rimfire preference?

[LONG RANGE KILLER]

I am new to this site, however I have coyote hunted for a few years with marginal sucess. I live in western Ky. near the Land Between The Lakes. Lbl is covered up with coyotes, however for all but one month per year it is illegal to hunt with anything other than rimfire weapons. Of the obviouse top two choices (22magnum or 17hmr) which do you prefer and why? Also what has anyone found to be the max effective range of either. Thanks for any help you can provide.

[Dcoy]

17.More accurate.

[rhino]

If I remember right, one of my hunting buddies shot a coyote at about 100 yards I think with a 22mag. I would think that would be on the edge for a 22 mag.

[Prairie Ghost]

No more than 100yds for either. Haven't ever looked into it because of the inferiorty as a coyote gun but you can certainly kill a coyote with both of them in a given situation

[huntinND]

Are you sure that you can't use center fire rifles. I looked at the KY Dept. of Fish and Game and this is what it said for furbearers. For small game it was .22 or .17 cal. Or does this vary by county or something. I would double check, seems kind of odd.

FURBEARER EQUIPMENT RESTRICTIONS
Legal
Furbearer hunters may use the following to take furbearers:
• Muzzle-loading or modern rifles or handguns of any caliber
• Shotguns no larger than 10-gauge
• Archery or crossbow equipment
• Dogs
• Falconry

[LeviM]

I would not use a rimfire period!

[Coyotehunter]

I would stay away from the .17 HMR for coyotes but the .22 mag though marginal at best will knock them down.

[Urbanhunter]

I agree with Coyotehunter..... I would only use a rimfire if you are regulated some way. If not..., I would look at the AR-15 platforms. There are just no limits in the add-on department for this type of rifle, and second the .223 round is so popular with bullet makers, so your options to choose from are limitless.

[wildcatCo]

I carry a 22 WMR in my work pickup just in case. I have taken 3 coyotes at 40, 45 and 80 yards. Two of them required follow-up shots the third was stone cold dead. I use Remington Premier 33 gr ballistic tips.