Rifle for predator hunting

DerMerchant said:

I would suggest .243, readily available at big box stores, light recoil, high velocity, and can pack quite a bit more punch than .223 with 55-105 grain loads. If you find you like hunting, .243 works great on whitetail with 100 gr bullets, and with proper shot placement can easily take hogs.
There are also a wide variety of affordable rifles in .243, the Ruger american and Savage offerings being my preference.

But since you mentioned your limited options, I would stick with .223 and make sure I hit the vitals. You could build an upper in .243 but I have no experience with anything but .308, 5.56, and 9mm ar's so I can't suggest any brands.

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Agreed! I think a Ruger or Savage in .243 would be "the ticket" for you, especially with bullet restrictions. There are all copper factory loads for this cartridge https://www.federalpremium.com/rifle/premium-centerfire-rifle/trophy-copper/11-P243TC1.html

I don't know why some folks hold that the .223 won't take coyotes very well. It may be they need to look at a different loading from a different manufacturer, or if they handload they may want a different bullet. HOWEVER since you re in KALIFOЯИIÁ, the bullet restrictions there may cause that round to under perform.

An "upper" in .243, I believe would require an AR-10 platform so you could not buy an "upper" which drops-in to your AR-15, and such an upgrade would be a rather expensive option, much more expensive than the Ruger or Savage option previously mentioned. 7.62x39mm, which you already own, should also do fine on coyotes.

LD

"Team" hunting coyotes with 3 of us using .223s have only had two "not dead there" yotes in a couple years now. Both of those were hit well enough, but the shooter used 69grn OTMs. Apparently due to the width of the yote the bullets didn't have time/distance to tumble and fragment and he got "through and throughs". One we had to track and the other we never did recover.

Personally I use either 55gn or 60grn Nosler BTs and have had nothing but good effects even with some marginal hits.

Loyalist Dave said:

Agreed! I think a Ruger or Savage in .243 would be "the ticket" for you, especially with bullet restrictions. There are all copper factory loads for this cartridge https://www.federalpremium.com/rifle/premium-centerfire-rifle/trophy-copper/11-P243TC1.html

I don't know why some folks hold that the .223 won't take coyotes very well. It may be they need to look at a different loading from a different manufacturer, or if they handload they may want a different bullet. HOWEVER since you re in KALIFOЯИIÁ, the bullet restrictions there may cause that round to under perform.

An "upper" in .243, I believe would require an AR-10 platform so you could not buy an "upper" which drops-in to your AR-15, and such an upgrade would be a rather expensive option, much more expensive than the Ruger or Savage option previously mentioned. 7.62x39mm, which you already own, should also do fine on coyotes.

LD

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You are correct, a .243 requires an ar10 lower, this would be expensive but would also open up other big bore AR options down the line. I also never considered that copper bullets would limit the effectiveness of .223, but I recall watching a Japanese hunter having trouble dropping deer with copper .270, the lack of expansion must make a huge difference now that I think about it.

I'm not one of the .223 for deer guys but they are fine on coyotes a lot further out than 75 yards.

I kill them with .22lr and 9mm out to 60 yards (distance from my balcony to chicken coop) here at home. Bobcats and foxes are even smaller animals.

If you have to tell your wife you NEED another rifle to scratch an itch, I understand that too.

Waterboy3313 said:

Thanks for all of the helpful input. Sounds like I will probably stick with the .223/556 long barrel AR for now. One of the guys has a 24" bi pod he finds a good place to sit up right. Not a bad idea in my not tried and tested opinion. They also all use bolt action rifles. If I was under gunned I assume my advantage would be to get another shot or two off much faster.

I have a few different scope options but I'm pretty sure anything that would be in the night vision group of scopes is probably illegal in CA. I will have to buy some copper bullets work them up and most likely re sight before I can even consider going. It will likely take me some time to get setup but I do want to go give it a try.

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You definitely won't be under gunned. Less magnification and a bigger objective help with seeing in the dark.
I like bipods that aren't connected. That way I can drop them off I need to turn quickly.

Waterboy3313 said:

The one guy that I will be going with if I go is dead set on the idea of a semi auto rifle can not be accurate.

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That just isn't true. Generally speaking, MOST rifles that work properly are GENERALLY capable of better accuracy than the shooter. The question to ask is how well can YOU shoot your rifle?

After seeing the damage done to coyotes w .223 rem using 50 to 55gr bullets......under 150 yard id almost consider it a bit on the hot side ( yotes 25-40 lbs ).

Waterboy3313 said:

I have enough AR 15s I really don't want to get started on building an AR 10. If I did that then I would want more and it would turn into another sickness. I would eventually like to pickup a dedicated bolt rifle. I've been stuck on a .223 rem because I already have ammo, reloading components and equipment. I was also thinking about a .308 just because I figured that would allow me to probably use it for anything larger that I would probably every decide to hunt in the future if I go down that road. This thread now has me thinking possibly a 243 now. I can see it having some advantages in my particular situation.

As far as being experienced with hunting or solid copper projectiles I have zero experience. I would imagine it would not expand much if at all.

I can generally shoot pretty decent under normal circumstances. Throw in excitement and moving target I can my accuracy falling off a bit. Either way my semi auto rifles can shoot better than my skills and abilities.

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I've had great experiences with my ruger american, you can't go wrong with a .243.

No, bullets my buds and I use are lead core

If you are looking to buy a dedicated predator rifle. I would go with a 25-06.

My 243 works well. I have used 90gr BallisticTips mostly. They are a bit messy, but the hides aren't worth anything here and when you hit one the game is over. I shot a armadillo once and saw a chunk the size of a tennis ball go 20 feet into the air.

My chuck/predator rifle is a 700 in .243 win.

Waterboy3313 said:

I have enough AR 15s I really don't want to get started on building an AR 10. If I did that then I would want more and it would turn into another sickness. I would eventually like to pickup a dedicated bolt rifle. I've been stuck on a .223 rem because I already have ammo, reloading components and equipment. I was also thinking about a .308 just because I figured that would allow me to probably use it for anything larger that I would probably every decide to hunt in the future if I go down that road. This thread now has me thinking possibly a 243 now. I can see it having some advantages in my particular situation.

As far as being experienced with hunting or solid copper projectiles I have zero experience. I would imagine it would not expand much if at all.

I can generally shoot pretty decent under normal circumstances. Throw in excitement and moving target I can my accuracy falling off a bit. Either way my semi auto rifles can shoot better than my skills and abilities.

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You already have the perfect coyote/bobcat rifle in your AR15 and 5.56/223 is ample to take any coyote/bobcat effectively, especially for shorter shots at night. With proper placement, the 5.56 is ample for coyotes and bobcats. Have even culled deer and feral hogs, as well during daytime when hunting coyotes with the 55 gr. NBT's.

You do have one handicap, IMO, and that is the fact that you must use non-lead bullets (with which I have absolutely no experience other than I have been unable to get any copper bullets to shoot decent groups in any of my rifles??). I would choose the lighter bullets for predators if limited to solid copper bullets.

I have found the 55 gr. NBT ample for all of the following in the .223 and have taken coyotes out to 300 yds. Have culled hogs and whitetail deer when coyote hunting with the 55 NBT's but limit those shots to 100 yds or less on very calm targets with good results.

Careful shot placement is necessary with any caliber, but even more-so with the .223. Don't rely on follow up shots to correct any error on your first shot, but the quick follow up can be extremely important when multibple predators are presented.

Regards,
hps

AR .223/5.56 is a great platform for hunting. Needless to say, match the bullet to the prey and you will be good. I've used 75 grain BTHP Horndady bullets for hogs and deer. So I really do not understand why your friends would make a comment like that and distance is only 75 yards.

Since you cannot use lead bullets I would choose Barnes TTSX bullets which are copper. BTW, I have taken coyote with a 22 magnum, so your AR is fine.

Waterboy3313 said:

Just out of curiosity were those solid copper bullets? I have some Hornady varmint bullets that I would like to use but obviously can't on predators or varmints. I guess they will get used for shooting fruits or vegetables at the range. My biggest fear is a solid copper bullet not performing on a living target such as coyote.

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The lead free bullets don't HAVE to be solid copper, i.e.: https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1016883262?pid=357244
Core is copper powder, don't fret about expansion, it'll get em.
They make something similar in .243 if you go that route as well.
Eta
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1250118295
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1250178614?pid=747365
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010927014?pid=974335
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019440778?pid=644903
And at 75 yds even the deer class bullets will still be trucking fast enough to open nicely, out past 150 it may get questionable, but you have options.

I have been using a flat top ar15 with a 3-9x40 scope for years. I have a streamlight on it with a low mode and red lens filter. So can walk to the stand and make sure i do not trip.

You already have a Coyote stopper....mine does the job well with 55gr HP. Barnes and Nosler make copper bullets for AR. At your ranges 75-100yds it will be plenty for Coyotes....