"walking varminter"

Which combo would make for the best mid weight coyote gun?

  • 22-250 Ackley Imp/24" heavy sporter barrel

    Votes: 20 30.8%

  • 22-243 Middlestead/24" Heavy sporter barrel

    Votes: 8 12.3%

  • 223 Ackley Imp/ 20" Heavy sporter barrel

    Votes: 37 56.9%
  • Total voters
    65
  • Poll closed .
I have an old 26" 1-14" twist medium contour barreled 22-250 that I keep thinking about getting rechambered to 22-243 two reasons I haven't done it are I've had so many other projects on the go and I have a 22" barreled Voere long action 6mm-284...
 
The best walking varminter...Cooper bar none

I would go with my Cooper M21 Classic in 6x45 (6mm-.223) with a Leupold Compact 6x36. It weighs right around 6.5lbs and has Cooper's awesome accuracy! Bucks the wind and anchors the coyotes. IMHO.
 
My next varmint/deer rifle will be a Rem 700 in 223AI with a 22" mountain rifle contour in a TI take off topped with a VXII 3x9.

Now THAT'S a rifle for walking around huinting! :canadaFlag:


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Is an AI needed for any varmit calibers...??? I'm not sure. And knowing where one may choose to set-up for varmit hunting might be the primary concern. Also, I had a sporter 223 and it's shoot placement was unacceptable for a long range varmint rifle. So I looked at the Tikka 223 varmit and went that direction. Super accurate but not light... But I'll take the heavier rifle that shoots exceptionally well over a lighter sporter that keeps me guessing. Lot's of choices out there, and IMHO a barrel burner isn't my first choice.
 
Highwind said:
Is an AI needed for any varmit calibers...??? I'm not sure. And knowing where one may choose to set-up for varmit hunting might be the primary concern. Also, I had a sporter 223 and it's shoot placement was unacceptable for a long range varmint rifle. So I looked at the Tikka 223 varmit and went that direction. Super accurate but not light... But I'll take the heavier rifle that shoots exceptionally well over a lighter sporter that keeps me guessing. Lot's of choices out there, and IMHO a barrel burner isn't my first choice.
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I don't think you'll find the 223AI to be a bbl burner as it uses less powder than the 22/250

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For those of you questioning the AI part of my choices, it isn't necesarily to kill the coyotes deader, it is just to give it that extra something that makes me a proper gun nut. Kinda why rather than using a 25-06 or 270 win on antelope and deer, I use a 6.5-06. If and when I build guns for me, I like to make them oddball chamberings, just because.
 
I fully understand the desire for a neat rifle. Anyone remember that custom, one-off in the EE last year with the red laminate stock and stainless action in 223 AI? I was drooling over that one.

That being said, after hunting a year with a heavy barrel 223, a BRNO Fox, BSA, or Sako in 222 would be my choice for a light, coyote rifle.
 
SuperCub said:
My next varmint/deer rifle will be a Rem 700 in 223AI with a 22" mountain rifle contour in a TI take off topped with a VXII 3x9.

Now THAT'S a rifle for walking around huinting! :canadaFlag:


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Sounds like the perfect walking around coyote rifle to me, assuming of course a 8" twist to drive a 69/70gr SMK, VLD, or Amax.
 
For now,my walking varmint rifle is a CZ 527 Kevlar in .223 wearing a 3-9x42 Kahles CL.By next fall,that will be replaced by a Cooper Phoenix Model 54 repeater in 260rem, likely wearing a Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44.Sure it's a bigger cartridge than required,but it should be very effective shooting coyotes in the wind on the wide open fields.
 
Walking Varminter

First off I'd like to say "Hi" and thanks for starting a thread for which I also have questions. I'd say 223 or AI in a sporter since I have a 22" factory sporter that loves 40gr reloads. In the winter we have lots of snow and I need to wear my snowshoes. That said, a light sporter and a coyote/pelt or two adds to the weight and half a mile in becomes a "longer" half mile walking back out.
Is there a reason you didn't mention a 204, Tac 20, or 20 Vartarg? Any of these would make great walking varminters and take a few rounds before they get hot. Likely look sharp too in a sporter weight barrel cut down to 20".
JM2C
 
stubblejumper said:
For now,my walking varmint rifle is a CZ 527 Kevlar in .223 wearing a 3-9x42 Kahles CL.By next fall,that will be replaced by a Cooper Phoenix Model 54 repeater in 260rem, likely wearing a Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44.Sure it's a bigger cartridge than required,but it should be very effective shooting coyotes in the wind on the wide open fields.
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I think the 260 is an excellent choice as you stated and that's why I'm using this cartridge as well...
 
220Swifty said:
My regular varminter is a 24" savage 110 in 223, with a heavy varmint barrel and a 8-40x56mm on top. It is easily a 15 lb gun. I like the weight for settling down on the bipod and poking a gopher at 300 yds, and like it for shooting at coyotes because there is no recoil to come out of, and you can self spot through your scope.

That being said, it is a pain in the ass to carry in the snow we often encounter in coyote hunting, and is not as easily swung on a running coyote, which the second one is usually doing. I have a t-3 lite in 22-250 that is a beauty to pack, and is nice in the eberlestock when i am walking with a bow as my primary hunting implement, but i prefer a bit more weight in a primary coyote gun, that will see some time as a gopher gun in the summer.

My target weight is around 9 or 10 lbs, hence the slightly heavier tube. I have long legs and broad shoulders, the 2 lbs wont bother me much.

Hope that clears up your confusion:)
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This doesn't clear anything up, it just makes me more confused. There is no need for a heavy barrel when coyote shooting, as the amount of shots is not that high. If you are packing it then the sporter barrel is much nicer to carry. That being said you have just told us that you already have the perfect gun, a t3 in 22-250. You then say that you like to use it for gophers in the summer, yet you have a heavy barreled 223, which is perfect for that cause.

You don't have to beat around the bush, you are really just asking which cartridge we think is cooler. You already have a 22-250, so the 223 AI is slightly redundant, although it will use less powder to achieve the same effect. So I would go for the 22-250 AI, with a 1:8 twist. That way you will have a rifle that has more power than the 22-250 and you can use your regular 22-250 ammo in it if needed. Just like with any "magnum" I would load the heaviest bullets possible.
 
StevieK said:
This doesn't clear anything up, it just makes me more confused. There is no need for a heavy barrel when coyote shooting, as the amount of shots is not that high. If you are packing it then the sporter barrel is much nicer to carry. That being said you have just told us that you already have the perfect gun, a t3 in 22-250. You then say that you like to use it for gophers in the summer, yet you have a heavy barreled 223, which is perfect for that cause.

You don't have to beat around the bush, you are really just asking which cartridge we think is cooler. You already have a 22-250, so the 223 AI is slightly redundant, although it will use less powder to achieve the same effect. So I would go for the 22-250 AI, with a 1:8 twist. That way you will have a rifle that has more power than the 22-250 and you can use your regular 22-250 ammo in it if needed. Just like with any "magnum" I would load the heaviest bullets possible.
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I have used an Anschutz 54 actioned sporter in .222 remington for well over 35 years with a 3-9X on it.
i've killed everything from beavers at 30 feet with downloaded ammo to cyotes at over 350 yards, and verything in between.
I Also have a mess of other rifles in various cartirgdges and weights, but my go to walking varminter is the old Anschutz.
Cat
 
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