Whats a good coyote rifle?

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sledhead76

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I've decided that I'd like a dedicated predator rifle, but it seems there's different ways to go about it. I've browsed around and found the Savage Predator Hunter, which is a bolt gun, and then there's the other end of the spectrum, something like the Remington R-15, the semiauto AR design. Which style do you guys prefer for coyote hunting and why? And in what caliber? The Savage comes in 223 Rem, 204 Ruger, 22-250 Rem, while the Remington doesn't offer 22-250. The Savage is much more affordable, comes with a scope, and has the accutrigger which I love. But, the R-15 offers the quick second shot. Anyway, those are just two options I've been considering. What do you guys think?
 
Go to predatormasters.com you'll get all kinds of answers. I coyote hunt with an a bolt in 25-06 because thats what I like and what I have. I am having an ar15 built by Mike Milli at Dedicated Technologies in 204 Ruger. I don't really need it but I wanted it. Isn't that why we buy half the things we own. I am interested in the204 for its good range and light recoil. Bottom line buy what you want and can afford.
 
Yeah, $75 for a box of ammo is crazy, that's why I was leaning toward the 204 or 22-250. I haven't had the opportunity to fire either caliber yet, but they both seem to be pretty popular and more in the $15-$20 a box price range.
 
+1 On the Savage. I have a .223 savage w/ a 20" bull-bbl and aaccu-trigger that I Love for predators, or targets under 500 yds. Believe me that you won't need that second shot with the savage bolt gun. At 100 yds I print inside a quarter with mine just shooting off of bags.
 
Talk to the competitive coyote callers, and the most common gun is a 22-250. My dad has a fantastic Remington 700 VS-SF in 22-250. They like it more than say, the .223, because it screams through the wind better. Many of them also keep a shotgun with #4 buck next to them for close shots.

I'm in the process of building an AR for varminting, and I'll probably use a 24" barrel to get all of the velocity I can out of the .223, but I bet I'll still be wishing that the AR could be chambered in 22-250.

There might still be times and hunts where a 25-06 or even a 30-06 loaded with very light bullets is appropriate.
 
That's one thing I'm working on doing well, I can blast bunnies all day long but coyote's are just smarter than me...

I use a combo of 12ga (Saiga) and an .223 AR with scope quite well for bunnies, depending on how the bunnies are acting that day...
the best luck I have had with coyotes was while hunting deer, I had a nice clean shot on a few, but I passed hoping to bag a deer.
 
Take a look at the FN 98 Mauser action 6.5-284 in a 26" barrel with 1/10" twist No. 5 Tobler Stainless Barrel. Mount a 4-12X50 Swarovski Scope.

Projectile: Hornady 100gr SP
Powder: AR2209 58.5g
Primer: PMC
Case: Winchester
Overall Length: 76mm
Velocity: 3640fps

Shoots 1/2" groups at 100yds. Using substantial less powder per shot (13gr) within 50fsp of the 264 Winchester Magnum.
 
Ruger 581+ series Ranch rifles are nice affordable semi autos. My brand new tactical (non ATI folder:barf:) will shoot 1 MOA with 55 grain match ammo and a decent scope. It was $700 OTD with a 20 rnd mag. Very light and easy to shoot prone.
 
Now,.......I know some of you will say this is just silly, BUT,

I have an idea of building an upper, with a 24" Wylde chamber, and a double-sided rail to mount an 870 Masterkey-style underneath it. (You have to have the 870 receiver cut to fit against the mag well.) This will allow .223/5.56 out to 500 yards, and #4 buck for the surprise shot within 50 yards. I mean, if I am going to have both guns with me anyway,....

And while I'm at it, I could build another dedicated .22LR upper with the same mount for jackrabbits, using 7-1/2. :)

Just thinking out loud.
 
It's hard to beat a medium weight barreled 22-250, but a 243 will work the wind better and shoot nearly as flat.
A good shooter should be a competent reloader, because a serious hunter will expend a lot of ammo just practicing.


NCsmitty
 
I have the Savage Predator in 223. it is the most accurate gun I own. Have shot a 3 shot group well under1/2 inch( just over 1/3 actually:) with cheap 55 gr fmj. I have not worked up a load yet for it. I wish I had it in 22-250 as IMO its the best coyote round unless its real windy then the 243 gets the nod.

Bill/WI
 
I have multiple heavy barrels and AR's in a wide range of calibers and depending on the time of year and what I'm doing I will carry any of them. When I go out and intentionally call for coyotes I take an old 788 in 22-250. It is no beauty and snow camo'd with tape and shoots sub moa with 50gr Balistic tips. The whole gun including a matching period wide angle weaver cost less than $300.00.
Keep an eye out for one of these and you won't be disapointed.
 
My coyote gun is an M70 .22-250. It is a post 64 and if I had to do it over again it would have been a savage or the like because of the fit but it is a very minor quibble and I'm not going to do anything about it. It is plenty accurate and loves the tiny little fast v-max loadings.
 
I have 2 choices here; in a boltie I would do anything in 6mm remmy; a seriously screamer of a cartridge. a Coyote hit with a 6mm bullet doing about 3300 fps, will make them real sick, real fast.
If ammo cost is not that a big a deal to you, then a AR in 204 is flat with very little recoil, for fast follow up shots.
If you are hot stuff, and don't think you need a lot of follow up shots, check out a DPMS AR , in 243!! That will knock their wee-wee's in the dirt, real fast!
If ammo cost is a factor, then I would look for an ar or boltie , in 223.
and for a final thought, just for cool factor, and absolutely no recoil whatsoever, a Remmy boltie, in 17 fireball, out to 300 yds, would be so schwing!!!!
Also it would be super cheap to reload, if you were going to do that.
 
YAH! YAH! Ruger 10/22 17cal VMAX suppressed. The follow-ups come in a whisper. Get the whole lot quick.
 
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