coryt

Hello i am a new member who has hunted for many years but am just beginning to get into varmit hunting i am wanting to purchase a gun and scope that will allow me to hunt coyotes and groundhogs(woodchucks)as well as other small game. I have tried to read what to get on the internet but there is too much to decipher for me so i can use all the help i can get thanks.



p.s also how far would the 22mag/17hmr/22lr be effective to.

thanks




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bhw

.223 for coyotes and woodchucks. Actually, a .22-250 may be better

Howler

DITTO!!!

coryt

Thanks for the information but due to the limitation of my funds i am trying to use the above calibers listed b/c of the cheaper ammo and rifles.




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bhw

then you better be ready to lose alot of animals due to lack of fire power. Sure, it can be done... but, I'd do the right thing and get the appropriate caliber for the job.

I have a .22 mag for our early season here in NY, and it feels like a toy to me. Range for sure-fire kills is inside of 100 yds

Coyotestalker

I agree with the loss of animals, even just injuring animals without the right firepower. Sure, I have taken 6 coyotes with heads shots with my .17 HMR under 120 yards, but it was the only gun I was carrying at the time, during a ground squirrel shootout. Other than that, I would end up saving your money to buy the right power for larger game. .204, .222, .223, .243, .308(my fav), .338( my other fav.) and so on. I would not advise you if you do go ahead with a purchase of any of the three calibers you listed, to use any of those for body shots. That is not a wise call.

Tree climber

10-4 on the above posts. if that is your only chose then go with the 22 mag. and hold the shots to head and stay within 100 yards.

North Texan

Be sure to check your state game laws, because some states have restrictions on the types of firearms that you can use.

As others have mentioned, rimfire rifles aren't really good tools for coyote hunting. I'm not saying they won't work, but a shooter using one is going to be severely handicapped in the field. You will have to pass up shots that would've been makeable with a centerfire rifle, educating the coyote and making him harder to call in the next time.

You can get a good single shot .223 for about the same price as a rimfire, and .223 ammo shouldn't be prohibitively expensive for anyone. However, a good scope is going to cost you $200. There is no way around that. Quality costs money and varmint/predator hunting demands quality glass. If you can't afford a good scope, your better off sticking to iron sights.

dog72

I started out in the same boat as you, I picked up a used marlin in 22mag and killed a fair share of coyotes, fox, and woodchucks. All shots were limited to 75 yards and under. Youcan get a good scope for under $200.00, look at some of the higher end bushnell, swift, or nikon. When I got the money(most came from fur i took with the 22 mag)I did upgrade to a .223 in a used savage 110 and it is a better coyote getter then the 22 mag, but that is a good place to start. Good luck.

Rammer

I'd look for a 223 as well. The ammo for a box of 50 isn't much different between a 17HMR, and good 22mag stuff.