Delete please
- Thread starter coldblood
- Start date
migrant hunter
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Southern Alberta
I have a .223 cz 527 american varmint with the H&S precision stock and a bushnell elite 6-24 scope. I think I made a mistake. Package is heavy to carry and I have'nt shot a yote past 150 yds with it! I'm thinking seriously of trading it for a stevens 200 in .223 with a 3-9X40. That would be more than adequate, and I live in the praries.
If you're only looking for control I suggest you use the same rifle you big game hunt with. This will greatly improve your shot on a moving target, learn bullet drop and guage distance. Its really fun practice and its a live target.
Optics I would choose a 3-9x40 and not go any lower in quality then a Burris Fullfield II, if you can afford better look at Zeiss Conquest and if the sky is the limit maybe Swarovski or S&B??
Cheers!!
Optics I would choose a 3-9x40 and not go any lower in quality then a Burris Fullfield II, if you can afford better look at Zeiss Conquest and if the sky is the limit maybe Swarovski or S&B??
Cheers!!
350m?? Man, are your 'yotes skittish. If you do it right, set up a decent caller, and cam up properly, you should never have to shoot more than 150m. While a .22-250 does a fantastic job with a great deal of efficiency, a .223 will do the job just as easily and less expensively. I'd top it with an Elite 6200 for dusk to dawn shooting and in a 4-9X scope.
I personally use a .243 Win with that scope and firing a Hornady 55gr V-Max, .308 Win topped with a 4200, firing a 110gr VMax or my Rem 799 in 7.62x39mm firing a 125gr VMax (.310 offered now from Hornady) with a Bushnell Banner Dusk to Dawn 4-9X. They have done very well for my liking. No shots over 150m. But any could reach well beyond it if it was needed.
I personally use a .243 Win with that scope and firing a Hornady 55gr V-Max, .308 Win topped with a 4200, firing a 110gr VMax or my Rem 799 in 7.62x39mm firing a 125gr VMax (.310 offered now from Hornady) with a Bushnell Banner Dusk to Dawn 4-9X. They have done very well for my liking. No shots over 150m. But any could reach well beyond it if it was needed.
Thank you, guys. I will look into .223 rifles and the scopes you suggested. 
I am a city girl who recently decided that I would like to try some country living. Yesterday I was walking along my property line and found two dug-outs under the fence. Later that day I heard coyote hauling what appeared really close to the house. I hated that I did not have a decent night vision optics to spot them out and did not have a rifle in case if I did need to shoot them. To tell you the truth, I am afraid of anything wild starting from porcupine and finishing with bear and cougar. My new neighbors told me that they do have occasional bear or cougar crossing their back yard but rare. Coyotes however are very frequent guests. Besides, I am new to all shooting/hunting thing. So, I prefer to keep all the animals at least 350m from me for a first shot. At least, if I missed, I have time to finish the deal before it approaches too close and eats me.
ps I think I need to take a hunting course and to get familiar with wild life and hunting techniques and hopely to find some mentor to explain me some tips and tricks of hunting.
I am a city girl who recently decided that I would like to try some country living. Yesterday I was walking along my property line and found two dug-outs under the fence. Later that day I heard coyote hauling what appeared really close to the house. I hated that I did not have a decent night vision optics to spot them out and did not have a rifle in case if I did need to shoot them. To tell you the truth, I am afraid of anything wild starting from porcupine and finishing with bear and cougar. My new neighbors told me that they do have occasional bear or cougar crossing their back yard but rare. Coyotes however are very frequent guests. Besides, I am new to all shooting/hunting thing. So, I prefer to keep all the animals at least 350m from me for a first shot. At least, if I missed, I have time to finish the deal before it approaches too close and eats me.
ps I think I need to take a hunting course and to get familiar with wild life and hunting techniques and hopely to find some mentor to explain me some tips and tricks of hunting.
Well, if you were closer, my wife and I could take you along. She only started last year as is doing fairly well. Good luck and enjoy.
Thank you so much for input, guys. I like the rifles on the pictures. I have "a thing" for bolt rifles. I still did not order one just because I am affraid to go wrong with a model/make and be disappointed down the road. I wonder if those are one shot or can be had with a magazine attached?
A couple of questions more, please
:
1. if I go with .243 for the whole setup - can I take cougar down with it or I need a dedicated rifle for bigger animals? May be, .270? As a compromise between coyote and if something bigger comes my way? (I will check the rifle pricing in each caliber). Keep in mind that I am talking preditor control on my own property - not for hunting (at least, for now, until I will be more knowledgeble to even consider going out during hunting season).
2. What is the price difference in commercial ammo between .223 /.243/.270? I do not think I am going to reload my own ammo at this point.
3. Can I take coyote down with my Ruger SR-22 in .22 caliber? How about SKS in 7.62x39? I wonder if I practice with one of those rifles and coyote shows up?
Thanks again.
A couple of questions more, please
:1. if I go with .243 for the whole setup - can I take cougar down with it or I need a dedicated rifle for bigger animals? May be, .270? As a compromise between coyote and if something bigger comes my way? (I will check the rifle pricing in each caliber). Keep in mind that I am talking preditor control on my own property - not for hunting (at least, for now, until I will be more knowledgeble to even consider going out during hunting season).
2. What is the price difference in commercial ammo between .223 /.243/.270? I do not think I am going to reload my own ammo at this point.
3. Can I take coyote down with my Ruger SR-22 in .22 caliber? How about SKS in 7.62x39? I wonder if I practice with one of those rifles and coyote shows up?
Thanks again.
The .243 is quite capable of taking a cougar.
The .223 is almost certainly the cheapest of the three.
The .22LR is certainly capable of killing coyotes, but it is marginal at best and if you get a poor hit, you will probably be very disappointed in the results. (I'm guessing you're not particularly keen on a wounded coyote getting away?) Your SKS has plenty of killing power for coyotes if you're comfortable with its accuracy and you use decent ammunition. (FMJ is less than ideal and there may be rules in your jurisdiction against using it. The 123 gr Vmax bullet would hammer em, but I take it you do not reload (yet)).
Cool! I will look into .243 rifles as well then.
I forgot that SKS ammo is FMJ (d'uh!).
You are right. I need to check regulations but I am pretty sure that you can use either HP or soft point. As for wounded animal in general, this is a huge moral dilemma for me to even point a gun to the animal with little experience I have in shooting at this point, since I did not achieve the level of confidence or accuracy to make sure that I will shoot the animal dead. Once I get the rifle and the scope, I will practice like crazy to achieve good grouping in different ranges, weather and day conditions, just to make sure that I did everything possible to kill the animal from one shot.Sounds like in addition to wanting to shoot a couple coyotes a year you might want a bear gun someday and you'll probabley also want to eat a moose or deer before long. That being considered maybe shop for a rifle that can do it all. a 308, ,270, etc.
If your shooting at yotes 350 yards from your back deck you will want soemthing other then a 55 grain 22 bullet drifitng around in the wind like a drunken sailor.
Better to spend the money on one good rifle and one good scope that you will have for life then to buy a bunch of diffrent rifles. Like the man said "Fear the Woman who Owns One Gun" (she probabley knows how to use it).
When you decide on a rifle get a smith to trim the butt stock so it fits you perfect with a jacket on. He can also get the eye relief set up for your scope.
If your shooting at yotes 350 yards from your back deck you will want soemthing other then a 55 grain 22 bullet drifitng around in the wind like a drunken sailor.
Better to spend the money on one good rifle and one good scope that you will have for life then to buy a bunch of diffrent rifles. Like the man said "Fear the Woman who Owns One Gun" (she probabley knows how to use it).
When you decide on a rifle get a smith to trim the butt stock so it fits you perfect with a jacket on. He can also get the eye relief set up for your scope.
You read my mind, lol!
Yesterday I shouldered Saco .243 with Burris FullField II scope on it. The package is 1099$ in WSS. I absolutely loved the feel of the rifle and was ready to pull my CC out. The only thing that stopped me is that I wanted a fluted barrel and this one was stainless regular one. I took my time and stepped out of the counter to prevent another impulse purchasing and had me thinking. If I already go with .243 - why not pump it up to .308? And then it hit me - .308! Oh, yes! This is the caliber of the rifle I was dreaming about - Accuracy International! Well, I do not think I can afford AI in the next 10 years, however, good quality precision rifle with decent scope with night vision capabilities I can buy for Christmas if I start saving money now. Also, I will have more time to do research and even may be try a couple of precision rifles I know people have in the local range... I think I saw the light, lol! Well, so the only question left is that - could I achieve all the preditor control and to enjoy good precision rifle in one (.308) firearm? If the answer is yes, I am going to the bank tonight and will set a "rifle" saving account, lol!
If you're now looking for an "all in one" rifle, then my vote would go to the 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser cartridge, but nothing wrong with .308 either. (Sounds like you're having plenty of fun just being conflicted.
)
