Which guns do you use for predator hunting?

Which guns do you use for predator hunting?

  • Bolt Action Only

    Votes: 975 40.1%

  • AR-15 Only

    Votes: 81 3.3%

  • Shotgun Only

    Votes: 9 0.4%

  • Bolt and Shotgun

    Votes: 416 17.1%

  • AR-15 and Shotgun

    Votes: 95 3.9%

  • Both AR-15 and Bolt

    Votes: 857 35.2%
  • Total voters
    2,433
I would love to use an AR for coyotes, but I'm too late to legally have one in California, thanks to the misinformed legislators who passed the anti-gun laws covering such firearms as the AR-15 and related so-called "Assault Weapons," which by-the-way seems to be a term that I have yet to see defined.

Instead, I use either a .270 bolt action for coyotes and hogs, or a .22-250 Remington (40X bench-rest single shot), a Cooper .20 VarTarg (Love the rifle for ground squirrels, but haven't tried it for coyotes....yet). 55 grain Noslers or V-Maxes for the .22-250, and 32 grain Noslers for the 20-caliber Cooper. I don't know if the 32 grainers will suffice for coyotes, and may want to step up to 40 grain fodder.

I haven't really paid much attention to shooting dogs with the Cooper because I am so used to the other two rifles, and as such, I haven't loaded any 40 grain bullets for it and have no idea if I should load up some cartridges with 40 grain bullets to be used only for coyotes. I do use the 32 grainers for ground squirrels, however, but only in the Cooper. The .22-250 is really too heavy a caliber for ground squirrels IMO, unless shooting at ranges of several hundred yards. Most of my ground squirrel shots, however, present at far closer ranges, hence the lighter cartridges. All my center fire rifles use my own reloads.
 
Goofycat said:
I would love to use an AR for coyotes, but I'm too late to legally have one in California, thanks to the misinformed legislators who passed the anti-gun laws covering such firearms as the AR-15 and related so-called "Assault Weapons," which by-the-way seems to be a term that I have yet to see defined.

Instead, I use either a .270 bolt action for coyotes and hogs, or a .22-250 Remington (40X bench-rest single shot), a Cooper .20 VarTarg (Love the rifle for ground squirrels, but haven't tried it for coyotes....yet). 55 grain Noslers or V-Maxes for the .22-250, and 32 grain Noslers for the 20-caliber Cooper. I don't know if the 32 grainers will suffice for coyotes, and may want to step up to 40 grain fodder.

I haven't really paid much attention to shooting dogs with the Cooper because I am so used to the other two rifles, and as such, I haven't loaded any 40 grain bullets for it and have no idea if I should load up some cartridges with 40 grain bullets to be used only for coyotes. I do use the 32 grainers for ground squirrels, however, but only in the Cooper. The .22-250 is really too heavy a caliber for ground squirrels IMO, unless shooting at ranges of several hundred yards. Most of my ground squirrel shots, however, present at far closer ranges, hence the lighter cartridges. All my center fire rifles use my own reloads.
Click to expand...
I have used 32 grain V-Max with my Cooper 204 on coyotes and it is deadly.The 204 is more than a gopher gun!!!!
 
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We shoot bolt guns in 22-250's or similar, though I use a 270 WSM with a 110TTSX every now and then, it really stomps them. I carry a Ruger single six with the 22mag cylinder in for when you have to defend you position and that works great.
I would love to put together a AR in that 40 Turbo, it would make nice coyote medicine in our country.
 
I have shot 'yotes with my 30-30 while deer hunting, but my deliberate varmint hunting rigs are a Czech Mauser in 257 AI and a Remington built 03-A3 in 6mm-250.

I have a friend building me an AR right now so I didn't answer bolt only because I have anything against ARs (or shotguns for that matter) but because I don't have one yet.

When I predator hunt with a friend I try to get him to run the scattergun... just not as much fun to me as a rifle!
 
In Wisconsin, we hunt them with dogs, find a track in the snow and let the hounds loose. I mostly use an Interarms Mark X .22-250 with 40 gr. v-max or my m-70 .243 with a 55 gr. Sierra Blitzking. Once in a while, I will use my .17 hmr. It usually depends on the area we hunt. I prefer the .243.
 
Goofycat said:
I would love to use an AR for coyotes, but I'm too late to legally have one in California, thanks to the misinformed legislators who passed the anti-gun laws covering such firearms as the AR-15 and related so-called "Assault Weapons," which by-the-way seems to be a term that I have yet to see defined.

Instead, I use either a .270 bolt action for coyotes and hogs, or a .22-250 Remington (40X bench-rest single shot), a Cooper .20 VarTarg (Love the rifle for ground squirrels, but haven't tried it for coyotes....yet). 55 grain Noslers or V-Maxes for the .22-250, and 32 grain Noslers for the 20-caliber Cooper. I don't know if the 32 grainers will suffice for coyotes, and may want to step up to 40 grain fodder.

I haven't really paid much attention to shooting dogs with the Cooper because I am so used to the other two rifles, and as such, I haven't loaded any 40 grain bullets for it and have no idea if I should load up some cartridges with 40 grain bullets to be used only for coyotes. I do use the 32 grainers for ground squirrels, however, but only in the Cooper. The .22-250 is really too heavy a caliber for ground squirrels IMO, unless shooting at ranges of several hundred yards. Most of my ground squirrel shots, however, present at far closer ranges, hence the lighter cartridges. All my center fire rifles use my own reloads.
Click to expand...

Hay brother I have a pre ban Colt ar lower I am looking to sell that will get you in the AR game legal in CA
 
Whatever I have at the time. Bears are a problem at the ranch where I work. I have used everything from .243 Winchester to .338Winchester Magnum. This year the .280 Remington, the .25-06 and the .300 Win Mag scored. The .280 Remington scored on one coyote, and also my deer, a 3 x 3 Muley. Left the front half at the ranch for the boys, and the hind weighed 79 pounds to the locker.
 
I use the following:

Remington M700 Classic .223 - walking varmiter rifle
Remington M700 VLS .223 - position shooting
Remington M700 VLS .204 Ruger - position shooting
Remington M700 VLS 6mm Remington - position shooting

While I haven't used a shotgun for predators I should get one setup for that.
 
My SOP is to always take two guns. My choices depend largely on the terrain. A couple of the places I hunt are pretty brushy, so I'll take the 870 super express and the .45. If I'm heading to a more open place it's the M96Swede .22-250 and the .45. I have yet to get a shot at one with the .45. Hopefully this season. Nothing against the AR platform...I just don't have the desire or the dough to own one. I like my bolts. :)

When I go out with a partner we flip for who takes the rifle and who takes the shotgun.
 
Goofycat said:
I would love to use an AR for coyotes, but I'm too late to legally have one in California, thanks to the misinformed legislators who passed the anti-gun laws covering such firearms as the AR-15 and related so-called "Assault Weapons," which by-the-way seems to be a term that I have yet to see defined.

Instead, I use either a .270 bolt action for coyotes and hogs, or a .22-250 Remington (40X bench-rest single shot), a Cooper .20 VarTarg (Love the rifle for ground squirrels, but haven't tried it for coyotes....yet). 55 grain Noslers or V-Maxes for the .22-250, and 32 grain Noslers for the 20-caliber Cooper. I don't know if the 32 grainers will suffice for coyotes, and may want to step up to 40 grain fodder.

I haven't really paid much attention to shooting dogs with the Cooper because I am so used to the other two rifles, and as such, I haven't loaded any 40 grain bullets for it and have no idea if I should load up some cartridges with 40 grain bullets to be used only for coyotes. I do use the 32 grainers for ground squirrels, however, but only in the Cooper. The .22-250 is really too heavy a caliber for ground squirrels IMO, unless shooting at ranges of several hundred yards. Most of my ground squirrel shots, however, present at far closer ranges, hence the lighter cartridges. All my center fire rifles use my own reloads.
Click to expand...

Goof,

There are many cal legal ar-15 formats out there. As long as the rifle has a 10 round mag, and the mag release requires a bullet button or tool. Other than that your legal to own.
 
I use a .243 NEF Handi Rifle and a Mossberg 835 with a 20 inch barrel and thumbhole stock. They are both nice and short which I like for walking and if I climb into one of my deer stands and call I can pull either one up with me easy enough. Someday I'd like to get an AR but the fact that you can get 3 bolts for the cost really makes them tough to justify.
 
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