Coyote Rifle Reccomendations

My recommendation is 6mm creedmoor. Factory ammo has been available through all the craziness and the hornady 87 grain vmax load is devastating on coyotes.
 
I can't say about other locations but anything other than 223 loaded ammo is bring stupid high prices around here. I've seen 243 and similar calibers as high as $45-50 per box of 20. The scalpers and gougers are making a killing. Reloading is the best option but even now it will cost you a premium just to get started. A press and dies will probably be the cheapest components you buy. Primers will make you cry like a baby and depending on the cartridge, if you can find it, will bring tears to your eyes as well. "They", whom ever "they" is, has us backed into a corner. If you want to play, you gotta pay. If it were me, I'd buy a rifle that there is ample ammo for and hope things change before to long. I'd go to my local gun shop and see what they have the most ammo of and go from there.

Plan "B" is shoot what you got and keep you friend that loads for you supplied with components and wait till things get better. Maybe have him teach you the basics and pick up reloading components along the way.
 
Shooting a 22 Creedmoor you probably don't care about saving fur? Factory .243 87Vmax ammo shoots lights out in my Tikka T3. You're in Nebraska? The 87 vmax will be a lot better in the wind than a 55 grain .224 bullet. .22-250 ammo is not as easy to find compared to .243.

You couldn't go wrong with either a Tikka or the Begara Ridge. They both have great triggers, smooth actions, and shoot great. You can easily get the Tikka threaded within your price range. I think the Ridge has a thicker barrel and will weigh more.
 
I can reload 68 gr HPBT ammo for the .223 Remington for about $6/ box of 20. All with components purchased in the last 6 months. It’s shooting lights out like match ammo that costs $35-40 a box.

I’d stay away from a .22-250 or any of the 6mm calibers like .243 Winchester, 6 creedmor etc due to reputations of burning barrels out faster than anything else.

What ever you got for a barrel would have to support 5/8X24 threads for a suppressor. A factory profile barrel won’t have enough meat to it.

If I didn’t have a .223 Remington , then I’d use my .260 Remington for the job. A similar box of ammo shooting equivalent to match grade ammo costs me $10/ box vs $48+. .243 Winchester will have about the same cost.

The savage 10 I put into a MDT XRS chassis weighs in at 13.5 pound. It’s currently wearing a .223 barrel with a 1:9 twist. I don’t think 73-75 gr ammo loads will be an issue. It started life as a 1:10 twist .243 Winchester. Still have that Factory profile barrel

I have a Model 11 that started life a .223 Remington . I still have that factory profile barrel too. It’s like 7.5 lbs with a scope. It’s currently in a Bell & carlson M40 Varmint/tactical stock with a heavy Varmint .260 Remington 26” 1:8 barrel. It would be easy enough to cut it back to 18” and thread it for a suppressor. Kind of the plan. It weighs in at 10.5 lbs. the barrel cost me $259. The rifle $430. I got them over the summer of ‘22.

Both of those calibers have a reputation for just not burning up barrel throats.
 
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Originally Posted By: FarmerJ

I’d stay away from a .22-250 or any of the 6mm calibers like .243 Winchester, 6 creedmor etc due to reputations of burning barrels out faster than anything else.



It is true some cartridges are known to make short barrel life, but if you get say 1500 rounds before the barrel goes, that is a lot of coyotes. Prairie dog rifle, I want a barrel that will last several thousand rds, but for a coyote rifle, they put threads on the those so you can change barrels after 10-15 years. Just my opinion
 
I kind of had the same thoughts on round count. I think some may put to much into that. I am in the midst of reassembling a 224 Clark. Warned by numerous people that maybe less than 1000 rounds maybe way less. I am still going through with it.
Say it last 700 rounds, at 100 rounds a year that is seven years, and that would be an absolute miracle at that amount per year probably 50 or less for me.

I am going to use a 220 Swift till the Clark rig is up and running. The Swift is new to me as well. I ran a 22-250 for a number of years with no ill effect of accuracy.
If my 17 Remington was not set up for prairie dogs, I would have used it, full bull 28” barrel and a KRG Bravo full of lead shot, not my idea of a calling rig.

To the OP, if you just want to change up rigs, figure what works for you. A lot of good calibers out there. If you want store bought ammo, the 6CM is hard to argue if you like the 22 CM.
As I mentioned initially, a good varmint bullet will gain more than a poor bullet with a great cartridge.
 
I shoot as much on the range and such as I do for hunting. Probably more so.

Last year alone I put over 1000 rounds down with the .223. So I’d likely be swapping barrels on a .22-250 annually.
 
I do a fair bit of range time. I have toys to keep myself in trigger time. My hunting rigs, once all set up and a load or ammo found, don’t see extended use as a range rifle. Especially any hot rod cartridges. I just see little need of it more today than I did 20 years ago.
All of the APPs and info available today answers a lot of my questions. I still prefer to shoot at XXX distance or distances to prove the app.

The OP mentioned using a fair bit of off the shelf ammo. Unless fairly wealthy I would think that would limit ones paper punching bench time a fair bit.
 
i have a buddy who worries about barrel burnout and like most people will never burn a barrel out. I only know one group of people who consistently change barrels and its prs shooters, serious ones. The one shooting 2 to 3 matches a month along with practicing. They are spinning up a new barrel because the groups opened up from whatever their standard is 1/2MOA or whatever. I know guys that pull these barrels off their comp guns and put on a hunting gun and get many more years out of it. For coyotes get whatever you want and don't worry about barrel life. Most guys maybe shoot their dedicated calling gun on a great year 75 times a year (including checking zero) while day calling probably more at night. I don't hunt at night so can't answer that. I might shoot my 243 maybe 50 times a year. I like all types of rounds, but to be honest I want flat shooting and fast that knocks the [beeep] out of them for coyotes. I could care less about saving pelts. Give me a 243 or 22-250 I'll pass on 223 every time. I have been using the 257 Weatherby this year and for me it's almost perfect for a calling rifle. So, pick what you want but make sure it's what you want not some idiots on the internet ideas(me). Everyone will tell you here shoot what you have confidence in and trigger time on. I just like fast for flatter shooting for called yotes. Most calibers sighted in right can be held on fur to about 210-250yds. Most of my called dogs are shot under 150.

Most of all have fun


Jon
 
Barrel erosion starts after the first shot is fired. Its down hill from there. Like docjon2013 has said, most of us will never shoot out a barrel under normal hunting circumstances. My only reason for suggesting the 223 is ammo availability because the OP doesn't reload at this time, even though he should consider starting. A good 22-250 or 243 would be top of the list any other time but right now that ammo is pricey and a little hard to find at times.
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogBarrel erosion starts after the first shot is fired. Its down hill from there. Like docjon2013 has said, most of us will never shoot out a barrel under normal hunting circumstances. My only reason for suggesting the 223 is ammo availability because the OP doesn't reload at this time, even though he should consider starting. A good 22-250 or 243 would be top of the list any other time but right now that ammo is pricey and a little hard to find at times.

I agree with that and to be honest I haven't reloaded a round in 5yrs. I still have some reloads left for some of my rifles, 257, but others 100% factory. I have gotten away from wildcats and mostly use plain jane boring calibers-lol. 22-250,243,308,6.5 creedmoor,6.5 grendel. My stag 308 loves the federal 110 Vmaxs and it hits with authority. If i was using 223 the only round factory I ever saw do great on coyotes and deer(under 200) was federal fusion 62gr.

Thanks
Jon
 
I went through several rifles when I started. A tikka t3 light has been my favorite for years. The excellent actions are worth rebarreling too. I had a .243 I didn't use much. I had it rebarrled to 6 creed and made it a target/prairie dog rig. Makes 1k yards just too easy. I'm always watching for used ones to build.

Overall if you don't reload, get a 223. Make sure you shoot 55 gr minimum. All the other calibers cartridges mentioned currently suffer from lack of factory ammo or components or both. They have also become ridiculously expensive.

I think we are likely to see .22 creed factory ammo soon. Basically the modern 22-250.

I'm not huge on AR's but for coyotes the follow up is certainly useful.
 
The problem with reloading is … primers
None around
As most post’s here state; shots are usually 200 yards and under.
223 is fully capable of that and more

223 ammo hurts less at the store also and is available.
I have been shooting 223 on coyotes for over 40 years most with 50 grn vmax
Accurate enough and any solid hit puts them down hard
Lack of recoil means you get to watch the graphics show when you hit, I like that
223 makes a lot of sense
 
Have 2 Tikka T3 rifles,both light barrels.Have a 22-250 and 223.22-250 is basically my backup.Shoot 53 grain V Max in the 223 and it does fine on coyotes and I see impact through the scope which I like.Broadside in the shoulder folds them right there.Keep shots 300 and in.Shot nothing but 22-250 from 1980s till 2 years ago when I got my first 223.
 


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