.222 Remington for coyotes

peterf

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I have been having some problems with coyotes getting into my livestock so I just bought a Tikka combo gun in .222 and 12 gauge from Tradex. Has anyone on here used the .222 for coyotes and what ammo worked best? I don't reload so it will have to be factory ammo.
Thanks.
Pete
 
I have been having some problems with coyotes getting into my livestock so I just bought a Tikka combo gun in .222 and 12 gauge from Tradex. Has anyone on here used the .222 for coyotes and what ammo worked best? I don't reload so it will have to be factory ammo.
Thanks.
Pete
222 is a great varmint round. Any of the soft point bullets should work great. Most 222's won't stablize bullets heavier than 55 grains.
 
My BSA .222 (1950) is the only coyote gun i use. It has taken them out at 400 yards. I found that it loved the 50 gr. Vmax and put 'em down quick. Some shots were under 100 but most at some distance. The .222 was originally used as a target round and is in my opinion equal to the .223. But heavier than 55 gr. do not shoot well.
 
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I recently acquired a BRNO/CZ in the triple deuce, it seems to like 50-52 grains at the heaviest, with 40 to 50 grainers being the most accurate. Sierra match kings and hornady vmax have been very accurate in my testing. I see no reason why it wouldn't be a 400 yard coyote rifle, the thing is a laser beam!!
 
... I just bought a Tikka combo gun in .222 and 12 gauge from Tradex....

As noted in previous posts, 222 Rem is very accurate cartridge, and with soft-point bullets it will do what you bought it for. As to the choice of combo gun, congratulations! Whether it's a M07 or M66, they are great guns (yes, I'm biased as I own one...) I've had my M07 for over 30 years, and here are few pointers I've learned:

(1) The bottom (rifle) barrel is designed to be free floating in its front and middle mounting "bushings." However, the tolerances are tight, and any crud or rust will "bind" the barrel and your consecutive shots will "walk" on the target as the barrel warms up. If you don't feel the barrel move freely in the middle and front bushing, spray some CRC or WD40 into the chamber sides of the bushings, then let the barrels sit muzzle down overnight. When you see the liquid seep out from the other end, it's only a good start. Now use a very thin spacer, feeler gauge, or other tool to loosen any rust and crud from the space, and blow it out with compressed air. Repeat until you actually feel the barrel moving freely in the bushings. Finally, remember to oil the gaps to keep away rust. You might still see the shots "walk" upwards, but much less and much more predictably. You have to remember that it is a single shot gun, and the other coyotes will no be hanging around to give first-aid to the one that was hit between the eyes...

(2) Your Tikka will likely have a muzzle break. It is a pain in the ass (blows up snow and dust off the ground, makes your ears ring, scares anyone standing either side of you, and deafens your dog and horses...) and there's no need for reducing recoil with 222 Rem! I "fixed" mine with a simple steel bushing. It slides in from the muzzle end, and it is machined with a very slight taper to be a snug friction fit inside the muzzle break. It covers the slots, but leaves about 1/4" gap between it and the crown. Now the expansion gases go where they are supposed to (forward,) the barrel remains free floating, and there was no apparent effect on accuracy.

(3) I like the simple functionality of the hammer, no "safety" per se, and the single trigger with a side barrel selector. However, make sure you practice with it - otherwise, you might miss that perfect shot when you forgot to #### the hammer, or blast that coyote at 250 yards with some #4 shot from your 12 gauge barrel... . Guess how I know...

(4) If you choose to scope the gun, the rail on the top accepts 11mm dovetail rings - do NOT use 3/8" dovetails! I opted for a quick-detach mount with see-through rings. I am not a fan of see-through rings on rifles, but this is one of the applications where they are great. If you find a QD mount, do not use the front rail as your "recoil stop." It may end up coming off from the barrel.

(5) Finally, 222 Rem is not a very popular caliber anymore here in North America, so stock up when you see ammo on the shelves...

If you need any more info, feel free to PM me. In the meanwhile, enjoy your new (not-quite-classic) combo gun!
 
Thanks for the advice Tap375. It is an M07 and when it arrives I will check the spots you mentioned.
I have a Savage 24 in 30-30/ 20g. and it says on it not to shoot the shotgun barrel with a scope mounted. Is this also true of the Tikka?
 
"...don't reload so..." You'll have to try a box of as many brands as you can to find the ammo your rifle shoots best. Otherwise, the .222 will kill Wiley with no fuss.
 
No issues with the scope or the mounts on my M07; The right type of scope mount and an index pin in a right spot will deal with the recoil (or, in plural recoils - the pin deals with the initial recoil pushing the scope forward, and the dovetail grabbers handle the secondary rearward motion...) Just don't put a junk scope on the gun. I got a Redfield Revolution 2-7, and I'm happy with it.



As to the index pin slot, this shows the side-to-side elongated groove, machined in my gun:



The factory groove on the right side is meant for an original Tikka mount, which are rarer than hen's teeth...
 
I have alays favored the 222 over the 223, mostly for personal reasons.
I have owned a number of both chamberings over the years, but only have 222's at present.

My "keeper" is a 700 Remington "Classic" that is a true zinger. [Easily passed the 100 yard challenge on CGN]

My pet load is the 50 V-Max, chased by 23.5 grains of old RL 12. When it runs out, I will switch to W748.
Many powders/bullets shoot well in this rifle....it is not fussy. Sharp Shooter mentioned 21.0 gr of 4198...I use 20.5.

Yotes are dead meat inside of about 350 yards, or possibly a bit more.

Enjoy your 222!! it is a great little round!

Regards, Eagleye.
 
A bit more on that muzzle break "fix" (Anyone not into "bubba gunsmithing," stop reading now... :) I took a length of 7/16" OD (6/16" ID) steel tubing - which is just a touch too large to fit in the muzzle break 11mm opening. I cut it to about 2 1/2" length, attached one end into my drill press, and while running, sanded it into a slightly tapered shape so it fits snugly into the muzzle break. I cut it to 35mm length, and then blued it. Once done, I gently pressed (read: tapped with a hammer) it in. It covers the openings, does NOT touch the barrel, as it leaves about 3mm gap between the muzzle and the insert, and most importantly, the friction keeps it tightly in place.

Now, if someone has a lathe, this would not be a "bubba fix;" However, this worked very well for me. Pete: Use this idea at your own risk... !





The second photo shows the insert on it's way in - when fully pressed in, the insert fully covers all the openings. I took it out for these photos (I had to thread the inside and pull it out... it was tight!)



Tube fully inserted...



A view from the front end. The threads are there so that the insert can be pulled out, if needed.
 
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20.5/IMR4198 pushing a 50 grain Sierra Blitz works wonders with my trusty old Sako Varmint...shoots .5 any day. Yotes give no more than a coup[le spins and they're down. Lately I have been loading 40 grain Hornady V-Max with 21.0 grains of IMR4198. These shoot crazy groups but I have yet to shoot anything bigger than a prairie dog with the latter. The 222 is still my favorite 22 centrefire.
 
20.5/IMR4198 pushing a 50 grain Sierra Blitz works wonders with my trusty old Sako Varmint...shoots .5 any day. Yotes give no more than a coup[le spins and they're down. Lately I have been loading 40 grain Hornady V-Max with 21.0 grains of IMR4198. These shoot crazy groups but I have yet to shoot anything bigger than a prairie dog with the latter. The 222 is still my favorite 22 centrefire.

I have an L461 vixen varminter and an A1 with a pencil weight barrel. They are both awesome to shoot. Wife thinks the A1 is hers because its small...
P1000482_zps1a6aeae1.jpg
 
Funny. My 222 Sako heavy weight shoot 21grains of IMR4198 with 50grain SPSX bullets at 3320fps. Thats the truth I am shocked. Those are great speeds with amazing accuracy. That will pummel a coyote.

My Sako Heavy Barrel shoots 20.5gr 4198 with 50gr SPSX's at super speeds as well. With CFE 223 powder I can vaporize SPSX's so that is pushing 3500 fps +.
To the OP, the 222 will do a fine job of dispatching coyotes. Try to stick with the heavier bullets, up to 50 gr they will help keep the yotes down. As previously stated most 222's don't like heavier than 55gr bullets. My Sako will shoot 1/4-1/2" groups at 100 yards with 50 gr bullets, but step up to some 55gr bullets and it won't hit the same piece of paper twice.
 
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