Advice asap!!!!

Hilltop · Feb 13, 2015

If it will double as a deer gun go with the .243. 243 is flat out a better deer cartridge and a 243 wont tear up coyote hides any worse than the 22-250 as long as you use bonded bullets. Strictly yotes I prefer the .223 as the ammo is cheap and usually plentiful. Most shots when calling are well within the .223 range.

shootbrownelk · Feb 13, 2015

Another vote for the .243. Covers deer/antelope/coyotes and lots of bullets to choose from.

ElkTrout · Feb 13, 2015

I would say the .243! Great all around caliber.

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6mm Remington · Feb 13, 2015

If you aren't in a super hurry and don't mind looking around a bit for a used rifle, or maybe finding one of the CDL's they chambered for it a year or two ago, the 6mm Remington is the way I would go. It's a bit flatter shooting and harder hitting than the .243 if only slightly so. It's a great round. Your choices you have outlined in the .22-250 and the 243 are both good for coyotes, but if it was those two I would also go .243.

Tikka builds a very fine rifle and they shoot very well. I just haven't warmed up to the Savage brand much although they do shoot. Good luck.

go_deep · Feb 13, 2015

I use a .223 and have great results with little to no hide damage, but putting them straight down out to 400ish yards

coloradoshedhead · Feb 13, 2015

I don't know what the regs are in NM, but in Colorado the smallest rifle you can hunt big game with is a .243. My suggestion would be a .243 small enough for a coyote and I've seen that caliber hit hard enough with proper shot placement to take down more than one elk.

xtreme · Feb 13, 2015

I don't think you can hunt coyote in Colorado with a small game license using a .24, you might check the regs

Musket Man · Feb 13, 2015

For yotes I would go 22-250 but if you want to use it for deer and antelope too I would go 243 for sure.

zacii · Feb 14, 2015

Excellent choice on the Tikka.

I'll echo everyone and say .243, because deer was on the list.

Colorado T · Feb 14, 2015

xtreme said:
I don't think you can hunt coyote in Colorado with a small game license using a .24, you might check the regs

Nothing in the regs say you cannot hunt a coyote with a .24 caliber, coyotes are considered small game. a .243 would be a good choice as thats what my son uses and shot his first antelope and deer with.

Also, I have to second the 6mm choice. Killed my first big game animal with a 6mm when I was 13, caribou in Alaska.

Musket Man · Feb 14, 2015

Colorado T said:
Nothing in the regs say you cannot hunt a coyote with a .24 caliber, coyotes are considered small game.

I think there is a reg in a few states that if you are hunting coyotes when there is a big game season open you dont have a tag for you cant use larger then 22 cal.

Colorado T · Feb 14, 2015

Musket Man said:
I think there is a reg in a few states that if you are hunting coyotes when there is a big game season open you dont have a tag for you cant use larger then 22 cal.

Colorado will let you hunt coyotes without a small game license during a big game season when you have an unfilled big game tag. If you do this you have to use the same manner of take as your big game license states. Once you fill your big game tag you will need a small game license to hunt coyotes. Unless I have overlooked it, there is nothing that designates caliber size other than you cannot hunt big game with anything smaller than .24 caliber in Colorado.

Colorado T · Feb 14, 2015

I do stand corrected. In the big game brochure it does specify that if you do not have a big game tag you cannot hunt small game with anything larger than a .23 caliber. My mistake, I didn't read far enough.

Musket Man · Feb 14, 2015

"It is illegal to hunt game birds, small game mammals or furbearers with a centerfire rifle larger than 23 caliber during regular rifle deer and elk seasons west of I-25, without an unfilled deer or elk license for the season." Page 12 of 2014 CO regs

crzy_cntryby · Feb 14, 2015

Don't overlook the Howa rifles. They are very accurate right out of the box and tough enough to take a beating. I have a yote' slayer in .223. But the .243 would be my next pick.

quicknick · Feb 14, 2015

243! And i second the howas. I have one in 223 that is a tack driver. Shoots multiple loads at a half inch.

ivorytip · Feb 16, 2015

congrats, cant wait to hear the success story this fall

Hilltop · Feb 16, 2015

jay said:
Thanks for all the input guys! I did take your advice and ended up going with a 243. I had intentions of going with a Tikka, I think they wanted like 580.00, but when we got there, they had a Ruger that had a Redfield scope mounted and bore sighted on sale for 499.00. It was a great value, I've never owned a Ruger but have many friends that really like them. Out the door we got the Ruger 243, Redfield scope mounted and bore sighted, a buttstock bullet holder, sling, and 2 boxes of bullets for like $640.00 so I think we did pretty damn good. I thought we would be right around 1,000.00 going in so I was happy! I'll try and post a pic later. Thanks again everyone! J

Sounds like a pretty good deal for sure. I have had great luck with the new Redfield's and Ruger is my gun of choice. I bet it shoots great- enjoy!

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