New rifle purchase for Coyote???

M

Merlin74

Inactive
Hey folks, I'm looking for some advice on a current predicament.

My predicament is how - or whether I even should - convince myself to get another rifle in 22-250 mainly for the purpose of coyote hunting which I want to get into. I live in CT and, unlike our short deer season (for rifle/shotgun) the coyote season runs basically all year long with a few short breaks here and there.

So, here's the guns I own already:

Ruger Hawkeye .270
Browning X Bolt .243
Marlin 30-30 (2)
Stag Arms Model 4 .223

I know the .243 would be a great coyote gun. The Stag is an AR style and, although it's also a good varmint caliber, I feel weird hunting with that. I only intended to use it as a target rifle.

So you're asking yourself - what's this guy's problem? He's already got a perfect gun (.243) he can use. The problem is simply that I'm really intrigued by the 22-250 and the fact it is less common and would be more of a "specialty gun" in my collection as opposed to a "jack of all trades" like the .243 can be. But maybe I'm wrong. I don't know all that much about the performance of a 22-250 aside from what I've read. Do any of you coyote / varmint hunters out there have experience with both the .243 and 22-250 and, if so, are there any areas in which you feel the 22-250 is actually a BETTER gun for this purpose - even for someone who has a .243?

I'm also thinking it would be fun to have the 22-250 as an alternate "target" rifle to mix in with the Stag here and there for extra flavor.

It just seems like it'd be a real fun caliber to have overall.

Hoping perhaps some advice will swing me one way or the other. I'm not rich...but willing to do the deed if I can justify it well enough. Hope this makes sense?

The classic battle between the "need" vs the "want" I suppose.

Thanks!
 
If you have a 223 and a 243 you're happy with, you're pretty well armed for coyote already. What you need is an elk rifle. Or a nice light shotgun for pheasants. Or a serious target 22. Or......
 
Hello Merlin74,,,

The problem is simply that I'm really intrigued by the 22-250 and the fact it is less common and would be more of a "specialty gun" in my collection as opposed to a "jack of all trades" like the .243 can be.
Click to expand...

That doesn't sound like a "problem" to me,,,
It's a perfectly reasonable excuse to buy a 22-250.

Sometimes you just want something,,,
So if the rent is being paid and the kids have shoes,,,
Buy that 22-250 you want and have a blast shooting 'yotes with it.

I'm such an enabler,,, :D

Aarond
 
Buy a 204 Ruger. I hunted coyotes with a 22/250 15 years ago, if I had to do it again I would go 204 Ruger.
 
The 22-250 is also a perfect round for woodchucks. There, problem solved. Dual purpose rifle. Get it!

I've got a Remington 700 ADL in 22-250 (got it from Gander Mountain on closeout as the ADL has been discontinued) and have sliced quite a few 'chucks open with 'er.

I'd like to give it a shot (no pun intended) using it for 'yotes this winter, as well.
 
I use a STAG ARMS 223 20'' flattop for yotes man its a ball,sometimes I hope I miss the first shot so I can kick it in rock& roll out across the peanut fields I do enjoy the AR just MO.:D
 
Everybody needs a 22-250. I have two of them. They work well on coyotes & I'd choose that over my .204 if coyotes were the intended target.
 
I have killed a lot of dear with a 22-250. All within 160 yards. They just drop on the spot. A great varment rifle at any range within reason.
 
You said you wanted to get in to coyote hunting so here is what I can tell you about hunting them. The 22/250 is a great cartridge for coyotes and the 55 gr drops them with out a problem. The 22/250 is also a great target shooter as well.

The one thing I noticed about hunting coyotes is they dont stand still very long so a light fast rifle works best for me. I believe the cartridge I use is less important than rifle configuration.

I use a Ruger M77 All Weather 22'' barrel with a Bell and Carlson Carbalite stock.I like the Ruger M77 since it is a Mauser clone and I think these are really good actions. I use a Nikon Prostaff fixed 4 power scope with duplex reticle.Since coyotes tend not stand still for very long if at all, the 4 power with it's wide field of view and the duplex reticle combination makes target aquisition quick work.

Also if you are not familiar with hunting coyotes, the best method is to call them. This method also brings in lots of other varmints to shoot at as well.
 
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If I were a hunter, which I am not,:eek: I would go with a heavy barreled .223 (twist rate round 7 or 8:1), and have the chamber opened up for the 22-250AI. I would reload with one of the heavier bullets (80gr to 95gr). Any coyote I could see,:cool: would be my.
 
I like the Remington Model 7 Predator in .204. Lightweight and accurate, the perfect rifle for trucking around in the woods.
 
You got the best already IMO. The AR style gun would be my choice 200yds. and in. If multiples come in to the call you will be glad you have it.
 
The AR would be hard to beat.What about optics & trigger upgrades load development gear in general. but if it was me Id buy the 22-250 because I already did the upgrades,A SAVAGE 12FV would work for me:D
 
If it will kill a deer, it will kill a coyote... The body mass is about the same as a deer but in the winter the coyote's fur might enter into the equation...

If you are looking for an excuse to buy another gun, this ain't it...

My arsenal is not extensive with a mod 94, .30/30 and a BAR .270.

Grandkid's like the .223 .

We do not have feral hogs YET!!! That will bring out another gun...

BTW, I live on 250 acres of a well populated by coyotes wildlife conservation area (private, as under my control)
 
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