First deer/coyote hunt

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PizzaEater

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Hey folks,

What's the best hunting rifle?

j/k, sorry.

I'm looking at getting into hunting this year. Not 100%, to be honest, but I'm exploring the options and trying to learn more. There's plenty of time between now and deer season obviously!

I was thinking of deer or possibly coyote.


Equipment.
I'm sure crap equipment means less accurate shots and a less fun time all around. More importantly, I'm not looking to scare the animals to death with a stray bullet 2m to the left. I don't want to merely wound one either. So you know, accuracy has some importance.

Cabela's has the Savage Axis XP on sale right now for $449 (reg $579 allegedly). Includes 3-9x40mm scope. https://www.cabelas.ca/product/26841/savage-axis-xp-camo-bolt-action-rifle-w-scope
Lanz seems to have the same rifle for $399? http://www.lanzshootingsupplies.com/savage-arms-savage-axis-xp-bolt-action-rifle-w-sco.html


Sail has the Remington 783 Synthetic for $449 too. Also with a 3-9x40mm scope. https://www.sail.ca/en/remington-ca...hetique-243-win-avec-lunette-3-9x40-mm-190436. I think Remington are in some financial trouble though right? So should I consider this a rifle without a warranty?

I was thinking of up to $650 for a rifle with scope, but there doesn't seem to be too many options in that range. EE is worth a look too obviously

Calibre.
I'm not a big guy, I've done a little reading and it seems that .243 will be enough to take down a deer and isn't likely to have a massive amount of recoil? Is that too much for a Coyote? Seems like it should be ok from what I've read, but I'd love to hear some experiences. I see that a fair few seem to use .223 for coyotes.


Hunting locations and groups
I'm in Southwestern Ontario, which seems to be pretty much as far from deer country as I can get. What's a good way to find other sane hunters to learn a few things (deer or coyote)?


Thanks in advance. I know it probably gets tiring answering newbie questions all the time.
 
Two points I will make, 1) the Remington 783 are actually well made guns( scope are ok out of the box as well)I had one in 308 and kinda regret selling it last month. Accurate out of the box and put deer in my freezer for the last two seasons. 2) As for caliber, obviously I like 308..good all around caliber. I would also give a thumbs up for the 243. The 243, like the 308 will more or less take care of both coyote and deer, there are plenty of bullet options to choose from. Others will chime in, have a coffee, do some reading, wander the net...enjoy.
 
If you’re hunting deer in southwestern Ontario, get a slug gun. Can’t hunt deer with a rifle in most of SW Ontario - shotgun (or muzzle loader) only (again generally speaking - check out the Regs online).

I would consider SW Ontario to have excellent deer hunting, usually extra tags available and no shortage of deer, so you likely won’t have to go far, assuming you can get permission...
 
rmark said:
If you’re hunting deer in southwestern Ontario, get a slug gun. Can’t hunt deer with a rifle in most of SW Ontario - shotgun (or muzzle loader) only (again generally speaking - check out the Regs online).

I would consider SW Ontario to have excellent deer hunting, usually extra tags available and no shortage of deer, so you likely won’t have to go far, assuming you can get permission...
Click to expand...



Thanks. I live in SWO but anticipated heading up north to hunt. I didn't think there was anywhere to actually hunt in SWO for deer, but I'll do some digging. Thanks for the heads up.
 
murph83 said:
Two points I will make, 1) the Remington 783 are actually well made guns( scope are ok out of the box as well)I had one in 308 and kinda regret selling it last month. Accurate out of the box and put deer in my freezer for the last two seasons. 2) As for caliber, obviously I like 308..good all around caliber. I would also give a thumbs up for the 243. The 243, like the 308 will more or less take care of both coyote and deer, there are plenty of bullet options to choose from. Others will chime in, have a coffee, do some reading, wander the net...enjoy.
Click to expand...


Thanks, onto the coffee already!
 
Lots of good guns and calibers to pick from, there is no one best. Whatever you pick give some consideration to affordable ammo to practice with. I put at least 200-500+ rounds down with whatever rifle I want to be good with( I do reload to keep the cost down) before I go hunting with it. Not saying you need to that but for the sake of the animals you shoot don't be the guy that buys a box of 20 that lasts him 10 years.
 
Chances are the rifle that you buy will shoot better than you, if you are a novice shooter. Get a bolt action in 308, and get some of the military surplus kicking round, and get some practice in. There's more to shooting deer and coyotes than you think...
 
Lots of calibre restrictions in SWO. Calibre must be .270 or smaller (Nothing that starts with a 3). Also most deer is crossbow, muzzleloader or shotgun only (slug or buckshot).
Check the Ministry Guidelines (by WMU) before you buy. Can't go wrong with Savage. Some of the best barrels out there. Prices are consumer friendly too.
 
243 will do coyotes and wolves and deer. Depending what place you are in in swo some have even further restrictions than 275 cal. Most deer hunting down here is archery shotgun or muzzleloader. If you head north to hunt make sure of any restrictions in that area. Generally the north is pretty open
Stay with the standard rounds to start. Its easier and cheaper. My personal recommendations may differ because i handload and have severak rifles for various types of hunting
Coyotes 204. 223. 22250. 243. 2506 even 270 will work. For dual purpose start at the 243.
If you dont plan to hunt coyotes in caliber restricted areas the 308 offers alot and is chambered in pretty much every bolt action
The axis series and even the 783 are entry level guns but they will work well for you and usually shoot very well
To find like minded individuals just hang around shooting clubs. Look for trucks and camo. Chances are they hunt
 
brybenn said:
243 will do coyotes and wolves and deer. Depending what place you are in in swo some have even further restrictions than 275 cal. Most deer hunting down here is archery shotgun or muzzleloader. If you head north to hunt make sure of any restrictions in that area. Generally the north is pretty open
Stay with the standard rounds to start. Its easier and cheaper. My personal recommendations may differ because i handload and have severak rifles for various types of hunting
Coyotes 204. 223. 22250. 243. 2506 even 270 will work. For dual purpose start at the 243.
If you dont plan to hunt coyotes in caliber restricted areas the 308 offers alot and is chambered in pretty much every bolt action
The axis series and even the 783 are entry level guns but they will work well for you and usually shoot very well
To find like minded individuals just hang around shooting clubs. Look for trucks and camo. Chances are they hunt
Click to expand...

Looks like great advice, thanks!
 
If I lived in one of the "restricted" areas of Ont. I would think about the .243/6mm as the bottom end as a deer/coyote possibility, add any of the .25's commonly found, add all the 6.5's and finally the .270 as caliber. I would find a bolt action I could afford (there are none of the normally available brands that truly suck no matter what some will argue) and that I "liked" just because. If you pick one of the 6.5's or up, you have a coyote-to-moose gun for the rest of your life, if you want. Your choices will matter far less than you think to your enjoyment of hunting, simply because they ALL work.
 
Because I live in "the restricted area" my first gun was a 12 gauge. Shot tons of stuff down here, as I met more hunters, I eventually joined a hunt club, then bought a big gun for moose and bear. Somewhere in there, I bought a .22 for night hunting raccoons and squirrel hunting during the day. Eventually, I may add a center fire .22, and some more specific calibers, and actions as time goes by.
Pretty much, I am thinking you should get the swiss army knife of guns to start, a reliable 12 gauge, then as your abilities evolve, your gun collection will too.
 
rmark said:
If you’re hunting deer in southwestern Ontario, get a slug gun. Can’t hunt deer with a rifle in most of SW Ontario - shotgun (or muzzle loader) only (again generally speaking - check out the Regs online).

I would consider SW Ontario to have excellent deer hunting, usually extra tags available and no shortage of deer, so you likely won’t have to go far, assuming you can get permission...
Click to expand...

Slug guns under 75m are very effective, and NO shortage of deer in s. Ontario.
 
A shotgun definitely opens up many more options in Southern Ontario. Everything from coyotes deer turkeys rabbits to ducks geese. Shotgun is the way to go.
 
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