Yote rifles --- coyote

Brocolt

Brocolt

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wondering how many of you are using a lighter weight hunting rilfe for yote? how do you find it performs compared to a varmint/heavy barrel. what are you using for yote hunting?

I considering getting a light weight rifle for yotes and looking for ideas.
 
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Brocolt said:
wondering how many of you are using a lighter weight hunting rilfe for yote? how do you find it performs compared to a varmint/heavy barrel. what are you using for yote hunting?

I considering getting a light weight rifle for yotes and looking for ideas.
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I had the exact same idea... I walk a lot between sets and wanted something I could carry easy... I bought a remington 799 mini mauser from delselins... 20 inch barrel, I love it... With a vortex diamondback 4-12 scope mounted it weighs in under 8 pounds... I sighted it in today... Groups under 1.5 inches at 100.. And that is with stock whitebox 223...
 
Ruger used to make a M77 MKII in 220 Swift with a 24" sporter weight barrel, blued and walnut. I snagged one new in the mid 90's I think. Threw on a Boyds pepper laminate and that rifle has probably accounted for most of my coyotes. It's not super light, but just perfect balance. About 8 lbs scoped IIRC. One that'll never make it to the EE.
 
bearkilr said:
Ruger used to make a M77 MKII in 220 Swift with a 24" sporter weight barrel, blued and walnut. I snagged one new in the mid 90's I think. Threw on a Boyds pepper laminate and that rifle has probably accounted for most of my coyotes. It's not super light, but just perfect balance. About 8 lbs scoped IIRC. One that'll never make it to the EE.
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Lol.. If I had my way everything I own would have a boyd's pepper laminate stock... They are just that nice ...
 
here is my problem, I might have permanent nerve damage to my arm, So the Doc says from a torn bicep injury.
My yote gun is a Tikka T3 varmint which is too heavy for me to lift & can't carry anymore at this time. it's been over 7 months & I'm not close to healing yet.
so my reason for posting is I might be better off looking for a light weight rifle so I can still hunt.

I'm looking for options, Tikka T3 sporter, Remington model7 any other ideas. lighter the better but still want a solid shooter.
 
I use an old Stevens .243 and a heavy barreled Savage FCPK in 223.
The .223 is 13-14lbs but the weight doesn't matter because I carry all my gear in an Eberlestck Gunrunner pack.

I hike in, set up hunt, then pack up and hump to the next setup.
Occasionaly I carry but usually the rifle is in the back pack.

That is another option and may let you hunt while you heal without using your arms all day.
 
Kimber Montana .223. Nothing else will do if you want lite done right. And yes i have a Contender carbine, a Rem model 7ss and a Ruger UL rifle to compare it to.

When i really need to kill coyotes, my HB Ruger Varmint in .220 Swift get's the nod of late.
 
if I was to switch from a T3 varmint to a T3 lite sporter the difference is only 2lbs on paper that isn't much.
Kimber is the lightest gun on the market it's around 5.5lbs or so but it's a $1300+ rifle.
 
The holy grail of coyote calling rifles is something that handles like a sporter, shoots like a benchrest rifle, carries like thistle down, kills like lightning but somehow only makes 1 pinprick in the hide.The scope should be equally adept at a close range running shot, or a 500 yard hung-up 'yote that is never going to come in. Might as well make it weather proof while you're at it.

I haven't got the perfect coyote rifle, but I do have a Kimber 82 Varmint 22/250 that comes close. 4.5-14 x 40 VX3 with B&C reticle. 8.5 pounds loaded and ready to go.

Theres also stainless Rem/Gaillard/McMillan hybrid that suffers from the handicap of being a .204. Close otherwise. Same scope as the Kimber.
 
Ive hunted dogs for years now and owned all sorts of predator guns but I prefer small and light. Walking or snowshoeing with a 12 lb rig really sucks.
I just got a Model Seven Predator in .204 with a 4-12x40 Vortex Diamond back. Its a really nice handling gun and actually the first Remington Ive owned that actually shoots amazing groups. Trigger is horrible and the stock is flimsy junk but it shoots 1/2 MOA even with these issues.
 
Brocolt said:
if I was to switch from a T3 varmint to a T3 lite sporter the difference is only 2lbs on paper that isn't much.
Kimber is the lightest gun on the market it's around 5.5lbs or so but it's a $1300+ rifle.
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Actually it's more like $2000.00 with a Leopold Mark AR 4-12 in Talleys on board, taxes in. The sub half inch 3 shot groups are priceless though.:D
 
I sold my Rem 700sps varmint 204 to my son as it was to damn heavy to tote around in the snow banks, good shooter though. Bought myself a Tikka t3lite 204 and it is almost as good a shooter as the Rem, a lot nicer to carry though. I like it.
 
I shoot a savage in 243(i think its a model 111). Bought the last one of the shelf at P&D in edmonton. They only had a youth model left. I think the stock is just a bit shorter than the reg model. Put a limbsaver recoil pad to make up the length. started handloading 55 gr nosler BTs with 41 gr of IMr 4064. Wicked fast and flat. Coyotes drop before you hear the "smack" and kicks gophers 14 feet in the air!
If i had the money id buy a Howa Axiom. My buddy bought one and its a tack driver!
 
I would never carry around a heavy barreled rifle when I have to walk threw deep snow coyote hunting. The lighter the better. I like Tikkas, Mine is a T3 sythetic .22-250 with Redfield Revolution 4-12x40mm. My Rem 700 SPS .223 is maybe a touch heavier but I don't notice it.
 
scott_r said:
Walking or snowshoeing with a 12 lb rig really sucks.
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You said that right!

I was fed up with heavy coyote rigs and went with a Kimber Montana in 257 Bob. Even with a Leupold 4.5-14x40 it still comes in at under 6.5 pounds. What a nice change for walking the big hills chasing dogs.
 
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