Caliber Selection Using Thermal Scope

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vetman1

Member
I have just started using a Thermal scope to hunt coyotes with and we missed two this weekend. Both shots were do to misjudging distance and the coyote facing straight at us. The shots each were about 225-275 yards and we were shooting a .300 Blackout with 125 Grain SST. I like the Blackout because it has little recoil for my 10 year old, even suppressed supersonic sound seems less than other calibers, and sometimes I have to hunt Subsonic only for certain stands.

I am considering a .243 for a flatter trajectory and still mild recoil. I want to stay with a bolt action for safety with my 10 year old. Also, I want to stay away from the .223/.556 so that there will not be any ammunition mix ups with my .300 Blackout. I don't save fur in Georgia so I want DRT if possible.
 
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22-250, 22creedmoor, 22x47L or 243 would all be solid options.

For factory ammo, 22-250 or 243 in that order if you don't want 223.

the 22cm or 22x47L are both hotrod wildcats,will be point and shoot to about 300yds and hit like a freight train.
 
Originally Posted By: AWSAt that range with a 22-250 you pretty much don't have to worry about ranging.
+1 ..

Here's Strelok ballistic drop for a Hornady 50 gr superformance factory round at 275 yards, 1mph crosswind, zero @100.
Yellow circle is estimated POI. Reticle is V-Brite Crossfire II 3-9x50 Vortex.

165342005.i2FIBG7w.jpg
 
Originally Posted By: NdIndyChanging calibers isn't going to fix a ranging error.

Very true. But a 300BO is a poor choice for DRT AND trajectory. Anything from 223 to 243 is going to shoot flat enough out to 300 not to miss from a range estimation error. Unless of course you error is to guess that it is over 325.

A proper zero will allow one to shoot without compensating for distance out to about 250 to 275 even with a 223, farther with something faster.
 
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