22 mag on song dogs

[iflylow74]

Hey everybody. Haven't posted here in a while. I just bought a 22 mag for coyotes and was wondering what yall would consider max lethal range with a broadside shot.

[lefty o]

get em in real close, the 22mag is a very poor choice for yotes.

[iflylow74]

Originally Posted by lefty o

get em in real close, the 22mag is a very poor choice for yotes.

It seems pretty popular around here though. Probably because our coyote season rules state that rimfire is legal the entire season. The main reason I got it was for noise reasons so I dont disturb the neighbors. Over the last few weeks I've had 3 coyotes come up in my yard. I've shot 2 with 22lr but they got away. I was hoping the 22 mag was good enough for those surprise close yard shots and for longer shots while calling 'em in.

[lefty o]

well, the 22mag isnt all that much more powerful than the 22lr.

[nathangdad]

I was born and raised in the West Texas oil field desert where we heard coyotes running and singing almost every night. The .22 magnum is not adequate for this type game. If you hit you will most likely lose a wounded animal. Use at least a .223 and I would recommend a .243. Note, a coyote is not a dog in the sense most people experience dogs. They are highly intelligent, extremely sensitive to sound and smell, and are highly "attuned" to their environment which is one reason for the failure rate of calls and recordings. It is not a walk in to woods to successfully hunt coyotes.

[ArkansasHunter]

I'd reather see you use a sling shot than a rim fire rifle !
My 2 cents A.H

[iflylow74]

I may be wrong but seems to me with some V-Max type bullets, the 22mag should dispatch a 'yote out to at least 50 yards. If the 17 HMR can do it at that range then surely the 22mag can. It all goes back to shot placement in my opinion.

[ezearln]

iflylow a 22 Mag would not be my first choice, but if you are a good enough marksman and patient enough for just the right shot a hollowpoint into the lil yodeler's ear canal should drop him like he's been poleaxed. I would however definately limit my shots to no more than 50 or so yards. I have dropped a few with the .22 WMR but only because the critter was took incidental to my hunting bunnies in the desert.

[killer]

I'm the pot calling the kettle black since I do on once in awhile find myself with the 22 mag waiting for old yellow tooth to appear.

I've read the fact it can and does have probs bringing a coyote down many times in magazines and other forums for years now.

And yet somehow I think I'm going to get that perfect lung shot in on them. Even with a .223 and 25-06 I've had 3 coyote get away from me with marginal hits.

So I agree it's a marginal round and yet I use it once in awhile because it's handy. I know it don't make sense but there it is.

[iflylow74]

Originally Posted by ezearln

iflylow a 22 Mag would not be my first choice, but if you are a good enough marksman and patient enough for just the right shot a hollowpoint into the lil yodeler's ear canal should drop him like he's been poleaxed. I would however definately limit my shots to no more than 50 or so yards. I have dropped a few with the .22 WMR but only because the critter was took incidental to my hunting bunnies in the desert.

I agree. I actually have a .243 that I can also use on 'yotes. The problem is, the .243 is a little loud shootin them out of the backyard chicken coop. I definetly wouldn't take a shot greater than 50yrds with the 22mag.

[utahvarminter]

whatever distance you can comfortably and realistically hit it in the head, especially with 22mag

[vikingpreacher]

Why is there such hate for using rimfires for coyotes on this site? Around here we kill coyotes with rimfires all the time. A good head or Heart/Lung shot with a .22 mag. will put a coyote down.

[andrew cochran]

Originally Posted by lefty o

get em in real close, the 22mag is a very poor choice for yotes.

It sure is not the best choice! It may kill most but why be underpowered.

[White Dog]

I Think You Will Do Much Better Just throwing Rocks.Please dont use A rim fire.You As a sportmen Represent All of Use. Yote Die Hard You Really Neen A centerfire.Good Luck.

[andrew cochran]

Originally Posted by White Dog

I Think You Will Do Much Better Just throwing Rocks.Please dont use A rim fire.You As a sportmen Represent All of Use. Yote Die Hard You Really Neen A centerfire.Good Luck.

Perfect WhiteDog! If you are gonna hunt yotes don't use rimfire!

[rdale501]

I think the general idea is anything you hunt deserves some respect, even if that only means a quik and painless death. Your responsibility is to do everything in your power to insure that this happens. You can't be as sure with a rim fire as you can with a center fire.

[iflylow74]

Originally Posted by rdale501

I think the general idea is anything you hunt deserves some respect, even if that only means a quik and painless death. Your responsibility is to do everything in your power to insure that this happens. You can't be as sure with a rim fire as you can with a center fire.

You're right, a centerfire would be better. And I definetly want a clean kill on anything I hunt. But, in my situation, with game laws banning centerfire most of the year, coyotes threatening my livestock and pets in my backyard, and my living relatively close to 2 other houses, my choices are limited. To stay legal, I use either a 22mag, a shotgun, or archery. Which of the three would you choose in my situation?

Originally Posted by vikingpreacher

Why is there such hate for using rimfires for coyotes on this site? Around here we kill coyotes with rimfires all the time. A good head or Heart/Lung shot with a .22 mag. will put a coyote down.

Its the same where I live. Probably more coyotes are killed with 22mag than anything else. Like most things, it comes down to shot placement.

[rdale501]

In your case, I must admit, I would use a 22 mag.

[nighthawk80]

Definatly a shotgun. Slugs or OO buck.

[iflylow74]

Originally Posted by nighthawk80

Definatly a shotgun. Slugs or OO buck.

Those are illegal too for most of the season. For a shotgun, it has to be something like #2 shot or smaller.