Perfect Predator rifle?

[GlennGTR1]

For those of us that do a lot of walking to get to remote areas what would you choose as your perfect predator rifle and cartridge combination? Coyotes, bob cat, lynx, mountain lion, and wolf could all be on the list of predators to hunt?

 

[tdoyka]

6.5 creedmoor would work, or the 6mm remington, or my favirite the 257 bob ai

long range work i'd say 6mm-284

 

[LKEYES]

My choice would be a 243, but that's JMHO.

 

[GlennGTR1]

Good to see some feed back but no one has mentioned the rifle.....

 

[Tnslim]

I use a Savage model 10, 243 sporter that I camo painted myself. Shoots great with never an issue of any kind. Light weight and fairly cheap so if you ding it then no big deal. I usually shoot 70gr Nosler BT over varget and Lapua brass but will also shoot the 95gr Noslers pretty well. I find I'm too careful whenever I take a nice rig to the woods.

 

[boltfluter]

A Tikka T3 would be my first choice. Awesome rifle and stellar accuracy. What's not to like. ;D

Paul

www.boltfluting.com

 

[Raythemanroe]

Piston driven AR of some sort, .308 0r 6.5 with a suppressor and a rail in front of your optics for nightvision! that would be my varmint gun.

 

[JeffG]

Savage 99 in 250 savage with 75g Vmax

 

[Larryh128]

AR all the way, you can make them as light as you want. Lots of good calibers to choose from but I would use a 223 with good bullets.

 

[Trapper243]

6.5 Creedmoor with a #3 or 4 contour barrel. Glass stock of slender build but stiff enough to handle a bipod ( Sako hunter clones from Mcmillan are nice) . I prefer a round forend at it rides shooting sticks better when calling than a beavertail forend. Pick your action but I have grown fond of Surgeons, but any good bolt action that is straight and true should work. Do use a detachable magazine. Ceracoat the metal. For glass I would go Nightforce NXS or Leupold if you need to save weight and money. You will want a rail on at least one scope cap or ring adapter for a light, or to mount a reflex sight if you are calling in thick cover. This combo can get you way out there, take care of you up close and 6.5 is enough for the larger predators, and decent barrel life. Go 24" on the barrel as it is long enough but not a hindrance in thick cover. I don't mind a little extra weight in a predator gun, it just makes it a little more forgiving to shoot and hides don't weigh as much as meat, so it isn't like you are going to add 100 lbs to the load when you make a kill. A .260 rem would be a good choice also, but I like the Creedmoor for mag length issues. I like 6.5x47 but am concerned with cold weather ignition issues and the small primer. Maybe that is nothing to worry about.

 

[FeMan]

Tikka T3 would also be my choice in anything from 25 cal. and up.

 

[bheadboy]

Rem 700 sps in 243

Bob

 

[wyoming .260]

I use a cobbled together 700 in .243. Light and handy and Accurate enuff for intended use. Has a straight 6 weaver, bipod and H-S Stock. 55grs noslers as faast as I can push them from a 21" barrel. I use 8208 so its consistent from -10 to +100 degrees.

 

[5spd]

My Savage build in 6x45 or my AR15 build in 6mmx6.8. I would have no problem taking all those with either of them. If I didn't have these Id use my .243.

 

[dan06]

I have a Dtech custom Ar-15 in 6.5-243wssm. shoots .5-.75 inch groups at 100 and kills like the hammer of thor...good fast follow up shots when more than one dog comes in to the bait.

 

[CJ6]

You'll get as many answers as there are members. No one perfect rifle/ cal combo. Your action preference/ bbl length(dia)/case (Factory, Ackley, or Custom)/recoil factor/gun weight/pelt or meat damage/terrain (open country, woods, combination) etc. lots of options and trade-offs.

 

[queen_stick]

Savage 99 in 250 savage with 75g NBT

Savage 99's are AWESOME for hunting. I have on 243win

I haven't had mine out in a while... maybe I'll take it to the range this weekend

 

[K22]

Rifle - Tikka T3 Lite or Browning X Bolt Stalker - I have both and they are outstanding rifles - accurate, and excellent handling in the field.

Caliber - if you leave out wolves and mountain lions - 223, with those critter added - 243.

You don't need a wildcat - these two old standbys will do the job quite well.

 

[Joe C]

If you hadn't mentioned wolves and lions I'd say my Remington 700 LTR in .223 with an HS Precision stock, Rifle Baisx 8oz trigger, IBA one piece mount and rings and my Bushnell Elite 10X mildot scope. It has killed a lot of critters around here with 50g Vmax bullets. If I had to use it on something bigger I'd load up some Barnes solids. But fortunately I have bigger calibers for bigger critters. ;-)

 

[jonbearman]

I would choose the remington 5r rifle in .308 shooting the 110 30 cal vmax.In stainless of course.