I'm wanting to try a 20 caliber rifle for coyotes. Cabela's currently has the Savage 12FV in 204 Ruger on sale. My problem with it is it weighs 8 3/4 pounds. I would rather have something light like a CZ American that weighs in at 6 1/4 pounds. Is there any advantage to using a heavier rifle for coyotes?
Coyote Rifles, Heavy or Light?
- Thread starter pilot
- Start date
In my experience, unless you are shooting/sniping coyotes at extremely long range, I prefer the lighter rifle. At 500 yds plus weight is your friend. Shoot straight!!
Paul
Paul
A heavy gun will make you stronger if you carry it a lot. I don't like to carry more than I need to. When you add gun, scope, bipod, suppressor, call and all the other stuff you need you will love the weight savings of a lite gun.
jds holler
Gold $$ Contributor
Back when I used to really tear it up, my primary rifle was a Rem 700 Sporter ADL in 222. BUT-- I also packed a 12 ga 870. I had slings for both, and frequently had to use them as I packed a dead coyote back to the rig.
I no longer need to slaughter everything that I call, and have turned the rifle into a heavier barreled 20 cal. I put it into a slender tupperware stock which is very grippable for carrying, and even though it's heavier, it doesn't feel too bad. I'll leave the shotgun behind these days, and with the rifle on the sling, it's fine.
If I did a lot of open country long range calling, I'd have a bipod or shooting sticks. For my normal style, I'm shooting 200 max, and usually half that. jd
I no longer need to slaughter everything that I call, and have turned the rifle into a heavier barreled 20 cal. I put it into a slender tupperware stock which is very grippable for carrying, and even though it's heavier, it doesn't feel too bad. I'll leave the shotgun behind these days, and with the rifle on the sling, it's fine.
If I did a lot of open country long range calling, I'd have a bipod or shooting sticks. For my normal style, I'm shooting 200 max, and usually half that. jd
I prefer a lighter rifle for predator hunting since I will sometimes have to move to a different stand frequently when I'm not getting any responses to my calling. It's not like varmint hunting where sitting on a tree line with active holes will usually produce a ground hog sooner or later therefore you can take advantage of a heavier rifle's stability and longer range potential since you may not be moving much at all.
My favorite predator rifle has become the 223 Rem Tikka T3 Lite, 8" twist with 60 Vmax's. I've also use a Browning X Bolt, 243 with 85 grain Sierra BTHP's.
My favorite predator rifle has become the 223 Rem Tikka T3 Lite, 8" twist with 60 Vmax's. I've also use a Browning X Bolt, 243 with 85 grain Sierra BTHP's.
Presently Im going heavy for long range coyote sniping. Started out with a Ruger Varmint. Thought it was too heavy (shot 3/8 MOA in 243), but I sold it. Went to a Kimber Montana 243. Super light. Super tough to hit half MOA w/o making any mistakes. Sold it.
I recently rebarreled a Tikka T3x LITE in 270 win to 6-284 w/28'' 1-13 braked Pac-Nor factory contour. Im having a bud make me a Walnut stock w/cheek riser and adjustable but plate. Im guessing I will be pushing 15 lbs w/scope, bipod, etc..
Heavy will help me with the 4-600 yard shots. Light is awesome to carry, but that's about it 200 yards and under. Just like the winners in the nPRS series. Heavy usually places pretty high up in the matches.
I recently rebarreled a Tikka T3x LITE in 270 win to 6-284 w/28'' 1-13 braked Pac-Nor factory contour. Im having a bud make me a Walnut stock w/cheek riser and adjustable but plate. Im guessing I will be pushing 15 lbs w/scope, bipod, etc..
Heavy will help me with the 4-600 yard shots. Light is awesome to carry, but that's about it 200 yards and under. Just like the winners in the nPRS series. Heavy usually places pretty high up in the matches.
Alex Wheeler
Site $$ Sponsor
How far do you hike? If your on flat ground and covering less than 5 miles I wouldnt think about weight, heavier rifles are steadier. If your in mountains or hills and covering a lot of ground that rifle can start to get heavy. Just depends on your hunting style. In my experience the only thing a light rifle does better than a heavy one is carry nicer.
nmkid
Gold $$ Contributor
My coyote hunting has been in the wide, open spaces of the West. I started hunting them in 1972 and have never stopped until we moved to Virginia 4 years ago. I have always used a, "heavy" rifle and it has never bothered me one bit. The most I ever walked to a stand was probably one mile. What's so hard about carrying a 10-13lb. rifle over mostly flat terrain? Of course, this same rifle would never go elk hunting with me!
Clancy
Silver $$ Contributor
I will never have anything but a 22” 4 or 5 contour on a predator rig. By the time I outfit them with an appropriate scope, dbm and bipod, I can be all in for around 10 lbs.
I simply cannot see carrying 15 lbs all day when I can shoot 3 shot groups in the low to mid 1s with a 10 lb rifle. Call me crazy....
I simply cannot see carrying 15 lbs all day when I can shoot 3 shot groups in the low to mid 1s with a 10 lb rifle. Call me crazy....
Clancy
Silver $$ Contributor
That is a Manners EH3 in swamp.
I also have it in moss.
It is not as comfortable for prone work as the EH1, but it carries well and has the same comb height.
I should have explained how I'm an old retired cheap bastard.
I like that rifle a lot, but if I was to build one, it would be in 20 Practical. I have a ton of 223 brass and nothing, brass or dies, for the 204.
STS
Silver $$ Contributor
I'm with Alex on this one. I noticed about 15 years ago that I shot my .17 Mach IV better in the field than any rifle that I'd ever had. It wouldn't shoot the smallest groups of my rifles, but I hit what I was shooting at with surprising consistency I built myself a suppressed .22-250 that weighs about 11 pounds and it is very noticeable how much more precise it is in bullet placement in the field. I've hunted coyotes for more than 45 years and killed many hundreds of them and this rifle is by far the most productive I've ever used. Weight is your friend when you're trying to put a bullet in a very small space.
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