6 Best Coyote Cartridges: Drop Yotes From Anywhere

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

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

Pros

• Considered the king of coyote cartridges by most hunters

• Fast

• Flat-shooting

• Light recoil

Cons

• Shorter barrel life than the .223 Rem

• Cases stretch, making reloading nearly impossible

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

• Small-diameter bullet

• Fast

• Flat trajectory

• Minimal recoil

Cons

• Susceptible to wind drift

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

• Abundant

• Inexpensive

• Negligible recoil

• Accurate (within reason)

Cons

• Low stopping power

• Not good for anything past 100 yards

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.

Find out which ammo suits your needs best in 6 Best Coyote Cartridges: Drop Yotes From Anywhere.

Source: https://freedombunker.com/2025/02/24/coyote-caliber/