7 with the Model Seven
- Thread starter Buckmastr
- Start date
Nicely done, chum... I like the .223 as my primary coyote rifle, but I find the 53 V-Max significantly more accurate than the 40 grain, and even moreso beyond 300 yards. Can't argue with results like that though... maybe give them a shot for "shytes next giggles."
If the range gets out there I switch to a .220 Swift... but the 55 VM at closer range is a tad to much out of the Swift... beyond 300 yards it is ideal.
If the range gets out there I switch to a .220 Swift... but the 55 VM at closer range is a tad to much out of the Swift... beyond 300 yards it is ideal.
Yep.
Like I said, it originally shot well with 75 gr bullets and now doesn’t. The 50 gr won’t stay in an inch. But the 80 gr Berger load will shoot 0.4” so that’s where I’m at.
I have a nice Rem 700 sps stainless 223, hand lapped, air gauged, super match grade take off that will eventually end up on it. For my purpose, with continual duplication, I don’t see the need for heavy, big exit, fur tearing, high bc bullets.
AI it? Not sure. Don’t have the reamer and the brass is getting tired. But another 100 FPS would be neat especially with the 40gr’ers.
That’s good work you’re doing. I’ve been running 40gr in my 223 for the last couple or three years. Primarily 40gr Berger but I’ve been sticking a few 40gr SBK in there to pilot and both are proving quite fur friendly. 55gr gave me some big exits but they do really thump them. I too prefer the head on shots if possible but broadsides have been quite tidy. I’ve only called and killed maybe 34 or 35 this season m, but only one messy one in the bunch. And it was just bloody. Not torn up but he did the dead run and had a cascade of plasma each lunge before the rug came out.
Nice rifles. I like your style.
leveractionjunkie
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Kamloops, BC
35 in a season would’ve made me the happiest MF around back in the day when coyote hunting was life! Great work Lou. I’m gonna have to load some 40’s up for my 223 now this thread has got me thinking. 35grBergers are my go to in my 204, it sure why I ever thought of 40’s in the 223?!?
Thanks! It was slower when warm for sure but still successful in spurts. When we had our cold snap here they really turned on and I got after it. Called 17 in two days and came home with 9. Had another few days where I came home with 3 or 4. I really added to the total over about a week long span. Had three days in there where the calling was magical. Seems they are getting pretty wise now though. Lots are swinging wide and not so many chip shots. Three of the last five have been 310-328 yards. God I love calling.
The 204 and 35gr Berger combo was the whole inspiration for the 40s in the 223 for me. I love those 35s and will run them in a 204 once more when my 20cal build is complete but the 22cal 40s are a great option. They are screaming along in average calling distances and kill very well. No complaints.
Nothing fancy. Stainless Howa 1500 which was a Hogue when I purchased. Switched out the Tupperware with a B&C stock. Timney trigger. Bedded it. Had the action trued. 22” factory tube and it shoots right along with a few of my customs. Optic is a Bushnell Elite 2.5-16 with a plain old duplex.
Calls, I run both hand and an e-caller. Depends on the day and the set. I pack a shotgun all the time too. If it’s a set I feel I can get them in my lap then I’ll run hand calls for sure. Some days it’s everything on the hand calls and other days I just run the e-caller. Depends on the area and set. If I see people tracks in a field that look like coyote hunters, I generally just leave the caller in the truck and run hand calls exclusively. I dunno. Any given day, it could be one or the other or a combination of the two.
Cool.
I’ve heard lots of good things about those Howas. I’ve never used a shotgun. Sometimes it would be better for sure.
It’s nice to hear the thought process of successful callers. I get a lot of competition in my areas now too. Other callers educate them. And then there is the snare guys. I was on a good trail last week with a few good stands under my belt when I turned up three empty stands in a row in premium country. Then I found it. A dozen or so skinned carcasses in the buck brush. A week or so old from the snare crew.
I learned a long time ago that nothing makes coyotes wiser then seeing a few dead buddies around. Leaving dead coyotes laying around kills an area, in some cases, for years ime.
I forgot how much I enjoyed the hand calls after ecalling so much. Hand calling is never perfect but that’s what makes it more realistic I think.
I’ve heard lots of good things about those Howas. I’ve never used a shotgun. Sometimes it would be better for sure.
It’s nice to hear the thought process of successful callers. I get a lot of competition in my areas now too. Other callers educate them. And then there is the snare guys. I was on a good trail last week with a few good stands under my belt when I turned up three empty stands in a row in premium country. Then I found it. A dozen or so skinned carcasses in the buck brush. A week or so old from the snare crew.
I learned a long time ago that nothing makes coyotes wiser then seeing a few dead buddies around. Leaving dead coyotes laying around kills an area, in some cases, for years ime.
I forgot how much I enjoyed the hand calls after ecalling so much. Hand calling is never perfect but that’s what makes it more realistic I think.
I agree on the hand call being just a little bit different. Sometimes off key is just what they need to hear to seal the deal and commit. I’ve noticed more and more people calling where I do most of my playing too. I can’t say much. I don’t kill everything that responds 100% of the time so I’m doing my fair share of educating too. What I do try and do to combat this is if I call and kill a male in a known territory with say distress calls. Maybe his ##### heard things, maybe she didn’t. But I go back a day or two later and just do howls. It’s amazing how many times I’ve had the remaining partner of a pair come sailing in looking for it’s mate. Or if say I kill a single really fast in a set and could hear others howling semi close. Rather than just hope to pull them, I’ll pack up right away and go straight at them. Try and get in the bubble and make them mad. Killed a pile of doubles on that second set doing that. Sometimes it’s only a 400-500 yard move.
I’m lucky in regards to the resident trappers as I’m friends with most and the only dead they don’t haul right out are ones with mange. We work together. Sometimes they’ll have a group of coyotes that get wise to the snares. I’ll go in and take a few by calling and suddenly the snares start producing again with some fresh coyotes that move in. I have zero experience with guys leaving carcasses laying about but it certainly stands to reason they’d shy from dead of their own kind.
The shotgun is the tits when it’s needed. It’s a pain packing two guns all the time but when you’ve got multiples coming to 10 yards at once, I’m sure glad I’ve got it. Last year I took right around half of my coyotes with the shotgun. I’ve been giving serious consideration to a tube mounted reflex sight on the scope. Might be the ticket to get back to packing one gun again.
I’m lucky in regards to the resident trappers as I’m friends with most and the only dead they don’t haul right out are ones with mange. We work together. Sometimes they’ll have a group of coyotes that get wise to the snares. I’ll go in and take a few by calling and suddenly the snares start producing again with some fresh coyotes that move in. I have zero experience with guys leaving carcasses laying about but it certainly stands to reason they’d shy from dead of their own kind.
The shotgun is the tits when it’s needed. It’s a pain packing two guns all the time but when you’ve got multiples coming to 10 yards at once, I’m sure glad I’ve got it. Last year I took right around half of my coyotes with the shotgun. I’ve been giving serious consideration to a tube mounted reflex sight on the scope. Might be the ticket to get back to packing one gun again.
Interesting. I prefer distress calling to howling. But have used both successfully. Pup in distress on the ecaller worked well when they are hung up out of range too. The two guns plus a ecaller would be too much for me. Shoot a couple of coyotes in an area you can't pick them up with the truck and you've got yourself a workout. I see the tv guys and their shotguns. It probably works better if your seated, whereas I'm on my belly the moment I see a coyote coming.
I'm usually on a set for 20 min, no matter how many have come. The hills and coulees hide the noise of a shot really well. I've had a 4 in one stand once, a handful of threes, doubles often, and a ton of coyotes going the opposite direction the moment the calling starts.
In good country with some sort of a plan I can get 8-10 stands a day. Hiding the truck often picks the spot.
I'm usually on a set for 20 min, no matter how many have come. The hills and coulees hide the noise of a shot really well. I've had a 4 in one stand once, a handful of threes, doubles often, and a ton of coyotes going the opposite direction the moment the calling starts.
In good country with some sort of a plan I can get 8-10 stands a day. Hiding the truck often picks the spot.
I wish I could go prone more often. I’m in some pretty flat country for the most part. Elevated terrain in a great spot is a precious commodity. Seated is how I’m forced to roll more often than not. I’ve had to get pretty creative with my system to make it work as you’re right, dragging two or three coyotes plus my gear is not light. Not many places I get to pick them up in the truck. PM me your digits or email and I’ll send you pics of a coyote drag I came up with. If you’re interested of course. Quite compact and weighs virtually nothing. Large enough to handle three coyotes and if there’s snow on the ground, you hardly feel them slipping along.
8-10 stands a day is getting after it pretty good man. Bang on about hiding the truck. They don’t tolerate a vehicle anymore, that’s for darn sure.
8-10 stands a day is getting after it pretty good man. Bang on about hiding the truck. They don’t tolerate a vehicle anymore, that’s for darn sure.
Wolves don’t live where I call coyotes.
IMO a called in wolf is the hardest animal I have ever hunted. I have spent a ton of time in the past two years calling wolves for nothing but the exercise.
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john-brennan
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island B.C.
That is a nice haul, like to see those coyote's like that in the back of a truck.
Same for me. They don’t live where I do. I’ve only ever seen three in the area myself and they were all shot in about a 5 day span. I rattled in three up north years ago while hunting whitetails. A buddy called and killed a couple up by Wabasca years ago. I’d like to give it a solid effort some time.
