New predator gun

[brocksw]

There's quite a few guys in ND that are pretty serious about their predator hunting. Some that I know of kill an ungodly amount of coyotes on an annual basis. Not trapping either, shooting, by the hundreds every year.


They seem to lean on the .204/20 practical/20 tactical or 6mm wildcats when they're not as concerned about fur.

 

[Paul from Colorado]

For straight up varmint blasting you can’t beat the .223, 22-250, or the 204 Ruger. With soft point bullets you will put them down for sure. My kids swear by the 204’s as that is their go to guns. I got into the Barnes varmint grenades years ago for the .223 and 22-250, the 35 grain kills nicely but saves the pelts, great accuracy out to 200 as well. Not sure if Barnes still makes them but if you handload they are the ticket for pelting critters all the way down to foxes.

 

[elevatorman]

I've shot roughly 5 foxes with a glock 19 and another 5 or 6 with a .223 ar. I must say the .223 shooting 50 grain varmint tip rounds is impressive on a fox. They are done.

I vote 223. Definitely enough round to get you to 300 yards, even for coyotes. I'm a huge fan of having cartridges that are highly available and will be if things ever went south (military uses 223 and 9mm). And usually due to the commonality and availability those calibers are cheaper too.

I have a .17 hmr and it's probably my most accurate gun and really fun to shoot. But after having to clean the darn thing I knew I'll never get such a small bore again. But I love that savage rifle so much I bought another one in .22lr

 

[elevatorman]

Depending on your volume of shooting, I've also split a red fox into two halves at 20 yards with my 7mm rem mag, if your not trying to save fur. The ballistics of a rifle like that are quite good and the margin for error goes up a bit.

 

[deerhunter24]

hands down 223 or 243

 

[ccbutler3]

223 x2

 

[Vanishe187]

Yeah for pelt saving even the 204 left big holes in my bobcats and fox. That 17 hornet really shines with the smaller predator pelt hunters. If I don't care about pelts I definitely prefer my 22-250 over my 223. I own lots of different predator calibers they all have their own pros and cons. Really a 22-250 is hard to beat as an all around predator caliber. Hey if you can afford it why not have a hmr, hornet,204,223,and 22-250. My real problem is choosing what gun I wanna take out that day.

 

[406bert]

I’ve been using a Ruger m77 22-250 and a Ruger m77 6mm rem my grandpa gave me they are not very fur friendly for fur friendly I use a howa mini 223

 

[semperfi87]

A 22–250 is always a solid choice fast and lethal and it’s tried and true if you want to step up from that a 6 mm Creedmoor or a 22 Creedmoor is a lightning bolt and a hell of a punch

 

[redhaze]

I have a 243, 223 and a 22-250, I prefer the 22-250 for where I hunt in NM. All good choices.

 

[Vanishe187]

I have a 243, 223 and a 22-250, I prefer the 22-250 for where I hunt in NM. All good choices.

Yeah i live in NM as well. Working on building an ar 22-250 this year. Will probably wind up being the gun I take out most from now on. Might take awhile got a few other toys I'm working on getting also.

 

[Don Fischer]

Ok so ive been looking at getting me a 17 hornet. I have areas where i hunt fox and cats and my 17hmr is just a bit underpowered for some of the shots. Would like a hornet for the 200yard and occasional 300 on fox and bobcats. I dont get many coyotes in my fox locations but they come sometimes and my hmr limit in coyotes is 100yards. Anyone here use a 17 hornet willing to share your thoughts on the round? I have several guns my 223 is my coyote specific gun but really want a more powerful round for my grey and cat hunts.

So the 17 Hornet is more powerful than the 223?

 

[Vanishe187]

So the 17 Hornet is more powerful than the 223?

Not at all more powerful than a 223. It's more explosive than the 22 hornet.i would put it below the 204 rugsr as far as power. Smaller bullet going fast, pretty much shrapnel on impact. It can take coyotes at 200 yards. Pretty much max distance I would try a coyote at. I use mine for my bobcat and fox gun. Usually in thick stuff, most shots ore max 150 yards. It's really great to reload almost get 1000 round per lb. 17s are great own several of them. Key with all 17 cals is shot placement. It's a small bullet so placement is key for success. When you get a well placed shot, it's like you hit them with a lightning bolt. It's really a great little gun. I think it's the perfect fox and bobcat round, especially if you like reloading.

 

[Don Fischer]

Ya know, I got my 243's with the idea I was going to take up coyote hunting. Well one 243 is now a 260 Rem and the other I'm not gonna wear out the barrel shooting. If I get this notion again I'm looking for another 222 Rem. problem with shooting coyotes is they look like a dog to me and I have a hard time shooting any dog! Damn I like dogs! But over the years I have given in a few times and shot a few coyote's. Shoot out hunting one time for deer, I came across a Fox and shot it with my 7x57. Really tore it up and felt bad about that. Then another time looking for an elk I came across a coyote I shot with my 6.5x06 and a 140gr Hornady Interlock. Slick hole in and out! Felt bad about it after the fact!

 

[bobcat_trapper]

I would look at a 204 ruger. I know Berger made a 30 gr hp for a while. I have a few boxes. Working on a crow load. I like shooting crows and armadillo's. That Berger 35 gr is what I use on coyotes. Hornady made a 45 gr soft point bullet. Hornady makes a 24 gr non lead bullet (nxt I think is the name). Barnes makes one too a 26 gr. I think is the size. Depending on the area. If it's around a thicket. And the shots are 100 yds or under. I carry a 22 mag for bobcats. I have a 17 hmr set up too. Haven't used it much. I been using my 204 ruger and a 35 gr berger on hogs.

 

[BQ12]

Ok so ive been looking at getting me a 17 hornet. I have areas where i hunt fox and cats and my 17hmr is just a bit underpowered for some of the shots. Would like a hornet for the 200yard and occasional 300 on fox and bobcats. I dont get many coyotes in my fox locations but they come sometimes and my hmr limit in coyotes is 100yards. Anyone here use a 17 hornet willing to share your thoughts on the round? I have several guns my 223 is my coyote specific gun but really want a more powerful round for my grey and cat hunts.

Nice