Looking for a coyote rifle

[meth0d]

I want to get either a Sako 85 Bavarian or Tikka T3 Hunter in .222 or .223 for coyotes. I know the .17 rem/fireball/mach IV is the "ideal" caliber for the coyote, but I'd like something a little less specific. I like the idea of .222 just for something different.

Does anyone know where I could pick one up? I'm on the Cape but I wouldn't mind traveling a little bit to get one.

Thanks

 

[cricco]

I can't really help you with the rifle search, but as an avid coyote hunter, I can tell you that .17 is NOT the ideal caliber for hunting them.

 

[Knob Creek]

I had a coyote problem a few years back and bought a Ruger bolt action in .22 Hornet. I figured it was a fairly quiet round that could get the job done. Since I bought it I haven't seen a coyote since.

 

[seanc]

Hey Knob.. Then I guess the .22 hornet really IS the Ultimate Coyote rifle then, isn't it??

 

[Knob Creek]

Hey Knob.. Then I guess the .22 hornet really IS the Ultimate Coyote rifle then, isn't it??

Apparently so!

 

[m4bushy]

an ar-15 with the 20''varmint barrel would be a great coyote rifle.

 

[Mike-Mike]

an ar-15 with the 20''varmint barrel would be a great coyote rifle.

+1 The .22 hornet is larger than .22 long rifle so it would not be allowed a half hour after sunset.

My suggestion is a .223 contender pistol with a nv scope. Handguns .38 cal and smaller are legal until midnight.

 

[Mike-Mike]

But for a rifle I would use my AR, .308, or 30-06 bolt gun during the day and a 22lr rifle at night.

 

[meth0d]

I can't really help you with the rifle search, but as an avid coyote hunter, I can tell you that .17 is NOT the ideal caliber for hunting them.

Hmmm, well I've spent a good bit of time reading threads on coyotegods.com and .17 rem is gospel over there for lethality and fur preservation.

I guess I'll have to call around for a rifle. Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Coyote33]

... but I'd like something a little less specific. I like the idea of .222 just for something different...

You want something "less specific" (what does this mean), yet "something different" (what does THIS mean)?

How about a .22 Hornet, or better still, a .19 Calhoon, based off the .22 Hornet? Even easier to process for reloading is the .20 VarTarg.

3 different Calhoon sizes:
http://jamescalhoon.com/


.20VarTarg:
http://www.google.com/search?q=.20+VarTarg

I can't really help you with the rifle search, but as an avid coyote hunter, I can tell you that .17 is NOT the ideal caliber for hunting them.

Wrong. It sure is.

+1 The .22 hornet is larger than .22 long rifle so it would not be allowed a half hour after sunset.

My suggestion is a .223 contender pistol with a nv scope. Handguns .38 cal and smaller are legal until midnight.

I'd like to see a picture of these two calibers next to each other. I don't imagine this would go well in court, but could be wrong.

But for a rifle I would use my AR, .308, or 30-06 bolt gun during the day and a 22lr rifle at night.

Even the .222 is considered a bit much due to pelt damage.

Hmmm, well I've spent a good bit of time reading threads on coyotegods.com and .17 rem is gospel over there for lethality and fur preservation.

I guess I'll have to call around for a rifle. Thanks for the input guys.

Absolutely. The 17's, 19's, and 20's are all acceptable. The .204 Ruger is getting very popular. Haven't checked there much since the .17 Fireball came out.

I'd say go with the CZ or Ruger Calhoon rifles or one of the VarTargs available.

 

[meth0d]

You want something "less specific" (what does this mean), yet "something different" (what does THIS mean)?

How about a .22 Hornet, or better still, a .19 Calhoon, based off the .22 Hornet? Even easier to process for reloading is the .20 VarTarg.

3 different Calhoon sizes:
http://jamescalhoon.com/


.20VarTarg:
http://www.google.com/search?q=.20+VarTarg

Less specific meaning not a .17 thats specific to Coyotes.

Something different meaning different than what I have in the safe, and not something I see a lot of posts about.

I'll check out the .204, and if I find a CZ somewhere, I'll definitely check it out too. Thanks for the input.

 

[the jeff]

Can you hunt coyote in MA with a Ar15 in 556? Legally?

17hmr?

 

[meth0d]

There have been a few threads discussing the regulations.

From my reading of the abstracts and mass.gov, rifles are legal during the daytime unless you're on a Wildlife Management Area, in which case you're limited to shotguns.

 

[heron163]

an AR-15 in .204 ruger would be the shizzle on 'yotes.

I have a bolt gun in .220 swift that is jihad on yotes...

more important to your success esp. in MA, is knowing how to hunt predators and using the right calls - you are not likely to need any LR capability.

 

[meth0d]

I'm gonna try to go out tomorrow morning and work some of the calls we have. Where are you hunting them? I'll have to check out the .204, I keep hearing more and more about them, haha.

 

[Coyote33]

Less specific meaning not a .17 thats specific to Coyotes.

Something different meaning different than what I have in the safe, and not something I see a lot of posts about.

I'll check out the .204, and if I find a CZ somewhere, I'll definitely check it out too. Thanks for the input.

.204 Ruger is available from Ruger (obviously), but also NEF, which is pretty good.

One other thing I forgot to mention is good old shotgun. NEVER rule out the shotgun. I'm pretty sure those are OK at night also.

Can you hunt coyote in MA with a Ar15 in 556? Legally?

17hmr?

Yes, but again, the 5.56 is sometimes considered too much gun for pelts. The .17 HMR is considered cruel and inhumane, as it is too light for coyote, which are a VERY tough critter.

an AR-15 in .204 ruger would be the shizzle on 'yotes.

I have a bolt gun in .220 swift that is jihad on yotes...

more important to your success esp. in MA, is knowing how to hunt predators and using the right calls - you are not likely to need any LR capability.

Again, .220 is even bigger than .223/5.56, though will still kill them dead. At first I thought you meant .22LR, then figured out the LR=LongRange.

 

[meth0d]

Oh yea, while I search for a rifle, I'm rolling out with my Mossy 500 loaded up with Hevi Shot 3" Dead Coyote shells. I'm just looking for an excuse to buy another gun.

 

[Coyote33]

Less specific meaning not a .17 thats specific to Coyotes.

Something different meaning different than what I have in the safe, and not something I see a lot of posts about.

I'll check out the .204, and if I find a CZ somewhere, I'll definitely check it out too. Thanks for the input.

.17 Remington (or anything else for that matter) is not specific for anything. It just happens to be the best medicine for coyote.


Here's some .204's:

http://www.savagearms.com/10Predator.htm
http://www.savagearms.com/10XPredator.htm
http://www.savagearms.com/25model_classicsporter.htm
http://www.savagearms.com/25model_LightweightVarminter.htm
http://www.savagearms.com/11fxp3.htm
http://www.savagearms.com/11fhns.htm
(and a LOT more Savages!)

Here's NEF's links. Again, TONS of choices:
http://www.hr1871.com/Firearms/Rifles/handiRifle.asp

I list these two makers, because they are both made in MASS.

 

[PatMcD]

22-250

 

[dvajda]

OK, but none of the calibers discussed are actually legal after sundown. Only the .22lr and the .17hmr. The .17 remington, .204, .22-250, and several others mentioned are centerfire bullets. They are NOT legal after sundown. You have to limit yourself to .22 lr or smaller in a rifle (not sure about .223 in a handgun, might get away with that one).

Be careful, don't get in trouble, the difference between rimfire and centerfire is huge. This isn't just about diameter.

 

[dvajda]

Oh, I called the Wildlife office. .17 HMR isn't legal because the casing is bigger than that of a .22 lr, and its more like a .22 magnum. According to the law, you can't have a rifle *chambered* to take something bigger than a .22 lr bullet. So we are talking case length. Therefore, this rules out ALL the alternative calibers we discussed (after sundown) other than shotgun.

During the day though, you can use a cannon if you want, ha.

 

[Metalhead]

Can I ask why folks hunt coyote? I understand the nusciance problem but are there other reasons like selling pelts etc? Please know that this is asked out of curiosity not any type of animosity.

 

[KMM696]

OK, but none of the calibers discussed are actually legal after sundown. Only the .22lr and the .17hmr.

I was wondering about that - I'm don't hunt coyote, but I do own a 17HMR. I was reading the MA Abstracts, and the prohibition on "rifles larger than 22 caliber long rifle rimfire" and "pistols larger than 38 caliber" caught my eye as one of those impossible to interpret MA regs. In rifles, 17HM2 is obviously smaller than 22LR, 17HMR is only smaller caliber, case is larger. Is that acceptable? In pistols, well, I used to have a Contender pistol with a 14" 30-30 barrel. The caliber is smaller than 38, but I don't think that's what they had in mind.

So, to my mind the most important question is what will the EPOs accept for after sunset coyote?

 

[meth0d]

Oh, I called the Wildlife office. .17 HMR isn't legal because the casing is bigger than that of a .22 lr, and its more like a .22 magnum. According to the law, you can't have a rifle *chambered* to take something bigger than a .22 lr bullet. So we are talking case length. Therefore, this rules out ALL the alternative calibers we discussed (after sundown) other than shotgun.

During the day though, you can use a cannon if you want, ha.

Maybe I can get one of those 155 MM guns set up on Sagamore Hill for the next time I go up at dawn...that shouldn't do too much pelt damage

Can I ask why folks hunt coyote? I understand the nusciance problem but are there other reasons like selling pelts etc? Please know that this is asked out of curiosity not any type of animosity.

I hunt them because they're interesting game and a challenging hunt due to their heightened senses and smarts. There are also (supposedly) tons of them running around so I thought it might help my chances as a hunter, but so far this has not been the case, haha.

If/when I get one, I'm planning on selling the pelt and maybe keeping the skull as a trophy of my first success.

Oh and it's another excuse to get a new gun.

 

[Nickle]

They're also not native to the region, and have a devasatating effect on some other species, like rabbits, which are native.

 

[firtree]

Have you considered an Encore? I like the ergonomics of mine, and you can
change out the barrel for < $300. If you try a caliber and don't like it you can
flip the used barrel for about $200 and be out very little money.

 

[PatMcD]

Wait a minute.... you guys can't use anything larger than a .22LR after sundown?? What kind of half-wits do you have running your Fish & Game Department?

 

[KMM696]

Wait a minute.... you guys can't use anything larger than a .22LR after sundown?? What kind of half-wits do you have running your Fish & Game Department?

The kind appointed by politicians elected in the Peoples Republic of Massachusetts, of course.

You know, half-wits!!!!!

 

[rickster58]

an AR-15 in .204 ruger would be the shizzle on 'yotes.

I have a bolt gun in .220 swift that is jihad on yotes...

more important to your success esp. in MA, is knowing how to hunt predators and using the right calls - you are not likely to need any LR capability.

220 swift Yeehawww! You could shoot coyotes from the next county with that! That'll do the trick hehe!

 

[Nickle]

Naw, that would be a .264 Win Mag that does that. The Swift would be good for at least 400 yards plus some.

My choice would be a decent Battle Rifle, deer gun or sniper rifle.

Good chance to get some decent practice in.