Factory rifle for coyote hunting
- Thread starter Smokeshot
- Start date
I’ll shoot a coyote w 17hmr all the way up to a minigun.
Shoot every last one of them.
Here’s a good site if you are getting into rolling dogs.
Shoot every last one of them.
Here’s a good site if you are getting into rolling dogs.
Have you been coyote hunting before or just getting started? Distances you figure between you and said dog, day or night shooting. All these play into recommendations.
Get a quality ar15 chambered in 6mm arc. Do it now or go through a few, but that's where you'll end up if you stick with it..
Never hunted them before. Got invited by a friend and assuming that it’ll become a recurring thing if I like it (pretty positive that I will). Not exactly sure what he uses but my guess is 6.5cm. His history is night hunts between 100 and 450 yards I believe.
Good ar15 in any caliber will do great. 77tmk out of a 5.56 hammers coyotes hard.
If you need help with a thermal or NV let me know.
I saw 6arc above and that would be awesome also, me I’d do 22arc if you wanted something besides 5.56
If you need help with a thermal or NV let me know.
I saw 6arc above and that would be awesome also, me I’d do 22arc if you wanted something besides 5.56
I’ve only done a limited amount of dedicated coyote hunting but If your night hunting and have lots of open field etc I’d want two things for a coyote rifle running thermal or NV
Aside from lighter weight,
- A flat shooting round. Makes night shooting easier when you can’t see much and have multiple targets
- AR 15. Easier follow up shots especially at night
Aside from lighter weight,
- A flat shooting round. Makes night shooting easier when you can’t see much and have multiple targets
- AR 15. Easier follow up shots especially at night
Like DevildocAZ, I have used everything in the safe on yotes, I don’t recommend 40-65 or 45-70 Black Powder loads though they do work
. My go to guns are a REM 700 in 221 Fireball, a Howa 1500 in 22-250 and an AR in 5.56. All three have their pluses and minuses. No night hunting here, the fish cops frown on it.
An AR in 22 or 6 ARC or 223/5.56 with an 18” mid weight barrel would be my choice if just starting out. Easy caliber change, not too heavy, fast follow up shots, and easy to add thermal/NV with the right hand guard.
If you are looking for a bolt, I’ve been happy with the Howas (Mini and SA) for the price. I’m not too familiar with the other options out there.
. My go to guns are a REM 700 in 221 Fireball, a Howa 1500 in 22-250 and an AR in 5.56. All three have their pluses and minuses. No night hunting here, the fish cops frown on it. An AR in 22 or 6 ARC or 223/5.56 with an 18” mid weight barrel would be my choice if just starting out. Easy caliber change, not too heavy, fast follow up shots, and easy to add thermal/NV with the right hand guard.
If you are looking for a bolt, I’ve been happy with the Howas (Mini and SA) for the price. I’m not too familiar with the other options out there.
Last edited:
@Smokeshot
As others have said, the 223 will serve just fine day or night. We use an AR at night with a mid tier thermal scope. Daytime hunting over an electronic call or gut pile we use CZ bolt guns in 223 (the 527 is a great rifle for our teenagers, damned shame they don’t make them anymore).
The main thing we learned when starting out is that coyotes don’t dawdle; they’re quick. Not a lot of extra time to mess around.
All that said, I’ve killed coyotes with 22LR, 22 WMR, 223, 38 Special, and 6.5 swede. Basically use whatever is to hand when the yodel dogs show themselves.
As others have said, the 223 will serve just fine day or night. We use an AR at night with a mid tier thermal scope. Daytime hunting over an electronic call or gut pile we use CZ bolt guns in 223 (the 527 is a great rifle for our teenagers, damned shame they don’t make them anymore).
The main thing we learned when starting out is that coyotes don’t dawdle; they’re quick. Not a lot of extra time to mess around.
All that said, I’ve killed coyotes with 22LR, 22 WMR, 223, 38 Special, and 6.5 swede. Basically use whatever is to hand when the yodel dogs show themselves.
Mine, factory Remington camo on a Model 7.
Called the ‘Predator’.
Leupold made the scope in camo at one time but I could not find one at a decent price.
223 cal.
Called the ‘Predator’.
Leupold made the scope in camo at one time but I could not find one at a decent price.
223 cal.
Last edited:
Personally, I prefer a bolt gun for coyotes. If you are really well versed in ARs they work too, but I would skip over the 1:7 twists amd find something that shoot a 50-55 gr bullet without over rmp'img it. Like a 1:12 in 223. The reason bolt guns are king for me here are the twist rates. An over spun 50 gr vmax will explode before being inside. A 77 gr will sometimes pencil thru. A 22-250/22 Creed/204R is the perfect combination with explosiveness and getting deep enough with varmint type bullets.
A picture of 5 on one stand all dead within 25 yards of each other to prove the point that a coyote hunter doesn't want runners.
Flame on but a 223 isn't a fantastic coyote cartridge. 22 arc maybe, 6 arc is pretty slow. You want to aim on or just above at 400 and have a hit. If its past that, they will most of the time, give you time to range and dial dope.
A picture of 5 on one stand all dead within 25 yards of each other to prove the point that a coyote hunter doesn't want runners.
Flame on but a 223 isn't a fantastic coyote cartridge. 22 arc maybe, 6 arc is pretty slow. You want to aim on or just above at 400 and have a hit. If its past that, they will most of the time, give you time to range and dial dope.
Beat me to it.
Wade Chandler at Texas Predator Hunting podcast (Ally Munitions, part of Ally Outdoors in Midland, Texas) has been talking about and himself using 6 mm ARC for predator hunting, including coyotes. As for the price tag, I don't know if the 1500 is a firm limit. CMMG has one that is under 2k.
Another YT gun guy (no longer producing content) is Kyle Broderick at the Social Regressive. He has a whole series of how he outfitted his CMMG in 6 mm ARC as an all around truck gun, good for up to deer out to a few hundred yards (common hunting out to about 300 yds and closer in eastern Oklahoma.)
Technically, any bullet can work if placed in the right spot and doing the required work.
I have not tried it. I have an AR-10 in .308 (Windham Weaponry R16SFST-308 with a Magpul PRS Gen III adjustable stock and rifle tube) that I could use for hog hunting and even coyote hunting, just because of the semi-auto function.
I also have the Windham Weaponry M4 A3 in 5.56 with a combat zero.
I would say choose a fast and light bullet. I have seen others do good work on coyotes and larger with a 6 CM (not a misprint.)
I wish I had thought of that. There is a YT channel called "Chuckin'". That guy has used several calibers but he did a lot of work with .22-250.
22 ARC 62 gr ELD‑VT™ V‑Match™ - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc
Innovation, precision and excitement! Elevate your shooting experience, shatter records, and make your mark like never before with Hornady® V-Match™ ammunition....
220 swift Ruger M77
220 swift Remington M700
220 swift Ruger #1
243 ackley Ruger M77 (re barrel)
22-250 Remington M700
22-250 ackley Remington (re barrel)
223 Winchester M70
223 Rock River AR Predator
6mm Arnold (7mm remington mag necked to 6MM) occasionally will see one advertised
6.5mm Creedmoor Ruger American
6 mm Creedmoor Ruger American
22 creedmoor Ruger American
Not sure if I would buy a new M700, but should be able to find used that still shoot ok.
220 swift Remington M700
220 swift Ruger #1
243 ackley Ruger M77 (re barrel)
22-250 Remington M700
22-250 ackley Remington (re barrel)
223 Winchester M70
223 Rock River AR Predator
6mm Arnold (7mm remington mag necked to 6MM) occasionally will see one advertised
6.5mm Creedmoor Ruger American
6 mm Creedmoor Ruger American
22 creedmoor Ruger American
Not sure if I would buy a new M700, but should be able to find used that still shoot ok.
I prefer bolt guns as well... Definitely over your proposed budget, but here's my rig... 16.5" 6mm ARC w/ AGM Rattler TS50-640 LR Thermal. Pushes a Nosler 115 RDF @ 2,575 FPS MV with LeverEvolution powder.
I use a PRI MK 12, son uses a Specialized Dynamics. Both 18" 5.56, 77 SMK's. We only night hunt from 0 to 350 max. Ocassionally carry a bolt gun for night practice but 80% of the time it's those two. Same guns for night shooting deer on depredation permits. The vast majority of our shots are 100 to maybe 200 with a few 300 plus on the shy. My main guest use a .204 Ruger AR. For me a lot easier to see hits, follow up shots and get multiple kills on a group using AR's off the tripod than my bolt guns. I expect totally different game between us on the E coast and out W. We hunt bean fields and often have groups respond vs singles. Careful it becomes an expensive habit becuase if you stay with it you will be looking for a thermal scanner and dedicated thermal and/or NV scopes for the gun.
Last edited:
That 6 creed cz is pretty sweet also and I think it's right at $1000. Think it's the st600 or something like that.
I don't know a lot about coyote hunting but if you wanted a bolt gun that might be a good choice. Like others suggested I would build a 6arc with an 18 or 20" barrel. A friend has one and he loves it.
If you’re going to be specifically hunting at night, I would not go with a .223. Have had a ton of runners and am now doing research on the best round to prevent that. 22 cm seems like the best choice but ammunition is too steep for me averaging $2 a round.
