I'm looking for a new coyote rifle. I hunted coyotes a lot growing up and through college, but moved to an area where they were scarce for a few years so I sold my rigs. I've moved back into Coyote Country and want to start calling again...

My options right now are either a .308 or .223 (MAYBE use this as an antelope gun also?) in:

Remington 700VTR (too light, but it's a 700 action and a neat new barrel design?)

Ruger 77VT (Does Ruger still overbore their barrels? Ruger trigger's still suck. I'm a ruger Handgun collector, but I'm usually let down by their rifles)

Savage 12FVSS (I'd like I have a little finer quality rifle, no doubt on the accuracy and reliability, but it's just a workhorse.)

Bushmaster Varminter AR-15 or Predator AR-15

I want my rig to be stainless, which the Remington isn't, but I'm ok with that, and I'll be using it on coyotes out to at least 250yrds, if not 400yrds.

Most accurate rifle from this bunch? Pro's and Con's for each?

Caliber wise if you do intend to use this on goats and yotes I would say that the .223 is a tad light(for goats) and the .308 a tad heavy(for yotes). A .243 or 25-06 sounds like just the ticket. Rifle wise you should just go fondle them all and make your decision on feel. All of the rifles you mentioned will shoot just fine if you do your part. I'm sure that some will say the .223 is fine for goats but I'm just expressing my personal opinion that a little larger caliber would be better.

If you want a antelope/coyote rifle, I think you need a .243 Win.

If you want a pure coyote rifle, .204 ruger, .223, .22-250

I 'm not sure a calling rifle can be too light. Nothing wrong with the VTR in 22-250 if available.

Not light as in weight, light as in caliber. What I meant was that .223 was light in caliber for goats. It would be great for just yotes though IMO.

Edit: Sorry I thought your reply was to me, not the thread maker.

I'd go with the Ruger or Savage in 243.. That is about the perfect yote/goat combo

saw my dad shoot a mulie at 90 yards with a 22-250. it flipped it over. i was shocked that a gun in that caliber would do that. thats the choice i would make. get like a 55 grian bullet by barnes and try that.

Tikka Varmint

http://www.tikka.fi/t3models.php?varmintss

This one;


http://www.cooperfirearms.com/rifles.php?rifle_name=phx



If you got the coin.................

Those heavy barrels are going to be a pain to antelope hunt with. Or hit multiple stands in a day. Not going to have heat like a pd shoot, so no need for the heavy barrels IMHO. BTW word is the vtr is not accurate from the reviews I have read. Look them up before you buy.

I would just buy the most suitable for antelope and not compromise between the two species. No such thing as to much for a coyote unless you sell furs. Dead is dead no matter what he is hit with. Obviously there is to light for pronghorns. If you want to go on a budget and have a good shooter look at Savage. If you want one that looks better but has the same accuracy check out tikka and cz.