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New Coyote Rifle

Zinner

Good morning,

I am in the market for a new rifle. Mostly to call coyotes but occasional fox/bobcat. I also think it would be cool to call coons. My buddies I call with both have sold their 204 rugers and solely shoot their 22-250’s. I have been looking at a 224 Valkyrie. Most shots will be 300 yards and less. I reload so ammunition will not be an issue.

My question is, should I stay away from 224 Valkyrie and go with the tried and true 22-250? Or maybe even the 204? The 224 I am looking at is an AR platform with 1:7 twist.

Thanks for the info!
 
Zinner said:
Good morning,

I am in the market for a new rifle. Mostly to call coyotes but occasional fox/bobcat. I also think it would be cool to call coons. My buddies I call with both have sold their 204 rugers and solely shoot their 22-250’s. I have been looking at a 224 Valkyrie. Most shots will be 300 yards and less. I reload so ammunition will not be an issue.

My question is, should I stay away from 224 Valkyrie and go with the tried and true 22-250? Or maybe even the 204? The 224 I am looking at is an AR platform with 1:7 twist.

Thanks for the info!
Click to expand...
I would also lean toward a handguard with a rubber coating or add 1. Much easier in cold weather.
 
22 center fire great medicine for coyotes.


22-250 and coyotes go together like peas and carrots.




Cats, and fox ........the 22's are a little much.
 
I have both a 224 Valkyrie is AR and a 22-250 in bolt/Howa. I alternate between them, as they both work.
As for comments re: lots of bullets to fire in a AR, compared to bolt, it only takes one or two properly placed shots to anchor a coyote or any animal, without the spray and pray attitude that seems to run when a person holds a AR.. Just my thought.
 
Zinner said:
Good morning,

I am in the market for a new rifle. Mostly to call coyotes but occasional fox/bobcat. I also think it would be cool to call coons. My buddies I call with both have sold their 204 rugers and solely shoot their 22-250’s. I have been looking at a 224 Valkyrie. Most shots will be 300 yards and less. I reload so ammunition will not be an issue.

My question is, should I stay away from 224 Valkyrie and go with the tried and true 22-250? Or maybe even the 204? The 224 I am looking at is an AR platform with 1:7 twist.

Thanks for the info!
Click to expand...
Take a look at a 6x45mm bolt action or AR platform, accurate and easy to reload with inexpensive once fired .223REM brass. You won't worry about loosing fired brass in the tall grass. 65 to 80-grain bullets works well on coyotes. I was using a 6mmPPC in a AR-15 for coyotes and spent too much time looking for fired brass in the tall grass.
My 700 Remington bolt gun shoots the 80-grn. Nosler BT bullets right at 3000fps with 27.0grn of IMR 8208XBR powder.
 
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personally from my experience thus far a 204 is very hard to beat at 300 and under. It gets a tad light pass that.

I used a 204 in an AR with a suppressor and nightvison. It is absolutely my favorite round for saving fur and it crushes yotes, if you don't hit the shoulder. I used the 32 barnes varminators.


If you don't mind blowing one up every so often go with the 22-250.

I have used both and prefer the 204 at night and a 6mm or fast 22 in the days as I can get shots out to 500yds or so.
 
You also did not state if you are saving pelts or not. I like the 22/250 good store bought ammo available if you don't reload or 6.5 Grendel in AR , or bolt gun also with good store bought ammo available in the Grendel. The Grendel will work as a double duty gun also. Will kill things bigger than varmints. Deer sized game out 500. I have both a bolt gun and AR in the Grendel and think it's a great cartridge. If you don't reload your going to have to stay with commercial ammo. Reload and go unlimited.
 
Well hell why not get a 223 rem 22250,204,223 ai,22br,20vartarg,222,22dasher,243win,6xc,6x47lapua,6br,6dasher,that’s what I got for coyotes. If you just got one it’s boring. Point is anything works.
P.S thinking bout a 22creedmoor
 
My 243 shooting Factory Federal FGMM 55 or 70 grain NBT's are great on Wolves @ 400 yards. I have 223's, 22-250, 260's, and 308's.

Give me the 243 anyday, plus the others.

Playing around, I shoot 168 grain Barnes Tripple Shock out of my 338 Lapua, avg speeds around 4,400 fps. It's my 22-250 on Steriods. I have a blast with this rifle!
 
The difference between 204 and 22-250 can be 400 ft*lbs, which is significant. There is a different question to figure if the difference between 1300 ft*lbs and 1700 ft*lbs makes a difference in your situation.

204 Ruger is amazing on coyotes. If they are within 400 yards, they are owned. Sure you can always add more energy to the gun, but that isn't free so the question becomes "is it worth it?". If your shots are inside 400 yards, I don't see what the point of adding the extra energy will be. If you expect shots will be in higher winds or always out beyond 400 yards, then 22-250 makes sense.
 
Zinner said:
Good morning,

I am in the market for a new rifle. Mostly to call coyotes but occasional fox/bobcat. I also think it would be cool to call coons. My buddies I call with both have sold their 204 rugers and solely shoot their 22-250’s. I have been looking at a 224 Valkyrie. Most shots will be 300 yards and less. I reload so ammunition will not be an issue.

My question is, should I stay away from 224 Valkyrie and go with the tried and true 22-250? Or maybe even the 204? The 224 I am looking at is an AR platform with 1:7 twist.

Thanks for the info!
Click to expand...

Most definitely go with the tried and true route. Ask your buddies why they sold their 204's.

IME, The 220 Swift is the best, followed closely by the 22-250. I have to admit though, I've thought more than once about a 22XC for a calling rifle. WD
 
22/250 AIs, best calling rifles I ever owned, second was 6mm Rem and AI, then 243 Win.

55's at 4100 out of the 22/250 AI give confidence at distances between 265-325 yds were you will normally hit them low and unzip them. 6 Rem and 243 with 60g Sierra's at blistering speeds of 4000 and 3850 respectively also is outstanding. Stock 243's we shot 60g Sierra and 80g Sierra after much trial and error.

The 6 Ai is in a class by it's self, 60g Sierra at 4400 and 70g Noslers at 4150, 80g Sierra at 3800 in a 26" barrel. When you are shooting at running coyotes, you appreciate the less leade needed in connecting, and when you do connect, they are dead when they come to a rolling stop.

Flippers and floppers are rare with all the above combo's. You can hit a coyote in the back of the stomach or right in front of the rear legs and he will be laying within feet of where he was hit.
 
I've been playing with different calibers for coyote hunting which to me is calling them.

For fur saving and remember lost coyotes don't pay bills, my goto's are the 222 Rem with 52gr Speer HP's and a 22-204 with 40gr NBT's. At longer ranges I've had some luck with 52gr Speers in the 22-250. A 20 Practical is in the near future.

For ADC work and hunting them out of prime time I find that just about anything works 6x45, 6mm-204, 25-204, 22-250, 243 and 6.5 Grendel.

I do like combo guns in the thick stuff and my goto's are 12ga/5.6x50R Mag(52gr Speer) and 12ga/22 Sav. Highpower (55gr Buffalo arms .228 bullet) most die from a dose of NP BB's with these though.

For close in cats and fox I put together a 22 Magnum and it will work for close in coyotes also.

CZ 455 22 Mag Burris 4x 1.5-6x42 illuminated dot

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Bernardelli combo 12ga/5.6x50R Mag Leupold 1-4x20mm

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Howa Mini DIP Bottom metal, HB 6.5 Grendel, Meopta 1.5-6x42mm

lxw5tD.jpg


Sako 222 Rem Leupold 1-4x20mm

BH8AGG.jpg
 
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