best.

But if you want to sell the hides, and you are in an area with good hides, then use something really light like the .223. It will kill very effectively and a wide rang of distances and with the right bullet it will do very little damage.

get an accurate bolt action or AR

For hunting coyotes, I would use a .223 or 243.

I like my Valmet 412 I have a 12ga 3 in over a 222 rem. If they are far out I use the 222 and when they sneek up on me I use the 12. I also have a combo 12/223 combo Remington Sparten that works really good.

i have a amazing bolt action .223 its an browning x-bolt hunter i have just the regular browning 3-9x40 power scope ive shot clean shots with it from 400 yards with hornady 75grain v-max bullets and the pelt is still perfect and falls straight dead o and anybody who has a ar-15 u should plan on gettin a bolt action if u hunt like i do in winter cause i had a ar-15 bushmaster and my dad had a ar-15 dpms and both jamed wouldnt shot tight groups the i got this and my dad got the older a-bolt and neither have every jammed and shoot amazing groups and this x-bolt $671.58+$5.99 for shipping so would you want a gun that u can trust for less than a gun u cant and please go on youtube an look up the x-bolt even if u dont want need one u might think about even like a 30-06 in the old safe cause its such an amazing rifle to shoot and definetly the best gun ive ever owend o and if u see a video on a x-bolt malufuction well its not if u look really closely u can c hat the casing is dented ok (:

The coyotes that I've taken were taken with 8x57JS mauser firing a 200gr soft point out of my 24/47 Mauser and 00buckshot in my old Westernfield shotgun. Buckshot doesn't mess them up too badly, 8mm is not recommended, it makes quite a mess, it'll do the job just fine, just isn't much left to the area of impact. I hit the left shoulder with the 8mm taking the right front leg off, completely destroyed the pelt. I have since moved on to using a Howa 1500 in .22-250 with simple 55gr soft point rounds, makes for a much cleaner kill and much less pelt damage

i shoot a weatherby vangaurd .223 rem topped with a tasco 2.5-10-42mm, held up with harris bipod, it hasnt let me down yet!

223 AR 15.