Need help with a 400yards rifle choice

Alright this is a weird one for precision but it's the type I like and I need better than traditional hunting accuracy.

I have a coyote problem and baby horses in my field. The length of my field is 400yards with heavy brush and tree line. I have been looking at Cadex and MDT platforms. So looking for advice and caliber options? I would also like to dual purpose this as a deer rifle (weight not a big issue). Number one though is accuracy at 100-400 yards!!! I know my guns and my calibers but I am struggling with this decision as it's a buy once senario. L

Wish budget was higher but looking at $2000 optic included.

Front runner at this time was Savage Stealth 6.5CM with Vortex 1-8 strike eagle $2200ish
I just finished a rifle that would be ideal for that. Ruger American Gen II Predator in 6mm Creed. Dropped it into an MDT Oryx chassis, (Black Friday special)looks killer and shoots lights out! Went to sight it in today, after shooting a few groups I shot this 5 shot group on my last round at 100yrds. Also took my whitetail with it in the factory stock, worked perfect.
 

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OP, I'm going to color outside the lines with this post, but I have hunted and shot a lot of Coyotes in my time, as well as many big game and small game animals.

I have several rifles set up for the type of hunting I intend to do on any particular day.

You say you know "firearms," but you don't mention whether you hand load, or purchase factory ammunition.

You also don't tell us if you know how to clean a rifle properly to maintain the accuracy you need.

For a long time, the rifle I carried for hunting Coyotes, out past 400 yds, but not over 500yds, was my trusty Tikka T3 Lite, stainless, chambered for the 6.5x55 swedish mauser cartridge.

There is nothing special about this rifle. I picked it up used, but it's just an off the shelf "Lite" model, sitting in the Tupperware stock.

The original scope was a Leupold VariX III, 4-12, with AO on the Objective lens.

I had a chart taped to the side of the butt, with scope settings, for different bullet weights, out to 500yds.

The only factory ammo I shot from this rifle came with it. It shot OK, but handloads shot better.

The reason I went with this rifle was a no brainer. I could handload bullets from 87 grains for Coyotes, as well as 120/140/160 grain bullets for Moose, Elk, Deer, Bears, etc.

The scope responded positively and reliably to adjustments in a manner I trusted it to maintain zero, when set to each of the adjustments indicated on the range table taped to the butt.

In your particular case, depending on what you intend to hunt, factory cartridges are available with bullets weighing 100 grains to 150 grains.

velocities and trajectories are good enough to easily take Coyotes out to the borders of your fields, as long as you do your due diligence, and judge your distances correctly. Even cheap range finders are good for this out to 400yds.

The cross sections of Coyotes depends on their size, anywhere from 4 inches to 9 inches. Add 3-4 inches of hair all around.

At 100- 400 yards, a slight miscalculation can easily create a miss. There isn't a rifle or cartridge I know of that has a laser trajectory, and doesn't require scope adjustment, or "hold over" to accommodate bullet drop and wind drift.

I'm sure you know this, but your OP isn't overyly descriptive of your abilities or knowledge.
 
Well….if you need to whack a bunch of coyotes fast, Any chambering offered in a tikka varmint. I would suggest a 243 if you’re shooting at 400yds for wind resistance.


You can buy a tikka varmint used for ~$1200. Then throw on a vortex strike eagle ($600 used) venom (450 used) on there and you’re all set.

Tikkas are frustratingly accurate…they make me question my customs.
I personally find them plain and boring but I’d have no problem buying one again.

Vortex scopes are not the most reliable when it comes to holding zero but if you dont drop them or beat your gear, you’re generally safe.

The reason I would choose a 243 is if you’re using a 85-100gr hunting round, you get both wind drift resistance AND if you’re keeping hides, the soft point bullets don’t damage them as much as a hollow point 22-250/223. Usually a 1 hole in and out

Good luck
Get those fkers
 
If I needed a crossover rifle for deer and varmint hunting, and didn't handload, ( a hobby I haven't picked up yet ) my choice would be whatever rifle fits you best in 6.5 Creedmoor. It's loaded in factory cartridges that are designed for varmints to moose and the usual twist rate works for both.

Don't get me wrong, .223 Remington is one of my favorite cartridges. But, with that chambering, once we're talking 400 yards, it's not the cartridge that you're choosing, it's the bullet. If you're trying to kill deer as quickly as possible at those ranges, you better make sure you chose the right bullet. Heavy for caliber bullet choices, preferably thinly jacketed and tipped match bullets, and the right twist rate will get you started at those further distances should you choose to pursue that. Sierra 77gr TMK is the easy button but there's no factory loads available in Canada.
 
Howa 1500 in 7MM-08 $850 (prophet river has them)
MDT Field Stock $350 (as you mentioned MDT) - I got mine used for $250.
Used Athlon Ares BTR Gen 2 4.5-27 (there’s on EE right now) $1000
I like more magnification. To each their own

That’s pretty much on your budget and it’s pretty sweet IMO
 
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6 Creedmoor all the way, I shoot a LOT of coyotes every year with a 6mm and lose very few. it can happen just a lot less. Get a Ruger American in 6mm, bipod and rear bag and a decent scope (the Apex optics hunter is a great choice and doesn't break the bank.

get something dial able learn your drop in mils and put markers on the tree line for distances so you dont need to range every time.
 
In My Humble opinion,…

6mm is your huckleberry.
.243, 6mm Creedmoor, or even the 6mm Arc.
Ruger American Gen II
Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-16.
Vortex pro rings.
Caldwell bipod.
Well under budget and easily capable to 400.

The 6mm Creed will have the best wind slipping of these.

The 6 arc is hyper effiecient.

The 243 is easy to find ammo for almost anywhere.
 
Go online to reliable guns in BC they presently have a used custom Mauser in 6 mm. It is topped off with a Luepold varie x. all 2 x7 scope and sling 1395.00 hard to beat a Mauser
Ps has a wood stock looks like a nice rifle
 
6mm creedmoor. It's an upgrade over the old .243
No, it's not. The 243 case is bigger than the Creedmoor.

243 Win is an absolutely awesome coyote cartridge. The best all around bullet for 243 is the Nosler 70gr Ballistic Tip. It has a higher BC than the lighter weight bullets, for extended distances and it is also extremely explosive for instant stops.


I bought a Howa 1500 in 308 this year for moose season from Bass Pro for less than $1500. Came with a bipod and 4-16x50 nikko stirling scope. I'm hitting fairly consistently 400 yards at the range. Happy with it so far. Decent bang for the buck
Yes, 308 is probably THE all around cartridge. Big heavy bullets can take the biggest game and small, lightweight varmint bullets work wonders on smaller game. I've used 110gr and 125gr on coyotes and the terminal effects are epic.

I run the Nosler 125gr in a 308 Savage Precision Carbine and the thing is a fricken laser to 200 yds and works surprisingly well out to 700 yds.
 
.243. It’s a 22-250 with half again more payload.i almost got a 22-250 until I looked into it. 55-60 bullets at 4000. Real hunting bullets 3000 or better. I won a rifle in a raffle years back and put a lot of thought between those two. 22 250 is awesome and you can shoot a deer with it but the 243 outshines it by a lot except for a bit more recoil and a bit more reloading cost on the amount of components. Both are still pretty mild though. I shot a Whitetail buck about a month after I won the rifle because I had to use it that season, and at 100 yards broadside I hit a little bit high up in the lungs but an 85 grain Nosler partition dropped it as fast as gravity let it. The high velocity and decent wound channel probably did spinal cord damage too. Anyways. I vote for .243. I have a .223 bolt that’s kinda boring compared.
 
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