TOUGH Criteria for a Rifle

[Aaryq]

Howdy, folks. I found an excuse to buy a new rifle. CA doesn't recognize ND's Hunter's Safety cards so my friend and I found a place to get the card for free. We're going on Saturday. Well, if I have a Hunter's Safety Card, I guess the next step should be to go hunting. It's not. It's in the middle of nothing season so I think the only thing I can hunt is Yotes (if you fellow PRK residents know of any other seasons open, please speak up) but the only firearms I have right now is a J.C. Higgins .22LR single-shot, a Mossberg 20ga Bolt Action Shotgun, and a Ruger P89 in 9mm. Now for the rifle criteria. I'm bloody broke. I can drop about 120 (maybe 150 if my wife's in a good mood) for a rifle that can humanely kill a coyote and the ammo can't cost an arm and a leg. That's about it. It doesn't have to be pretty, it only has to work. I'll be shooting the coyotes at less than 100 yards and I consider myself a good shot.

**ETA** If it's legal, I can borrow my buddie's Mosin Nagant M44 or his...something 30-30.

 

[jame]

H&R Handi-Rifle, open sights, used. Choose any centerfire caliber.

The cheaper ones will be 30-30, .223, or even .22 Mag.

Also, check the pawn shops. A Mosin 7.62 x 54 might run you $100 if you shop hard. Spend the extra $20-30 on cheap reloading equipment (Lee) and components.

Your wife will be happy. You will be happy. The 'yotes will hate you.

 

[Eightball]

Look for a used .30-30. A mosin would work if you can get seriously lucky so far as the barrel goes, but if not, remind me to not be on that half of the US when you're Coyote hunting. Normally I advise the mosin, but I'm not sure how slim be the pickin's on that chunk of the US.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Since you have so little to spend on a rifle but don't want to waste your money on junk, I suggest a single shot H&R rifle. You can buy one in 22-250 which is a great caliber for Coyote. They are available in .223, .243, .270, .280, and all the way up to .308 and 30/06. They are very accurate and inexpensive.
http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/default.aspx

 

[glockman19]

You can hunt pig year round. Los Padres is a great place to hunt. If you're around Ventura santa Barbara you can find pig in the area. Look for water and oak trees you'll find pig.

 

[General Geoff]

One vote for the venerable Mosin Nagant.

 

[kungfuhippie]

Pigs, yotes, jack rabbits all year long.
You can borrow a rifle from your buddy.

What part of so cal are you in?

 

[Aaryq]

Camp Pendleton/Oceanside

 

[kungfuhippie]

Camp Pendleton

Use a centerfire rifle that will get out to 100-200 yards.

 

[jford1]

If your not hunting anything larger than deer, not shooting more than 150-200 yards, and CA doesn't have law that limits you to less than 10 rounds for hunting then get a SKS while you still can. You should be able to get one in decent condition for hunting in your price range.

 

[kungfuhippie]

great idea-i use my sks with soft point ammo. No limit on magazine unless bird hunting.