Coyote Hunting Rigs

The XCR was so much fun and made a great coyote rig. I'll own another one day.
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I'm working up loads for my 1-9 twist XCR-L in 223 right now and my 95gr TTSX 6.8spc loads are ready for out to 400 yards, I'm getting ready for the our Christmas holidays in Alberta have to have something to do while I'm at the in-laws... :D

What loads were you using in you XCR?
 
Camp Cook said:
What loads were you using in you XCR?
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It wasn't too finicky about different bullet/load combos with the exception of Bergers where I got high pressure signs right away. I kept the gas setting at 2 and used a shell catcher when target shooting. I had good success with:

All .223Rem
Hunting
Barnes Varmint Grenade - 36gr - BL-C(2)
Hornady Vmax - 40gr - BL-C(2)
Hornady Vmax - 40gr - IMR4198
Nosler Ballistic Tip - 40gr - IMR4198 (unbelievably accurate)
Nosler Ballistic Tip - 55gr - Varget

Target
Hornady FMJBT - 55gr - IMR3031
Berger FB Target - 52gr - Win748 & IMR4198 (both exhibited high pressure signs even at Berger's recommended starting loads so I backed off and started over)
 
gps said:
It wasn't too finicky about different bullet/load combos with the exception of Bergers where I got high pressure signs right away. I kept the gas setting at 2 and used a shell catcher when target shooting. I had good success with:

All .223Rem
Hunting
Barnes Varmint Grenade - 36gr - BL-C(2)
Hornady Vmax - 40gr - BL-C(2)
Hornady Vmax - 40gr - IMR4198
Nosler Ballistic Tip - 40gr - IMR4198 (unbelievably accurate)
Nosler Ballistic Tip - 55gr - Vargetright now

Target
Hornady FMJBT - 55gr - IMR3031
Berger FB Target - 52gr - Win748 & IMR4198 (both exhibited high pressure signs even at Berger's recommended starting loads so I backed off and started over)
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I have both of these on my shelf and from your info it looks like I should be trying out the 40gr Nosler Ballistic Tips and I would totally prefer to use the lighter bullets for coyotes...

I am loading the 40gr V-Max @ 3400fps with H322 in my 21" 1-12" twist T/C Contender barrel = 1 1/4" 3 shot 300 yard groups when I do my part but that load spews out of my XCR.

The last few days I've been working with 26grs Varget + 60gr V-Max and 62gr TSX I'm shooting 5 shot groups that are putting 3 into less than 1" @ 100 yards but the other 2 almost every time open the group up and are hitting over 1" - 1 1/2" high and left.

Might be me I need to work with them a bit more...

Care to share your load for this bullet/powder
Hornady FMJBT - 55gr - IMR3031
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Thanks
CC
 
you seem to be on the right track Pooker, improvise! there was a good post on bipods a month ago, it mentioned using sticks if you want to improve. me? Back to your question, i use a .223, with 64 gr Nosler, 1:9 twist bbl, bushnell 3200 3-9x scope, and rockmount tripod.
 
Camp Cook said:
I have been spotted so many times by coyotes/deer when they are 100's of yards away because I moved and they caught a glint or somethig from my uncovered rifles/sunglasses etc...

Do not believe that their eyesight is poor it isn't...
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I must be stand a little more still than the average guy then. My first deer was 3 yards, ground level with a bow. All my deer have been under 15 yards, all with a bow.
Coyotes can pick foreign objects out way better than a deer, but a rifle barrel at 100 yards would have to be moving to be seen, or least identified as a threat.
I shot 78 coyotes last year, 76 were with a stainless steel barrel, ranges from 300 yards to next to 0.
Sitting still will beat any camo, any time, but camo can help.
Confidence plays a role too, if you put effort in to making your gun "yours" then you gain a bit of psychological ground as well. We all have different ways to prepare ourselves, if camo makes you feel better about playing the game then all the power to you! I am a believer.
 
Pyd said:
... but a rifle barrel at 100 yards would have to be moving to be seen, or least identified as a threat [emphasis mine]
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This is the kicker. Eyes that don't see in the full colour spectrum are still very tuned to spot movement.
 
If you shot that many last year you obviously hunt areas that have very high populations or have very little pressure in other words I completely agree with your statement for your area.

Where I am the coyotes numbers are not very high and they are under pressure year round resulting in the wariest coyotes I have ever seen, yes sitting still is a must but a glint off of a rifle barrel or maybe it was my sun glasses has spooked enough into dead runs that I will cover up my rifle if I can.I even use cover sprays.

I have also shot enough game animals within 5 - 10 yards with my bow as well as rifles and know how to stock/stay still....

When I head to Alberta in a week or so I am taking several rifles one is my s/s Sako 85 Grey Wolf in 22-250 its weird but when I put tape onto this barrel it majorly effect not only the zero but the grouping so it will not have any camo tape on it but my old blued Voere 6mm-284 and OD green XCR-L will...

I also find that a dull finished s/s barrel/action does not stand out in snow conditions like a blued barrel/action does.
 
CV32 said:
This is the kicker. Eyes that don't see in the full colour spectrum are still very tuned to spot movement.
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I remember seeing a video of a guy shooting a coyote while dressed in a clown suit (the shooter, not the coyote;)), it was just a guy trying to make a point, and it was a good one as far as I am concerned.
Once you learn how to eliminate movement the rest is downhill.
Bowhunting I can recall many times a deer was eye level with me in the right wind, and so close that I had to close my eyes in fear of blinking. Two years ago I was on the ground on a bushline, opposite the corn, a small 6 was feeding the corn and decided to enter the bush where I was sitting, too close to draw so I waited him out, his nose was 2 feet from me, I finally had to open one eye in fear of getting stepped on, that deer darn near turned inside out trying to get away, which he did successfully.
Making a gun look the way we want is a sport all on it's own, and a practice I enjoy as well.
 
Here's my coyote hunting weapon:
Sako AV 7mm STW launching 180 grain Berger VLDs
DeathFromAbove.jpg


It's also my deer, moose, elk, bear, cow, gopher weapon as well....
 
All that matters is that YOU like it! All these nay-sayers can keep to themselves, it's your gun, and you can do whatever you want to it! I think it looks kind of cool, it's a good idea using the tape because you can always change it if you get tired of it or whatever.
 
So I loaded up some 110 grain Serrias last night and got out to shoot today. They were grouping alright at 100 yds, and at 200 they were dropping like 8 inches. Shot some white box too and it wasn't grouping worth ####. Soooooo...
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I re-did it so the free float of the barrel wasn't being affected.
 
So, you agree it's not pretty; it didn't shoot ( although I don't understand how what you described can relate to the tape actually, but..); you are making the effort again.

I admit I have no legitimate objection; I just see no reason to bother. Soooooo ..... Why?
 
I think a lot of people are freaking out for no reason. Its a savage edge, It isnt a krieghoff double.

heres my deer/yote rig- T3 Lite in 25-06. Likely will use 100gr barnes. Unless Basspro has some cheap ass ammo that groups decent.
Tikka_T3.jpg
 
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