Budget .223 coyote gun - what to avoid?

kodiakjack

kodiakjack

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Coles notes:

Are there any lemon varmint rifles I should steer clear of?



The full story:

I've never had much interest in hunting coyotes, but recently a coworker keeps pressuring me to join him on some hunts. And even more recently we've seen a ton of coyotes hanging around out at my dads place. I wouldn't have cared a few years ago, but now my 2yo and 1yo spend a few days each week out there and love to play in the back 40 with grandma. That, and the little guy that's missing in SK has bumped up my fatherly protection instincts enough to have an excuse to give coyote hunting a whirl.

So I'm looking for a budget rifle that's minute-of-coyote to get me started. Range will be inside 100 yards for the most part, with the occasional opportunity out to 200, so I'm not looking for a tack driver. Just something basic I can put cheap scope on. As for caliber, I considered .243 so it could double as a deer rifle, but really, I've already got a stack of .30 cals in the cabinet already set up for deer and moose. So I figured .223 is the next best thing, as far as availability of cheap ammo goes (don't reload yet). But that said, I'm open to input on my caliber choice.

So I'll eventually post a wtb, but before I do, I wanted to know if there's any lemons I should be watching out for. As for "new" the only bargains I see are the savage axis and the Norinco JW-105. Thoughts on these would be appreciated.

Thoughts on scopes would also be appreciated, keeping in mind the ranges mentioned above and the level of accuracy required. We're talking NcStar and lower here. :p

Thanks folks!
 
Get the .223 Axis, rigidize the foreend and grip area with Rockite or similar (ensuring clearance in the barrel channel for free-float) and you will have a sub-MOA shooter for the least amount of dough.
 
JW 105 would be the one to avoid...
Axis is OK if you can get one sub $300, they have some faults that can be overlooked at that price point. Over $400 then they are a rip.
Over $400 the Ruger American is a good rifle, and if you want a deal Wolverine has a 22-250 on for $425 which is a pretty wicked coyote cartridge, and factory ammo is the same price more or less as .223.
https://www.wolverinesupplies.com/P...uger-American--22-250-Rem-22--Synthetic-Black
 
Get a good not cheep 223 - look at the weatherby series 2 and/or CZ you may want your boys shooting it one day - as for scopes a 3-4x40 would be good I have a Bushnell dusk to dawn on my 223.

spend time with your children

ivo
 
How about a Weatherby Vanguard S2 in 243 ?
Accurate, dependable, smooth, budget priced, what's not to like ?
I'm sure you could find one with a bit of looking...
 
SuperCub said:
:) ...... The Ruger American would be my first choice in the cheapo 223 choices out there.
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I think you are on the right track with a 223. It'll absolutely deal with coyotes within your ranges, and its easy to find good quality ammo to use. Cheap plinking ammo for practice never hurts either. I wouldn't go with a 204 or a 22-250, strictly because they dont really give anything special compared to the 223 under 200 yards. All 3 will do the job without issue.

How windy is it where you are? The 243 has an advantage in the wind compared to the 223, so if that was a concern I would consider a 243. If its not a concern, I would stick to 223. 243 will be harder on the pelts as well, which may or may not matter to you.

Does the American come in a short-action for the 223? Or do they use one action length for all cartridges like the Axis or Tikka T3?

I love my axis in 270, but I would be looking for something a bit smaller/lighter if possible in a 223.
 
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canadaman30 said:
Why not just use one of your 30 cals?
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Because Ontario. Ugh.


I'd love to, but there's dumb rules in this part of the province. Nothing over .275

-I can hunt in my back yard with a .270WSM
-I can not hunt in my back yard with a .357
-I can target shoot in my back yard with a .50BMG

Oh well. It probably helps to stimulate the firearms sales.

I take the 30s up "north" for deer and moose.
 
Despite the always present folks with the make it rain money on their guns attitude
for those of us that look in the precision for the money go ahead do all the research you want
the savage axis or stevens 200 in 223 can not be beat for the money for accuracy
just a fact .
Happy Hunting
 
Suther said:
I think you are on the right track with a 223. It'll absolutely deal with coyotes within your ranges, and its easy to find good quality ammo to use. Cheap plinking ammo for practice never hurts either. I wouldn't go with a 204 or a 22-250, strictly because they dont really give anything special compared to the 223 under 200 yards. All 3 will do the job without issue.

How windy is it where you are? The 243 has an advantage in the wind compared to the 223, so if that was a concern I would consider a 243. If its not a concern, I would stick to 223. 243 will be harder on the pelts as well, which may or may not matter to you.

Does the American come in a short-action for the 223? Or do they use one action length for all cartridges like the Axis or Tikka T3?

I love my axis in 270, but I would be looking for something a bit smaller/lighter if possible in a 223.
Click to expand...

I'm a big fan of the .243, but it looks like it would be about twice the price to feed, and inside 200 yards (and more likely half that) it's probably more gun than I need.



I see a sponsor has a new axis for $320, and I see used ones in the EE listed for $350 to $400. I could pick up a new one at that price, give it the old college try, and if coyotes aren't for me, sell it on the EE for $300. To be honest, I'm not terribly enthused about spending a day hunting, only to shoot something that doesn't put meat in my freezer. But who knows? Maybe I'll like it. If I do, then I could either keep working with elcheapo savage, or sell it on the EE and get something better.
 
kodiakjack said:
I'm a big fan of the .243, but it looks like it would be about twice the price to feed, and inside 200 yards (and more likely half that) it's probably more gun than I need.



I see a sponsor has a new axis for $320, and I see used ones in the EE listed for $350 to $400. I could pick up a new one at that price, give it the old college try, and if coyotes aren't for me, sell it on the EE for $300. To be honest, I'm not terribly enthused about spending a day hunting, only to shoot something that doesn't put meat in my freezer. But who knows? Maybe I'll like it. If I do, then I could either keep working with elcheapo savage, or sell it on the EE and get something better.
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+1 on that. Buy some good glass now and move it on if you move up in rifles. The Axis should be pretty accurate right out of the box from what I have seen and heard. Another gun to check on is the Remington 783, Jerry @ Mystic seems to like them and he used to be an Axis/Stevens fanboy. http://mysticprecision.com/2016/01/remington-783-the-best-donor-for-prsmag-fed-rifles/
 
kodiakjack said:
I'm a big fan of the .243, but it looks like it would be about twice the price to feed, and inside 200 yards (and more likely half that) it's probably more gun than I need.



I see a sponsor has a new axis for $320, and I see used ones in the EE listed for $350 to $400. I could pick up a new one at that price, give it the old college try, and if coyotes aren't for me, sell it on the EE for $300. To be honest, I'm not terribly enthused about spending a day hunting, only to shoot something that doesn't put meat in my freezer. But who knows? Maybe I'll like it. If I do, then I could either keep working with elcheapo savage, or sell it on the EE and get something better.
Click to expand...

As I said before, I love my axis in 270, and given the fact I am a broke-ass fulltime student, I very well might get another in 223... But if I had the option, I would get something else. A big part of that is the size/weight, a 30-06 length action is pretty damn big for a 223. Another factor is I already have an axis, so I would like to try something else if I can afford to do so.

If you are not so thrilled about the idea of the hunt, perhaps looking at it from a different perspective will help. If you are around your dads place, think about your kids. Every coyote you smoke is one less that can do harm to them, or your mom for that matter. In addition to that, they will likely wise up after you drop a few of them, and spend less time hanging out there. If your buddy processes them for the hides, then that can be your reason for doing it with him. Or just think of the other game you are saving - coyotes eat plenty of birds, bunnies, ect, and aren't against eating a deer given the chance. By hunting the song dogs you are helping yourself and your fellow hunters.
 
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