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Coyote Hunters: How often do you need a 2nd shot? Is a single shot bolt action enough?

SHall

Silver $$ Contributor
Do I need a repeating bolt action for coyotes for a follow up shot? Reason I am asking: we are getting more and more coyotes in my old time deer hunting area. I have some nice varmint rifles but all are built on single shot BR actions. My favorite is a little BAT S, right bolt, left port, with ejector. I have several barrels for it that are SS Match in different varmint calibers that are deadly accurate. My favorite is a 20PPC shooting 40g BT bullets at 3950fps. It is laser flat and unbelievably accurate. I have shot several groups at 500 yards under an inch off a Harris BiPod! Kid you not. Anyway, I have only shot 3 coyotes. One with the 20 PPC and two with a 22BR. Only one needed a follow off shot to finish him off at 250 yards (shooting 22BR). Best I remember it was a high lung shot and he started to drag off to the woodline. On the rifle I have a 2 round cartridge holder like the PRS shooters use in case they drop their magazine and cant recover it. So I can get a 2nd shot off pretty quick, but I am sure not as quick as a repeater action. I actually picked up all the components to make a repeater over the last three years, but still have not convinced myself I even need to chamber it and put it together. It is a BAT VR repeater with BR and .223 bolts I picked up because a guy abandoned his project. McMillian Game Warden stock. Jewell trigger with safety. Krieger .224, 1-8 twist, Rem Var contour. I am planning on a 22-250 because of the reliable feeding. They are plenty accurate for varminting. I dont think I am going to do the magazine block thing for BR cases. So, back to the question, do I even need a repeater or just keep using my BAT S with ejector? How often have you guys needed that quick follow up shot or two on coyotes? Samuel Hall
 
Several years ago I called in a triple, shot one and the others run off before I could reload, I was shooting a single shot. I went home and ordered an AR, I got it and with scope mounted started load work up. Two weeks latter I call in a single and kill it, 1 shot. On my next stand I call in a triple and kill all 3 with 3 shots in seconds. A few weeks after that I call in a pair of fox 2 shots and 2 down. Had I been shooting a bolt gun I would have killed some but not all. If you go the AR route don't do it for the spray and pray but for the second critter that comes in. I haven't killed that many coyotes but only one needed a second shot.
 
I just started to seriously coyote hunt this year, before it was couple times a year, now a couple times a week. I started with my 223 ai in a bolt then soon realized that when multiples come in it gets western real fast. I went home and switched to an AR and never been happier. Also if I were to buy an AR now i might look at the 224 Valkyrie. Just a thought.

Good luck
 
A lot of us have learned over the years that depending on where you hunt and the lay out of the land you may need an AR to get both or all three when they pop up at the same time. There has been more than a couple of times even with a AR i haven't been able to get them all. At times it's my fault but at other times it's just to many at once.
I have plenty of great bolt guns for the job, but for years now when i go out the door there's a AR in my hand. Another reason is if i drop or beat up a AR i really don't care, i have more and will just grab the next one and use it while waiting for any repair parts needed for the damaged one.

I got over building pretty AR's years ago, i haven't gotten over sliding down a rocky hill side on one of my nice bolt guns at all. Beside you can build a standard hunting AR now for just about nothing, so why not?
 
I would never even think about hunting coyotes without a repeater. Well I guess I would if it’s all I had but at the very least you need BDL or AICS style bottom metal. AR is fun but really not necessary.
 
Depends where you hunting. If heavily wooded singke ahot is fine cuz you wont get a second shot.

If lota of open area, I go to a repeater.

However... I cant think of one time I shot more than once. If two came in me and the partner would each take a shot at the same time.

Biggest issue is if you miss... you educate them to the call. Dont miss.
 
I have to agree with open country a repeater of some type, I have a very nice AR in 20 Practial that I won, on the stand it is the most awkward rifle I've ever owned and it is now just a trophy that might go out for PD's or GS's but not on a coyote stand. I pack a bolt action in 22-204 or 22-250 in open country

Now in closer cover or hunting with a partner I have no problems with a single shot, in fact I have few combo guns that are my goto's for there as you rarely get a second shot even on multiple responses. My combos are in 5.6x50R/12ga, 5.6x52R/12ga and 6.5x58R Sauer/16ga/16ga and most of the kills with these are with the shotgun barrel but the rifle is always just a finger movement away.
 
If you're in brushy or broken country, you usually won't get a second shot at the same coyote you missed. And if you do, he will be traveling 50 MPH.
Multiple coyotes showing up on the same stand is really cool, and you would often have time to reload. Heck, it's not like you're using a muzzle loader. It's been my experience that the second one shows up a little bit after the first. They just can't stand to hold back when their buddy or mate may be chowing down on whatever is making that pitiful noise.

You could always do as I often do, and carry both rifle and scatter-gun. jd
 
Repeater is really handy on multiples, I try to shoot the furthest first then pick up the pieces next! I hunt in very open country so usually get follow up shots. My hit percentage drops off rapidly....
Bolt gun used the most
 
Marksmanship is the key. And patience to wait for a shot you can definitely make is just as important. Take what rifle you are most familiar with and will hit a coyote with. IMHO you're better off calling in 3 and killing one with one shot than calling in 3 and shooting at all 3 and hitting nothing.

I use either a bolt gun M700 or a bolt gun in Single shot 220 Swift. I got a triple one day with the single shot swift, and a few doubles over the years. I do Believe that coyotes react to calls differently in different areas, so what works for me may not work for you. But for sure if you can't or don't hit em you're just educating them for the next guy. JME WD
 
I hunted coyotes for many years with a single shot. Never once did I feel the need for a repeater. I have hunted the "wiley" one since 1972 and many times I killed a second dog as it came in to investigate. If a dog started running, it, in my mind had beaten me and was, therefore, free to go until the next time. I have 2 AR's but, have never used them for coyotes. Guess I'm too old fashioned in that the game for me was outsmarting them.
 
I will be mostly hunting in an elevated box deer stand looking over a large grain field in a creek bottom.
Shots up to 450 yards. So I can prop the rifle in the window of the stand on a sandbag. There are several dens around close by the field. It use to be an excellent Whitetail deer hunting spot. I rarely ever see any deer there anymore, seems like the deer have moved up close to my house about 1/2 mile from the field. I guess I will use my single shot BAT S in 20PPC until I get the BAT VR repeater finished. I understand the use of an AR, but I feel like I can get a conventional bolt rifle balanced and weighted better than an AR and probably get the accuracy tuned easier for long shots since I am not ersed at all with an AR. My action has 2 bolts. One .223 and one BR. I am thinking I will just go ahead and chamber a 20 Practical or .204 Ruger and a 22-250. They should all work well in a repeater. Thanks for the responses and DONT STOP if you have more comments or ideas for me. Samuel Hall
 
I hunt eastern PA with bolt rifles, mostly 223 Rem's and 243 Win's. So far I haven't had multiples appear (at same time) and if I'm lucky enough to get one to respond to my call I haven't needed a second shot. But I'm still a novice at hunting coyotes.

Out last week - one hung up on me at about 150 yards in the brush - wouldn't give me a shot.:mad:

Fawn distress call has been the most successful but still learning this sport - especially the calling aspect.

The best four I've taken have been while hunting grounds hogs in the spring and summer months, early evening. It was pure luck seeing them since I didn't have my call with me. All were taken with a 223 Rem, 50 grain Nosler - dropped immediately - no second shot needed - distances appprox. 150y / 150y* - 185y** - 240y***

* these two were taken on the same day - same farm - same location about twenty minutes apart. No doubt they were heading toward the farmer's chicken coop for dinner - they didn't make it.:)

** this guy tried to take a ground hog I had shot about 30 minutes before - large male yote - he joined the ghog in animal heaven.:rolleyes: This guy has some serious canines!:(

*** this guy was stalking a farmer's cat at edge of freshly cut corn field - cat stalking birds - yote stalking cat - me nailing yote before he pounced on cat.:) Farmer grateful.
 
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