mcseal2
WKR
- Joined
- May 8, 2014
- Messages
- 2,674
I know this has been discussed multiple times, but for some of the newer predator hunters I thought I'd put up a few things I've learned over the years.
I'm going to stick to rifles and not shotguns because that's what I primarily use calling and know best.
I really think it takes a couple rifles to be set up ideally for predators. It can darn sure be done with one, but I feel like 2 works best. Here is what I'm currently using and why. It's not my ideal pair but it does the job well enough I haven't bought anything else.
I do 80% of my calling now with a DPMS Prairie Panther AR in 223 with a Leupold 3.5-10x scope with the B&C reticle. I shoot a reman ammo with a 55gr V max at 2962fps that it likes best. It's a particular rifle on ammo, but this economical load it loves. The rifle has an aftermarket 2lb trigger and a mount on the forend for a Primos Rapid Pivot Bipod.
This rifle does a nice job on coyotes at normal calling ranges without being to destructive on smaller varmints. I do wish sometimes that it thumped harder, I have more coyotes spin or run after a shot than I have with a faster 22 or the 6mm stuff. I take most of my calling shots inside 120 yards and this gun works great there. It does the job on longer shots too as long as I get a facing or broadside shot. The slower velocity of my load fits better with the B&C reticle than with some of the varmint oriented reticles. I did the final zero of my scope by shooting a 300 yard target with my 300 yard crosshair. That puts me on target at ranges shorter than that, while giving me confidence on the longer shots. After zeroing at 300 yards this way I checked my 100yd zero so I know how high it needs to be when I do a quick check on the range in my yard.
For the other 20% of my calling and for my "truck gun" I like more power. While the 223/V max combo I shoot does a good job under good conditions I also like having a rifle that is more forgiving. I generally go to a 243 but the 22-250, 25-06, or lots of others in that area work too. For me this rifle needs to be able to push a bullet capable of breaking down a coyote running straight away from me fast enough that I can hold on hair out to around 300 yards. When I'm carrying this rifle it's usually because coyotes are spooky, wind is high, or the terrain is really open. Also it's generally a spot where I expect only coyotes and not smaller predators. I have went away from using the VH style reticles on these rifles over the last few years. I have decided it's better for me to zero for the most mid-range rise I am willing to accept (2.8" for me) to get the longest possible range I can shoot without much worry about hold over. Using a reticle like the Leupold Varmint Hunter calls for a 200 yard zero which means I'm having to use the reticle for hold-over at 250 and 300 yards. I would rather zero for further and hold on hair at those ranges. In the past I shot a 6mm Remington pushing a 70gr Ballistic tip at 3824fps that flat smoked coyotes inside 350 yards without much worry about elevation. I've also used 243's with a variety of 70-85gr bullets at 3100 to 3400fps. Those were harder on coyotes at times than I'd like and were really hard on anything smaller. Right now I'm experimenting with a pair of 243's. One is shooting a 69 grain Berger at 3374fps and the other is pushing a 58gr V max at 3841fps. I haven't got enough shot with them to know how well I like these bullets just yet.
These rifles have scopes in the 3-18x or 4-16x range. Calling I prefer at least a 30ft field of view at 100yds on the lowest power. For a truck gun anything with a bottom end of 6x or lower has worked fine for me.
I have shot a 264 win mag on deer and antelope and a 300 win mag on anything bigger for a while now. I always figured if I could only have one rifle for big game I'd split the difference and have a 7mm Rem Mag. I have a similar set-up for coyotes. I use the 223 and 243, but if I could only have one I'd split the difference with a 22-250.
On a typical day calling I'll have both a 243 and the AR in the vehicle with me. The AR will stay in my Eberlestock ready to go calling when I leave the truck or UTV. The 243 will be next to me in case I spot one while going between stands in the pastures. A coyote I spot then will likely be either running away when I shoot it or stop to look back at longer range. I'll likely be shooting quick and estimating range so the flatter shooting and harder hitting rifle makes my job easier.
I have gone to using scopes where I dial the range for big game almost exclusively. Generally whether ambush hunting or spot and stalking I have time to dial the range before a shot if it's long enough to justify it. Coyotes I just don't get that opportunity that often. It seems that a coyote doesn't stay put in one spot long enough for me to range him and dial his exact range into the scope very often. I'm better off ranging objects when I can before starting a calling set and then using knowledge of my rifle to estimate from there. Dialing is great when there is time, I just don't often get that time. Also I can very very rarely ever get prone where I call to get stable enough to take the shots past that 300-350yd range where dialing would be really beneficial. Also the cheapest scopes I'd use that I trust to dial correctly are around $750 and a good standard scope can be had for around a third of that. We just have to tall of grass. I use a tripod set-up that lets me shoot further from a higher position for big game, but it's slower to get on target with than my bipod for predators. In my area I've decided being set up for that much precision costs more fur than it gains.
Anyway just figured I'd put that out in case it would help anyone. As I hit and miss more coyotes and technology changes so do my set-ups, but this is where I'm at now.
I'm going to stick to rifles and not shotguns because that's what I primarily use calling and know best.
I really think it takes a couple rifles to be set up ideally for predators. It can darn sure be done with one, but I feel like 2 works best. Here is what I'm currently using and why. It's not my ideal pair but it does the job well enough I haven't bought anything else.
I do 80% of my calling now with a DPMS Prairie Panther AR in 223 with a Leupold 3.5-10x scope with the B&C reticle. I shoot a reman ammo with a 55gr V max at 2962fps that it likes best. It's a particular rifle on ammo, but this economical load it loves. The rifle has an aftermarket 2lb trigger and a mount on the forend for a Primos Rapid Pivot Bipod.
This rifle does a nice job on coyotes at normal calling ranges without being to destructive on smaller varmints. I do wish sometimes that it thumped harder, I have more coyotes spin or run after a shot than I have with a faster 22 or the 6mm stuff. I take most of my calling shots inside 120 yards and this gun works great there. It does the job on longer shots too as long as I get a facing or broadside shot. The slower velocity of my load fits better with the B&C reticle than with some of the varmint oriented reticles. I did the final zero of my scope by shooting a 300 yard target with my 300 yard crosshair. That puts me on target at ranges shorter than that, while giving me confidence on the longer shots. After zeroing at 300 yards this way I checked my 100yd zero so I know how high it needs to be when I do a quick check on the range in my yard.
For the other 20% of my calling and for my "truck gun" I like more power. While the 223/V max combo I shoot does a good job under good conditions I also like having a rifle that is more forgiving. I generally go to a 243 but the 22-250, 25-06, or lots of others in that area work too. For me this rifle needs to be able to push a bullet capable of breaking down a coyote running straight away from me fast enough that I can hold on hair out to around 300 yards. When I'm carrying this rifle it's usually because coyotes are spooky, wind is high, or the terrain is really open. Also it's generally a spot where I expect only coyotes and not smaller predators. I have went away from using the VH style reticles on these rifles over the last few years. I have decided it's better for me to zero for the most mid-range rise I am willing to accept (2.8" for me) to get the longest possible range I can shoot without much worry about hold over. Using a reticle like the Leupold Varmint Hunter calls for a 200 yard zero which means I'm having to use the reticle for hold-over at 250 and 300 yards. I would rather zero for further and hold on hair at those ranges. In the past I shot a 6mm Remington pushing a 70gr Ballistic tip at 3824fps that flat smoked coyotes inside 350 yards without much worry about elevation. I've also used 243's with a variety of 70-85gr bullets at 3100 to 3400fps. Those were harder on coyotes at times than I'd like and were really hard on anything smaller. Right now I'm experimenting with a pair of 243's. One is shooting a 69 grain Berger at 3374fps and the other is pushing a 58gr V max at 3841fps. I haven't got enough shot with them to know how well I like these bullets just yet.
These rifles have scopes in the 3-18x or 4-16x range. Calling I prefer at least a 30ft field of view at 100yds on the lowest power. For a truck gun anything with a bottom end of 6x or lower has worked fine for me.
I have shot a 264 win mag on deer and antelope and a 300 win mag on anything bigger for a while now. I always figured if I could only have one rifle for big game I'd split the difference and have a 7mm Rem Mag. I have a similar set-up for coyotes. I use the 223 and 243, but if I could only have one I'd split the difference with a 22-250.
On a typical day calling I'll have both a 243 and the AR in the vehicle with me. The AR will stay in my Eberlestock ready to go calling when I leave the truck or UTV. The 243 will be next to me in case I spot one while going between stands in the pastures. A coyote I spot then will likely be either running away when I shoot it or stop to look back at longer range. I'll likely be shooting quick and estimating range so the flatter shooting and harder hitting rifle makes my job easier.
I have gone to using scopes where I dial the range for big game almost exclusively. Generally whether ambush hunting or spot and stalking I have time to dial the range before a shot if it's long enough to justify it. Coyotes I just don't get that opportunity that often. It seems that a coyote doesn't stay put in one spot long enough for me to range him and dial his exact range into the scope very often. I'm better off ranging objects when I can before starting a calling set and then using knowledge of my rifle to estimate from there. Dialing is great when there is time, I just don't often get that time. Also I can very very rarely ever get prone where I call to get stable enough to take the shots past that 300-350yd range where dialing would be really beneficial. Also the cheapest scopes I'd use that I trust to dial correctly are around $750 and a good standard scope can be had for around a third of that. We just have to tall of grass. I use a tripod set-up that lets me shoot further from a higher position for big game, but it's slower to get on target with than my bipod for predators. In my area I've decided being set up for that much precision costs more fur than it gains.
Anyway just figured I'd put that out in case it would help anyone. As I hit and miss more coyotes and technology changes so do my set-ups, but this is where I'm at now.
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