Can't decide on my next Savage .223 or .243

**phillymac23** · 01-23-2013, 05:29 PM

Well I found an axis in .223 today for $277 and I picked it up. I have a couple hundred rounds for my AR so I have ammo to start out with. Who knows may pick up a 243 in the future just to have one, that's if the wife let's me.

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Nandy · 01-24-2013, 01:21 AM

Originally Posted by phillymac23

that's if the wife let's me.

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Repeat after me "no my love, this is not a new rifle, I had it for a while. I just don't use it much but I'm about to change That "

**ShowMeShooter** · 01-24-2013, 01:39 AM

Congrats on the new rifle, good choice for coyotes...

Originally Posted by Nandy

Repeat after me "no my love, this is not a new rifle, I had it for a while. I just don't use it much but I'm about to change That "

I tell mine this all the time....or "No babe, this isn't new, I've just been working on it for a long time and it's been under that mess on the bench"

**Rogeritall** · 01-28-2013, 04:14 PM

Originally Posted by phillymac23

Well I found an axis in .223 today for $277 and I picked it up. I have a couple hundred rounds for my AR so I have ammo to start out with. Who knows may pick up a 243 in the future just to have one, that's if the wife let's me.

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Just my two cents worth, but I personally think you made the right choice for Coyote hunting, unless you are out West and your shots get out beyond 300 yards. I think the .223 Rem does the job extremely well on a Coyote out to at least 200 yards. If your shots are anything under that yardage you are just burning extra powder with a .22-250, or a .243.

**G-manz35** · 02-09-2013, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Rogeritall

Just my two cents worth, but I personally think you made the right choice for Coyote hunting, unless you are out West and your shots get out beyond 300 yards. I think the .223 Rem does the job extremely well on a Coyote out to at least 200 yards. If your shots are anything under that yardage you are just burning extra powder with a .22-250, or a .243.

I have to agree. The kill spot on a coyote is pretty small (6") when you start trying to hit them out past 300 yards I feel it's a bit of a hail mary shot. That being said anything inside 400 yards the 223 with a good varmit bullet has a lot of poop to knock them over. In the last year I have shot about 9 of them and the only one I had to shoot twice was about 30 yards away walking throught the bush. I accidentily hit it in the guts and had to finish it off.

I always read post of guys wanting a gun to shoot coyotes at 500+. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but before you go out hunting set up a clay pidgeon at 500 yards and see how many times you hit it without using a bench rest. I know my limit is about 300 yards and that would be using my bipod, squeezing my butt cheeks togther and holding my breath till I nearly pass out. This would also explain why I have missed only one of the last ten that I have shot at. If you want to spray bullets and hope you hit something then buy a 338 Lapua and have at er.

I think a 223 is a great choice and you will have fun with it. I have had great luck with 53gr Vmax. George

Edit: Just to be clear I'm not trying to be Holier than thou and tell people how far they should be shooting. I'm just wanting folks to realize how small their target is. The first time I knocked the hide off of a coyote I was shocked how small the chest area really was.

**ShowMeShooter** · 02-09-2013, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by G-manz35

I have to agree. The kill spot on a coyote is pretty small (6") when you start trying to hit them out past 300 yards I feel it's a bit of a hail mary shot. That being said anything inside 400 yards the 223 with a good varmit bullet has a lot of poop to knock them over. In the last year I have shot about 9 of them and the only one I had to shoot twice was about 30 yards away walking throught the bush. I accidentily hit it in the guts and had to finish it off.

I always read post of guys wanting a gun to shoot coyotes at 500+. I'm not saying that it can't be done, but before you go out hunting set up a clay pidgeon at 500 yards and see how many times you hit it without using a bench rest. I know my limit is about 300 yards and that would be using my bipod, squeezing my butt cheeks togther and holding my breath till I nearly pass out. This would also explain why I have missed only one of the last ten that I have shot at. If you want to spray bullets and hope you hit something then buy a 338 Lapua and have at er.

I think a 223 is a great choice and you will have fun with it. I have had great luck with 53gr Vmax. George

well said....