Best Varment Rifle
07-19-2009, 04:05 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lake Tahoe
Posts: 308
Best Varment Rifle
I went back a few pages and couldnt find a post on this so I apologize if I am asking a redundant question. I am getting the itch for a new rifle and I want to get somthing for the coyotes. So since my experience with different rifles is limited, what is the best long range flat shooting varment rifle? I would like to really challenge my self. Heck I can do just fine at 300yds+ with my 30.06. I would like to go out to 500yds+. I know that there are 1000yd ranges but what caliber are they using?
07-19-2009, 04:17 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Coralville, IA. USA
Posts: 3,802
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that almost all predators are shot well within 300 yards by calling them. I doubt you'd see a coyote at 500 yards. If I were looking for a dedicated predator rifle, I'd probably choose a 16-20" barreled AR-15 with no more than a 10x variable power scope on it. The reason I'd choose such a gun is because it'd be highly accurate, portable and more than powerful enough to take a coyote at 300-400 yards, but not so powerful that it'll completely destroy a pelt if you plan to sell them. And it's semi-automatic and light recoiling, making for ultra-fast follow-up shots if you miss a moving coyote or have multiple dogs come in at once.
Mike
Mike
07-19-2009, 05:28 PM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: ****ifornia
Posts: 5,052
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that almost all predators are shot well within 300 yards by calling them. I doubt you'd see a coyote at 500 yards. If I were looking for a dedicated predator rifle, I'd probably choose a 16-20" barreled AR-15 with no more than a 10x variable power scope on it. The reason I'd choose such a gun is because it'd be highly accurate, portable and more than powerful enough to take a coyote at 300-400 yards, but not so powerful that it'll completely destroy a pelt if you plan to sell them. And it's semi-automatic and light recoiling, making for ultra-fast follow-up shots if you miss a moving coyote or have multiple dogs come in at once.
Mike
Mike
07-19-2009, 07:03 PM
#4
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location:
Posts: 5,130
Here is what I use in .204 with 40 gr. Hornady V-Max
http://www.savagearms.com/16fcss.htm
If it's windy I use this in .243 with 75 gr. Hornady V-Max
http://www.savagearms.com/16fcss.htm
I put a Burris 4X16 44MM on all my rifles.
http://www.burrisoptics.com/sigselect.html
Most importantly - Have fun !!!
http://www.savagearms.com/16fcss.htm
If it's windy I use this in .243 with 75 gr. Hornady V-Max
http://www.savagearms.com/16fcss.htm
I put a Burris 4X16 44MM on all my rifles.
http://www.burrisoptics.com/sigselect.html
Most importantly - Have fun !!!
07-20-2009, 01:26 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Danville Va. U.S.A.
Posts: 2,324
How about a good .25 caliber? Say 25-06 ,25-06AI,.257 Roy.Good flat shooting.Will do 500 yards.Will smoke a dogs hind parts.And if you run up on the ocasional 'lope or deer you got that covered also.JMHO
07-20-2009, 11:17 AM
#7
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Lake Tahoe
Posts: 308
I would like to know more about the 25.06 and the 22/250. I could always load a lighter bullet for my 30.06 if I wanted to take a shot at 300yds or closer. I dont plan on calling. I live near the NV boarder and the yotes are plentiful. I have just sat on a little hill overlooking some flat land and spotted them them way off. I really want to pick them off at 500yds or more. My buddy said a .223 would be just fine but thats the only small bore rifle he has ever shot.
07-20-2009, 11:52 AM
#9
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: IL
Posts: 6,575
.204 ruger
.22-250 rem
.220 swift
.243 win.
6mm-284
If I wanted a 1000yd rifle it would be more than likely chambered in 6.5mm-284Norma
When you start talking long range I think of high BC bullets, the 6.5mm and 7mm calibers tend to have the higher BC bullets. In a varmint set up though I believe the .204 and .243 calibers will have higher BC than the .223 cals.
If you're really talking 300-1000yd coyote rifle, I think I'd look to a .243win, or 6mm-284,
other options might be .240wby which is probably the fastest factory loaded 6mm, though jarret loads for the .243catbird I think, which I believe is a 6mm-06. Both of which are good options for a long range 'yote rifle.
.22-250 rem
.220 swift
.243 win.
6mm-284
If I wanted a 1000yd rifle it would be more than likely chambered in 6.5mm-284Norma
When you start talking long range I think of high BC bullets, the 6.5mm and 7mm calibers tend to have the higher BC bullets. In a varmint set up though I believe the .204 and .243 calibers will have higher BC than the .223 cals.
If you're really talking 300-1000yd coyote rifle, I think I'd look to a .243win, or 6mm-284,
other options might be .240wby which is probably the fastest factory loaded 6mm, though jarret loads for the .243catbird I think, which I believe is a 6mm-06. Both of which are good options for a long range 'yote rifle.
07-21-2009, 08:17 AM
#10
Spike
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Barbour Co. West Virginia
Posts: 90
25-06 is a great 500yd rifle but the BC is not really high enough for 1000yd or windy shots. Nor is the 22-250 a 1000yd rifle without a custom barrel that is rifled for the heavier bullets.
If you are looking for a 1000yd gun, I would look at the 260 remington and have it Ackley Improved. OR you could pick up a donor gun/action and put a decent barrel on it in 6.5-284. You should be able to do either of these (not counting the action/donor rifle) for around the cost of a good factory gun.
Otherwise....you are back to an AR-15 They truly are rifled for the big long heavy bullets you will need to shoot that distance. However you will need a scope/base with enough leeway to allow for the trajectory. Lots of things come into play past 500yds that the avg shooter never considers.....most of them costly to overcome.
Maybe some 172gr boattails with high BC from your 30-06 might be just as good.
I am basing all my answers on 2 things. Number one, you didn't want to spend a bunch of money and #2, I don't think you much care about pelts, just reaching out and touching them in wideopen country.
If you are looking for a 1000yd gun, I would look at the 260 remington and have it Ackley Improved. OR you could pick up a donor gun/action and put a decent barrel on it in 6.5-284. You should be able to do either of these (not counting the action/donor rifle) for around the cost of a good factory gun.
Otherwise....you are back to an AR-15 They truly are rifled for the big long heavy bullets you will need to shoot that distance. However you will need a scope/base with enough leeway to allow for the trajectory. Lots of things come into play past 500yds that the avg shooter never considers.....most of them costly to overcome.
Maybe some 172gr boattails with high BC from your 30-06 might be just as good.
I am basing all my answers on 2 things. Number one, you didn't want to spend a bunch of money and #2, I don't think you much care about pelts, just reaching out and touching them in wideopen country.
