Accurate, cheap .22 for coyote protection

[DasFriek]

That new Keltec .22mag with 30 rounds iirc.

Walking a dog at night would cause some issues imo.
Do you use a leash or does it run free to do its business? As holding a leash can keep your hands too full.
Something with a flashlight or definitely a red or green laser would be a big help.

I think a Walther p22 with a light laser combo under the barrel would do well with some Aguila 40gr interceptors in it would do a fine job on an animal more act to run than attack a human.

This may sound dumb.

http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...57996_757781_757781_ProductDisplayErrorView_Y

It has a 25 round capacity and enough rail room to put anything you want on it and with the right ammo should deter most anything coyote sized.
Little over $300 but it could be alot of fun also.

If it wasn't a noise issue is say a 12 gauge pump can be had rather cheap. But you do run the risk of hitting your own dog if a scuffle is happening.
Bear mace could do a wicked job also.

 

[vaupet]

Browning SA 22, light, accurate, easy take-down, first semi-auto and still in production.
easy to scope, easy to silence,

It was the rifle that just about every farmer owned in Belgium for pest control (that is, until the government kicked in)
Bought mine used for 100 €, pre 1955, FN produced and still in excellent condition)

JMB design to

 

[bhk]

Any .22 mag handgun is LOUD!!! I would not recommend it if you don't want to disturb your neighbor. A regular .22 (10/22 maybe) rifle might be best, but as a previous poster mentioned, watch out for ricochets. Twenty-twos are really bad about this, as are most centerfire handguns. A rifle in 17 HMR might be safer (less apt to ricochet), but it will be louder.

You say you live in the country. Most folks in the country have guns and shooting is very common. It sure is around where I live. I can hear gun shots on almost any nice day, and some of them are at night (probably folks settling situations similar to yours). I know I certainly do my share of shooting. If you are truly in the country, your shot may make your neighbor curious, but I seriously doubt it will bother him.

 

[Franco2shoot]

Here's another option, and a good one if noise and neighbors are a consideration.
Go with a high end air rifle. see: http://www.straightshooters.com/

In .22 caliber, they will easily take out a yote, but you will need a good scope and
be able to put the shot down the lug holes or txist the eyes.

KKKKFL

 

[Sav .250]

I`d check out your local Gun Show (if you have any.) Plenty of 22`s for sale at most.

 

[zoom6zoom]

If I'm defending a life, the last thing I'm going to worry about is waking up the neighbors.

 

[Art Eatman]

It's not "defense" if the coyote is out at 100 yards or suchlike. Up close, as in the OP? Any good-used reliable .22 rimfire semi-auto would work. You're not at all interested in "clean, ethical kill" when you have reason to worry about danger to you, your children or your pets. What you want is one or more hits.

Staying with the OP's example: That the coyote moved away comparatively slowly indicates that he's relatively unafraid of people. Any shooting at him or any perceived hostile effort toward him wil change his behavior. IMO, that includes yelling or rock-throwing.

 

[Daizee]

It has a 25 round capacity and enough rail room to put anything you want on it and with the right ammo should deter most anything coyote sized.

*LOL*

That will DEFINITELY scare the neighbors!

-Daizee

 

[Risky buisness]

JoeMal, rangerruck poses some good questions regarding your situation with neighbors and their proximity to your property, the very last thing one would want to do while protecting their property is endanger someone elses. I may go out on a limb with some of the responders to your post with these suggestions but during a long career of coyote battles I have reached some conclusions; coyotes are pretty tough, .22 rimfire cartridges are at best, the last choice I would make for putting one down, with the exception of, if it was the only option I had.
I do not know your situation and can only give, like the rest of the responders, a view based on opinion, so here's mine. Get some variety of .22 centerfire, if your worried about noise make it a .22 Hornet, or a .223 using the frangible ammunition currently avaliable if the noise factor is not great. If the noise factor is a difficulty, I surmise that the neighbors are relitevly close and a different approach is warrented, for that, any variety of .410 shotgun loaded with the smaller buck shot should be sufficient to humainly take the 'dog out, with very little chance of richocet and in the 2 1/2" are not overly loud but very effective. To perhaps combine the best of both Savage for many years produced a rifle/shotgun combination( I believe the Model 24) chambered for the cartridges I've written about.

 

[zhyla]

Coyotes generally don't attack adults, this is silly. If it attacks your dog, good luck placing a shot while they tussle.

 

[LemmyCaution]

You'll want to take care of the coyote problem soon. Around here, the packs have an interesting technique- they send a submissive female coyote into the yard to entice your dog to come and play. She'll then lead your dog into the woods to the rest of the pack. The coyote standing 15ft out your front door sounds exactly like this MO.

I'll second the 12ga shotgun with No.4 shot, since you have a 12ga. Less risk to the neighbors. My home load is 20ga, 20 pellet, No.3 buckshot- which is good for two legged and four legged problems.

 

[JoeMal]

Thanks everyone for input on this issue.

I am still leaning towards a .22, even though a lot of people are talking about ricochets. I don't think this will be a problem for me. In wide-open spaces, there's nothing to ricochet off of unless it's a coyotes skull....

Someone mentioned a 410, or even a 20 gauge. I considered this, especially since the lady is into trap shooting (on good days) and she may be more encouraged to shoot if we 'bought her a gun' I don't want to use any of the 12s I own now because she doesn't like to shoot them...and if she's the one who needs the protection at the time, I don't want her worrying about toting the 12 and that throwing off her reaction/accuracy/focus/etc etc. So yeah, possibly might be another shotty but I doubt it.

I went to a few gun stores, and out of the 3 that I went to, they all had 10/22s on display. One guy had a nice looking Savage but that's it. I really wish they would have had some Marlins to look at...but that's ok.


The guy from the store said some of the Marlins have jamming problems? He said it's more ammo related...but I certainly don't want a gun that's going to be picky in <i>any</i> way...especially ammo. Can anyone comment on this?


After the store I went to the range and just happened to see a guy there with a Ruger 10/22....he said he bought his at an auction for a great price and loves it. Maybe that was a sign...


And to who said this was 'silly'; sure, to you it may be silly. But my pet's life means a lot to me. I do not have children so he is my child. I've raised him since he was 11 weeks old, and I'm not going to give up his life to some wandering coyote. I also have a fiancee that I care for. Sure, they may not regularly attack humans...but it only takes one time....


Thank you again everyone for contributing.

 

[Maverick223]

The guy from the store said some of the Marlins have jamming problems? He said it's more ammo related...but I certainly don't want a gun that's going to be picky in <i>any</i> way...especially ammo. Can anyone comment on this?

In that case you don't want a 10/22 either, both are fairly reliable, but both tend to jam occasionally. Tis the nature of the semi-automatic .22LR. IMO your situation is a two gun job, a pistol, shotgun, or centerfire rifle for primary defense (if they are on your doorstep), and a .22LR for general varminting (for nighttime operations).

 

[d2wing]

Another vote for 10/22, as you may need another shot. I know guys that shoot coyotes with them as well as .17 HMR. The 10/22 can be outfitted with stuff like lights, different stocks, barrels etc as suits you. Where there's one coyote there's more. It wouldn't hurt to warn them. Not many single dogs are a match for a coyote.

 

[JoeMal]

So Maverick; I've got the shotgun/pistol taken care of. If you don't recommend a 10/22, what would you recommend?

 

[Kernel]

If you go with a .22 LR make sure it's a semi-auto, and practice shooting "double taps". Coyotes are TOUGH. Skin, bone, gristle and muscle. One .22 pill will just make it mad. Better yet, use the Jeff Cooper Mozambique technique - three fast shots: two in the body, one in the head.

 

[f4t9r]

Marlin Model 60
Great price, very good gun

 

[mljdeckard]

If my wife needed to repel a coyote, I wouldn't expect her to do it with a handgun. The effective range of a handgun is 25 yards. I have killed one coyote at about 50 yards resting in the window of my truck, but I consider it luck. (And in reflection, I wounded it, I had to walk out to finish it off.) A handgun would be to scare one. If you hunt coyotes a little, you learn really fast that you want a swift, flat-shooting bullet. I would honestly check the pawn shops for a good 22 mag bolt gun.

 

[Maverick223]

So Maverick; I've got the shotgun/pistol taken care of.

That's why I mentioned that, you already have it and more importantly it is a no-compromise solution for thump when it counts, whether that be a family member, yourself, or pet in danger (neighbors be damned WRT noise). The rimfire can be used when there is little danger and stealth is paramount (at night). It will also be useful for other pests like raccoons and opossums if needed (though you might not have any due to the coyote population).

If you don't recommend a 10/22, what would you recommend?

I am not saying the 10/22 is bad (heck I have one), but I do feel they are a bit overpriced now that they have started to make parts from plastic, and out of box accuracy is inferior to others (but if you invest a bit, it can be an absolute tackdriver). Again, not saying they are bad (supposedly the plastic parts are just as durable), it just isn't my thing. Nothing wrong with going with a autoloader, just keep in mind that no semi. (that I have used any lengthy period) has been utterly reliable (partially due to ammo QC). Due to your budget and goal of accuracy, I would recommend a Savage Mk. II bolt action or a Marlin M-60 semi. With either, you have enough loot to spring for a good optic like a Sightron S-I, a sling, and a bit of good ammo. If you were to opt for a 10/22 you wouldn't have a great deal left for accessories.

 

[nathan]

Marlin 925 with woodstock for $190 at Walmart all day long. Also they have the .22 mag version, pretty cool .

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Another vote for the Marlin 60. Mine is spot on and utterly reliable. A whopping $130 price tag at Wally World made it even better.

 

[JoeMal]

Damn...$130? That would save me money for a scope which would be great. How recent was that?

 

[93gtosu]

I think the marlin v 10/22 is going to go on forever. Head over to rimfirecentral and see how many threads debate the differences in each rifle. If you really wanna use a .22lr to protect the house from yotes, its probably going to come down to personal preference (semi-auto a definite).

Maybe I missed it, but are you looking for something strictly for "spur of the moment" ability or are you actively ridding the yard of the coyotes? If you're trying to keep them OUT of the yard, then sure, a rifle would be good. But look at cartridges a little bigger than .22lr (.22mag, .223, search coyote hunting).

I really really say use a shotgun for anything in your yard. Any .410, 20 or 12 ga should work.

Don't worry about noise unless your neighbor's house is "ft" away instead of "yds" away from yours. It sounds like your in a more rural setting and not a neighborhood or subdivision. The neighbors should be happy you're getting rid of coyotes especially if they have small dogs or kids. Read the post above about the submissive female tactic. Best thing would be to talk to the neighbors and see what they think.


Just my opinion after briefly reading the thread. sorry if i miss anything

 

[93gtosu]

Damn...$130? That would save me money for a scope which would be great. How recent was that?

If your local walmart sells firearms, the Marlin Mod 60 is typically in that price range at most places.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Damn...$130? That would save me money for a scope which would be great. How recent was that?

It's been a couple of years, but they've gone up little if any. That's the blued model now, not the stainless one. I have a Nikon 4x32 Prostaff on mine. I got it for $99 so I've only got $229 in a very good squirrel setup. I've been told that the Nikon is wasted on a Marlin 60, but that's okay. Let em' laugh. I love it.
I've shot my nephew's 10/22 and it's a great little rifle, but I don't see it being worth the price difference. That's just me though. Other's love em and you can't argue with them. They're fine rifles.