Coyotes??

Thinking I need a coyote gun.
My criteria:
1. Rifle cartridge in a handgun
2. Crossover cartridge so it could double for deer
3. 243 Win is out. Have one in a rifle
4. Hand loader so ammo is a non issue
5. The 25's pique my interest. My tastes sometimes run on the bizarre side. A .257 Weatherby on a bolt action gets my juices going but open to other ideas.

What are you folks using for coyotes and cross over? Give me some ideas.

Do you care about the hide?

Disclaimer: I'm in the small fields and bottomlands of Tennessee, so it's a bit different hunting coyotes here. We don't have to worry about long shots when calling them in, and I've managed to get most of my coyotes under 100 yards. I've been hunting with a 12" 327 Federal Magnum Encore, and I've taken a 12" 221 Fireball with me at some points. No kills with either yet, though. I've killed a deer with that 327, so it's a definite crossover cartridge. The Fireball, while otherwise great, is decidedly not.

If I was designing, say, an Encore handgun to use for both deer and coyotes, I'd make a 15" barreled 257 Roberts. Plenty of power for deer even out of the short barrel, and would definitely flatten any coyote with light bullets. Alternatively, a Contender chambered in 25-35 Winchester. I have heard of a 257 Weatherby chambered Encore, no doubt a custom barrel.

Not that much.

I use 14? 30-30 contender with 125 gr hollow point. Also use 130gr Speer hot cor fn. Also, on occasion have used 10? 7mm TCU with 100 gr HP for coyotes, and 120 gr BT for deer. Both perform well to 150-200 yards.

What specific action type are you looking for?
What max distance do you want for yotes and big game?

It would be great if I could get something that fit on my Encore. I have also thought of a bolt action pistol.

J D Jones developed a bolt action that was a .378 Weatherby case cut down to about 2 inches and necked to .50 Caliber. I knew the gunsmith that was testing it and he let me shoot it. Shot it 6 times and my hand was turning numb.

I have thought of a bolt action but not quite that wild.

I like long range shooting but my handgun skills leave a bit to be desired. I am thinking at least 500 yards.

I'm shooting one of JDs .250 Sav. AI XPs and 6.5/.284 XP. Both are easily 500 yd. guns and have taken hundreds of deer, varmints, big game. Both are pussycats to shoot and can be put in Encores.

25-06 is a killer in any platform. factory ammo options and can handload it and doesn't seem fussy about components. it was my go to for 25 years in a rifle and has killed 1000's of critters from PD to deer.

Several years ago, I had SSK craft up a 257 Ackley Improved 15? Encore barrel with the arrestor brake for dual use (coyote & deer). At that time, I chose 100gr Sierra Pro-Hunters at 2880fs (balance of velocity and accuracy which is outstanding). I have taken three deer with this setup but no coyotes. Recoil is minimal, if I were to do it over, I'd go with SSK fish-gill brake over the arrestor I like it much better.
Dies are generally available; you can make the brass out of any 06-family case or the parent 7x57 Mauser to include the 6mm/244 Remington or 257 Roberts.
As for ballistics:
Hornady 75gr Vmax - 3200fs
Nosler 85gr BT - 3100fs
Sierra 90gr HP GK - 3100fs
Sierra 100gr PH - 2900fs

I have not tried anything heavier than 100gr bullets.

D

Dave probably nailed it with the 25-06 suggestion but I?ll throw the .260 Remington in there if you aren?t stuck on .25 caliber. 85 Or 100 grain for yotes And 120 or 140 for big game. With the way components are becoming, I don?t do anything that can?t be formed on .223, .308 family, or 30-06 family of brass. KISS!

.250 Savage is a fun cartridge that will work well for a shorter barrel.

25-06, 25-284, 25 PRC, 6.5-284, 6.5-06, 6.5 PRC.
I am not a fan of magnum bolt face cartridges in the Encore.
In a bolt rig, any of the above would work great!