Which barrel for Encore for Coyotes

[encoreguy]

I have been considering getting a centerfire barrel for my Encore to hunt coyotes. I have narrowed it down to: 223, 204 or 243. I do not currently reload. I want an accurate, longer range gun. Any thoughts

[Rifleman]

For coyotes the .243 is by far the superior cartridge, long range? That just tilts the scales more in favor of the .243.

[tcmech]

I personally like the 243 for just about everything, it is a more versatile than the 223 or 204 either one as you can use it for deer hunting also. If cheap ammo is a concern I would look at a 223 due to the amount of mil surplus out there right now.

[acal]

I once had a .243 and regret selling it. Shot some very tight groups with it using IMR 4350 with 85 and 100 grain Sierra bullets. It is a very accurate and versatile cartridge for varmint and deer.

[Kudzu]

encoreguy, if you are leaning towards 243, you might want to look at little farther at the 6mm. Don't know if available for encore. I have the 6mm in ruger 77, very accuarate piece. Have reloads for mine, but the factory rem 75gr Vmax varmint shot less than1/2'' groups. The 6mm and 243 shoot the same bullets, the 6mm just has a littlt more casing. Goood Luck dm

[scott41069]

Dancoman, you can get the 6mm for an Encore. You have to get it through the T/C custom shop.

[Kudzu]

Thank for info scott41069 -

I have 95 gr BT loaded for my 6mm - Killed two deer with one shot the other day. They lined up perfect with heads about a foot apart. Both fell in there tracks. My first double.

[SW]

dancoman said:

encoreguy, if you are leaning towards 243, you might want to look at little farther at the 6mm. Don't know if available for encore. I have the 6mm in ruger 77, very accuarate piece. Have reloads for mine, but the factory rem 75gr Vmax varmint shot less than1/2'' groups. The 6mm and 243 shoot the same bullets, the 6mm just has a littlt more casing. Goood Luck dm

I have a 243 which I love, but the 6mm Rem has many advantages, especially if you reload. 100'/sec more on average, a better neck design, slightly less bore erosion. 243 Ak Imp is better yet: much longer case life, much less barrel wear-throat lasts longer, better velocity than 6mm Rem, can shoot factory ammo, consider 12" twist and shoot up to 90g with extreme accuracy and 95 fairly well also. Bulberry, T/C custom shop, or JD Jones can make your barrel for any of these cals and JD's or Bulberry's barrels would be much smoother than T/C's barrels. Just my thoughts.

[TKO]

SW,

I am going to be the "odd man out" here and vote for the .204, especially if you are going to do anything with the pelt. Flatter trajectory, less recoil, less noise, you can see the hit even in a higher power scope and less wind drift to boot.

Sierra has just come out with a couple of nice new bullets for 20 cal's.

check out:

www.coyotegods.com/ubb/forum.shtml

www.saubier.com/

[Rifleman]

I guess it depends on how far you will shoot, at what point does a screaming 75 gr 243 load overtake a 204 ? TKO any ballistic comparison here?

[TKO]

Rifleman said:

I guess it depends on how far you will shoot, at what point does a screaming 75 gr 243 load overtake a 204 ? TKO any ballistic comparison here?

Rman,

With same height above bore for the scope and barrel length of 26" a 75 grain Hornady V-Max at 3500 fps sighted 1.3" high gets to 450 yards in .482 seconds with 20.2" of drop.

The 40 grain V-Max at 3900 fps gets there in .451 seconds with only 15.7" drop.

Less time of flight and smaller profile gives less wind drift and the farther you go out the more pronounced the difference in the drop.

At 600 yards the .243 is at -52" and the .204 at -44"

Any farther than that and Mr. Yote is going to look pretty small

[tcmech]

The 204 looks like a pretty serious varmint cartridge, the only thing is that it still does not have the versatility to be used as a deer rifle like the 243 in a lot of places. The fact that it cannot be used for deer hunting may not make any difference here, considering that this is an encore we are talking about on a varmint hunting forum, but it may be a determining factor to some. How much is 204 ammo also? I have never even priced it myself. Craig

[Rifleman]

Okay TKO that is a good comparison, what about the new 243 wssm with a 55 gr @4060? I am at work this weekend and that makes it difficult for me to do ballistic comparisons.

[TKO]

Rman,

What is BC of the 55 grain bullet?

[TKO]

Never mind, I found it. It's advertised at 0.276.

That will do it:

-13.5" at 450 yards with .432 sec time of flight

-39.2" at 600 yards with 0.635 sec time of flight

so you pick up 2 inches at 450 and 5 inches at 600, with the 243 WSSM, but with larger area of bullet, I think wind drift will be pretty even.

So, up to about 400 yards the difference is negligible, and the .204 will definitely be easier on a barrel, with less recoil, noise, cost, pelt damage, etc, etc, etc ;D

I still have to vote for the .204 for a better "all-round" yote round.

[Rifleman]

But I think we are leaving out a piece of the puzzle here Rick, and that is energy.A coyote is a little hard to putdown then a pdog, and I do think the bigger bullet is the way to go, more like a 75 gr or bigger. Just my 2 cents

[TKO]

Gotcha, and seeing that I have never shot a yote, I will defer to your experience ;D

[Rifleman]

Well Rick I don't know that I am right here, the .204 has some very fine ballistics. I do know that coyotes at least the Hoosier variety are pretty tough. They don't give up easy. But I am sure if one was hit on the money the .204 would do fine, but at extended range I just would wanna hedge my bets a little. Matter of fact my preferred coyote rifle is my 30-06 ;D
Did I ever tell ya I really don't like ecoyotes

[TKO]

I've seen pictures of those Hoosier squirrels, so I can only imagine what your yotes are like.

[Doohan]

I would opt for the .243 as well. Bullet selection is far superior.. from 58gr up to 100gr. I have a .204 and opt for my Bushmaster Varminter for coyote extermination..

If you are worried about pelt damage a 22-250 might do a little better. .. Or even a larger caliber with softpoint or partition bullets.

Shots inside 300 yds? a .223 will do the job as well..

Get lost at Bullberry if you want an overload of choices!


www.bullberry.com/encore.html