Originally posted by Grassroots89
View Post
I hunt coyotes with a .22 Magnum all the time. I have a Remington 597 Magnum that shoots very well. I prefer the .22 Mag. because I hunt in places where I would rather not shoot a .223. This part of the state is dotted with small farms and I would prefer not so shoot a high powered rifle because of the increased chance that a bullet may carry to a neighbor's property. There may be very little chance of that anyway, but I am more comfortable shooting a rim-fire here. My main purpose in hunting coyotes is to keep them from harassing livestock. I have never shot a coyote that didn't die very shortly after being shot. As a practical matter, it is better to shoot a coyote in the heart and lungs than the head because you are less likely to miss them. I have no moral objection to head shots, but I would prefer a chest shot.
The .22 Mag. shoots pretty flat out to around 120 yards. The bullet should have enough energy to kill a coyote farther than that, but it's a point blank shot out to that range. Sight it in at 100 and a 40 grain bullet will drop about 2 inches at 120, so call that your maximum range and you shouldn't have any problems. I always shoot 40 grain bullets because I know exactly where they shoot. You might have better luck with another style of bullet. I like the idea of non-toxic bullets, but I haven't made the change yet.
Feel free to shoot rabbits with the .22 mag too, but you will prefer head shots because of the tissue damage it will do.
Leave a comment: