Best Rifle for Coyote Hunting?

Question

I'm from Arizona and I've been coyote hunting quite a bit the past years. I'm using just a cheap .22 and it's not doing all that great of a job. I've been looking at some of the ar-15 styles and the Ruger Mini-14. I don't know what caliber to buy either. I can't decide between .308 or .223.

What's the best caliber for this type of hunting?
What's the better rifle (AR-15 or Mini-14)?
If I get an AR, what's the best scope to use?

Answer 1

I'd go with an AR over Mini-14. More accuracy is possible with the AR, though it's going to cost a bit more. I have a Bushmaster Heavy-barreled Varminter, and it's a pretty good rifle. Some of the custom jobs are going to be better, but this one's good enough for me. It hasn't jammed, save for a cheap brass catcher that slid over the ejection port, and I've fired a variety of ammo through it, including old Federal 55 grain, Black hills 55, 68, and 69 BTHP, and some lowly Wolf 62 grain bullets. Not a problem with any of them. The heavier Black Hills loads were very accurate.

As far as scopes, I've been really satisfied with the SWFA SS scopes that I've purchased, as have many people, but I have heard a few stories where somebody's friend's friend's brother's scope had the etched reticule fall off. Those aren't true, obviosly, but the dependability of a mis-treated scope is always going to be a little iffy. I dropped mine while moving and broke a ring. I bought some of those heavy duty Burris Xtreme rings and mounted it back up, and there's no issues.
http://www.swfa.com/c-231-super-sniper-rifle-scopes.aspx
I doubt anyone makes a scope that compares to this for anything near that price. I'm probably going to get a lot of thumbs down for that, since the only scopes you're allowed to use are Leopold or Nightforce, since that's what all the kids these days have on all the 50 Barrets and M14 sniper rifles.

Answer 2

get yourself a bolt action Remington or savage in just about any of the 22 centerfire cartidges. the 22-250 and 220 Swift are the most popular as they allow for longer shots out of 500 or 600 yards and something like the 223 or 222 are good for only about 300 yard shots on yotes. I do not think anyone make an ar in 22-250 but I might be mistaken. I know they do not make a mini-14 in 22-250.

a mini-14 will not hit a yote at 25 yards let alone hit one out futher than that.

For optics plan on spending at least 3/4 the cost of the rifle or more. Buy good glass first time out and be happy with it. You are going to want a scope with a minimum of of 4-16 power and a objective lens of 40 or 42mm. I prefer a 6-24x40mm or a 6-18x40mm scope. They give you a good high upper range for them long shots and a lower low end power for close en shots.
Leupold
Burris
Bushnell elite 3200 and 4200
Weaver
sightron SII
Nikon
Pentax

Answer 3

The AR-15 is the best of the two, better sighting, a bit more accurate. Seeing as they're banned in California I use a Ruger Mini-14. You don't really need a .308 for coyotes the .223 works fine.

Answer 4

I would skip on either of the two rifles you listed and opt for a bolt action in .22-250. If you are dead set on one of the weapons you listed I would go with the AR style in .223. The scope choice is really a personal preference but remember you get what you pay for with both scopes and rifles. Don't buy a good rifle and then a cheap scope or vice versa.

Answer 5

I would go with the .308 as you can use that for about anything in the USA. And for extremely long shots its more accurate. The .223 is great for varmints but not big enough for big game. Also for very long shots the .308 has far more energy on impact than the .223.
But if all you plan to hunt is varmints then the .223 would be all you need.

Answer 6

If you have an AR-15 just use that. If it is a decent one, it should be good out to 300-400 yds. If you like the AR platform and want another rifle, look at a DPMS LR-243. I purchased one for my son a couple of months ago. The trigger needs replaced but other than that, it is great. You can get them from Kentucky Gun Co on gunbroker for $1069 shipped to a ffl dealer near you.

Answer 7

The BEST rifle for KILLING coyote's, is anything using a center fire bullet , that you can hit the animal with, dealing a lethal hit.
all this stuff about a .22-250, .223 & such, is fine, if you happen to have 1 of those, but a .300 weatherby is great, if that happens to be what you have.
it serves no useful purpose, to go out & buy someone elses favorite calibre or brand of rifle. unless you have a lot of money, that you have no other use for.

good luck

Answer 8

well in my mind any high power 22 like a 223 or 22-250 is the best for the job for a clean kill and not much pelt damage i hunt with a bushmaster predator model i really like it but if you want more range i would go with 22-250. as far as hunting coyote i would go with a mid priced scope with at least 40mm reticule don't go cheap on the rings i have seen people with a 400 dollar scope and 20 dollar rings not a good combo good luck

Answer 9

Between the choices you list, I would suggest the AR-15. I think that a bolt-action .22-250 or .25-06 might be better. For the scope, I would recommend a Night Force NXS. If you really want an AR-15 type of rifle, you might want to look at the ones from DPMS.

Answer 10

The Ruger mini-14 Ranch rifle in stainless steel and synthetic stock in .223 caliber is ideal for coyotes. Cost is about $600. If you like the Mini-30 better in 7.62x39, it is alo ver good for this purpose.