one real good gun i used to use for bringing down mid sized creatures without a big hole was my old .22 hornet. same old .22 bullet with a lot more powder behind it than magnum, and really good range.

 

I've taken several with my SKS, not because its was the best weapon for the job but because it was handy. I have no problem leaving a $120 rifle laying in the cab of a tractor or in the back window of a pickup, anything nicer and a two legged coyote will run off with it.

 

what happened to the good ole days when a gun rack in a pickup meant DONT MESS WITH ME!

 

Either gun should do the job, but range is the factor. I've killed dozens with a 22LR, most shots were to the neck or head, and most dropped in their tracks. I've hit a couple running in the chest and they never went far, about 30-40 yards tops. I haven't had much luck with a shotgun, but I've never shot one with buckshot or been lucky enough to get them in close. They usually flush out when we're rabbit hunting and 30+ yards with a 12 ga No 6 never did much more than light a fire under him. My rifle of choice is a .243 The same gun I deer hunt with, but I have some 65 grain hollow point reloads that are pushing about 3400 fps that I use for varmit loads. It typically doesn't leave an exit wound, and although the bullet explodes inside and leaves fragmented damage that resembles a shotgun inside the chest cavity, it rarely makes it through the rib cage and into the pelt. I have a bobcat that I dropped with this rifle with a chest shot and it made for a great mount, one entry wound about the size of your finger, and no exit wound.

 

Of the two listed guns, I'd use the .22, although as said above, you really ought to get an altogether different gun. The various .22 calibers (22 mag, 22 hornet, 220 swift, 223, 22-250, etc) are excellent varmint guns but if you're on a tight budget, you should get something like a .243, .257 or 25-06 so you can safely shoot a wider variety of animals.

 

Out of the 2 I would go with the 20 gauge get you some #4. Altough the .22lr has killed coyotes it is not a round that you would want to fire regularly at a yote. Yotes are very tough and if you wound it with a 22 lr you will probably never find it. A 223 would be ideal.

You also said your buddy would show you a spot to bag a few. If you are calling via hand or e-caller. The key to seeing more dogs is making many stands. Setup in your stand call for 10 to 15 mins and move on to the next stand. So hopefully your bud has a lot of spots. When I call in hunt contest I always try and make at least 15 stands a day.

If your new to the sport get yourself a couple of good hand calls and start that way.If you get hooked you will be spending lots of money on your new hobby.

 

Two things come to mind-
Coyotes are very likely to detect you and leave the area. They are SLICK! i would not expect a beginning coyote hunter to get very close. Because of this i would use a far reaching caliber. You could realistically need to get 300-500 yards. It's much harder to get one in close than some people think.
The other thing that comes to mind is the one I shot in my horse's pen. Horse was raising cane one night and when I got there it was a single coyote after a foal. My dogs (2 great danes) got on to it and I fired a shot to get the dogs off it. It went towards the dogs and I shot it with a .45 acp. 14 rounds hit center mass and it was still trying to get up and run. 230 grain hollow points at about 10-15 ft range. Not only are they slick, they are TOUGH.
I might also recommend looking for the Varmint Hunter's Association. They have great info on this kind of stuff.

 

Ohh boy, wait till the 1911 guys see this! The way they carry on about the .45ACP, you'd think it would knock the turret off a tank. 14 rounds? One of them Canadian made double-stack jobs, or do you always carry an extra mag in your pocket? Para somethings???

 

If you are in the market for different gun I would also suggest a .223 or a 22-250. I dunno if I would use them for a deer or similar animal in my area, unless you like increased chances of tracking, but they both are very effective varmit guns. I prefer the .223 because when I pull the trigger, the .223 doesnt buck the scope off the varmit, and I can confirm the kill (I have a hvy barrell with a high power scope).

 

Knock the turret off a TANK? Knock the TOWER off an AIRCRAFT CARRIER! Hooo BOY! You set off 14 of those missiles? Surprising the EARTH is still stable in its orbit around the SUN! And a 14-rounder? What blasphemy! When John Browning handed the shop drawings (carved in stone) down to Moses he said, "LET IT BE A SINGLE STACK MAG!" And it was GOOD!


Heh heh heh. Us 1911 guys understand the limitations of the cartridge...well, some of us do!

 

are u talking about double imposed barrels on a model 1911?

 

I was thinking of a Para Ordnance P13-45, the .45 with double stack mag--13 round mag, one in the chamber = 14 for old Wylie.

 

Im with wilhntr, hunting predator animals like moutain lions and cool animals like that is retarded. If you hunt just to kill things, and have no intent for eating it you have no business hunting at all. I have spent years (all my life) camping and hiking looking for animals like Moutain Lions, bears and cool predator animals like that and never see them. I think if I was out camping and saw a hunter dragging a cool animal like that out of the desert, I would see to it he doesnt get back home. I'd sleep like a baby that night. The last rattle snake I have seen must have been 10 years ago. The den I used to see them in for YEARS had shot-gun shells laying on the ground and I havent seen any since.

Population control MIGHT be one thing like if a non-predator animal pop decreases due to over population of a predator. "Population control" because humans are building houses in the wilderness is bullcrap.

Dont get me all wrong like I am some hippie. I love me a good elk, venesin, duck, rabbit. But this whole idea of hunting the biggiest and best animal of any kind and leaving the smaller weaker ones to breed is just so damn stupid that I have no desire to call myself a hunter anymore. Having a stuffed exotic animal or even a big fully built horned sheep for instance hangin on the wall is no prize, its selfish, and should be left out there. The older, smaller, weaker one needs to be in the cooker!

Thats my rant, happy hunting. And if that was you that got my snakes, your days are limited and I will find you!

 

why do u think i just want to stunn it with cbs, cuz my dad has a rule, if u kill it u eat it, im talking about shooting it not just generalaly running sutmhing over but shooting it

cbs are like a bb that has the velocity of a .22, i dont even think it will enter the pelt

 

coyotes are for sure tough, before the development that chased them off made its way here 3 legged ones were pretty common.... it takes a tough SOB to chew his own leg off to survive...... you dont hear about dogs doing that....

but the 14 45 acp rounds sounds like a little bit much musta been a real big animal