Guns for Coyote and fox

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Shoot straight! As time goes by, opinions often change on firearms as well as many other things. When I first started out predator hunting a number of years ago, I started out with a .22mag for fox. After I'd found out that there were larger targets such as the coyote, I immediately went out and purchased my first 22 centerfire which at the time was a 22-250rem. Without much luck getting tight groups with factory ammo from this used firearm I'd bought, I eventually traded it, as well as an old 243win for a brand new Sako chambered in 270win. This was going to be my all round gun and it was for I harvested deer, coyotes, fox, ground hogs(once in a while) and have shot just about everything I've desired to shoot with this very accurate gun. As time passed I eventually wanted to find something a little smaller, (now that I was reloading) and ended up buying a new model 7 light in a remington stainless with synthetic stock in 223rem. Now I was reloading 50gr nosler balistic tip bullets and shot many coyotes and fox with it also. Not being satisfied with it's accuracy, I eventually traded it (as a birthday present from my wife) for a new gun. This new gun.. of course is a Tika ... in a heavy barrel stainless... and might I add very accurate.. and of course in 22-250rem. I've been using it now for just over a year. I have shot at least 14 coyotes with it but haven't had a shot at a fox yet with this gun, but I can honesty say, that when I do shoot one with it I'll be able to say it don't matter how far it is; if I'm on it, and honestly on it.. the gun won't let me down. The fur will fly because I've shot fox with a 22-250 before, and chest shots can get messy....but you have to remember that a dead fox is a dead varmint and that's really all it is. I've been reloading 50gr vmax bullets and have chrono'd them at 3956 and therebouts... shoots nice out of this gun I now own. This gun in this caliber is what I consider the ultimate coyote and fox gun. Although it's a little heavy to carry around, it's very accurate and I've always found I can steady the crosshairs much easier with a heavy gun then a light one. If you like lighter.. then more power too you.. I just happen to like a heavy gun. There are numerous guns you can hunt coyotes with, some are better than others. Since it is sometimes hard to get coyotes into close quarters, a rifle should be taken over a shotgun on any given day. As for choice of rifles I found that there are some more desireable than others. No matter what gun you use any centerfire can cause pelt damage. Generally where there is a bullet hole there is blood. Sometimes exit wounds too depending on the gun, the bullet and the distance the animal was shot at and the size of the animal. Usually when I am calling, there is no problems getting coyotes in under 100 yrds so the .22 centerfires do the trick just fine. If you aren't right on when you hit them they can go a long ways no matter what gun you shoot. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule...If you shoot a coyote..say a 45lb one which is average up here in the guts with a small caliber rifle, that coyote can go alot farther than if you shoot it with a larger bore gun such as a 270, it can still go but you find that it won't go too far and it will be down. As far as rimfires go... stick with them for shooting coyotes out of foothold traps. there is really no place in predator calling for shooting coyotes with the 22mag or 17hmr. I have shot both and don't consider them a wise or humane choice of gun for shooting coyotes. Remember that the lighter the load and smaller the gun the more precise shooting and more limited range you have to shoot. I like the 22-250 because it is a good, accurate, flat shooting caliber. My furthest coyote this year was 460 yards and it killed it dead. Mind you it was a good shot indeed but when you're shooting a very accurate rifle you can make those shots under the right conditions. If you are just in it to kill some nuisance animals, you aren't a great shot, and you are only concerned about killing them, then get something a little heavier like a .243 or a .270.. but if you want to keep the hides and you are skinning them..then you are best off getting a small centerfire so you won't be stitching up holes. You still have to stitch up the odd one with the small guns but not nearly as many. The choice is yours, but my advice to you is to use something that is good for coyote and fox, such as the 22-250 or the 223. By the way.. stay away from 55grain bullets (Balistic tip)out of a 243.. I seen one coyote shot with one and it ripped huge holes and the coyote kept on going. They were exploding on the hide. Anyhow, that's a whole new discussion on reloading and maybe sometime I'll post some of what I've found over the years I've reloaded and post some of my experiences using different loads and bullets. If you go with a 243 then I'd be using 80 grain or 100 grain bullets.. whatever shoots best out of that gun. Copyright 1998-2008 Wolfz Video Productions all right reserved

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