Dedicated coyote rifle

[TA17rem]

With my coyotes it's pretty tough to find much blood so hope I don't disappoint guys that like see lots of blood

 

[TA17rem]

Just fur

 

[TA17rem]

Fur

 

[TA17rem]

Keeping blood off fur and no gapping holes just way I like it.

 

[TA17rem]

Rem. 788 in 22-250 Rem.

I returned home from the service in fall and started to hunt red fox which was bringing 35.00 at time.
I was useing a 22 l.r. Rem. 550 semi-auto and a 16 ga. double barrel. It was tough getting close enough to fox with both guns, but I managed.
That Christmas my father gifted me with the Rem. 788 in 22-250. Boy was that a big wake up, I started to kill more Red fox and made little money at it to pay for ammo and soon after some reloading equipment, powder and bullets. I went through a lot of bullet weights and types in search of the perfect bullet for red fox to keep hide damage to minimum. I ended up with 52 gr. Sierra or Hornady 50 gr. SX bullets.
This rifle is on its second barrel as the first barrel I wore out the rifling by throat as well as at the end of the muzzle. I made enough money on fox so while this rifle was at smiths for new barrel I bought a Ruger M-77 in 22-250. This rifle was a shooter from get go so it became my main rifle at time.
The 788 shoots lights out with 52 gr. Sierra and H-380.

 

[TA17rem]

Bergara in 22-250 Rem.
I bought this rifle new to use at night with my thermal. 52 gr. Sierras answered the call once again for duty with H-380 or RL-15 on coyotes. Its a sweet rifle to shoot and hard to leave it at home some nights.

 

[TA17rem]

Savage MSR-15 in 224 valkrie.
I had issues with this AR at first, it just didn't shoot. My Nephew got a barrel in same chambering from local barrel maker and his shot great, so I ordered one the next day. Yep it was just what doctor ordered. 24" fluted barrel threaded for a suppressor. Im shooting 62 gr. ELD.s in it at moment and like them so far with the 60 gr. Sierras at close second. So far, it's nice case to use out to 300 yards and just tad more. need more coyotes in front to tell more about it. I hate looking for brass at night. Also been thinking about a Bolt action build in this caliber just to fill a void.

 

[TA17rem]

Ruger in 204..

I picked this Ruger up also for night calling, just love a cartridge that can move a bullet fast and flat. It a early season gun for at night and when I run the dogs. 35 gr. Bergers been performing the best but may try a 40 gr. at later date. Nice cartridge to work with but I hate the Ruger action, sloopy is word that comes to mind. I also put this at a 300 yard coyote getter.

 

[TA17rem]

Stiller predator action chambered in 17 Predator.
This is my first full blown custom build with a custom action. All made and put together way I wanted it no complaints with this rifle. I have over 2k rounds down the barrel shooting 30 gr. Golds or Bergers. This was my main calling rifle when doing coyote work out in Dakotas. That 30 gr. at 3900-4000 fps. just flat-out puts then down head on or side shots. It been good out to 400 and not sure it would be reliable past that but I have other calibers for longer stuff.. This rifle you centered on the front of chest or just behind or on the shoulder and it was game over. I never lost a coyote to this rifle or cartridge. Its not that loud either so it may never see a suppressor.

 

[TA17rem]

Rem. XP-100 in 17 Rem.

There was a time I group hunted red fox and coyotes and down along creeks all you got was one shot on a jumped coyoted or bedded for that matter. Some of the guys didn't think it was fair that I was killing most coyotes on a push, so I got voted in as a Blocker. Either keep coyote in section or kill it. As a tracker or blocker most of the shots are at running coyotes and standing shots so this rifle was set up for standing shots at coyotes or red fox. Reason I went to higher cheek comb, better fit and feel. The bolt was set up with David tub firing pin and spring for faster lock time, everything was smoothed out in action and bolt, the best trigger installed and a fast cartridge as well. My goal was to shorten the time it takes for the bullet to reach a running coyote the second I have the cross hair where it's needed. It took time to figure lead out but had lots of runners to practice on and either I got good at it or failed and thus kill fewer coyotes.
The best part was killing a runner and then wait for the trackers to come to road and then one would ask, "The 17 cal again"? I'd say yes and he would lower his head and walk away. LOL His school of thought was a 243 win. LOL

 

[TA17rem]

Mark x mini Mauser in 17 Rem.

Back in day Sako's was pretty expensive so I went the poor-man's Sako route and went with a Mini mark X.
I had many Factory 17 Rem.s in 17 rem but most of them never shot very well so I ended up doing a build on those actions.
The mini action seemed to go well with 17 rem. just a little on rough side, this one started out as a 223 and that barrel went straight into garbage can.
Anyway, I had a nice barrel installed in 17 rem. shooting 25 gr. Hornady H.P.s and at one time in early years this rifle took place of the 22-250's for red fox. I was doing less damage and sewing so I was happy and made money on the fox. More money more guns and other stuff. LOL The rifle worked ok on coyotes from time to time but range was sort of limited with them so not much use on coyotes.

 

[TA17rem]

Rem. 700 LV. In 17 Rem.

I bought this 17 rem as it was nice rifle to carry when walking out and snipping and balanced well in my hands. Its seen use on fox and few coyotes but never did use it much. 25 gr. Hornady's worked well in it.
I plan to work with this rifle this spring and if it doesn't shoot like i want then barrel gets pulled and I'll make a 204 or a 224 Valkyrie out of it.

 

[TA17rem]

Mini Mauser in 17 Mach 4.

Mini mark action chambered in 17 Mach-4 with a H&R Ultra wildcat barrel. Just another fox getter.
Back in the day this is what they call a Bobcat rifle, small caliber, over all short length and light in weight. About 5 pounds with scope. 25 gr. Hornady's worked best in this rifle with some H-335 powder. Rifle was easy to pack in on a long walk after red fox. It made a handy truck gun as well.

 

[TA17rem]

221 F.B. Classic.

Another red fox rifle but had just enough energy for 200 yard coyote if one showed up on a hunt or stand.
42 & 52 gr. Calhoon double H.P. bullets did the magic on red fox and a few coyotes that got to close. Nice small case to work with and very accurate and little to no recoil. It also did well on the raccoons.

 

[TA17rem]

22-250imp

Rem. 700 which started life as a 6mm H.L.S.
A new ackley barrel was installed with a tight neck and action blue printed and trued up. David Tub firing pin and spring installed in the bolt. I started out with 52 gr. Sierras to save on fur then updated to the Hornady 52 gr. A-max and then onto the 52 gr. ELDS by Hornady to give me little more range and accuracy. N-540, big-game and Varget was powders worked the best. could get vel.s up to 4000 fps and little more but settled with 3950 fps..
I kept this rifle in truck along with 17 Pred. as both was my main calling rifles. My farthest kill was a Red fox at 767 yards lasered and with coyotes out to 500 yards or less.
Over 2k bullets down the barrel so I installed a new 22-250 ackley barrel by Brux this fall but went with standard size neck. 52 gr. EDS work great but may try some 60 gr. Noslers at later date as they shoot well also in this rifle.
Rifle is set up with a Guide 640 thermal with built in range finder and bullet drop calculator and took a coyote at 460 yards three weeks ago so happy about that. At the moment I have a super sniper 10x on rifle for load work..

I have a new 22-250 ackley build going on at gunsmith right now and also doing a update on another 221 F.B. and should see them in a few weeks..

 

[Murray Brook]

I've had a few different 22/250's over the years and like you the 52/53gr Sierra along with H-380 served me well.

 

[5spd]

Ok. I think my nephew has the 6x6.8 still messing with his for load.

What bullet, I can send you some load info.

 

[AP2020]

These Ohio coyotes were killed with 223 Rem, 6PDK [6mmx6.8SPC], 22-250AI, 9mm, 12ga TSS, 300 BLK, and probably some other calibers I have forgotten!

My goal is to kill them, not to see how far away I can try to kill them! Most of these kills were under 100 yards, with the longest maybe pushing 200 yards.

Currently, I am using a 17 Fireball with 30gr Bergers, so far so good!

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[Bleebs]

I didn't see 22 ARC listed.

In my opinion, .224 Valkyrie and 22 ARC are basically the same cartridge. You can run both of them in an AR-15 and they're both the best option for that platform. It just comes down to preference on whether you prefer Federal or Hornady at that point. Both are great cartridges.

I do believe that some of these are going to do too much pelt damage. I'm shooting 55 gr Bergers out of a 22-250 at about 3600 fps and it's generally pounding coyotes pretty hard.

I just bought a 22 Creedmoor as well and I believe it's going to be an excellent coyote killer but I imagine it will be even worse on fur than my 22-250.

I think that if fur is your game, you gotta stay down in the 20 cal, 17 cal range like a 17-223, 17 Tac, 17 Rem, 204 Ruger, etc. I also have an AR-15 in .223 Rem which has been okay on fur but once you get at or above 55 gr with some of the faster shooting 22 cartridges (maybe 3400+), you turn into a roll the dice game as to whether you're doing damage to coyote pelts.

 

[Taylorbok]

I've got a 22 Creed and the reality is they are about equal to a 6 Creed ballistically, those super high speeds you hear from a 22 Creed are way over pressure. You'll get a significantly shorter barrel life with the 22.

I'd go for a 6 creed.