Coyotes are tough, wiry animals that don’t go down easy. If you’re using the wrong caliber, odds are you’re just going to injure the animal and send it limping off to suffer—or worse, make it harder to track. Not every round is built for the job. Some don’t have the reach, accuracy, or terminal performance needed for clean kills. If you care about ethical shots and effective hunting, here are the calibers to leave at home.
.22 LR
Plenty of folks have taken shots at coyotes with a .22 LR, but it’s usually a bad call. Unless it’s a headshot at close range, you’re likely to wound rather than kill. The round just doesn’t pack enough punch.
It’s also not great at bucking the wind, and coyotes rarely sit still long enough to let you close the distance. If you’re serious about predator hunting, you’ll want something with better range and energy.
.17 HMR
The .17 HMR is accurate and fast, but it lacks stopping power. On smaller critters like ground squirrels or rabbits, it’s fine. But coyotes? Not so much. Hits often result in run-offs and poor blood trails.
Even with good shot placement, it doesn’t create enough trauma to drop them quickly. Most experienced hunters agree—it’s better left for varmints, not predators that weigh 30 pounds or more.
.22 Magnum (.22 WMR)
The .22 Mag sits in an awkward spot—it’s more than a .22 LR, but still not quite enough for coyotes. It might look tempting thanks to its flat shooting and low recoil, but performance on larger varmints is inconsistent.
Sure, it can kill a coyote, but it’s a gamble. The odds of a clean drop are lower, especially at longer ranges or less-than-perfect angles. There are just better tools for the job.
9mm Luger
Some people try using a 9mm carbine or even a handgun in a pinch, but it’s far from ideal. It doesn’t offer the velocity or terminal performance needed for ethical coyote shots, especially past 50 yards.
You might get lucky up close, but luck isn’t something to lean on when hunting. Stick with something that gives you reliable reach and knockdown power.
.410 Bore
A .410 shotgun might sound manageable and easy to carry, but it’s just too light for consistent success. Even with buckshot or slugs, it’s lacking range and spread density. Coyotes are fast and alert—you need more lead in the air.
Unless you’re calling them in tight and shooting under 25 yards, a .410 just doesn’t make sense. Better to carry a 12 or 20 gauge if you’re set on using a shotgun.
.380 ACP
This one’s more common in a glovebox than in a predator rig, but some folks still try it. The .380 ACP was never meant for this kind of work. It’s a short-range, personal defense round with minimal penetration and expansion.
You’re far more likely to wound than to get a clean kill. Coyotes are tougher than they look, and a handgun cartridge like this doesn’t belong in the field unless it’s for backup—and even then, barely.
.32 ACP
If you’re reaching for a .32 ACP for coyote duty, stop right there. It’s underpowered, slow, and has poor penetration. It’s also notoriously inconsistent when it comes to expansion and reliability on game.
Coyotes are smart, and if your first shot doesn’t anchor them, they’ll be long gone. There’s no practical reason to use this caliber in a hunting scenario, especially when better small rifle rounds exist.
.25 ACP
The .25 ACP barely works for self-defense, let alone for dropping a coyote. It’s a tiny round with very little energy, poor ballistics, and hardly any range. Shooting a predator with one is borderline reckless.
It might be convenient to carry, but convenience won’t do you any favors in the field. If you’re going after predators, don’t bring a pocket pistol to do a rifle’s job.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
