Have any of you taken a coyote with a 22mag and what are the best loads.

The OSSI coyote killer really moves out in my guns but I am afraid it may be to explosive.

Any thoughts.


KTG


PS Yes I own a 17 but feel it is too light and yes I have a 223 but am wondering if the 22mag is not enough for under 75 yards.

I have killed coyotes with the 22WMR using CCI 40 grain HP at 1950 fps. All my shots were under 70 yards and I placed them carefully. If you aren't a steely-eyed rifleman capable of either placing the right shot, or holding the shot for a better opportunity, stick with the .223.~AMMOe

I agree with AMMOe on the use of a 22M for coyotes. However, I too have circumstances where a rimfire must be used.

I've taken a few coyotes with the 22M. Several with a 40g CCI HP and two with a 30g V-Max. I think the 40g HP is a better choice, although each was dead. Have not used the OSSI stuff.

On of the reasons I have such a sweet spot in my shooter's heart for the 22 WMR is because for an entire sub-zero winter, far back in my youth, a Marlin 22 WMR fed me, clothed me, kept me in cigarettes, and kept the lights on when I had no other way of sustaining myself. I hunted every day and night: coyotes to coons. (Back when the pelts were worth something)

Hard times and the 22WMR taught me to shoot judiciously, even when I was darned hungry and that coyote didn't look all that far out of range... ~AMMOe

Now that's a seriously compelling endorsement for the 22M!!

FWIW, Mag-Check (former member and avid 22M shooter) thought that the 40g JHP bullet used in the CCI Maxi-Mag and Remington, was the bullet of choice for coyote in the 22M as they penetrate and mushroom well. Although he also got giddy when talking about those OSSI coyote killers, don't know if he ever had the opportunity to use one on a coyote? but I'm betting they'd be a good choice too.

It's really about range and shot placement IMO.

What happened to Mag-Check?

I thought he was a Winchester fan?? I thought of him last week as I tried to hit some P-Dogs with the Winchester 40 grain JHP's. MY Ruger didn't like them or I was just too attuned to the hold I needed for the Remington 33 grainers but I never touched a one. I did however, smack a few rabbits. Even at 70 yards the bullet exited. Could work well for coyotes. Back in my youth, CCI was the only choice at the Gambles hardware store!~AMMOe

Mag-Check thought it would be funny to post on here that the new 5mm Ammo was available at a certain online retailer. By the time I called the retailer, they had been inundated with calls. Problem was, Mag-Check was lying and knew the retailer did not carry the ammo... He was not happy with a short suspension and asked to be removed.

Eric

I was wondering why I had not seen any of his posts for a while.

Thanks for the update.

He was (is?) but he'd commented on several occasions that the bullet used in the CCI JHP was a top performer on larger critters and recommended them highly for coyotes.

Huh! ~AMMOe

Thanks for the replys.

I'll get some of the CCI hps. The Winchester hp doesn't shoot very well in any 22 mag I have(2-3''). I am old enough to remember the original winchester hp load that was a little hotter (didn't own a chrono then) and a lot more accurate for me.

I'll try them along with the OSSI and let you all know.

Thanks



KTG

Have fun.~AMMOe

The Winchester 40's don't shoot so good in mine either. Each one is different.

+1 on the .223 over a .22WMR. It's the right round for the job.

I think everyone would agree on that, and a 22-250 or 243 is even better and so on. However, restrictions in some areas dictate that a rimfire be used.

I think they stopped making them but,If a guy can be lucky enough to find the Maxi-Mags with the 50gr Speer GDHP (gold dot hollow point) I would use them. They are slow but my Savage 65M really liked them and they hit pretty damn hard. I shot a couple of big beavers with them both in the head and the heart-lung area. Either hit left them without much more then a twitch. I also shot a doe deer with one that I first crippled with the CFE ( chevy front end ) and she didnt do much but twitch a tad either.

If you can find any of them I know the 45gr Win Dynapoints also hit pretty hard.

They did quit making the CCI Maxi-Mag 50's at least a year or two back. I recall because I was looking for some to try and never found them. I wish they'd bring them back.

One rifle I have shoots the Federal 50's real well. They penetrate deep but do not expand and have passed right through on critters I've tried them on. I quit using them for that reason, and I doubt they'd be a good coyote bullet.

I agree with Red, The federal 50s shoot well out of my rifle too but I recovered one from a coon I shot at about 80 yrd or so and it looked as if it was more like a partition bullet. The only expansion was the thin front part of the bullet where the hollow tip was. But the rest of the bullet had no mushroom at all.

What about the 40gr Game points, I have heard of them and yet never seen a box in the store to buy.

I haven't tried the Game Points, so I can't say.

There's a picture of a coyote on the box though

Exactly! Go with the .223!

again I say, a 223 is not an option in some areas. WMA's in my state do not allow the use of a centerfire rifle, nor do any of of the state parks to my knowledge. If a shotgun is used, you are restricted to non-toxic shot in most cases which means shooting crappy steel, or $3 per round Hevi-Shot (buckshot is not allowed) and the shotgun is only good to about 45 yards. The 22 magnum is the better choice beyond 45 yards IMO.