Ok which one?

[RUGER]

I am very seriously looking at a gun that will be primarily used for coyote hunting.
The last time I looked at a Savage, other than the smokeless muzzleloader, basically they were crap.
From what I have heard they have turned things around and are making a name for themselves in accuracy.
I know I like the accutrigger.

Looked at a pretty neat Howa today that was full camo, including the scope, that caught my eye.

I am a sucker for the full camo
Kinda like a woman when looking at shoes I guess.


Really don't know what rifle I want to be honest. I was dead set on the R15 till I picked one up, didn't like it.

I have narrowed the calibers to: 22-250, 223 or the 204 Ruger.

Give me the pros / cons and all that jazz if you were gonna get you a new rig.

I don't think I want a big heavy barrel rifle, rather have one a little more "mobile" and throw a Harris bi-pod on it or something.

Don't want to spend a fortune but I do understand you get what you pay for (most times)

Thanks.

 

[Mid]

I personally like the Savages...specifically the Stevens 200. they are inexpensive, accurate, lite weight and can do most of the mods and minor gunsmithing in the basement. thats the pros...the only "con" i have is the blind magazine but once i get a job i will upgrade to bottom metal and AICS 10 rnd mags.

As far as caliber i have run .204, 22-250, .243 and .223. my personal preference is .223 mainly because its cheap and very easy to handload for preformance. However, IMHO, get what you want that preforms the way you want it too....i got caught up in exotic hot rod calibers and always ended up grabbibg the Stevens .223 most of the time....mainly...cuz it was the litest, quickest and most accurate.

I started a thread the other day cuz i wanted to see what everybody else was running...several views but no additional posts..anyway...this one is my "go to" predator rig complete with fancy krylon camo job, will be intrested to hear what other have to say

http://www.tndeer.com/tndeertalk/ubbthr ... ost3059793

 

[RUGER]

Sweet looking rig right there.
Thanks.

I forgot to add in my post, I don't reload.

 

[Mid]

http://www.hornady.com/store/223-Rem-55-gr-V-MAX/

http://www.hornady.com/store/223-Rem-75-gr-FPD/

Not a problem...these 2 are great factory rounds for .223...i use to run 55gr VMAX exclusivly but found that if the grass is high or its a little thick Vmax will explode on a blade of grass. The Heavier 75gr TAP has little more thicker jacket but fantastic terminal preformance. The Nosler's i run are a OTM bullet but reacts as a hollow point on impact. BTW..you have an open invatation to stop by "the basement" if'n you want help workin up a load...i build bullets for a lot of folks i hunt with...i will put em together for your rifle specifically.

 

[fishboy1]

I would second the 223.

Here is my thinking.
1. Ammo is cheap and available everywhere.
2. Low recoil
3. Can buy hot rod varmint rounds in factory loading
4. LOT of guys have reloading stuff for .223
5. can soup it up on the reloading bench for varmints or load up a premium bullet for slightly larger game.

22-250 is nice but tends to burn up barrels if you shoot a lot.
ammo is pricy unless you reload.
Meant to be a hot rod cartridge so I have never heard of anyone loading it Down to be used for hunting any kind of meat.

204 is similar to the 22-250 with more limited range and more wind drift. Ammo is pricy unless you reload. Not available everywhere.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Savage model 11 in 223.

Budget gun with worlds best accuracy

 

[Plateau Hunter]

A .223 in a light AR would be my choice-the R15 with the collapsible stock ought to be perfect. ARs can be a bit clunky because they are so wide from mag to top of optics and they can get too heavy pretty fast. The 22-250 would be great especially in a bolt rifle. It's a fast, flat shooting, hard hitting varmint round. You won't shoot the barrel out hunting coyotes in TN for a long long time. I don't particularly care for the .204 as I prefer heavier bullets.

 

[Wildcat]

I've got the same 22-250 I've had for 23 years and the barrel will still be good long after I'm gone.

It all depends on the ammo you want to shoot. I've seen 223 rounds selling for $27.99 a box of 20 rounds and I buy the 223 stuff you cannot use hunting for less than 29 cents a round.

I normaly buy the Winchester white box with 40 rounds in 22-250 because my Remington 700 can group then great out to 300 yards.

If I was going to keep the 22-250 and get me another one I would get a 223, I already have an AR-15 but I want to keep that for one thing.

Anyway if I remember right you should be able to reload anything you want.

 

[RUGER]

LOL Yeah I could Wildcat, just no time.

 

[fritoman]

http://www.browning.com/products/catalo ... 35&tid=713 here's what I just bought. Stock is brush camo and plan on putting a Nikon coyote special bruch camo scope and rings in it. Got it at final flight for $749

 

[Fordman]

LOL Yeah I could Wildcat, just no time.

Ruger I used to say those same words....then I bought a couple .300 Win Mags. Reloading does not take near the time I thought and its actually a lot of fun. My boys are starting to learn how to reload for their .243 rifles so its a family affair. The daughter asked for a .223 for xmas and daddy asked for the dies...

 

[RUGER]

http://www.browning.com/products/catalog/firearms/itemdetails.asp?item=035713208&cid=035&tid=713 here's what I just bought. Stock is brush camo and plan on putting a Nikon coyote special bruch camo scope and rings in it. Got it at final flight for $749

SHIVER !!!!!!!!

Curse you fritoman !!!!

 

[fritoman]

Maybe be little bit before I get to shoot it because I spent part of my Christmas money I haven't got yet on it so maybe February or march before I can save up the rest. When I get it done come shoot it or if u think u may want one like it come by the house and check it out now they are kinda hard to find.

 

[fritoman]

Just don't have a scope or rings

 

[redblood]

after predator hunting fanatically for the past 20 years, i have learned always go light. the guys who buy the tricked out super heavy barrel, bipod, tactical scope, target turret guys, are not usually your guys who pred hunt religiuosly and often. many novices build their idea of the oerfect gun by watching western based predator shows and reading pred magazines where the majority of the hunts take place in the midwest or desert southwest,m where i heavy rig might have some merit. i fell in to the trap as well. I had my first pred gun built. 26" barrel, bipod, shilen barrel. at 9 pounds itr took me about one hunt to realize that it was way too heavy to make 25 sets a week walking in and out of eastern yote habitat to make 25 yard shots at hard charging yotes. did extensive research and bought a cz 527 in 223 in feb 2003. killed my first yote with it a week later. deadly accurate at 6 pounds and has presided over too many yote and cat funerals to count. I have a light barreled weatherby vanguard moa that i used when calling flatter farms, but the cz will cover 90 percent of my sets


here she is

http://czusa.com/products/view/cz-527-american/

 

[redblood]

the model seven cdl are very nice as well

 

[DaveB]

Ruger, the 22-250 is an excellent two-season rifle. Varmints with sub-50 grain bullets and Deer/pigs with 60 grain partitions
You like this one? Happens to be a 7mm08 and it can kick 120 grain ballistic tips or 140 grain partitions. Price? 500.00 at Gunbroker.com, go to advanced search and enter AMMO-ARMS in the seller field. This is a T/C Venture, Special Edition.

[/img]

I reload-since mid 80's-and my 22-250 will scale up to 3800 FPS varmint rounds (faster if I want) and down to 3400 FPS 60 grain partitions that shoot exactly where you aim. My 15-year old twins reload, it really ain't that tough and the money you save, contrary to popular opinion, will have you break even in 3 years. Most of my reload gear is 20+ years old and still going strong. My hunting loads are better than any you can buy and they dont't cost me anywhere near half of what Walmart charges. When we pull the trigger there is no tracking.

I load 22-250, 243, 7mm08, 280, 308, 30/06, and two 300 WinMags.

[/img]

 

[Remmy25-06]

Savage 25 light walkin varminter 17 hornet centefire. Same ballistics as 223 but of course just get all of em them then u can take a different one each day.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

Me personally, i would rather carry a heavier gun. I dunno why i just dont like a light gun. But i am building an AR it will be about 9 lb. But compact

 

[RUGER]

Thinking about a Howa 223.
Found one worth the money in full camo, stock, barrel and scope.

 

[Mid]

Any idea on the barrel twist on the howa? and is it model 1500?

 

[RUGER]

Dunno yet Mid.
Ain't looked that close.

 

[Mid]

Only asking because i had buddy that bought the 1500 with the Axiom stock (like Les Johnson use to run on PredatorQuest). it was 22" with 1:12 barrel..nice slick sexy lookin rig but would not group anything over a 52gr bullet...55gr VMAX would stay around 1.5"+\-. After a lot of trial and error (and bullets, brass & powder) we settled on 50gr VMAX and it was screaming...3500fps if i remember the speedometer correctly and print cloverleafs. I will says this...flat did the job with very little pelt damage....Just an FYI

 

[RUGER]

Thanks man.
My buddy has the same gun but in a black / blue combo that he bought his daughter.
I am gonna go shoot it this coming week before I buy.

He has told me that it is a shooter though.
He also uses factory ammo.

We will see.

 

[jeff ll]

In a light weight walk around gun .222 22-250,.223, or a .243 will do the trick or any of this calibers in a heavy barrel varmit rig. Reloading is easy and cheaper if you shoot a lot. .22-250 had over 4000 rounds through it before the barrel was shot out. Yes I did hot rod several loads through it. Varget or IMR 4064 is good powders in it with 50 gr. or 55 gr. Ballistic tips. Shoot tacs @ 100 yds. all day long,Hit dimes at 200 yds., and critters out to 487 yds.Killed a deer with 50gr. at 200yds. with a neck shot. She hit the ground like a ton of bricks. .243 IMR 4064 and 55 gr. Ballistic tips lets just say SCREAMIN!!!! by the ole chrony. The load I had definitely was not for saving pelts but slamming critters to the ground. 223 50 gr. Ballistic tips. Triple duece have not reloaded for it yet but hopefully will get to soon.