The Best Caliber For Coyote Hunting This Year [2023]

Coyote hunting can be a lot of fun, and since their population has exploded in recent decades, the need to hunt them both for population and predator control has never been more important.

Because coyotes live in such a variety of different landscapes, there are a variety of different ways to hunt them. Some people like to take them out at a distance while others prefer to call them in close. Daylight hunting is obviously the easiest, but going out on a night vision hunt is growing in popularity.

The many different ways you can hunt coyotes has led to a sort of caliber war, with each hunter claiming that their particular caliber is the best. The fact of the matter is that there really isn’t one caliber to rule them all, but there are definitely some that are better than others.

Our Selection of The Best Calibers For Coyote Hunting

Knowing that you can’t possibly do everything everywhere with one specific caliber, there are certainly some trends that crop up when you look at coyote hunters and their guns, regardless of where they’re at in the country.

As such, these are our picks for the best calibers for coyote hunting.

.223 Remington

Whether you want to call the coyotes in to 50 yards or reach out and touch them at 300 yards, the .223 Remington can do both. It’s equally suitable to smaller varmints as well as coyotes, so you’ve got another aspect of versatility working in your favor. Perhaps the best part, though, is availability. The .223 Remington is a very popular cartridge in many respects, so it’s not hard to find on the shelves of pretty much any store that sells ammo.

6.5 Creedmoor

It’s no secret that the 6.5 Creedmoor has become insanely popular in recent years, but it isn’t necessarily associated with coyote hunting. Well, it should – especially out west. If you spot a coyote out at several hundred yards, with the right 6.5 Creedmoor load in your rifle, you’ll have no problem taking him out.

THE 6 BEST 6.5 CREEDMOOR SUPPRESSORS IN 2022

.22-250 Remington

If you’re looking for a cartridge that shoots flat, accurately, and far, then the .22-250 Remington is perfect. It’ll do what the .223 Remington does but at a greater distance. It’s a very popular round that is widely regarded as a coyote-specific caliber, but it works very well on other varmints that you may be out hunting.

.17 Hornet

If you’re looking for a small, fast cartridge with a solid ballistic coefficient, then the .17 Hornet is right up your alley. Though diminutive in size, there’s no question that a .17 Hornet can take out a coyote. As an added benefit, that small hole will create minimal disruption to the hide.

.300 Blackout

For people who will be hunting coyotes at midrange distances, the .300 Blackout is a solid choice. Given the prevalence of AR-pattern firearms, it’s really easy to make the swap of an upper receiver and you’re ready to roll out on a coyote hunt.

FIND THE BEST SUPPRESSOR FOR YOUR HUNT!

The Best Caliber For Coyote Hunting

Picking the absolute best caliber for coyote hunting is not an easy thing to do. However, if we absolutely had to pick one, it would be the .223 Remington. The reason for this is because of the popularity of the AR platform. So many people have an AR these days, and that means you can get into coyote hunting without having to go out and buy a new gun just for that purpose. (Well, you certainly can, but you don’t have to. There’s no such thing as too many guns.)

Best Long-Range Caliber For Coyote

The 6.5 Creedmoor takes the spot for our pick of the best long-range coyote caliber. The cartridge is very popular with long-range target shooters, and so it becomes easy to transfer that effort from a paper or steel target to a varmint like a coyote.

Best Close-Range Caliber For Coyote

The .300 Blackout takes the spot for our pick of the best close-range coyote caliber. OK, by close-range, we’re actually extending it to midrange as well. The .300 Blackout performs admirably on coyotes at those distances. Plus, if you’re using subsonic ammo and a suppressor, you’re in for a really fun hunt.

Tips For Your Next Coyote Hunt:

Use Calls

Coyotes are curious animals, and using a call can be a good way to bring them to you. Calls are available in a wide variety of sounds, including wounded prey that will entice them for an easy meal, or howls of another dog in distress that will pique their interest and draw them to the area.

Stay Stealthy

Coyotes are wiley creatures, and they’ll bust you if you aren’t careful. No matter what method of hunting you choose, make sure that you wear proper camo and do your best to blend into the surroundings.

Use Light, Fast Bullets

To achieve the quickest and most humane kill on a coyote, you’ll want to use a bullet that is on the lighter end for your chosen cartridge and one that can also travel at a high rate of speed with a high ballistic coefficient.

Hunt Suppressed

Not only will hunting coyotes with a suppressor help you stay stealthy by reducing your sound signature, it’ll also give you the advantage of being able to hear all of the wildlife around you without having to worry about damaging your hearing when it comes time to take your shot.

TUTORIAL: HOW TO SKIN A COYOTE

Ready to Start Hunting Coyotes Suppressed?

If you’re ready to get a suppressor and start taking on coyotes a bit more quietly, then you’ve come to the right place!

Silencer Central is the nation’s largest silencer dealer, licensed to sell in all 42 states where suppressors are legal. In our more than 15 years in business, we’ve sold countless suppressors to hunters of all kinds, including coyotes. If you’ve got questions about what suppressor will work best on coyotes for the caliber of your choice, don’t hesitate to give us a call. Our staff can help you pick the right suppressor for your needs.

When you buy from Silencer Central, we’ll handle the entire process for you, from initial paperwork to dealing with the ATF to delivery right to your front door upon approval. It really doesn’t get any easier than that.

Get started on your suppressor purchase today so that you can hunt coyotes suppressed sooner!

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