Experienced Varmint Hunters Advice Wanted

[the spank]

-This was the rifle I was trying to order.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Got some disappointing news this past week. The dealer I was working with to get me the Howa Axiom Rifle called to say that Legacy Sports in the U.S let they're export permit expire therefore no rifles coming into Canada from them until it is renewed. Also he informed me that the U.S A has rules disallowing adjustable L.O.P stocks from being shipped on rifles, however shotguns are ok? So I was at Epps the other day and they tell me they are going to be importing the axiom adj stocks from an offshore supplier since U.S wont ship them and they will be bringing in the rifles under the Weatherby name as Howa makes Weatherby. They will then assemble the stocks to the Weatherby Model 1500 action themselves in-house and sell them as Weatherby/Axiom rifles. They wont be available until Feb at the earliest.
So since I am going to be forced into a waiting game to get exactly what I want, I was interested in hearing from some of you out there that varmint hunt on your caliber choices, I am seriously reconsidering my caliber choice and downsizing to 223. Apparently from what I can tell ammo is about 1/3 the price of 243 and the ballistics dont look bad on paper.PLus I don't reload rifle. I am going to be shooting(I hope!!) coyotes-wolf-dog hybrids here that are running about 50-70 pounds on avg. Also there is good opportunities for chances to take Timber Wolves and they average around 100 pounds. Is a 223 enough rifle for distances to 300 or 400 yards or should I stick with the 243 or maybe go mid-road at 22-250? I have owned 2 -22.250's in the past and love the calibre but never shot anything larger than a fox out to about 300 yards with it.However it absolutely destroyed a fox with 55grain HP bullets at 3680fps, but there is alot of size/weight difference between a fox and the larger dogs. I've killed coyotes on the prairie in Alberta one summer as a teenager when I was working there with nothing more than a 22long rifle rimfire rifle inside of 50 yards so I guess anything will work under the right conditions but would really appreciate some experienced advice. Let me know your thoughts please.

 

[Jordan Smith]

The .22-250 has worked great for me on coyotes out to ~350 yards. I've never used it on a coyote at longer range than that, but don't doubt that it would work well. Use a good bullet for the task at hand, and it'll do just fine.

I've yet to connect with a wolf, so I can't help you there, but I've seen a number of guys post dead wolf pics with .223's and .22-250's, so I imagine it would work on them, as well.

 

[Cummins4x4]

Use the 223 for most occasions, keep the 243 handy though. I use 223 and 25-06AI

 

[rlg]

223

I use a Remington 700 in .223. The only thing you need to add to it is an excellent scope and a bi-pod. From that point on, you are good to go.

Enjoy

Regards
Robert

 

[204saskman]

i got a rem 700 in 204 ruger. If you are set on a Howa(i would like one too trust me) look on frontiers website, they had some on there. And yes a good scope is a must.

 

[albertacoyotecaller]

Yote and Wolf gun

Yotes, a 223 will work nicely.

Anything bigger like a wolf, go with the 243. You can use some 60-70 grain bullets on the yotes and if you find a good bullet, hides on yotes won't be too bad, sometimes!

Greg