What Was Your First Dedicated Predator Rifle

I bought a Colt AR15 back in 1983 when I was in 29 Palms, CA. Didn't have a scope on it, just used the iron sights. Later I got a Remington 700BDL 22-250 with a cheap Bushnell, scope.
 
Remington 788 22-250. Accounted for my first called coyote; 27 years later I still consider it one of the best shots I have made considering the distance and circumstances. Neighbor buddy that has the rifle now thinks it the best rifle ever....maybe I'll be able to buy it back from his heirs someday.
 
Ruger M77 MarkII Compact .223,that I could call my own anyways. I had shot a Howa .204 and a Howa .223 before that but they belonged to my uncle. I shot those for a while before I saved up and bought my own rifle.
 
My first varmint rifle was a Remington 700 ADL in .243 with a Bushnell 4X scope, later changed to 3-9 Burris. I then bought a Remington 788 in .222 which I later sold after buying a 700 ADL in .222. That was just the start down the long rocky path of gun ownership.
 
Originally Posted By: hiwallA pre 64 Model 70 220 swift with a B&L balvar .I still have it.

I remember you telling me about that one, Lee. Dang but that would be a fun gun to have. For sure it would not be a safe queen.
 
Ruger M77 220 Swift 200th year American Liberty Edition (I think that was what it was stamped on the barrel) topped with a Redfield 6-18 scope. I was in high school, late 1970's and it had a most beautiful wood I have ever had on a rifle. Like an idiot I traded it several years later for something else and wish I still had that rifle.
That rifle started my love for the 220 Swift which still goes on today and while I now have several different varmint rifles in different small calibers, the 220 Swift I have today is still my "go to" gun and the one I reach for in my safe when heading out varmint hunting.
 
Rem 700 VSSF 223rem 1st coyote rifle and the most accurate rifle I own. too bad they dont make them anymore.

Had a chance to pick up a new vssf 22-250 when they were still available at the gun store in the late 90's when they were priced around $600. NIB but i didnt do it and regret that now !
 
I traded into my first dedicated predator rifle after going out calling first time ever with a friend. I traded into a Remington 700 BDL in .222. Ended up killing my first called coyote with it later on. I love that rifle and it shoots lights out.

My next predator specific acquisitions would be a Remington 7 Predator .223, followed by a Remington 700 CDL Boone and Crockett .243.

Followed that up a 700 VLS 22-250 but decided to use it for varmints instead of walking around calling.

Most recent was an AR build in .204 using a 22" BHW barrel from Ritch.

My favorite is the BDL .222 though. Just a classic looking rifle that flat out shoots and claimed my first called coyote. I've got it topped with a VX-3i 3.5-10x40 and it's just hard to beat for my needs.
 
Originally Posted By: BloodhoundWhen I was growing up I remember my uncle had a dedicated Coyote rifle...he owned an insurance agency and he was the "Wealthy" family member. When I was 9 I bought my own .22 rifle (Stepdad said it would mean more if I earned the money myself...he was just a cheap %&^*%$# and he had a .22 rifle and a 20 ga single shot) I knew better than to think my little single shot iron sighted .22 was a coyote gun...I dreamed of shooting a bobcat with it, but nothing other than prairie dogs and rabbits fell to that little rifle.

Other than my uncle I didn't know anyone who had a dedicated predator rifle. Most of my friends dad's, when they hunted predators used the deer/elk rifle.

When I was a young adult, early 1990s I knew a couple of guys who had 22-250 or 223 or something that they just used for predators.

My first dedicated "Varmint Gun" was a Savage 340 in .222...it had a Weaver K-10 scope.

I have since run into guys my age who have always had a dedicated rifle for coyote hunting...but that has just been since I started traveling in these circles...the circles with dedicated predator hunters
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I have had a couple of different rifles and cals...and just recently picked up another .222...Its gonna be fun


Just so you won't feel alone, my first dedicated varmint/predator rifle was also a Savage 340 in 222. High school was lots different back then. I won mine in FFA selling magazines as a school fundraiser. I think I was either 16 or 17 at the time. That thing killed a truckload of jackrabbits out spotlighting at night. That 340 had the poorest excuse for an extractor I ever saw. But it did shoot pretty good, and I loved the 222.

Later on when I was in the Navy I sold it to a friend of mine to help finance my second dedicated predator rifle. It was a Remington 40 XBKS in 220 Swift. Quite the step up.
 
Interesting thread, I liked reading the responses. I've never had a rifle dedicated to predators only in 24 years of killing them. All my smaller chambered rifles have pulled double duty as predator/deer rifles. 223's, 223AI's, 220swift, 22-250's, 22-250AI, 243's, 243AI's. Every one of them killed fox/coyotes/deer.
 
mine was a Ruger MKII 243 stainless steel with "boat paddle" stock. I bought it when i turned 12 and i think i killed more predators with it than any other rifles i own, and my wife still uses it to deer hunt
 
Ruger M77 MkII stainless boat paddle in .223. Still have it. Swapped the stock for the fuller bodied Hawkeye style later on. I have no idea what scope was on it. Got the LC6 trigger put in it as well. Still shoots MOA.
 
.223 R-15 with a Burris FF II. Running a Leupold VX3 now and I replaced the trigger with a Timney 3#. Still my main coyote and favorite rifle.
 
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