I have a 204, 223, two 22-250's, a 243, and two 25-06's. I have called and shot coyotes with all of these calibers. Calling predators is my very favorite form of hunting and I spend a significant amount of time each winter on my favorite pursuit. The longest shot I've made on a coyote with the 204 was 259 yards and I won't do it twice. That coyote ran over a hundred yards after being hit perfectly square in the kill zone. The 40 gr vmax did not exit nor did it kill cleanly at that range. I hunt coyotes to protect my calves and for the sporting challenge involved in succesfully calling them to me. I do not hunt them to see them run off and suffer greatly for an extended period before dying. For this reason based in personal experience I won't use the 204 on coyotes. Going to the other end of the spectrum is my 25-06 v/t model ruger. It's too much gun for hunting pelts but pelts were worth $2 here IF you could find someone to take them. On the other hand, I have never had a coyote take a single step after catching a round from my 25-06. In the interest of being an ethical sportsman, we have a duty to our query to minimize unnecessary suffering. To my way of thinking, that means using enough gun to make quick, clean kills. If that means a 300 mag then so be it. If a 17 will do the job, fine. If its a 22-250 over a 223, the small increase in ammo cost is worth every penny if it makes the difference between one running off wounded or falling over dead.
