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6 Best Coyote Cartridges: Drop Yotes From Anywhere

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There is no one-size-fits-all “best” cartridge or caliber for coyote hunting. For example, the best cartridge for predator management isn’t necessarily ideal for harvesting pelts, which is why I divided this article into sections dedicated to specific applications.

While the following are what I consider to be the best coyote calibers and cartridges, there are many others worth looking into that I did not have room or time to discuss.

How I Tested These Coyote Hunting Cartridges

In the ranch country, I grew up in, the punks of the prairie aren’t a welcome sight. Many of my neighbors carry rifles specially marked for coyotes. I’ve seen their preferred cartridges take out song dogs firsthand, and I’ve spoken with many dedicated coyote hunters who swear by one or more of the following rounds.

While testing these cartridges, I did all of the following:

  • Took them coyote hunting
  • Talked with coyote hunters to get their opinions
  • Researched online for other expert opinions

The Best Calibers on the Market for Hunting Coyotes in 2025

Best Overall .22-250 Rem
Best Cartridge for Minimizing Pelt Damage .17 HMR
Best Cartridge for Short-Range Hunting .22 LR
Best for Mid-Range Hunting .223 Rem
Most Precise Cartridge for Coyote Hunting 6mm Creedmoor
Best for Hunting in Thick Brush 12 Gauge 00 Buckshot

.22-250 Remington - Best All-Around Cartridge for Coyotes

Specs

Pros Cons
Considered the king of coyote cartridges by most hunters Shorter barrel life than the .223 Rem
Fast Cases stretch, making reloading nearly impossible
Flat-shooting
Light recoil

Why I Chose It

The .22-250 Remington has been the king of coyote cartridges for many decades. This once-wildcat cartridge has become mainstream and has quite likely taken more coyotes than any other. Some newer cartridges might have better ballistics on paper, but they can’t compete with the tried-and-true .22-250 Rem in terms of the number of coyote lives ended.

Even though the .22-250 Rem is an older cartridge, it’s still fast and flat shooting. The coyote won’t know what hit it, even when you take a long shot. These characteristics also make the .22-250 an accurate round. The .22-250’s low recoil does even more to help coyote and varmint hunters achieve awesome accuracy within reasonable distances.

Just because the .22-250 is king doesn’t mean it doesn’t have a couple of flaws. The first is that it has a shorter barrel life than several of the other cartridges mentioned in this article, including the .223 Rem. For the die-hard coyote hunter, that means more frequent barrel replacement. The other drawback is the cases, which tend to stretch on ignition. This doesn’t matter if you only fire factory ammo, yet it can make handloading dangerous – and in some instances impossible.

Despite its downsides, the .22-250 Rem remains the king of coyote cartridges. You won’t be disappointed if you choose it for your next coyote hunt.

.17 HMR - Best Cartridge for Minimizing Pelt Damage

Specs

Pros Cons
Small-diameter bullet Susceptible to wind drift
Fast
Flat trajectory
Minimal recoil

Why I Chose It

When I first saw what the .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR) is capable of, I was shocked. Despite firing a small-diameter bullet, it has plenty of stopping power to drop a coyote. The smaller projectile is great if you’re hunting for the fur because it doesn’t damage the pelt as much as larger calibers would.

The lightweight bullet is also incredibly fast, providing predator hunters with a flat trajectory for 200 yards. All that velocity doesn’t come at the cost of a sore shoulder, because the .17 HMR has virtually zero recoil.

The biggest downside to lightweight projectiles is their greater vulnerability to wind drift. Since .17 HMR bullets don’t weigh much (typically 17 to 20 grains), hunters find accuracy a little more challenging in strong winds. I still wouldn’t hesitate to send a .17 HMR bullet in a coyote's direction. I know it will get the job done.

.22 Long Rifle - Best Cartridge for Short-Range Hunting

Specs

Pros Cons
Abundant Low stopping power
Inexpensive Not good for anything past 100 yards
Negligible recoil
Accurate (within reason)

Why I Chose It

The .22 Long Rifle (LR) is the most popular cartridge worldwide because it is inexpensive, easy to find, and has virtually no recoil.

I won’t hesitate to use a .22 LR while hunting coyotes at close range (100 yards). It requires good shot placement, but gets the job done. I learned to shoot with a .22 LR, and continue to use it to teach others to shoot because it has so little recoil.

The round’s low recoil also aids in accuracy. If anticipating strong recoil causes you to flinch, then take heart: the .22 LR won’t give you anything to anticipate.

The .22 LR's most significant drawbacks for coyote hunting are its lack of stopping power and reliability past 100 yards. The .22 LR’s light and relatively slow-moving bullet quickly loses velocity and energy while traveling downrange. However, for short-range coyote hunting, the .22 Long Rifle is an excellent choice.

.223 Remington - Best for Mid-Range Hunting

Specs

Pros Cons
Abundant Inferior ballistic performance to the .22-250 Rem
Good mid-range ballistics
Plenty of stopping power

Why I Chose It

The .223 Rem is one of the most popular cartridges worldwide, and for good reason. It’s just as versatile as it is abundant, and it boasts solid ballistics with plenty of stopping power.

When you choose .223 Rem, you’ll have plenty of ammo options at reasonable prices. It’s nice not to be overly concerned about blowing your budget while you’re pouring lead into yotes.

The .223 Rem may not stack up to the .22-250 Rem ballistically, yet it still offers coyote hunters plenty of stopping power and range for shots within 200 yards. If the .223 (or 5.56 NATO) is all you have for your next coyote hunt, don’t worry. It’s more than capable of stopping a brush wolf dead in its tracks.

6mm Creedmoor - Most Precise Cartridge for Coyote Hunting

Specs

Pros Cons
Designed for long-range Doesn’t have much edge over .243 Winchester within 400 yards
Accurate A little bit much for close-range shots
Low recoil
Flat trajectory

Why I Chose It

The 6mm Creedmoor was designed for long-range medium game hunting. It has an extremely flat trajectory, low recoil, and utilizes aerodynamically efficient bullets.

The 6mm Creedmoor is extraordinarily accurate at long range (500+ yards). Its low recoil also helps coyote hunters place fast follow-up shots.

If you’re not planning to take shots beyond 400 yards, then you should probably choose the .243 Winchester instead. The 6mm Creedmoor doesn’t have any ballistic advantage at 400 yards and closer. It only begins to outshine the .243 Win past the 500-yard mark.

Some coyote hunters don’t like the 6mm Creedmoor because it fires a larger projectile than many prefer. The 6mm bullet will damage more pelt, especially at close range.

For yote hunters looking for a precise cartridge, the 6mm Creedmoor is tough to beat. No coyote is safe, no matter the distance.

12 Gauge 00 Buckshot - Best Cartridge for Thick Brush

Specs

Pros Cons
Readily available Not as precise
Multiple projectiles Very limited range
Plenty of stopping power
Shotguns are easy to maneuver in tight quarters

Why I Chose It

A 12 Gauge shotshell loaded with 00 buck (double-aught) is best for environments with thick vegetation. That’s because it fires multiple projectiles with plenty of stopping power, and shotguns are generally easier to handle in tight quarters.

12 Gauge 00 buckshot ammunition is readily available, so you won’t have to worry about running out. Some of it is a little pricey compared to other types of shotgun ammo, and may cost as much as certain types of high-end rifle ammo.

Multiple projectiles are great in the thickets. If one gets knocked off course by a twig, several others can still hit the coyote. I also love how easy it is to maneuver with a shotgun compared to most hunting rifles, which is extremely beneficial when hunting in a thicket.

At close range, 00 buck has more than enough stopping power to punch through a coyote pelt and hit the vitals. You won’t have to worry about losing the coyote after shooting it.

The biggest drawback is that 00 buckshot is less precise, but that shouldn’t matter much at close range. You won’t use 12 Gauge 00 buck at distances much farther than 50 to 75 yards.

For hunters whose range is extremely limited due to thick brush or other factors, 12 Gauge 00 buckshot is the best choice.

Parting Shots

Most coyote hunters agree that the best coyote caliber is .22, and the best coyote cartridge is .22-250 Rem. However, if the .22-250 Rem isn’t for you, then you can choose from any of the other quality cartridges on this list.

No matter which cartridge you choose, don’t forget to stock up at Ammo.com!

Alice Jones Webb
Written by
Alice Jones Webb

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