Kinda off topic, looking for advice

[SBE Killer]

since the people here seem to be pretty knowledgable about all kinds of hunting i was wondering if anyone has any suggestions on a good gun to hunt coyotes and other things that are far far away. i was looking into a .223 or .243 anything bigger i think would ruin any coyote pelt. any suggestions?

[tucker301]

I like the new 204, but I'm not sure it would be strong enough for coyotes?
Also, if distance is the main concern, consider the 25-06.
Remington will be offering several models in the 204 in the coming year. Several others already have it. It's Ruger's invention, so they obviously have it in many configurations.

[bwnr]

First choice = .204 Ruger
Second choice = .220 Swift

[surfscotter]

Since your concerned about the hide I would personaly go with a remington model 700 chambered in 22-250. I like the sendero with the bulled barrel. But considering what they have done to the Turkey pop. in central NC I'd go with a .300 ultra mag.

[birddog]

SBE Killer - Where are you in Iowa? . . . terrain and cover... this could help determine a better round. could range from .17 all the way up to say a 270 .. ??

pick your cartridge/gun to you're quarry, cover, general weather, and distance.

I'm not degrading the above posts - they're all good recomendations but, everything is just blind opinion until you put it into a situation... then we have factors to base our judgement and opinion on..

give us your factors? [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 12-08-2004, 04:17 PM: Message edited by: birddog ]

[SBE Killer]

i usually hunt outside of timber and try to call them out in the open so my shots arent that far. i wouldnt set up more than 80 yards or so away from where i am hoping that they will come from. its also pretty open terrain so in a couple of instances i could need a little more distance on my shots.

[surfscotter]

Have you seen the new shells from Hevi-Shot called DEAD COYOTE. I could only guess that would work pretty good for close range.

[birddog]

A .22 mag should do the trick .. but its a light squirely load in wind.

I guess when it comes to that range and terrain .. any mentioned cartridge above would be great.

.223 is by far cheaper to shoot tho ..

Optics is your main concern here .. Bushnells 3200 Elite series is IMHO the 'best bang for the buck' eye relief and light transmition are great and compare nicely with Leupolds similar lines .. especially in the pocket book catagory.

for what it's worth.... [img]smile.gif[/img]

[phenom101]

I second Birddog opinion on range and terrain.

.223 would be your best choice. It's the cheapest round you can find on the shelfs today , perfect for all kind of varmint up to --hmmm-- 300yds , well maybe 400 on a calm day. Look for a rifle with semi or full Bull barrel, it will provide better accuracy on multiple shots, less prone to overheating.

Second best choice would be 22-250. It's quite faster than .223 , but its short barrel life isn't too promising when it comes to small game.
.204 Ruger and .22 swift are on my "what to buy list" , so i can't say anything about these without hands-on practice.
For shots up to (or over) 400yd mark , 22-250, 243 and 25-06 would sound like a good choice.

Good optics are : Schmidt & Bender, Zeiss , IOR Valdada, NightForce, Leupold, Horusvision. Clear glass and reliable MOA adjustment on all.
This glass is on the expensive side of the bunch , but hey , you can't go wrong with crisp picture on long range/small target mix. 44 or 50mm scope always worked for me best, 40mm won't do the job over 200yds. Surely - spending 750 to a 1000$ on glass isn't exactly pocket friendly , but once you have it , you'll have it for life . No point of saving $$ here .
My varminters are :
CZ527 American chambered in .223 REM
Sako 75 Varmint ( bull ) chambered in 22-250.
Both shoot better than i can , thats for sure. Both avg. 0.25" {or less} groups @ 100yds with reloads and SMK bullets ( my wife does all accuracy testing , i'm better off with scatter gun lmao )

Hope this helps a little . Good Luck mate.
JB

[ 12-09-2004, 10:23 AM: Message edited by: phenom101 ]
________
How to roll a blunt

[SBE Killer]

thanks for the input, i think i am gonna go with a remington 700 chambered in .223 i found at Gander Mountain today. its cheap to shoot and with the dent that this gun and scope is gonna make in my checkbook, i need the cheapest ammo i can find. thanks a ton to all that helped.