Some wisdom needed on what rifle choice to make

Sasquatcherous

Sasquatcherous

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Hello all, I am currently looking to get a rifle in one of three calibre's - .22-250, .223 or .243 as a primary Coyote gun but might take the occasional deer. It must also have a detachable box magazine (I know it is a potential to lose it but I have never misplaced a mag and I don't intend to start now). I am open to most rifle brands (not Mossberg) and I will be looking on the EE forum when I have some more solid opinions from you fine folks here. Thanks for reading and if I need to clarify pleas tell me and I will do so.
 
A yote gun for someone who lives on Vancouver Island?

Id take a Tikka T3 .223 with a 1:7 twist rate. They make them in both 1:7 and 1:12. The 1:7 will stabilize the heavier .223 hunting rounds. Get a Swarovski Z3 with a BHR Recital. The BHR is thicker than the BRX. Its better for hunting game larger than a prairie dog or just using it as a target rifle. With that combo, you got a really nice set up. Contrary to some belief, the .223 can take down a deer out to 100 meters. Maybe even further but with a .223 Id limit it to 100 meters. The 1:12 can stablize the 60gr Nosler PT very well so if you end up with a 1:12 just look for those. They show up in the Federal Premium line and Nosler also makes factory ammo with this bullet. The Nosler will take down those small island deer no problem.

The CZ 527 is very nice gun. Only problem is they're only available in 1:12. The FS though is beautiful. Detachable magazine as well. A nicer gun than the T3.
 
Tikka t3s come in 1:9 or 1:12, and you can get a cz527 varmint in a 1:9 as well. I would get the 243 If deer are on the menu.
 
Mumbles Marble Mouth said:
A yote gun for someone who lives on Vancouver Island?...
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I travel to Ontario frequently enough and I would like to go with my own rifle instead of borrowing one from my friends out there. I did have a Marlin XL7 in .270 Win with a Redfield Revolution 3-9x40mm but didn't get to use it as much so sold it to a buddy who needed it more.

And thanks for the advice thus far I have shot a Tikka before (.270 WSM) and I love the fit and finish of it. I did own a CZ airgun at one time as well and I wish I still had it.
 
As someone who has hunted the island before. If you reload a 22-250 or 223 would be great for deer but if you shoot factory i would go with 243. Most factory offerings for 223 and 22-250 are varmint bullets and are hit an miss on deer sized targets. I agree with the others and say a tikka is ideal. If your looking for a used gun go to granlund firearms in campbell river. Carl has good deals and you often get cougar hunting stories and conspiracy theorys free of charge!
 
If you are hunting coyotes in the winter with good snow cover the .243 is better than the others... it will show a miss better... your .270 will even be better...
 
Maybe it's just me but I don't believe anything less than .243 should be legal to shoot deer. I know the .22 center fires will take deer in the right hands but there are likely far more sets of wrong hands out there. Even the .243 is marginal in all but the most experienced shooter's hands. I love the .243 btw but I always scarf when people suggest them for new shooters.
 
243 Winchester gives you a wide range of options for target shooting, hunting for fur, varmints for fun or meat on the table. I think it's hard to pick a lemon from the gun store rack.
 
I love my 22-250 but I would never use it for deer despite being legal in Manitoba. I used one on several deer when i was a teenager and take my word for it, it's not a deer gun.
243 on the other hand is a great deer gun. I've seen a 243 work to great effect on many deer.
So if you plan to do both, the 243 is the only choice IMO.
As for rifles I sure like my Tikka. :)
 
surplusshooter said:
243 only one you can legally hunt dear in most provinces
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I don't know where you got that,but,it's simply incorrect. A re-read of individual provincial regulations is in order. To the OP,I would strongly recommend .243Win. The smaller ammo is excellent for varmint/predator,but,.243Win will do both,beautifully. Simply use a heavier bullet for Deer.
 
What's your budget? and your "on-going" budget.

If you are going to "mostly shoot" coyote's and plan on spending some range time as well the 223 will be the cheapest to shoot if you are shooting factory rolled ammo. If you only "occasionally" hunt deer then buy a second rifle for that or "borrow one" for those few hunts you might need one.

If it has to be a "one gun for both", then while the 22's are "legal in Ontario", the 243 is realistically the smallest you want to go.

If you are working with a tight budget and you don't want a Mossberg then you are kinda restricted to an Axis or a 783 Rem (I would go with the 783 if those were the only two choices).

A few more bucks will put you into a Ruger American, a Winchester XPR, A Browning AB3 or a Savage model 11 - the AB3 is probably the best built rifle in that bunch.

Anything more than that and you are looking at dropping a grand on a "new, on the shelf in 2016" rifle which would include a blued Tikka T3, a Rem 700 SPS, a Weatherby Vanguard II, a synthetic Browning X-Bolt or possibly a Model 10 Savage (I own a VGII in 243, so that would be my choice - but I'm biased - the X-Bolt would be my second choice).

Over a grand then others open up to you...
 
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