SaskSniper Posted December 9, 2008 Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 Hey guys, I have been hunting for quite a few years now and am always looking for new opportunities. I was thinking of starting to do some coyote hunting. My main hunting rifle is a Tikka T3 Lite 30-06, too big for coyotes if I am going to keep the hide. I have been looking at some rifles on the net but I was wondering, what do you guys think is the ultimate coyote caliber? I was thinking a 22-250 or a .223 but I dont know much about these calibers. I would like something that can pull off those long distance shots. Also if you guys can suggest some rifles that won't break the bank but are quality firearms, i would appreciate it. thanks guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskSniper Posted December 9, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 9, 2008 here is one of the rifles i am considering, a Savage Model 25 Lightweight Varminter in a 223 rem http://www.savagearms.com/25model_LightweightVarminter.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneshot Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 This is my newest main coyote rifle and I love it. At 300 yards I get a 2 1/2 to 3 inch groups using Hornady 40 gr. or 55 gr. V Max. Check it out. http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=230 I also have a Ruger .223 target and a Remington 700 VS 22-250. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 I bought a rock river varmint for yote hunting, chambered in .223 wylde. Been very happy with it. Don't really think you could go wrong with that savage bolt gun either. All about your preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 When people say they are very happy with a certain gun or caliber, I wish they would be just a bit more specific and give some idea of what size groups they have gotten and at what distances. That would be real helpful and get some of the subjectiveness out of the comment. I know that not everyone tests their guns off the bench, but it does help reduce their opinions to actual numbers that other people can relate to. When considering saving the pelts, there are other things involved other than just the caliber. The bullet size and style is also part of the equation Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 When people say they are very happy with a certain gun or caliber, I wish they would be just a bit more specific and give some idea of what size groups they have gotten and at what distances. That would be real helpful and get some of the subjectiveness out of the comment. I know that not everyone tests their guns off the bench, but it does help reduce their opinions to actual numbers that other people can relate to. When considering saving the pelts, there are other things involved other than just the caliber. The bullet size and style is also part of the equation Doc OK, I will elaborate a little I guess. Rock river guarantees 3/4 inch groups @ 100 yards out of the varmint models in .223 wylde from the factory http://www.rockriverarms.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=228. I usually can get a little better than 3/4 inch groups with 55 grain ultramax soft points from the bench. Funny thing is that the black hills premium stuff does not group any better for me, have not tried any other premium ammo, for me for yotes out to 250 or so the accuracy I am getting is plenty good enough. And yes those 55 grain sp's do the trick quite nicely on yotes, think I killed 6 or 7 yotes with the varmint rifle in the first year I had it varying ranges out to about 180 yards. Don't have pics of all of them, but here are a few. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest shorty785 Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 i use a 243 when i go out usually only go out once a year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 That Rockriver is nasty looking!!!! 3/4", 100 yard groups, guaranteed, now that tells you just about everything you need to know about its performance. On the second coyote picture, did that bullet tear up that coyote as bad as it looks or was that just a heavy bleeder? I just bought a .223 and one of its duties will be to take some coyotes and foxes. I was hoping that it wouldn't tear up the hides all that much. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 If you want to do it on the cheap, but still want a decent shooter, look for a used Savage 340. I've got a 340E in 223 that I rescued from a pawn shop about 15 years ago. Think I gave about $150 for it. I bought a decent scope and now I've got a rig with less than $500 invested that will shoot inch and half groups with factory ammo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted December 10, 2008 Report Share Posted December 10, 2008 On the second coyote picture, did that bullet tear up that coyote as bad as it looks or was that just a heavy bleeder? That yote ran down the hill. Was a bit of blood where he died, I dragged him up the hill for the pic. If you notice there is blood all over the legs too. I don't save the hides, but there did not seem to be excessive damage from the soft points. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskSniper Posted December 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 thanks for the suggestions guys, anyone tried a .204 before? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneshot Posted December 11, 2008 Report Share Posted December 11, 2008 (edited) Here are the specs for the Rock River Arms Coyote Rifle. Using Hornady V Max 40 gr. I get 1/2 inch groups off the bench at 100 yards. I'm very happy with this rifle. What is a Wylde Chamber? The .223 Wylde chamber was designed as a match chambering for semi-automatic rifles. It will accomodate both .223 Rem and 5.56mm NATO ammunition. It is relieved in the case body to aid in extraction and features a shorter throat for improved accuracy. Edited December 11, 2008 by oneshot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskSniper Posted December 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 13, 2008 thanks for the suggestions guys, we will see, maybe in the new year after all this Christmas shopping and what not haha. think ill prob go out a few times to see if I really enjoy it before I buy a new rifle. I'll just use the 30-06 for the first time or two. dont want to spend all that money if it isnt for me haha Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoyt fanatic Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 I like our 22-250 A-bolt. Its devastating on anything up to and occasionally including, deer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 I just purchased a .223 Remington 700 with a 26" heavy barrel. I am hoping that it will become an excellent varmint gun. We'll see when I start reloading. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Lake Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 I have owned a Ruger M-77 Mark II stainless/laminate .223 in the past..not only a good lookin' rifle but extremely accurate as well!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Lake Posted December 16, 2008 Report Share Posted December 16, 2008 I had alot of success with Winchester Supreme 50 gr. Ballistic-Silvertips..generally hunting cow pastures/timber ground here in Iowa...most shots 125 yards or less..A friend of mine shoots a .22-250 and it is also an excellent varmint caliber...good luck to ya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucknut Posted December 19, 2008 Report Share Posted December 19, 2008 I just bought a .223 Remington SPS Varmint from Wholelsale Sports for about $650 with a 40 pack of remington shells.. so far it shoots awesome.. and not that expensive.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SaskSniper Posted December 20, 2008 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 oh really i was looking into those as well. might have to check them out further, thats a decent price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted December 20, 2008 Report Share Posted December 20, 2008 I just bought a .223 Remington SPS Varmint from Wholelsale Sports for about $650 with a 40 pack of remington shells.. so far it shoots awesome.. and not that expensive.. That's exactly the same gun I bought in Rochester, NY a week ago, for about the same price. I hurried off a couple of 5-shot groups at 50 yards (in between snow storms), and they were a little under 1/2". That was with factory ammo, and also fired off in kind of a hurry (I'm still a bit sensitive about getting my new toy soaked up in the snow). When the weather gets a bit better and I have some hand-loads available, we'll see what the thing can do at 100 yards. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted December 30, 2008 Report Share Posted December 30, 2008 I have been using a .220 Swift with 52 gr. Hornady's. It'll stomp a 'yote like the hammer of Thor. But it ain't a pelt hunter's rig. Puts a BIG old hole in them. I'm going to give the 5mm RRM a try when I get at it here in a few weeks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grady269 Posted January 9, 2009 Report Share Posted January 9, 2009 Cruise the used racks, my groundhog/ predator hunting rifle is a Remington 788 in 22-250 that I picked up @ a gun show for $250, near 100% condition. There are a lot of varmint rifles bought that never see the outside of the closet except when a critter comes in the yard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Outdoorsman Posted January 13, 2009 Report Share Posted January 13, 2009 Just my preference but I like the Savage Model 10 Predator in .243, it hits hard and is a tight shooter out of the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaCoyote Posted January 21, 2009 Report Share Posted January 21, 2009 I have two. The first is a Ruger M77 MkII in 220 swift. The second is an AR in .223. Believe it or not I like the bolt gun better but use the AR on harder hunts since it's lighter. Hey strut. Load up some Varmint Grenades for the swift. I used some hot loads yesterday and the exit hole was the size of a pencil. Not bad at all considering it was only a 65 yards shot. PM me if you want a pic. I took some pics while skinning since so many people ask about the Varmint Grenade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted February 2, 2009 Report Share Posted February 2, 2009 With the handful of coyotes I've gotten I haven't tied to keep the pelts at all. I've taken one with a 300 win mag before. We only have 30 caliber rifles in the gun cabinet. I suppose I could call them in close and use a shotgun or bow, but it makes it a bit harder and the hole would be just as big probably. - Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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