Inside 300 yards id think 22 250 does everything you would need with plenty to spare.

that’s climbing up my list of potential cartridges after talking to some serious coyote killers

Buddy of mine is bigtime thermal shooter. He swears by the 224 valkirie . I got 6 mm REMINGTON Not man bun creedmore. 87 gr spitzer works on everything from 200lb deer to a 10 lb ground hog. 300 is a chip shot off a good rest. 1 in high at 100 yards. Hold upper third of yote any angle 275-350 he might spin or yelp but NTR for sure.

as a thermal guy I bet he wants to keep visual on the dog in the scope and pick up the next one , shooting in total dark has the issue you can't look at the critter and bring the scope up into your vision , you are married to seeing everthing through the scope , so more dogs can fall when the shooting starts if you have an auto loader where you stay on the scope and watch the impact in the scope/screen then pick up the next dog and hit it as well.

224 is if your using an AR platform although they have more options for ARs now that they are building them for 22 arc and 6mm arc , it uses a different mag not a stanag

22arc and 6arc were on my list too. But I don’t love ARs. I’d have a bolt gun built in any of those 3 calibers you mentioned

If you’re not going to reload then pick a very common caliber. I like the 22-250 on a thermal gun but several years ago it was impossible to find ammo for it if a guy didn’t reload. Easiest ammo to find usually seems to be 223. Best solution would be to find a load that shoots good and just buy as much of that as you can.

22 Manbun, 224 Wizzbang or 6mm FAFO would be good choices.


Seriously, based on ammo availability and price I would choose 223 without hesitation.

not worth it in a varmint gun
22 arc and 6 arc are all about long range targerts , heavy for caliber bullets in an AR platform

especially if you are buying box ammo 22-250 or 243

I would favor 243 because you can easily run it up to a 100 gr soft point or 80gr copper and take deer very well

I use different guns for coyotes and hogs, bolts for coyotes and AR style for hogs. Even with multiple coyotes I’m not shooting at them running, but sometimes they do stop. Miss a runner and chances of calling them back at a later date go way down. Shoot one and let the other run (if he doesn’t stop) without a shot and my odds are real good I can call it back another day, if not that same stand.
Hogs on the other hand will get multiple shots because I’m generally a LOT closer, lol.

My choice as well. Killed several with .223 too, but if I had to choose one it would be .22-250. I don't reload and when I had my .204 the only factory ammo splashed so bad on impact that you'd have softball sized hole where it hit them. Maybe the factory ammo has improved in the past 10 years or so, then it would be worth a look.

STOP THAT!!!
Why oh why would you read AND understand what the OP asked?
He specified COYOTES only.
He specified night use at LESS THAN 300 yards. Credit to you Lever.. for not thinking you’re going to shoot up the dark countryside.
Saying 300 yards I’m betting the OP shoots the vast majority well inside of that. 4000 fps, 3000 fps 3500 fps yadda yadda at those ranges the coyote won’t care how fast the bullet is, and he’s going to be just as dead. Want more speed, buy a lighter bullet.
If you shoot deer, antelope, elephants…. Sheesh guys, all that means NOTHING to anyone but you, not the guy wanting a coyote gun.

Osky

that majority of my shots are 80 to 150 yards. But I figured I would give an absolute maximum for the areas I hunt. Thank you for pointing out the fact that guys can never seem to answer the specified question on any forum on earth lol

I interact with more than a few guys who hunt with thermals.

Most have put the .223 and 224s away. Too many runners.

Me personally I'd go with the 22 250 or .243 but you are not going to like the damage they create.

L35, You want something that hits like lightning leaves a little hole in the fur!!!???

Then you need a .204 Ruger!!!

Get a Fast enough barrel twist to stabilize the Berger 40gr. BT. HP bullets. You will like this combination!!!

I am surprised that no one has mentioned the 220 Swift, good or bad.

I like the 220 swift but he said out to 300 yards at night. I would look at maybe 17 Rem.

Definitely on my list!!! Cheappp ammo too

At that distance of 300 yards the .22-250 is the cats meow. Easy shooting gun that’s extremely accurate and factory loads are everywhere for it. It’s one of my favorite calibers to shoot, another option that I also like is the .243 shooting 58 grain bullets and that round also puts a thumping on predators

I've had really good luck with Winchester white box .45gr. JHP and almost no fur damage.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2900212889?pid=776488

Could be luck though. I haven't shot a bunch with them, but have been impressed with all but one. It was running quartering away at about 30-40' and left a pretty good sized hole in the only patch of good fur the mangy thing had. The others I have shot was nothing more than .22 cal. holes.

This was the exception...

X2