Suggestions Please

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I am sure something like this has been posted before but here it goes anyway.

I would like it if you guys could recommend a gun calibre and scope including brands for all to do the following.

I am looking for a gun for medium game ie coyotes etc at 350-500 meters. I want something that is easy shooting. A powerful scope. I do not want to spend more than 2500. I would prefer to stay well under 2500 but really good optics don't come cheap from. My understanding.

Any help and suggestions would be appreciated.
 
.243, .25-06 or .308 in a Tikka or Remington heavy barrel with a Leupold 4-12 would suit me fine. 500 yards is a long ways off. A heavier bullet will handle the wind better, and that's a big concern around my parts. You could go .223 or .22-250, but that little bullet will be a bit more difficult trying to connect in strong winds at extended ranges.
 
coyote gun

I would go with a older M700 in say 25-06 using 100-115gr. bullets and a premium scope in the power of 4-12, 4.5-14 preferred. There are alot of good accurate rifles out there in other good cal. but that is what I would use.

Cheers.
 
For the last 17 yrs. my coyote rig has been a .270 Browning Stainless Stalker, with a Leupold VIII 3.5 x 10. Occassionally, I use my semi heavy, .257 Epps Imp, Mauser, with a Leupold VII 3 x 9. My father's rig is a .243 Winchester Mod 70, with a B+L Elite 3000 3 x 9. Prior to the .270, I was using a 22-250, but I was let down with it's performance a few times as the light bullets weren't up to the job under some circumstances.

As far as rifle selection, that depends on the type of hunting. Are you using hounds, or calling? You'd want a lighter rifle if you are tromping around all day, staying ahead of a chase with hounds. If you are stationary and calling them in, then a heavy rifle won't be much of an issue. Are you a fair weather hunter? If so, a blued rifle would suffice and be a little cheaper than stainless. If you are hunting regardless of the weather, than stainless is the more convenient choice.

I strongly recommend that you don't go cheap on the optics. Buy the best quality that you can. You will get better quality lenses and reliability. There are few things as frustrating as having your scope's reticle come loose while you are shooting.

For most hunters, 500 yards is a long shot. Especially at a small, moving target. You'll need to practice those kind of shots if you want much success.
 
You certainly don't have to spend $2500. I would say with a bit of care you can get an entirely effective set-up for under $1000. Spending the extra $1500 will get you something better, but the increments of better will be very, very small per $.
 
You say "medium game" and then say "coyotes, etc". Medium game generally means deer an dcaribou sized animals. If that's the case, I would say to buy a Winchester Model 70 in 270 Winchester and top it with a Leupold VX3 2.5-8x. If you buy the Featherweight version it is a light carrying, soft recoiling rifle capable for everything up to moose, given proper bullet selection.

If you're only looking to shoot small animals like coyotes and maybe coastal deer and pronghorms, you could easily get away with a 7mm-08, 308, 260 Remington or even a 243. I'm not a big 243 fan for big game, even blacktail, but if you're disciplined with shot placement and bullet construction theres no problem using it for Caribou and Mule and Whitetail deer. I prefer a bit more gun, YMMV. I'd still top it with a 2.5-8x or 3.5-10x. You're right to go with good glass. Lots of people try to cheap out in the glass department but I've always thought that to be false economy. I've seen a lot of other brands go Tango Uniform but the Leupolds I've had experience with have stood up to many years of use with no ill effects.
 
Here's my LR rig (one of them) 25-06AI shooting 120gr SGK at 3150fps reaches way out there, wearing VXL 4.5-14x56LR B&C. Don't cheap out on optics.
IMG_2239.jpg
 
I would go with a .223 rem or tikka, the big thing is make sure your rate of twist is around 1 in 10. With that you'll have no problems going to a 69gr+ bullet which will give it the ability to buff those winds out to 500m. I made the mistake of buyin a 1 in 12 and have a problem goin higher then 62gr which makes me personally only effective to 3 or 400m.
 
Go to this thread in the EE http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308665 then scroll down till you find this rifle.

Remington Sendero SF II. Non catologued .25/06 Rem. we got a special deal on these rifles and we are passing the savings on. Only two left in stock. $1349
Click to expand...

For a scope I would go with a Leupold VX 111 or VX 3 in 4.5-14X40mm either Varmint reticle or Boone & Crocket.

and no I have no affiliation with SakoAlberta just think that is the rifle you are looking for...
 
As someone mentioned earlier, the term 'medium game' is open to all sorts of interpretation, but I would say that a 6.5x55mm Swedish Mauser (in a Sako or Tikka, for example) would fit the bill. If you reload, or do eventually get into it, you can shoot 95 gr Vmax at those pesky yotes or all the way up to 140-160 gr for deer, bear and moose.
 
I like the 243,I use a heaver bullet(87 v max and 3031).Most of our shooting is done on moving targets.Shooting coyotes on the run requires a wide field of view and the old redfeild scopes still get a lot of use.
What they lack in clarity they make up in wide field of view giving you those extra yards for leads.
The savage with the trigger would be very difficult to hit a moving target do to the two stage trigger(my opinion only).
A lite weight is important if you are walking and carrying all day and a clip would be beneficial in my opinion.
Banging around the bush with a 2500 gun would not be my choice,for coyotes or deer.
 
Camp Cook said:
Go to this thread in the EE http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=308665 then scroll down till you find this rifle.



For a scope I would go with a Leupold VX 111 or VX 3 in 4.5-14X40mm either Varmint reticle or Boone & Crocket.

and no I have no affiliation with SakoAlberta just think that is the rifle you are looking for...
Click to expand...

+1
That would be a 'medium game' rig for sure. Great from coyotes to mules deer(or bigger) where the ranges are long. :)
 
I would buy the best optics I could afford - Leupold 4x12 x 50 or similar and then a Sako or Remintion 700 in 270....and get a good bipod....and some decent binoculars. Should be well under $2500 for all that. I have a Sako M995 with a B&L elite 3000 3x9x50 with Harris bipod and it shoots like a sniper rifle.......want to buy it?
 
If you are shooting them for sport and not for fur I would get a 6mm Rem...Buy a used Remington and have a Gaillard barrel screwed on to it by someone who knows what they are doing...

Scope: I used a VII 4X12 and never felt that I needed more but I didn't shoot over 400 yds. (days before range finders)

I would need a range finder much pass 350yds.

Most fun is to get a sporter weight 22-250, learn how to call, and have at it...:)
 
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