Looking at getting a Contender barrel for varmints. Fox, bobcat and an occasional coyote will be my main tartgets. Is a 221 fireball enough for yotes?

221 fireball w/ 10 barrel
50 grain @ 2700 fps

222 Remington w/ 10 barrel
50 grain @ 2600

223 Remington w/ 14 barrel
50 grain @ 2900-3000
You can –200 FPS for a 10 barrel

My 22 Hornet shoots a 50 grain, out of a 14 in barrel, at 2650fps. I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot a coyote with it. Don’t know if this helps or not.

Duane

I run a 40gr bullet from a 221 FB at 2800 fps with a 10" barrel.

With a 15" Encore barrel in 223 I get 3050 fps from a 50gr bullet.

Selection of factory ammo for the 223 is huge. To get the performnce and bullet selection in the 221 it's got to be handloaded.

I have never shot a coyote so I can't recomend either for that. If I was going to go coyote hunting the 223 would be my choice to start with until I had a little hunting under my belt.

My XP in 221 likes the 40 gr nosler over a charge of lil'gun.. lots of chucks, drops 'em dead w/ no exit holes, woould be interesting on 'yotes but I'd be cautious about long range

I was just using 50 grain bullets to try to put them in perspective. I use Littlegun as well in my 22 Hornet with a 45 grain on top. The Hodgdon web sit has a few nice loads for the fireball. I shot a coyote with my 22-250 pistol. It was at 100 yards and dropped like a rock. It shoots a 55 grain at 3200 fps.

Duane

my hornet loves the hornady 35 v max with lil gun, and that would work well for fox, but it is way too fragile for yotes... I think

Ive got a 223 rifle. Just wanted something different. Most of my opportunities will be at 100 yds or less. I shot a couple of yote last season with a 204 rifle and they were DRT. Thanks for the input.

Hells yea, out to at least 150. So would be the 218 Bee, which would be my preference in a break action, or the K Hornet. If you are thinking a longer (15" +or-) barrel then the 223 would get the nod.