22 magnum revolver would be an option.

I'm torn .... my first thought was of course the P226 because I don't care for Glocks... but if I was out in the wild and worried about either 4 legged or two legged critters.... out of the choices given I'd choose the Glock 31 in 357 sig...

but that is following the rules of the OP... out of the choices given...

For me I'd rather have a P226 in 357sig... then again that is probably because I own 4 or 5 of them.

Oh, but I also own a Gock 31.....

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:

quote:

Originally posted by monoblok:
I'd use 9mm NATO. Any of the calibers however are more than sufficient. But others are right; a coyote will typically go out of its way to avoid humans...unless it's become used to being around people. Right now coyotes are running amok in the big city. One neighborhood in Seattle is losing their pet cats and small dogs like crazy, and the state game dept. won't do a damn thing about other than telling those residents to keep their pets indoors. I suppose if local government allows habit-feeding methheads to run free throughout the city, why not coyotes?

We have coyotes in our neighborhood, I've seen them a number of times and they don't appear afraid of humans at all. They do stay away from us and keep an eye on us, but they don't run away, they walk.

Same here. We have coyotes that are regulars in our subdivision, I've got pictures of a pair of them carefully examining all the stuff my neighbors on one side keep under their deck. I see them walk through my yard from time to time.

They're not big, but they can move very quickly when they want to. A stout stick is really more than sufficient unless you're a toddler, and (imo) far more likely to land a hit when they're in motion.

As others have said I'd be more concerned with 2-legged problems.

FMJ bullets? For extra penetration? A coyote is only a medium-sized dog, and a half-starved one at that. Whatever you would use on a man - a far bigger threat than any animal - will be more than adequate. That's if you can hit them in the first place. They are low to the ground and fast-moving. Unless you compensate for the downward angle and lead, your shots will go above and behind them.

Just a reminder, unless the coyote(or most any similar critter) is sick & deranged, it will want no part of close contact with a human. Yes, I realize in super urban, non-hunting areas, they can get bold. Most of these areas may frown on shooting, unless the pest is clamped on your ankle.

Yes, we had the video of the crazy fox the other week, NY I think. Then we had the bobcat not to far back.

That all said, I did see a sick coyote last summer. It was out at noon, walking the runway at the local small airport. I saw it 15 minutes later walking like a dog through hangar alley. It had no fear, also walking around midday, not running to cover.

I notified the airport management, let them deal with it. It was an area I’d have no interest in shooting unless necessary.

I have shot coyotes with 22lr with good results around my place, remember the gun you have with you is better than the one in the safe!

I can’t fathom carrying a gun for defense against coyotes. Unless they are wolf/coyote hybrids they would be basically ankle biters. One good boot like punting a football should do the trick.

Coyotes look for a weak prey, and usually avoid humans. However I have had one following me when laboring up a steep hill on my bike, in 100 degree heat. This coyote was definitely looking for lunch.

As they usually weigh only 40-80 lbs. a 9mm would be more than enough. For capacity, as hitting one might not be easy.

If you must go with FMJ ammo then I'd go with the Glock 22.

quote:

they would be basically ankle biters.

Posted above several times is the correct answer. You want to carry for defense of 2 legged creatures (in all but .00000001% of the US where actual 4 legged things are an issue but not relevant here). But you don't want to have a sick rabid animal bite you. Any of the ammo/gun choices listed in the OP are adequate for this project for the animal in question. People suggesting one over the other are not basing any of that on actual projectile performance. The differences are literally none and none. Pick what you shoot the best, like to carry and move on.

"Coyotes" ? " Handgun" ?

If I were a Texas southern borderline rancher, a Sig P226 in 357 Sig, with a TRL-8.

9MM FMJ is for poodles with the T-Virus.

FWIW, I was in a predator hunting contest a handful of years back with a relative. We never won for the most but did get ‘top dog’ for weight.

That coyote weighed in at 39.5 lbs, guts in. The total numbers weren’t extraordinary, but there was a fair sample. I just don’t think to many coyote’s weighing over 45 pounds.

Hunting or defending from actual healthy coyotes and this discussion is just plain silly (and mostly worse as its obvious many of the commentators haven't actually shot anything coyote sized). No one would choose to deal with healthy coyotes and hunting with a handgun of the calibers and choices listed. Its absurd. Unethical. and has zero chance of success. Now almost anything will deal with a sick animal -coyote sized- (at my farm its .22wmr as the best option) but I'm not carrying that where there are two legged predators. If carrying a rifle is an option just bring a .223 and be happy for both types.

Go with the one you shoot best. All of them will work on a coyote.

None of the ammo you posed would be my choice.

I shot a 100 + pound Rottweiler on dangerous dog call once using SpeerGod Dots in 357SIG. It went from chest to just under the skin on its rump. Worked perfectly. Before we had the 357SIG we used Speer gold dots in 124 and 147 9mm..I’ve shot over 50 deer with both rounds and they all worked.

I had a rotty put on me at a search warrant and it caught a 357 round in the neck as it was biting me. The choke chain around its neck made the round fragment but the round did what I needed.


I’d move away from the FMJ and use any HP. Coyotes are small/medium dogs..so any round that would work for a human, will work on the coyote. A FMJ will just pass thru it and would be an unethical shot.

Here in the Northeast, we have hybrids. Western coyotes run 20-25lbs and are lone hunters. In the N/E coyotes run 35-65+lbs and hunt in packs. Years ago they did a study at the Quabbin reservoir in Massachusetts on coyotes. They thought, because of the size, they were interbreeding with dogs. The study concluded no dog dna, but positive for Easter Wolf DNA. These yotes are found throughout Mass, NH and Maine and they are hunting in packs and taking down large prey. Just FYI

Coyote? They are basically small to medium sized dogs. Toss a rock at one it it will flee. Heck, of all the ones I've ever seen, you look at them and they flee. In the incredibly unlikely event that you found yourself having to shoot a coyote (maybe you have a farm and it's trying to eat your chickens) then any service caliber with decent ammunition will do. Rifle or shotgun will do better, but we are talking a 30 to 40lb dog, not a bear.

I am in Ohio at my parents this weekend, and took my brother's dog for a walk this morning after my run. They live in town, so we were walking through neighborhoods, and at one point a loose 150+lb Great Dane came running out at us. Thankfully it was friendly and just wanted to say hi, so the .38 never came out of my pocket, but that was (at least initially) a lot more intimidating than any coyote I've ever encountered. Nevertheless, I still felt very confident that a snubby with .38+p would have gotten the job done if required.

None of the above.

Glock 10mm

quote:

of all the ones I've ever seen, you look at them and they flee

Not from my experience.... was up in northern NH (Pittsburg) and doing some biking. Ran up to a 'yote and it just looked at me as I biked by. On my return, the same 'yote was in the trail and just let me pass! I'm thinking 'yotes have different reactions, depending on their environment....