Hunting & Fishing Varmint/Coyote Gun Suggestions?

[Maestro]

Hello all,

I have a night vision scope laying around by ATN that needs to find a home. I'm thinking about just picking up a new rifle to mount it on. This would be a Coyote focused gun, though possibly could see some hogs.

Main questions:

Bolt Action or Semi Auto? (Benefits of Semi are obviously follow up shots but just wondering how practical/common that is...Last time I hit a 'Yote with a 55 VMAX it dropped in its tracks)
Caliber? (Thinking .223 due to me already having a lot of ammo in that size and being an adequate coyote load, but that would eliminate hog hunting)
Brand? I want a quality rifle but this will be used at 100 yards and less. For one, the shooting lanes at my hunting property stop at about 130. For two, I didn't spend $5000 on an NV scope so I don't know what the quality will be past 100 yards or so.

 

[kswaterfowl]

Nothing wrong with the 223. But you could always go with a 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 spc, if you want something with a little more energy.

 

[winniethepooh]

My next rifle will be a tikka t3x varmint in 223

 

[Stpilot12]

Taken a lot of Yotes with my Tikka 223 varmint. 53 vmax doing 3350+ is wicked on critters inside 200yds. Lately, been using my DTA 6.5CM for longer shots after losing a few at 300yds + 147ELD @2900 is DRT every time.

 

[Dirty8404]

You can kill hogs just fine with a 223, just get some Federal Fusion from Walmart or any bonded/TSX/GMX on the internet. Lots of people use heavy OTMs as well. I’ve shot a few deer with a 223, out to maybe 250y and never had a problem.

The thing with coyotes is they often move in pairs, a semi gives you a better chance to get both.

I’d use this as an excuse for another AR personally, or possibly (distant second in utility) a 7.62x39 bolt gun (CZ) with a can and use the 154gr Tula or 123 Hornady load.

 

[Maestro]

Well after going to several gun stores and handling a bunch of guns, including several Tikka T3Xs, R700s, Savage 10s, I ended up picking up a Weatherby Vanguard H-Bar in .223. 20 inch barrel + threaded barrel will be perfect for my needs; short enough to maneuver in a blind, suppressor ready (Great for night shots), and the action/trigger the best of all the rifles I tried today. Hoping to get my ATN mounted up and get it to the range by next weekend.

http://www.weatherby.com/products/rifles/vanguard/vanguardr-weatherguard-h-bar.html

 

[anhnguyen]

I run my larue 6.5 grendel

 

[jbuck88]

guess I didn’t read that you already found a rifle.

 

[Sniper266]

If youre going after coyotes 300 black out would be a fun round, especially of you go suppressed. But smaller animals like raccoons and bunnies might be a bit devastated by the round and energy.

 

[stello1001]

I was going to suggest 300 BO as well but he already bought something else!!!

If youre going after coyotes 300 black out would be a fun round, especially of you go suppressed. But smaller animals like raccoons and bunnies might be a bit devastated by the round and energy.

 

[Maestro]

Thing about guns is, you can never have too many...300 BO is on my list. I need a bigger safe, lol.

 

[jbuck88]

That's what I was going to suggest as well, a 300 BO. Suppresses very well with subs or shoots supers for some knockdown power.

There is a lot of fun taking subs out to 400-600yds once in a while.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I use whatever I am carrying for coyote. From .45ACP to .300RUM pushing a 230 Hybrid. From 15 to 1367 yards.

I am building a 6CM for my truck gun for varmints and smaller deer-sized game. 95 TMK for varmints, 105 Hybrid or 110 SMK for deer/antelope.

 

[TexGlocker]

Killed a lot of hogs with 64 grain Winchester PowerPoints and plenty of varmints with the same load although I usually use 55 grain v-max for predator hunting.