Maverick Rifle, my 2012 Coyote gun

[Suka]

So, I was looking around for a .243 as a coyote gun. This .243's purpose in life will be to push 58gr leads close to 4000fps out to 300 yds and I have to be able to drag it through snow, grass, and sagebrush with little concern for the rifle stock. Looked at lot's of used on here, nothing struck my fancy. Looked online at the pkg guns, thought about them;
Then I spotted a dealer ad in the EE selling maverick rifles. I searched the net looking for info and found very little. After a phonecall to the dealer, I decided to go with it, based mostly on my wife having a Maverick 12ga Field model and it being a very reliable, functional hunting gun, despite it's stamped, plastic appearance.

My new .243 arrived.
First impression: The action is Very smooth. To be honest I've tried actions in gunstore's of guns that for some reason have praises sung for them that feel like sand compared to this.

I put a 4-12 Redhead scope on it with some weaver Xtall rings (it comes with weaver bases).
I've got my leads, some new hornady brass, but it's likely to be a good 2 weeks or so before my target is out of the snowbank it's buried in.

I don't expect a tack driver to start with, but I think if I play with powders and loads I expect to get an acceptable, consistant group.

I'll post again after I get a chance to try it and play with some loads.

 

[tylerjwitty]

what is the price of those guns? intrested in seeing how it shoots. might be fun.
do they have a barrel nut on them like savage?

 

[Suka]

I got this rifle on sale; If I remember right the regular price on the rifle itself is 335 or 325? The sale price basically paid the shipping. Then of course 129 for a new basspro scope and 25 for a set of rings.
I'm hoping to try it this weekend, depends on weather and roads. If I get out I'll definitely post how I make out with it, I'm curious too.

I've heard some are tack drivers, others, not so much. I suspect it'll just be a matter of finding the load it likes, like anything else? Fingers crossed.

 

[Suka]

Finally got it out a couple times. I started loading with IMR 4831, and ended up finding it seems to like IMR 3031 best. Go figure.

I sighted it in and my best groups to date are, shooting offhand (sitting on the ground) from 100yds are: 2 shot 5/8" center to centre, best 3 shot group is 1.25", avg is 1.375" and worst is about 1.5".
Son was home about a week ago and we went to a range. Shooting it at a gong from 300 yds off a bench was simply too easy.

Next time I get a chance I'm going to paper over the 300 yd gong and see what I can get for a group.
Suffice to say with a little more tweaking I'm sure I'll be minute of coyote out to about 400+ yds.

It should be noted I've only tried the 58 gr leads, and since it shoots well we're going to eventually work up a hunting load with a 85-100gr lead. It may not be a Browning, but for what my budget was and my intended use is I feel it was a good purchase and I have no intention of selling it.

Guess that means I'm happy with it, eh?

 

[INTIMIDATOR]

When it comes to hunting, I'll take function over looks any day. Its not about how pretty the gun is, but how effectively it puts meat in the freezer.

I have a $50 .22 rimfire and its more accurate than my $200 rimfire, go figure.