Walking Varmint/Coyote Rifles: What are you shooting?

scott_r said:
I don't wear a tuxedo to feed the pigs, I save it for special occasions :)
Click to expand...
Me too. Except I spent way more on my hunting clothes than my tuxedo.

On the plus side though I use my hunting clothes a lot more often.:D
 
Last edited:
arch1965 said:
My old favorite is my Win 1892 25.20

I have downed a bunch with my (now sold) Savage 93 .22 mag. I guess it really helps having cow / calves in that respect. My longest shots on Yotes have been about 100 yards.

The smaller calibre is also nice because it doesn't scare the crap out of the cattle.:D

Arch:)
Click to expand...
When we work in the proximity of cattle over bait, we use Hornets and 22mags also.
Cat
 
I have a nice semi custom LVSF. Action trued, GreTan Firing Pin/Shroud, Shilen Trigger, LTR stock with BDL Floorplate, and a sweet 4.5-14X40mm Varmint Reticle VX III. It is in .221 Rem Fireball. I also had a .204 Ruger LVSF which I never fired and traded in because I looked at the ballistics and realized that they were too similar (40 grain pill @3625 FPS [over my chrony w/221 Fireball] and 40 grain pill @ 3700 FPS [with .204 Ruger]). So now I have a .221 Rem Fireball and a .223 Rem HK SL-8-5! Here is a pic of my .221 Rem.

DSC01783.jpg
 
Last edited:
M600 Remington, rebarrelled to 22-250, topped by a 12x Leupold with a CPC reticule. Accurate, great to carry, and dependable. Coyotes hate it though!! Regards, Eagleye.
 
kell2784 said:
How is the 25-06 on pelts, or is it strictly pest control? I'm thinking of this chamber for my next project.
I'm not trying to hijack this thread;)
Click to expand...
I have used a Ruger M77V in .25-06 and loved the round, but the "V" barrel was a heavy damned thing to lug around. Now I'm packing a Ruger #1 in .25-06. I guess it's not a ton lighter but it is better to lug about than the M77V, yet it still doesn't kick too badly.
I like the .25-06 for it's longer, flat trajectory. I get best groupings with a Hornady BTHP, but that's not much good for pelts.
 
catnthehatt said:
This is getting intop a pi$$ing match it seems!
The fact that we can spend the kind of money we want to for quality gear in no way means that we would turn up our noses at those who prefer to hunt with less expensive stuff.

I talked to a bighorn guide years ago and commented on his Weatherby ( an older European made job) .
He said it travelled in more saddle scabbardsa than it ever sat in his gun cabinet, and looked like crap!
But when he put the crosshairs on an animal. it went down , period.
THAT is why he paid the extra money for it.

I hun t hard with my rigs, be they varmint rifles or bird guns, but an honest
scratch or ding is normal wear and tear to me.
Cat
Click to expand...


Yes, a pissing amtch, and it is pointelss:)

I buy higher end gear because I can afford it, and because I am gonna USE it. And USE it HARD if need be...

Doesn' mean that a cheaper model will not do the job.

It's funny. If you are a skier or a tennis player, or you do golf- Nonone sugge
ss you leave your best skis, racket or 9 iron at home to not injure it..but guns...

Welll, people call
hem safe queens.:runaway:
 
Bought my Tikka T3 in 22 250,about a year ago and have put about 300 rounds through it in the gopher patch. Made shots out to 385 yards finally let it rest in early September. It got a good cleaning with Hoppe's Bench rest solvent. Brought it out today to take to range for check before going after yodeldogs tomorrow. 3 shots into 1/2 inch, so I'm ready. My buddy would get 4 shots into an inch but 5th would be a flier (204 in an A-bolt). We'll try again cuz it may have just been "one of those days"

Enjoy whatever you shoot, and do it often:dancingbanana:
 
I have a Browning M78 with a medium heavy .25/06 barrel on it that I am trying out this winter on wolves and coyotes. It's shooting pretty well so far. I put a Leupold 6.5-20X 50mmAO on it.
The other I am using occasionally is a Ruger #3 carbine in .22 K-Hornet for coyotes. It has a Leupold 8X AO on it. I am more used to this rifle and it gets out a bit too.
 
T3 .223 w/3-9 Elite
Rem 600 Mohawk .222 w/4-12 Banner
Rem 600 Mohawk 6mm w/3-9VXII
AR 180B .223 w/3-9 Elite

Sometimes its a tough decision,which gun to take,but the Tikka gets out most often.I'm confident with it to 300 yds and 60gr HDY SP gets it done.
I got the 6mm this summer,so this will be its first coyote season with me.I'm working up a load for 75 vmax and H4350 or Varget. GJ
 
When I dont have to go too too far on foot ,I will take my Savage Model-12 VLP in 22-250Rem with Leupold Vari-XII 6-18x40AO (60g Sierra HP)
IMG_0736.jpg

When I have to walk a little bit I generally take my Winchester Model 70 in 264WinMag with Leupold Vari-XIII 4.5-14x40AO (95gHornady V-max)
IMG_0804.jpg
 
scott_r said:
I don't wear a tuxedo to feed the pigs, I save it for special occasions :)

Cheers!!
Click to expand...

That's sig line material right there LOL

I'm currently shopping for a winter dog rifle, simply b/c the only stainless one I have is a heavy barreled hog. I never fear using my rifles, but the last hassle I want is taking a tumble in the snow and worrying about rust on one of my blued beauties!

Unlike many of you guys, I'm thinking of something light like a Model 7 or Savage that starts aroun 6 1/2lbs before scope and whatnot. Until I get my long range 7mm built, the dog rig will wear my Leupold VXIII with the varmint reticle.

Haven't decided yet if I'm going 223 or 243; I reload for both and like 'em, so it's more a matter of what rifle I find that I like.
 
I use a Browning A-bolt Composite Stalker in a 22-250 with a Bushnell 3200 3X9X40mm fire fly. Very happy with it but I might put a scope with an illuminated reticle on instead.
 
I own a few great walking rifles that I use for yotes:

Savage 24F.... in 22mag / 20ga
Rem Model 7.... in 223 with 6x40
Browning BLR.... in 223 with 3-9x40
Rem 788.... in 22-250 with 6-18x50
Savage 99.... in 22-250 with 3-9x40
Savage 99.... 250-3000 with 3-9x40
Win 1892.... 25-20 with open sites


It all depends on my mood and who I am hunting with on any given day.
 
Walking varminters?

Stevens 200 in 223 Ackley Imp with a 2.5-10 Elite 4200, using 40 gr Ballistic Tips at 3900+ fps: three-quarter inch groups at 200 meters.

Stevens 200 in 243 with a 3-9X40 B&L, using 70 gr at 3500 fps: two inch groups at 300 meters.

Waiting to try a Stevens 200 in 25-06 that is on the way. It will be wearing a Leupold 6X42.

Yup, I am a Stevens convert. Inexpensive, light, accurate and reliable. :D

Ted
 
Last edited:
Savage 12FVSS in 22-250 with NcStar 6-24x50. I'm going to mount my Swarovski 3 x 9. The Habicht is a bit beat up, it came off my scabbard rifle, attesting to the fact that I use it. But then again, I cant' blame catnthehat for not wanting to beat up his more expensive rig either, to each his/her own. You'll see this pic in another thread, I want to clean up the scope but don't want to hijack this thread. Correction: I meant scott_r, not catnthehat.
BPrifle0001.jpg
 
Last edited:
gitrdun said:
But then again, I cant' blame catnthehat for not wanting to beat up his more expensive rig either, to each his/her own.
Click to expand...

I think you misconstrued Dave's comment.

It's reasonable to expect that you don't have to baby an expensive (read - high quality) item such as a rifle or optic.

I think it's fair to say that nobody in their right mind is foolishly abusive to their gear regardless of cost, but IMO good tools will stand up to whatever use you want to give them. That's the point.
 
I have a Remington SPS in a .223 with a Leupold VX-II 6-18x40 on it. Love it. Works very well for all the varmints in my region and I have yet to see one that has the ability to talk back after the trigger is pulled. :)
 
Both my walk/calling pred rifles are a M700 LVSF in 204 for yotes and small cats and a T3 Light Blues in 243 for wolves and lions. Both are topped with VX II 4x12 AO black matte.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom