Home Defense & Live Stock Security Rifle

I'm really liking my $620 S&W MP15 Sport. Go with the AR (flattop) and you'll have endless options to suit your needs. Right now the Dick's down the street has a Bushmaster ORC and Stag Arms for $850.00.
 
Your post is pretty much describing the Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle. You're not going to find a more compact and rugged gun for the money for your intended purposes. That is pretty much exactly what this gun was built to do.

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http://www.ruger.com/products/mini14RanchRifle/models.html
 
I think CDNN has Ruger ranch rifles with synthetic stocks for about $550. I bought one last month with a fancy walnut stock and a flash suppressor and 30-round mag for $679, with a set of factory scope rings included. (and free shipping, and a fancy "tactical" flashlight)
 
A Saiga .223 is minute-of-coyote accurate, very reliable, and can be had for well under your price limit.

Also, if you're not dead set on .223, a 7.2x39, .30-30, 5.45x39, or even .22 Magnum should work well on coyotes too and will open up your choice in rifles a bit.
 
Id also think the mini is a good choice. reliable easy to take care of and eats pretty much anything. cdnn does have a nice buy right now, and the cirsacan model sp* is a looker.

I like my ARs just fine, but as truck guns i feel they arent as compact, with the pistol grip, mag well and optic/high irons they arent as sleek as a mini with a flush 5rnd or 10rnd magazine, my opinion of course.

as far as bolts go, savage/stevens are good buys and very accurate for the money.

a good 22mag is also a good option (savage),though you cant take those longer shots you may come across, also
you can buy .223 cheapo sp/hp and some balistic tips for not that much more money and get way more range.

I too have heard llamas are coyote stomping fools as well, and you can say you have a llama! all the kids would be jealous to have an official security llama:cool:
 
My living conditions are about the same as the op's. I have two AR's that would fit the bill but my ranch rifle is an older Mini 14. Its plenty accurate out to a couple hundred yards for coyotes and it also works better in a scabbed on horseback or the atv. Its also my get back home rifle if I'm away and something happens.
 
The most serious coyote hunter I know uses a H&R single shot 22-250.
He saved money on the gun he put into nice optics and NV gear. It is more than accurate enough and he only gets one shot. I have yet to hunt any game where I get more than one good shot. Even pheasant my numbers on the second shot are pretty terrible. I have heard Buffalo will let you take a second.

Your muxxle loader might work just fine though. Most people use the smaller rounds to preserve pelt. A 50 cal will certainly work though. I have seen a coyote taken with 20 ga slugs.
 
Any reliable semi-auto in .223 or 7.62x39 will work for home defense. I found that my very-early Minis did just fine on coyotes and jackrabbits with the Weaver K4 on top.
 
I think David the Gnome nailed it on the head....the mini14 with synthetic stock and stainless barrel is your perfect match.
 
Others have said no to an AR-15. I have one and would use it for these purposes. However I also have a 308 riffle, with a OK scope. Both would do the trick. If you are looking for high speed rapid fire an AR-15 with a 21+inch barrel is hard to beat.
 
Based on your requirements i'd go straight to my Ruger Mini 14 before anything, if you decide an AR is more to your taste i'd suggest the S&W M&P 15 Sport.

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I'll vote with the Mini guys, my old Mini 30 shoots fine contrary to popular belief.
They're not target rifles, and were never meant to be.
Get a scope rated for air rifles and put some 1911 buffers in it and it will serve your purpose well.
 
If you look at the OP's post it's pretty clear that "all of the above" fit his needs and it comes down to personal preference. I go with more of a whatever's closest at hand theory. I've used 12ga's, .22's, .22M's, and centerfires in many configurations for the task he has at hand. All work. Sorry John, but your recommendation of a single shot is lame. I've hit coyotes and about every critters around with 1st shot, 5th shot and everything in between. If I have something that needs killin around the place, good shot or not, I'm pullin the trigger till it's down or outta sight.

But the OP requested semi auto .223 so take your pick, it's not brain science. Do I have a personal preference within his specs? Hell yes, a stainless Mini Ranch. But I ain't gonna turn down an AR either. If I toss his specs out I'll revert to Art's post and add lever actions in whatever cartridge you prefer including the rimfire magnums.

LK
 
Growing up on the ranch dad had a mini-14 for quite a while. Had a scope on it for a while then put the ghost rings back on and figured out that it shot just as good as with the scope with faster target acquisition. The rugers are a pretty solid, rugged, reliable rifle. We raised all cows though so we didn't really worry about the coyotes bothering them, that was more a problem with the mountain lions. We still hunted them hard though just out of principle and they can sure devastate a small game pop, plus they are fun to shoot. Guard dogs may be something to look into, many breeds were selectively breed to do this particular job, I believe the Old English sheep dog is one among many others. A lot of these dogs will go after a coyote like non-other and will flat out tear one up if they get ahold of it. Heck i had a friend who had a rather small female border collie that would go after a coyote and run it towards him so he could shoot it. A well breed and well trained dog might well cost many times more than a rifle though. Ive also heard of donkeys stomping mountain loins to death during pack trips so that would be an option as well.
 
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