$200 to spend... what to get?

BigBL87 · Dec 30, 2020

I like my Howard Leights. Being the Pros they aren't ideal for rifle shooting, can kind of get annoying when trying to get a good cheek weld because of how thick they are. They're great for handgun shooting though. I have a set of E-Max muffs that are a bit thinner but don't offer as much protection. I usually double up with the cheap foam in-ear protection when I use them.

My electronic in-ear are the 3M EEP-100's, and I swapped out the ear piece for their Skull Screw plugs. Really impressed with them, definitely believe the 30db claim for noise reduction. The TEP-100's have some more bells and whistles but are significantly more expensive and I didn't need the extra features.

I could live without the benefits of electronic protection, but its just so much more convenient to not have to have people yell so you can hear them and visa versa. I imagine when hunting its even more convenient so you don't have to put them on before shooting.

BigBL87 · Jan 10, 2021

Got the Sig 1800 BDX in this week. Was messing around with it today since I'm out at the in-laws and they have lots of open farmland around them. Ranged the family farm buildings 600ish yards away with no issues as well as the shed at 400ish. Moved out to a nearby church at 900 yards without issue. Longest I was able to range was a neighbor's propane tank at 1200 yards and change, their house was just beyond its reach. Color me impressed especially for the price.

Only real downside is the auto brightness of the display is really finicky and it will fade unexpectedly then come back super bright. I might turn the auto brightness off eventually and just settle on one of the brighter settings and change it if I think I need to in low light.

Addition: Managed to range another neighbor's shed out to 1600 yards. Pretty awesome range on this bad boy.

Bacon buster · Jan 11, 2021

My range finder is probably the second most important piece of equipment I use. Good for spotting. Good for ranging the target. Eliminates the need for Binos and for any kind of precision shooting at ranges beyond your zero it is a must have. Especially for smaller stuff like yotes. It’s also a much stealthier way of observing. Binos require more movement and fiddling. I don’t know what caliber your using but I suggest you figure out how far to zero it and keep your bullet within 2-3 inches of your crosshairs. Coyote hunting doesn’t allow a lot of time to be messing around. So being able to put the crosshairs on target and shoot is a huge plus.

BigBL87 · Jan 11, 2021

Bacon buster said:
My range finder is probably the second most important piece of equipment I use. Good for spotting. Good for ranging the target. Eliminates the need for Binos and for any kind of precision shooting at ranges beyond your zero it is a must have. Especially for smaller stuff like yotes. It’s also a much stealthier way of observing. Binos require more movement and fiddling. I don’t know what caliber your using but I suggest you figure out how far to zero it and keep your bullet within 2-3 inches of your crosshairs. Coyote hunting doesn’t allow a lot of time to be messing around. So being able to put the crosshairs on target and shoot is a huge plus.

I plan on using .223 mostly but also have a .243 that may be used as well. Currently both are zeroed at 50 yards due to range limitations. However, my father-in-law and I are planning a more extensive backstop than the current impromptu dirt one we currently use and in doing so have figured out a way to get a 100 yard stretch on their property. So, aside from my 22lr all my rifles are probably going to end up zeroed at 100 in the coming year which is more ideal for me.

Bacon buster · Jan 11, 2021

Hunting yotes inside 100 yards is challenging. It will teach you how to hunt. Either caliber is perfectly suited for what you’re doing. Being that close I would plan to implement a fox pro decoy to keep the attention in that direction. They are a smart and curious critter and can bust you out seemingly when everything is in your favor. I would sight in at 100 yards for what your doing. If that’s as far as your going to hunt money would be better spent on a good decoy system. Brush yourself in somewhere shadowed with something thick directly behind you. Don’t try to hunt it if the wind is blowing that way. Once they bust you they won’t forget and they will be Leary of it every time they come in. Bust you twice they may avoid the area completely until well into the night. I’ve killed more yotes between 630-930am than any other time of the day or night. Waged war on them one year. Killed 26 of them over a period of a few months over half of them I shot standing in my yard. They learned to keep their distance

BigBL87 · Jan 12, 2021

Bacon buster said:
Hunting yotes inside 100 yards is challenging. It will teach you how to hunt. Either caliber is perfectly suited for what you’re doing. Being that close I would plan to implement a fox pro decoy to keep the attention in that direction. They are a smart and curious critter and can bust you out seemingly when everything is in your favor. I would sight in at 100 yards for what your doing. If that’s as far as your going to hunt money would be better spent on a good decoy system. Brush yourself in somewhere shadowed with something thick directly behind you. Don’t try to hunt it if the wind is blowing that way. Once they bust you they won’t forget and they will be Leary of it every time they come in. Bust you twice they may avoid the area completely until well into the night. I’ve killed more yotes between 630-930am than any other time of the day or night. Waged war on them one year. Killed 26 of them over a period of a few months over half of them I shot standing in my yard. They learned to keep their distance

Ya, the area we'll likely hunt allows for longer shot, I was mainly just talking about our shooting range on the in-law's property. I probably won't shoot past 200-250 yards though, at least not starting out. I want to be pretty confident of ethical shot placement and not having shot beyond 100 yards yet I want to gain some experience before trying anything too far out there.

Bacon buster · Jan 12, 2021

Well that changes things a little. Sight in 2 inches high at a hundred and aim at fur out to 300. Download a ballistic app on your phone like tresol or strelok and input your data. It will give you accurate enough info to be confident at those ranges. With that zero you won’t have to dope your scope or hold in the air above the critter. At the far side just line up an inch below the back n let it rip. On the close end just aim a couple inches under desired poi pretty simple strategy that allows you to put shots on target quickly

BigBL87 · Jan 12, 2021

Already have Strelok Pro and loads I have programmed in so already got you there, haha.

Appreciate the shot placement advice! I've been wanting to start hunting in general for awhile, my father-in-law just picked up a 243 for coyote after many conversations we've had about starting 'yote hunting SO hopefully this will be the year. He's also getting his bow fixed up for archery deer season after I picked up a crossbow with hopes of starting that as well. I like to think I'm a good influence.

Bacon buster · Jan 12, 2021

Good luck and you should always be proud to be a positive influence on those around you whether hunting related or not. This world could use all the good influence it can get

DustyGmt · Jan 17, 2021

If there wasn't an ammo crisis I would suggest a pact shot timer. If you're flush with ammo though. Might be a good investment, if you shoot like that, that is. Just a thought.

9x56MS · Feb 5, 2021

BigBL87 said:
I'm having a hard time deciding, so thought I'd get some input from some experts on investing.

Between gift cards and cash for Christmas, I have about $200 to spend on firearm/hunting related stuff. My top 3 things I'm thinking about are binoculars, a rangefinder, and a predator call.

Binos, my options are limited because I need something that can go out to 76mm+ interpupilary distance. I have quite a large cranium. Right now my top candidates are the Vortex Crossfire HD 10x50s and Athlon Argos G2 HD 10x42s. Main use will be coyote hunting hopefully in the next year or two. I'm sure they'll find secondary uses too.

Rangefinder, my demands aren't very high. I'd like something good out to 400ish yards. I don't see myself shooting that far BUT I like to be able to go out farther than I expect. Angle compensation would be a big plus, as I did buy a crossbow this year in hopes up taking up deer hunting for archery season soon. I'd also use it for just regular target shooting and coyote hunting probably. I'm looking at the Vortex Impact and Bushnell Prime/Engage. I've also been looking at the Athlon Midas, but $50 of what I have is an Amazon gift card and they're out of stock there.

Predator call is pretty self explanatory for coyote hunting. Primarily looking at the FoxPro Patriot.

I feel like the rangefinder would probably be the most widely useful, but I don't know enough about them to know if what I can afford is worth it. Binos would be really nice to have, and if I don't get the rangefinder I can probably guesstimate ranges using GPS. Predator call is alot more niche, but obviously pretty much a requirement. Whatever I don't get will go on the birthday list for April.

I'm pretty happy with my current optics, triggers, etc.. Only thing I might think about there is a red dot for my HD shotgun since I'm cross eye dominant and it would make life easier.

If your going to be bow hunting a rangefinder is a must have Your in the right neighborhood with a 400 yard with angle compensation. Unless your going to be sniping instead of hunting you won't need the 800 or 1000 yard models. Happy hunting. Give them coyotes hell.

$200 to spend... what to get?

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