22-250.........Do I need the heavy barrell??

I too am not that weight sensitive,but still do not think there is any advantage to a heavy barrel coyote calling. the important thing is that the first shot out of that cold barrel hit where you want it to.I often carry a rifle that scales 16 lbs when loaded up.Have never used it when calling. The right sling makes alot of difference and I will lift weight before season to get tuned up a little.Our hunting here involves walking miles in snow. One year we estimated the first 10 coyotes we got we tracked about 5-6 miles each. usually just a few miles will do.If I were smart I would go back to a lighter rifle,but the heavy rifle helps to get me in shape and I have never been accused of being smart.
 
I am a large man 6-3 240 pounds and as of now my calling rifle is a Winchester Coyote ,most accurate rifle I have ever owned .22-250 with heavy barrel,love it once I get settled in.It gets a little heavy packing around.Thinking my next calling rifle will have a sporter barrel.The heavy barrel is great for playing at the range so the perfect solution for me is to have both ,1 for calling and 1 for playing at the range
 
go with the sporter you will enjoy the hunting more in the long run.
i had a savage with the 28" fluted bull barrel and it was like carring a gold bar in to the woods by the end of the day my arms where just worn out..
 
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Go with a sporter weight if you plan on doing any walking.
I have a 700 VLS 22-250 w/ Nikon 5.5x15.5 that tips the scales at 10+ lbs. Accuracy is .5" MOA which is great for long shots, not long walks.

JD338
 
I shoot the Savage 12FV and love it. I shoot off of sticks all the time and only ask that they are under 350 Yrd's. The last six that were shot were between 102--325 Yrd's, when the crosshairs are on I have full confidence that the coyote is going to bite the dust and/or snow. Rifleman2
 
Another vote for the Savage 16FCSS. Weather warrior series has a little better stock than the average Savage, is light enough to carry all day and is accurate. Im shooting WWB 45gr HP and get honest 1 to 1 1/2 groups @ 100 yards. MOA doesnt really matter for a hunting gun, MOF (minute of fur!)is what you need to worry about. PS the WWB HP ammo delivers death on dogs quite well1
 
Bought the Savage 12 VLP last year but its a ten pounder and although it shoots great I got tired of carrying it around on coyote stands. Bought the Savage Model 16FSS like Jay mentioned and I am so glad I did. I got it in .204 and it weighs 6.75 lbs. What a difference! Shoots tighter than I can hold it thats for sure.Now if I go out for ground rats or P-Dogs the heavy one is the one I will take but on predator stands give me the light one.
 
I had a Rem 22-250 in the vssF and it was probably the best shooter Ive had but I traded it for a Beretta O/U Silver Pigeon the reason was I was getting a pretty good deal second I got really tired of the weight It was great for those dogs that wouldn't come closer than a couple hundred yards but those at 20 yards moving fast were tough to get that weight swinging fast enough.I would take it the first couple of times each winter then it would stay home. loved the caliber though.JC........
 
I have a 6mm with a #5 25 inch douglas and a sporter weight mcmillan stock. I built it that way because I love the way a slightly muzzle heavy rifle balances in my shooting sticks. But I hate packing around a rifle with a bulky stock. The rifle weighs around 10 pounds. It doesn't slow me up any on incoming yotes.
 
Calling rifle: Sporter weight
P-dog gun: Bull barrel

I got the same advise when I bought mine and couldn't be happier. Accuracy won't be an issue.

David
 
In my teens I used to pack around a heavy barrel to calling stands. Later I switched to a 22-250 Winchester classic stainless with the synthetic stock. What a difference. Can't really see any difference in accuracy with reloads....both are tack drivers.

Sad to say but the only time the heavy barrel gets used is when I am going to a pdog town where I expect to be burning up a couple boxes of shells or more in a day.
 
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