Accurate, cheap .22 for coyote protection

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JoeMal

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I recently moved to a house in the country, which is fine I love the house. However, last night I went to let the dog out, and when I looked outside my front door, there stood a coyote about 15 feet outside my door. He looked at me, stood for a second, then slowly trotted off as if he was saying 'I'll be back, I've got your number'

So no big deal I guess, luckily I looked outside before letting the dog out. I waited a few minutes and took the dog out with no problems.

However, in a different circumstance, things might not go so easily. What if the coyote was around the corner of the house when I let Roc (dog) out and they met in the front yard? My dog is an American Bulldog...so I think he would put up a fight...but still. This is a situation I would like to avoid....plus if Shelley were to take him out and have an encounter, I would like her to be able to defend herself. I have a 12 gauge and a 9mm but honestly I'm not trying to wake up my neighbor with the sound of gunshots....

I've been interested in a 22 for a while now, so I guess this is my excuse to get one. I'm looking for something sub $300, easy to shoot (as the lady will be using it, too), and accurate.

Part of me thinks I just need to invest in a Louisville Slugger...but honestly, a gun would get so much more use :neener:
 
I'd suggest SHE get a .38, or .357 of any decent quality. Use 148 gr wadcutters for the yotes,..they are quiet enuff,....and gives her the option of a hotter load for different uses. That's my .02............
 
I don't think you have much to worry about a coyote. But a good .22lr is the excellent Ruger 10/22
 
unless the coyote is rabid or has something else wrong with it you won't get close enough with a bat. They're sneaky lil buggers. You probably startled that one as much as he startled you.

as for a .22 goes, a Ruger 10/22 is a nice rifle but if you're going for a coyote make it a head shot.

the best close range coyote load is a heavy turkey 12 ga. Load. Ruins they're whole day!
 
Any Marlin 22 will do. I have a 981T I am really pleased with. Cost $173 OTD and is far more accurate than I am. I added a 4X Nikon scope for another hundred bucks. The model 60 auto will give you quick follow up shots if needed. They can be found in pawn shops for around a hundred dollars.

If you can stand a little more muzzle blast a 22 mag would be a better choice. Again Marlin makes good ones that can be bought for under $200 dollars.
 
If you expect to shoot it at coyotes w/o earmuffs, I recommend against the .22mag - very loud.

I'm a fan of the CZ-452's, but they're just out of your stated budget. If you don't own a bolt rifle, you're missing something and the Savage will do the trick with budget to spare. Nice thing about those is the detachable magazine. You can keep it unloaded, but charge (or un-charge) it quickly, unlike the tubular mags.

If you're serious about the coyotes, fill the mag with CCI Velocitors for when it's standing watch. Plink with something cheaper.

-Daizee
 
savage mark II fits the ticket. I recently acquired one for similar purposes, as well as general small game hunting. I would recommend a small fixed 4x scope, just to save on weight. My savage had a very short LOP and to make it worse the scope could only be mounted if it was pretty much as far back as it could go, so I cut up a 2x4 to fit the shape of the buttstock and screwed it in the place of the buttplate. It aint pretty but it works.
 
My logic to a good defense is to keep the offense in play. That's why i take the fight to the coyote, and shoot on sight. I've knocked off many yotes with a 10/22; but i've also hit a couple that haven't gone down with good shot placement.

As far as "protection" mentioned in the thread's title, you might consider a 20ga. shotgun for relatively close-range, reactionary confrontations. point and shoot, no aiming, not as much kick as a 12 on the boss' shoulder.

However, if you see one out the window casing your place; and you have time to grab the gun and get into a position to use it, I'd go for a scoped rifle. Caliber is secondary to your accuracy with it....i always go for headshots, otherwise you'll most never confirm it or recover it.
 
Savage Mk. II is an excellent choice, plop a decent but inexpensive optic like a Sightron S-I on it and go to work. It will also serve as a good target rifle, trainer, and plinker.

:)
 
Shotgun? H&R Topper 20ga. Ammo be cheap, it won't kick you senseless, and it always works. If you want a very fine pump gun, Browning sells a Hunter BPS in 20 that will probably outlast the grand-kids.

22? A Savage 93FSS in .22 WMR would be hard to beat. Unlike .22LR, these don't ricochet for a mile and they have plenty of thump on impact.
 
I really appreciate all of the feedback. I was looking into the 10/22 and figured I would hear positive things here if it was a winner...they seem to be relatively popular and available. I may take a trip down to the gun store or pawn shop to see if they have something used. Buying new is nice but honestly I wouldn't stop from getting a good deal on a .22

I've also looked into some .22 pistols...anyone prefer those over rifles? I think I would really prefer a rifle but something about a .22 pistol sounds so fun....I'm really liking the S&W 22a models....
 
How about Marlin 795? Can be had for $100, more accurate out of the box than the 10/22 and a semi-auto will allow quick follow up shots. It is clip fed so it can be kept unloaded with a full magazine close by. It has almost no recoil and is fun to shoot so you will enjoy practicing. A hollow point to the skull will certainly drop a coyote.

Mals.
 
If your interested in a pistol, look at the Chiappa 1911-22. I read one or two very positive reviews of it and I remember it being just under $300.
 
Jolly Green - I just saw one on GB and thought it looked like a sharp gun...but I've never heard of the Chiappa brand so I ignored it.

Anyone here shot 'em?
 
questions first; how far away do you live from neighbors? 22's can ricochet like a mother. Secondly, what about a semi auto pistol? much lighter and easier to carry, without scaring the straights, if they see you walking around with a rifle.
If you have to do a rifle, I suggest a well working, super reliable, and wonderfully accurate rifle- the marlin mod 60, get them used at a gun/pawn shop for between 50 and 100 bucks, get them new for between 100 and 150. If not that, then the marlin 795, is even lighter and smaller than the mod 60, and is mag fed; same pricing applies.
For a pistol, I say a Beretta neos; super easy to take down and put back together, then the smith/wesson 21a, also super easy to take down.
Normally I would throw in the super accurate all steel rugers- mk's 1 through 3, and the 22/45's. But they are absolute hell on wheels to put back together, you can easily ruin one of these pistols if you do it wrong; i almost did.
Otherwise they are great-very heavy, sturdy , reliable, excellent accuracy, and not too expensive. But i would choose the former two pistols, first.
If getting a 22, then use hollow point, or segmented bullets, or CCI SGB bullets; they heavily fragment upon penetration.
 
By the way, american bulldogs are great, but they have too much playful boxer blood in them-- unless it is a dominant dog, it probably won't fight, until it is bit first. You don't want that.

Oh let me just say, the ruger 10.22 is a great rifle- if you are lucky and get a good one out of the box, and also know how to work with it, and tweek it. I used to have 1 , and with a few mods, got it to be accurate, reliable, and an easy trigger, that would let me shoot lights out; they are also twice the money of the marlins or savages. the marlin/ savages will be workhorses right out of the box, not miss a beat, and be accurate. Skip the 10.22
 
rangerruck;

Thanks for the tips, good stuff. You're right about my Bully...he'd see a canine form and think 'play' until it got nasty....then he would be a step behind. He's definitely a house dog and though I think he may stand his ground initially, like you said he wouldn't start the fight...

My neighbor is pretty close...and he has some equipment and vehicles outside that I would hate to damage. I do have a 9mm, but like I said previously I think that may make a bit too much noise. This is another reason why I want to stay away from a shotgun.

I have been looking into the 795 and really like it. Price is right, mag fed has its advantages. However, I have heard that people dislike the synthetic material they use on some of these. I suppose I should go check out a store and try to handle one
 
Model 60 by Marlin. None better IMO. Shot nickles at 50 yards easy.



If you want a shotgun. Used Mossberg 500 in 20 ga for around $150. My wife loves hers, and will not give it up.
It is our home gun, her clay gun, her fun gun (wait..That is me), her deer gun, and whatever needs to be done gun.
 
Thumbs up for the Marlin 60.
Best performing rifle I own and accuracy is great.
I think they're going for $150 nowadays.

Trickster will be in for a surprise. :D

Mike
 
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