Best 243 strictly for coyote hunting

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Murdock97

New member
I’m looking into getting a 243 strictly for coyote hunting. I’ve been looking into the Ruger American gen 2 and predator, a tikka t3x lite, bergara b-14 hunter, and howa 1500. I’ve done a good amount of research but seem to get a lot of mixed reviews. I mostly shoot within 200 yards, but occasionally shoot farther. I’m going to be shooting a 58gr vmax. Any insight on these rifles or others that I should consider?
 
I think I would be tempted to go with the Tikka T3 X lite or the Ruger American if they are both pretty light weight wise. I carry my coyote rifles way more than I shoot them. I just sold a Remington 700 22-250 because as I got older it seemed to gain weight every year.

Even a medium speed 243 Win load with a 58 gr V-Max bullet will be very fast and should be instant death on coyotes.

When I could shoot lead bullets at coyotes with my 243 Win I shot 75 gr V-Max bullets and they worked great. When I had to start using Lead Free bullets the Barnes 62 gr Varmint Grenades and the Nosler 55 gr Lead Free bullets both put the coyotes down hard.
 
Wonder how that 58gr bullet will shoot from a 243? I do have a 243 but I shoot mostly 75gr Hornady v-max in it. Mossberg Partriot with a wood stock. Got it just to fool with and this thing shoots really well!
 
Polock said:
Wonder how that 58gr bullet will shoot from a 243? I do have a 243 but I shoot mostly 75gr Hornady v-max in it. Mossberg Partriot with a wood stock. Got it just to fool with and this thing shoots really well!
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I’ve been shooting them out of my Remington 700 for a lot of years, and they perform really well. Farthest shot on I’ve taken was about 350 and it didn’t leave much of an exit but still made it through. How do you like your patriot?
 
derbyacresbob said:
I think I would be tempted to go with the Tikka T3 X lite or the Ruger American if they are both pretty light weight wise. I carry my coyote rifles way more than I shoot them. I just sold a Remington 700 22-250 because as I got older it seemed to gain weight every year.

Even a medium speed 243 Win load with a 58 gr V-Max bullet will be very fast and should be instant death on coyotes.

When I could shoot lead bullets at coyotes with my 243 Win I shot 75 gr V-Max bullets and they worked great. When I had to start using Lead Free bullets the Barnes 62 gr Varmint Grenades and the Nosler 55 gr Lead Free bullets both put the coyotes down hard.
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Yeah a lighter rifle definitely helps ease the burden of packing it farther distances. Ill have to keep the Barnes and noslers in mind in case i cant find the 58 vmax. Thank you!
 
Murdock97 said:
I’ve been shooting them out of my Remington 700 for a lot of years, and they perform really well. Farthest shot on I’ve taken was about 350 and it didn’t leave much of an exit but still made it through. How do you like your patriot?
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Over all I do like them but that plastic bedding block is hard to get used to. I re-bed all my rifles but haven't a clue what to do with that plastic block. Then again the rifles do shoot well like they are.
 
Skim bed it so your sure you have full contact.

What you plan to do with it would make influence my my choice, shooting off a tripod a 100 yards from the truck would be a whole lot different than pack in to far stands or climbing hills. Also your budget.

I wouldn't get hung up on factory camo, a five dollar rattle can, camo duct tape or camo vest wrap is handy.

It is hard to find a rifle that is junk any more.

Good luck on your search. You might want to hit some stores and get a feel for the rifles.

I'm looking seriously at a Howa Mini in 6mm ARC with a Sightron S1 1.75-5z32 shooting the same bullet as you.
 
I have couple of Tikka Roughtecs in .243. Since moving to Texas from Kalifornia I’m back to shooting lead bullets thankfully and I shoot 75 grain Hornadys and they destroy coyotes.
The Roughtechs have sort of a heavy sporter barrel and they shoot good. Fluted and threaded for supressor or whatever. They are also still pretty light.
I live in West Texas but hunt New Mexico mostly and a 22 250 and/or 243 is what I shoot for coyotes.
 
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Had a gen 1 american compact and this winter replaced it with another gen 1. Newer one has a much stiffer stock. Both are 6# and shoot 58's sub 1/2 with my handloads and 75's sub 9/16. I am only 5'7" and it fits well in winter clothes, in warmer weather I just add a slip-on recoil pad. I like the shallower angle bolt throw (60 or 70 degrees).
I am not much of a gun guy and just couldn't see spending more for something that couldn't perform any better.
 
With CNC machining, even the 'budget' rifles can shoot very well.

I have 3 rifles I use for coyotes: a 1963 Sako L461 (Vixen) in 222RemMag, 1995 Ruger M77 in 22 Hornet and a T-C Icon in 243.

If I had to pick one, (what a sad day that would be, lol), it would be the 243. It just hammers coyotes.
 
hunt0168 said:
Another Tikka T3x guy here. Much better (stiffer) synthetic stock than most others. 243 running 75 gr V-Max just flatten coyotes.
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Does yours have the 1:8 twist? I’ve been looking for a new .243, but wasn’t sure how the 1:8 would perform with the 58 & 75gr.
 
greengt88 said:
Does yours have the 1:8 twist? I’ve been looking for a new .243, but wasn’t sure how the 1:8 would perform with the 58 & 75gr.
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I gotta say, the 1:8 twist was a question I had as well with the lighter bullets but Ive seen no issues with them. Honestly some of the best groups have come from lighter bullets. Although I haven’t really done a lot of extensive testing with heavier bullets, 58 and 75 have performed well.
 
AWS said:
Skim bed it so your sure you have full contact.

What you plan to do with it would make influence my my choice, shooting off a tripod a 100 yards from the truck would be a whole lot different than pack in to far stands or climbing hills. Also your budget.

I wouldn't get hung up on factory camo, a five dollar rattle can, camo duct tape or camo vest wrap is handy.

It is hard to find a rifle that is junk any more.

Good luck on your search. You might want to hit some stores and get a feel for the rifles.

I'm looking seriously at a Howa Mini in 6mm ARC with a Sightron S1 1.75-5z32 shooting the same bullet as you.
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Yeah we do a good amount of walking, and use bipods. Usually a Harris, but I’m trying out one of the swagger bipods right now.
 
LONEHOWL said:
I have couple of Tikka Roughtecs in .243. Since moving to Texas from Kalifornia I’m back to shooting lead bullets thankfully and I shoot 75 grain Hornadys and they destroy coyotes.
The Roughtechs have sort of a heavy sporter barrel and they shoot good. Fluted and threaded for supressor or whatever. They are also still pretty light.
I live in West Texas but hunt New Mexico mostly and a 22 250 and/or 243 is what I shoot for coyotes.
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I’ll have to look into the roughtec, I’m not sure I’ve heard of that model.
 
hunt0168 said:
I gotta say, the 1:8 twist was a question I had as well with the lighter bullets but Ive seen no issues with them. Honestly some of the best groups have come from lighter bullets. Although I haven’t really done a lot of extensive testing with heavier bullets, 58 and 75 have performed well.
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I heard the new tikka’s have a 1:10 twist, I wonder how much of an affect it will have on the light bullets.
 
Murdock97 said:
I heard the new tikka’s have a 1:10 twist, I wonder how much of an affect it will have on the light bullets.
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I do believe the 8 twist is newer. 10 twist is fine and possibly a bit better for light bullets. 10 twist is going to start to struggle when you push the heavy end of things.
 
Yes 1 in 8 is new twist in Tikkas. I have a 1 in 10 that I got a couple years ago and a newer one that is 1 in 8. Both shoot good, I expect the faster twist may be a tad slower velocity with same bullet weights but I’ve never checked it.
 


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