Cheap coyote gun help

[Kayakfish1]

Good evening everyone!

I’m looking to pick up a cheap (relatively) coyote rifle.

Want a bolt action, threaded, reasonably lightweight, I’m leaning towards 22 arc but I’m open to other options (22-250, 6 arc, or 243) this will be a daytime hunting rifle since I’m happy with how my thermal gun is for night shooting.

It will ride in my truck 99% of the time for the occasional coyote, groundhog, skunk, or any other varmint I might encounter while out checking my hunting properties during the day.

I have been leaning towards a gen 2 Ruger American, but I have also been eyeing the 110 predator gun from savage.

I’d love to piece together a custom rifle but that doesn’t fall in to my budget at this time…..getting married, starting a new job, moving, and paying for a honeymoon has really cut in to my play around money hahaha

Any input is greatly appreciated!

 

[Elk_Guapo]

I assume you'd prefer a brand new rifle, but I've had plenty of success on coyotes and deer with the used Remington 700 ADL in .243 Win that I bought when I was a broke college student. I've had it for 25 of the 54 years since it left the factory, and it still shoots sub-MOA. Mine doesn't have a threaded barrel, but from what I've read, sporter contours can be threaded.

Another good used option would be a Remington 788.

 

[diggler1833]

I think the Ruger or Salvage should generally work, especially if "cheap" is one of the main concerns.

You can alo find the less expensive Tikka models in .22-250 and .243 as well... although you may have to step up to a CTR to get it threaded from the factory.

 

[ironpony52]

Look into the SIG Cross it has some very good hunting reviews. Might not be your definition of cheap but bang for the buck might put you where you want to be.

 

[Hecouldgoalltheway]

So many options. The ruger Americans are better than they should be. Savages shoot, we all agree that it is so. As mentioned above, the Tikka is good out of the box. Also, don't overlook a weatherby vanguard/ howa, they can often be picked up used on gunbroker chambered in varmint cartridges for a few hundred $$, and they are usually excellent shooters. What's your budget for this rig, and are you sure it's a bolt gun you want? You could barrel swap an existing .223 ar to 22 nosler, and all you need is a barrel and some spc mags. The 22 nosler gives you not quite 22-250 performance in that platform, but close. I've been shooting one this year for coyotes and I love it. If you hit ammoseek, or sign up for Nosler emails, the ammo is cheap. I've bought maybe a thousand rounds total of factory Nosler loaded ammo (55gr and 62gr varmegeddon) and never paid more than $.81/ round.

 

[Kayakfish1]

Thanks for all the help!

I’m kinda dead set on a bolt action, I honestly don’t know why but oh well haha

My idea of “cheap” would be around 1k after any necessary upgrades before glass.

I will probably go with some me flavor of Sfp 4-12ish hunting oriented optic, unless I throw the arken 5-25 I have laying around on it.

 

[LeadBreakfast]

New Ruger American or Savage as mentioned, or pick up something nice but used from the fun shop.

 

[Basic user]

I think the Ruger or Salvage should generally work, especially if "cheap" is one of the main concerns.

You can alo find the less expensive Tikka models in .22-250 and .243 as well... although you may have to step up to a CTR to get it threaded from the factory.

I hear they're going to start threading them all now.

 

[diggler1833]

I hear they're going to start threading them all now.

If they do, it would only help sales.

 

[Basic user]

Thanks for all the help!

I’m kinda dead set on a bolt action, I honestly don’t know why but oh well haha

My idea of “cheap” would be around 1k after any necessary upgrades before glass.

I will probably go with some me flavor of Sfp 4-12ish hunting oriented optic, unless I throw the arken 5-25 I have laying around on it.

Oh shit; a GRANDS cheap? I was thinking like my nephew; cheaps 400 bucks. I was going to say my favorite company Howa, but if you have a grand, I'd get a .223 Tikka. You can load the berger 90 grainers and have some decent power for a small cartridge. The tikkas rarely need any upgrades out of the box. I bought one and it was actually pretty nice. Shot very well and had zero complaints.

For coyotes I'm assuming you want something magazine fed w/ low recoil for fast follow up shots and quick reloading. The tikka does that, as does the howa in 6arc on brownells, part number 430102217. 493 dollars w/ magazine and threaded barrel. Throw it in a stock and it'll shoot. In that caliber if you ever decide to do an AR for coyotes you'll already have ammo or components for it.
For longer strings of fire, on non straight pipe barrels, I've had the best luck with CHF chromoly barrels. I know everyone says stainless is better but it has not been my experience. The chf cro-mo barrels walked less when heated up.

 

[2old2run]

A Howa 1500 Mini would be a good option. They are now coming chambered in 22ARC and the 6mm ARC. I've had a mini in 223 for a number of years with good success.

 

[Flyin6]

HOWA 1500 BARRELED MINI ACTIONS 6MM ARC

Check out HOWA 1500 BARRELED MINI ACTIONS 6MM ARC available Online at Brownells Today and many more Rifle Receivers & Parts products are available in our Gun Parts Department.

www.brownells.com

I would think about the Howa BA in an MDT XRS chassis.

 

[Turkeytider]

Have a 110 Storm in .223 that would be great for that purpose.

 

[2old2run]

Im all in on the Howa. Every one ive had over the years has been accurate (enough) and reliable. When we used to go to South Dakota for Prarie dogs, the Howas kept up with the Coopers, Sakos, and M595 Tikkas we brought with.

 

[CavReconScout]

I use a G2 Ruger American Predator in 204 Ruger for my daytime coyote rifle. If you watch for sales you can get one for under $500.

Shoots factory ammo great. This was at 200yds. First two shots off left were for zeroing.

 

[DaGrassyKnoll]

I built this setup with parts bought on Black Friday last year. I have around $1500 into the rifle itself

Aero M4E1 enhanced upper
Aero 15" enhanced handguard
Aero M4E1 lower
Triggertech Diamond 2 stage
Rise armament anti walk trigger pins
JP silent capture H2 buffer
Aero rifle buffer
Aero BCG
22" straight flute Shaw Dmr contour 204 ruger
Leuplod VX5hd 3-15x44
Warne one piece mount pictured, recently swapped out with a one piece from leupold
Mission First Tactical 10rd Mags

This is a fantastic fur gun. I've had great luck shooting 40gr hornady factory loads. shoots around .5 moa.

 

[Harman117]

What did you end up getting OP??

I'll reiterate what others have said about Howa and Tikka.

If you have the time/skills, getting a Howa barreled action and bedding it in a laminate stock from Boyds or Richards Micro Fit stocks is my favorite "lowest cost" option. For the mini actions you may want to upgrade the bottom metal from the plastic unit. Or just go with a chassis option.

If you can stretch your budget, Tikka is worth the additional money IMO. Here's my current "lightweight" Varmint gun in .223 Rem:

- Tikka 16" .223 hunter model from EuroOptic, threaded from factory
- Sold the nice OEM walnut stock to fund the KRG Echo
- total rifle cost was probably $900-$1000 (excluding rail/bolt/etc..)

Note: EuroOptic currently has a Tikka Ranahan .223 Rem model on sale for $730. Includes iron sights and threaded barrel. This would be a SWEET truck gun IMO

 

[Twelve208]

+1 for Ruger American in 243/6 creed or 22/6 ARC.

 

[Jameswish956]

This is a .308 but I would not hesitate to build this exact setup in a .243 or 6 ARC if I was in your boat (you can take away the suppressor to keep cost down) this is my gf’s rifle so that’s why it has the custom LV cerakote job but it shoots lights out. This has become my go to “ranch rifle” that always goes to the lease with me to fill feeders or shoot predators/varmints from the truck.

Ruger American predator 2.0, 16.5 inch, .308
MDT field stock
Arken 4-16
SilencerCo omega 36 m

 

[Kayakfish1]

I ended up building a 6arc upper with parts I found on sale a few different places, and then happened in to a deal on a savage axis 2 pro in 22-250…. I was able to build the upper and pick up the rifle just barely over msrp for just the rifle so I figured why not lol

BA 16” 1/7 premium stainless barrel, aero upper, basic gas block (will be replaced when I find a deal on an adjustable) cmt arca handguard, and an Athlon Midas tac until after deer season I’ll swap my thermal on to it.

The axis got a cheap arca rail I modified to fit, I will probably end up bedding it to the stock and filling in the voids inside to stiffen it a little more, in addition to adding two flush cups, and swapping the cheap 3-9 for an arken 4-16 I have on another rifle.

 

[jthor]

Ruger American