Small Game, Predator and TrappingFrom shooting squirrels in your backyard to calling coyotes in Arizona. This forum now contains trapping information..
What " carry" rifle/caliber for rabbits and coyotes?
Looking for info on what caliber and brand for hunting rabbits and coyotes. Need a light weight, carry rifle not a heavy barrel rifle.
__________________
" Lost Highway"
Life is a tale....full of sound and fury- Wm. Shakespear
You go to heaven for the climate and hell for the company- Mark Twain
RE: What " carry" rifle/caliber for rabbits and coyotes?
You are going to have a very hard time trying to find an ideal rifle to use for both of those two animals. If you were to choose a rifle for each seperately, I would see a .22 rimfire and a .22 centerfire such as a .223 or .22-250. So if you ask me I would comprimise between the two (considering you will be shooting an equal amount of each animal) and go with a .22 Hornet. You didn' t really talk about your budget but if you go with a Hornet, an NEF single shot would be the cheapest way to get things done. If you want a bolt action, you could buy a classic CZ American or a super slick Browning Micro Hunter. If you want a wonderfully designed American beauty, you can buy a Ruger #1 and if you want to be different, you could go with a Taurus Raging Hornet and have the ultimate in totability.
You more than surely have a few caliber choices but I feel that a Hornet would be your best comprimise between true small game finesse and varmint power.
Josh
__________________
" Clutz by Nature, Hospitalized by Fate..."
...Pyral
RE: What " carry" rifle/caliber for rabbits and coyotes?
Ok, so it' s not a rifle, but it really thinks it is, Marlin leveraction .410, use shotshells for rabbits and slugs for coyotes, it' d be about perfect for what you' re asking, hitting rabbits on the run with a rifle is a difficult task, shotshells are the answer. They also work great on coyotes, but most folks don' t like them in as close as I do, so slugs are a better option for most.
Otherwise, maybe try on a .22mag like in a Ruger 10/22mag. Any .22centerfire bolt gun would suit you well though, it just depends on what the gun will be, a bunny gun that does coyotes, or a coyote gun that does rabbits...if it' s primarily going to hunt bunnies, then get the rimfire, if primarily coyotes,then get the centerfire...the .410 would suit you great either way.
__________________
"When you tell a fellow to go to hell, you had better be sure you can get him there."--LBJ
RE: What " carry" rifle/caliber for rabbits and coyotes?
Like the others have said, it' s tough to get one rifle for two very different animals. For the rabbits, a Ruger .22 rimfire is a good, light gun. Get a scope if you' re going to sit a wait for the rabbits, a 410 shotgun is good for on the run shooting. For the coyotes I would get a Ruger 22-250 with a Browning 3*9 scope or higher with a purple tinted lens for low-light shooting. These guns are only about 5 pounds and shoot very well.
RE: What " carry" rifle/caliber for rabbits and coyotes?
I have the nef 223 ultra liteS shot rifle but havent used it for bunnys or yots- yet. but do have a long barreled ruger mk11 pistol& a few 22lr rifles for the rabbets -
My yards full of them -Rabbits [] but oly on a1 acre lot& there half tame lol - so if they dont eat my few trees & i dont get to hungry i wont hit them with a hammer , shovel, my car or truck or sharp pointy things.
If the snake has no rattles or poisons/ he gets to keep his head too.
Id like to get tanned some rabbet& coyotie pelts furs sometime - i could use a vest with hand warmers..
RE: What " carry" rifle/caliber for rabbits and coyotes?
its not that hard to pick a gun like all these guys r sayin.....u could use a 30-06 for rabbits and as long as u shoot em in the head then no meat will be wasted but they tend to be heavier.....
id say u should go with a winchester lever in .22 mag...
it be good for yotes out to 150 yards or so but is still small enough that it wont rip apart a rabbit if u happen to hit it in the body....all ya gotta do is remember headshots on both animals....
the winchester levers r very short and light so they good for walijng long distances as well as bein good for thick brush.....