Coyote rifle

bowhunter57

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Souris West PEI
Hi all I'm looking at a Savage Axis2 XP in 243cal and want to use it for coyote hunting and maybe some deer hunting sometime what are your thoughts on it and what is the best rounds for coyotes. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
 
I think it comes down to budget more than anyrhing. Some would argue smaller calibers but really it doesn't make any difference for the shooter, just his wallet.
 
243 is a great deer and coyote mix. My girlfriend has taken black bear with hers too.

She has a axis as well. 87g V-max and varget shoots 1/2” groups. Also have a load with 100g partitions that shoot 3/4”.

Amazing gun for the money.
 
I use .243Win Federal Premium 70gr Nosler Ballistic Tip (Ruger M77) scope zero set 1" high @ 100M. It's like hitting Coyotes with lightning out to 300M using "Kentucky windage" for longer distances.
For Deer,bump up the bullet type and weight to Remington CoreLokt 100gr. PSP. For hitting a Deer across a farmer's field,they can't be beat.
 
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I have yet to see an axis not shoot well. Im a fan of savage just dont like the axis personally. The wood stocked version has better stock demensions and less hollow sound and less flex in the stock. The 243 will work great for your purpose if you use proper bullets when chasing deer. Varmint and deer bullets work fine on coyotes. Varmint bullets dont always work on deer.
Having seen first hand how well the 243 works in various media i have no doubt itll bring down the biggest deer standing if the shot placement is correct. Best of luck
 
thanks for the reply's,I don't reload so my bullet will be store bought,so for shots 200yds or less what would you recommend on yotes,I know i will have to try different bullets to see what the rifle likes I'm just trying to narrow the search a little, the gun has a 1.9 twist if that helps.
 
thanks for the reply's,I don't reload so my bullet will be store bought,so for shots 200yds or less what would you recommend on yotes,I know i will have to try different bullets to see what the rifle likes I'm just trying to narrow the search a little, the gun has a 1.9 twist if that helps.

Post#4....these are all factory loads less than $30 per box of 20 at Canadian Tire or TSC.
 
I have used 243 as my main coyote gun for a few years. Hide damage was usually spectacular. Used to shoot 70 gr sierras switched back to 22-250 for my main call I.g gun and load 103 eld-x for the 243 for whacking yotes wayy out there. 243 is a savage 11, 22-250 is an axis. Both shoot extremely well
 
The 243 has its ballistic match with an 80grn bullet. Your axis will shoot best using a 65-90grn bullet weights. Personally I like light varmint style bullets in my .243 for shooting at coyotes just so I know when they hit the dirt that is the end of them. I would hazard a guess your bullet selection will be limited by what is on the store shelf. So if you find a bullet that your axis likes buy lots!

PS: I love savage guns but before you buy one look at the Remington 783, the ruger American, the TC compass and if you can swing it the weatherby vanguard 2. The axis was the evolution of the cheap centerfire the ones listed above have improved on what savage started. And the weatherby is a step up.
 
If your just shooting coyote for fur, I would stay away from the .243 and go for a 17 hmr or .204 Ruger. the 243 leaves really big holes in them. Great deer Calibre.

I started off with a 30-06. I've reloaded my own loads which were fun but then realized.. its too much. It left fist size holes in my deer and obliterated coyotes.
I bought a .243. Love it! My fiance and I both shot a whitetail with it this year and doesn't leave fist-size holes in the deer. I shot a coyote with the .243 and totally blew a huge hole in it(fist size). Well.. does it kill coyotes.. oh yea. But it does not help if you're trying to save the fur for auction(when they inspect it, they decrease its value to almost nothing). So basically, If you want to make money and skin, flesh and sell the fur at auction go with a .204 ruger(rounds are 33.99 for 20, Hornady vmax 32-40gr. I'd suggest to get into reloading since it will be cheaper in the long run). If you just want to kill them any calibre will do. .243 rounds range from 26.00 a box. Can't go wrong. Hope my story and experience helps. BTW if your planning to skin and make money off the fur make sure you inform on the regulations and laws in your province. In saskatchewan you need your hunter safety(35.00 online with challenging the test for 20.00 with a qualified intructor, or 150.00 in class session. You need this in order to get your trappers education course.), trappers education course(30.00). It is against the law in saskatchewan to transport any fur bearing animals including coyotes so literally you shoot them and leave them. If you get caught transporting them here. It's huge fines with the possibility of losing your guns, truck and anything else that was used in the shooting of the coyote. So not worth it in my opinion. But to eaches own. Good luck!
 
If your just shooting coyote for fur, I would stay away from the .243 and go for a 17 hmr or .204 Ruger. the 243 leaves really big holes in them. Great deer Calibre.

I started off with a 30-06. I've reloaded my own loads which were fun but then realized.. its too much. It left fist size holes in my deer and obliterated coyotes.
I bought a .243. Love it! My fiance and I both shot a whitetail with it this year and doesn't leave fist-size holes in the deer. I shot a coyote with the .243 and totally blew a huge hole in it(fist size). Well.. does it kill coyotes.. oh yea. But it does not help if you're trying to save the fur for auction(when they inspect it, they decrease its value to almost nothing). So basically, If you want to make money and skin, flesh and sell the fur at auction go with a .204 ruger(rounds are 33.99 for 20, Hornady vmax 32-40gr. I'd suggest to get into reloading since it will be cheaper in the long run). If you just want to kill them any calibre will do. .243 rounds range from 26.00 a box. Can't go wrong. Hope my story and experience helps. BTW if your planning to skin and make money off the fur make sure you inform on the regulations and laws in your province. In saskatchewan you need your hunter safety(35.00 online with challenging the test for 20.00 with a qualified intructor, or 150.00 in class session. You need this in order to get your trappers education course.), trappers education course(30.00). It is against the law in saskatchewan to transport any fur bearing animals including coyotes so literally you shoot them and leave them. If you get caught transporting them here. It's huge fines with the possibility of losing your guns, truck and anything else that was used in the shooting of the coyote. So not worth it in my opinion. But to eaches own. Good luck!

dont you also need to purchase a fur license for $40
 
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