need help on caliber choice

T

TylerWray

New member
I live in North Carolina and have a .17hmr. it has been my favorite gun for predator hunting and small game hunting until just last weekend i called in the first coyote i have ever been able to get a shot at (normally just call in foxes and coons) and it was only about a twenty yard shot in the head. i was expecting him to drop but he jerked his head around and ran in circles in place for a minute then took off into thick brush and could never find him. i was real disappointed not being able to find my first coyote so im looking into getting a gun that will take one down but i mostly see foxes so a gun that also will be fur friendly on them.
any suggestions? thanks for the help

oh yea i dont have the equipment to reload incase anyone wants to know
 
Preferrably in a Tikka or Savage flavor
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Warpig hit it on the head, I was looking at the same dilemma wanting to find a good coyote gun that was relatively easy on the fur and the pocketbook and it came down to 3 choices for me.
Stevens 200 .223 for the best of the low priced guns
Savage (any model) .223 for the mid range
Tikka T3 lite .223 for the higher priced stuff

I settled on the Savage model 11 .223 can shoot it for about $4-5 cheaper a box than 22-250 and with good optics I'm just dying to get to the range and get some shooting in.
Good luck in your search sometimes I think thats half the fun
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thanks for the input. i been looking at the .204, .223, and .22 hornet. out of those which would do less damage to a fox fur? any suggestions on bullets for any? also is .22 hornet better to have if you reload compared to the others?

I dont have the money to buy high dollar equipment right now so ill probably buy a savage or h&r

Also i was wondering when i get a centerfire rifle and i shoot a fox is the best shot placement for not messing up the fur a frontal shot in the chest? sorry im used to shooting everything in the head haha
 
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When i get a head on shot i put it right downtown between the shoulders in the soft spot goes in and nothing out. I shoot them with .204 if at all possible.
 
22 hornet, is pricey ammo if your not reloading. I would stay away from the hornet and go with the 204, 223, 22-250. 22 hornet is not a great long range gun like the others. Just my 2 cents




Mark2
 
The Hornet ammo is quite pricey if you dont reload, I just sold my Hornet. The best choice given your criteria will be a Stevens(basically a Savage but cheaper)in .223. Most can be found with optics for under 300.00
 
I looked at the Stevens model 200 and really like it but all i found was .223. would it pass completely through a fox on a frontal shot in the chest or should i find a .204? Is there a big difference in fur damage between shooting foxes with the .204 and .223? what kind of store bought ammo is the best for either?
 
All depends on ammo selection, the .223 will have a vastly superior slection of factory loads for just about anything you can think of. Also if you know anyone that loads their own im sure you could talk them into developing a nice low power fur friendly load for you.
 
Skip the Remington and go with something that works well right out of the box. Im sure the Remingtons are out of your predtermined price range. In my opinion and many other for that matter, an out of the box Tikka/Savage/Stevens/Howa will outshoot a Remington..... for a lot less money compared to the latter 3 I mentioned.
 
Originally Posted By: Steve Timm
It is so, so, so darned hard to be a .223 Remington.

Steve Timm

......if you're not a reloader
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savage 204 0r 223 would be a great chioce, a savage or stevens is a great gun also, I have a savage 204 that i can shoot a golf ball at 100 yrds with, not a bad combo! the 22-250 is a good caliber but a bit much for fox most of the time.
 
223 way too much, 204 the same, a fox is a relatively fragile animal and can be taken with a much small caliber resulting in less fur damage. The 17HMR the 22mag and the hornet do fine on the fox. I recently took a bobcat with the 22Hornet and it did way too much damage although it was neck shot.
Cooper17HMR
 
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