LR coyotes

[Tim Anderson]

when Randy hunted with me" LOL I like that one!

He was rideing in my truck and we hunted the area i spend most of my time in, and we both took turns calling so yeah he was hunting with me..

[coyotelatrans]

My feeling is you don't need a 2,000+ gun and a 1,000.00+ scope to hit coyotes at 500-600 yards. Your shooting at an 8" target far different than BR compitions and trying to make as small a group as possible and keeping things under3". That practice in shooting BR can make one a much better LR coyote shooter but to be realistic a 600.00 gun with minor alterations, with the right handload and a scope that performs well and alot of practice at those ranges will yield good results. It is as much the one behind the gun as the gun itself and the ability to read wind. With laser range finders those ranges are easy to range but wind is another story and having a good rectical has advantages for sure. You don't need a nightforce or a custom gun to hit coyotes at extended ranges a high BC bullet a good firearm and practice at those distances are what is crucial IMO.

[LeviM]

Very True Post!

[Dcoy]

I kind of agree.It can be a $200 dollar rifle or a $2000 one as long as its at LEAST a MOA rifle.If its not,you're poking and hoping at 5-600 regardless of wind.And,if we're talking killing vs hitting,its tougher than an 8 inch gong or piece of paper as well even if totally unaware of your presence-at least for me.No matter how many paper punching medals I have,its always different mentally(trigger wise particularly)if its breathing.
My main point though is price is irrelevant,accuracy isn't.

[xdeano]

coyotelatrans,

Your post is true and I've seen people make some incredible shots with cheap rifles and optics, but when it comes down to it, better equipment will leave fewer variable, fewer variables will increase your odds on a first round hit. The more variables that you have the more effects you'll have to compensate for. It's kind of an opened ended discussion. I can take a rifle and do Kentucky windage and hit a target at 500+ yards, but If I have a scope that I can use come-ups on, dial it right to the nuts, aim dead on, pull the trigger, and know what ever it is that I'm aiming at is dead nuts, I've just stepped up in the game. You have to be proficient at everything to win the game, if you can't hit the ball, then you're stuck on the bench.

As far as optics are concerned you can't hit what you can't see.

You couldn't be more right about practice though. This is the largest influencing factors in shooting long range.

xdeano

[coyotelatrans]

Most factory guns today are very good. I agree MOA but I have a .243 remington that through handloading I can get .8-1" at 200 yards. Good brass, a good BC bullet the right powder and practice and I use a 349.00 scope a bushnell elite 3200 in 5x15 with mil dot and target turrets that has been very good to me. I also have a burris Fullfield II 4.5x14 that is very bright and clear setting on a 25-06 with bal plex tuned to a load of 110 accu bonds and trigger work that routinely will kill for me at 450+ on big game this is a sporter barrel remington. It hits where I am and would do the same for coyotes if I so chose to use it on such. The .243 heavy barrel gives me more stability on coyotes just as the 22-250 remington heavy barrel, but I shoot the .243 much more as I like the killing power and the higher BC bullet when it relates to wind. a mil dot is a great thing for wind and I practice with it in the wind so I know my needed adjustments be it with the turret or the mils, my issue is calculating the wind and what it is doing at 500 yards that is why I like to use a high BC bullet gives me more room for error in case I mis judge it a little. I have hit things at longer ranges but we all still miss on occasion, I try to limit my misses by alot of practice at such ranges in varying conditions.
My thinking on a coyote with a 95 grain bal tip in my .243 I have from the spine to the lower brisket and all 7" in between and with that bullet as long as I keep it in the front 1/3rd of the critter he isn't making it very far after a hit in that 7" range. Too much energy and shock power with that bullet.

Would it be nice to own a custom gun and a nightforce? Sure it would is it needed to consistantly hit coyotes or big game at 500+ yards? My experiance tells me no. If you shoot in BR for compietion your heart rate will be up as you have plenty of people watching and also you want to win, so I don't see any differance between a coyote and a paper target except the paper errors are much smaller if you want to do well. I know one of the better 600 BR shooters in the nation and he has told me and others becuase of his involvment in BR it has increased his coyote killing at long range by a ton and this guy is a straight shooter no pun intended.

[Optimax90]

Practice is the key! I'm not much of a shot, but if you shoot alot and know what your gun will do,that the difference IMO. I have a stock Rem 700 with heavy barrel,(.22-250 cal) have not hade a chance to get a new trigger, or glass the stock or any extras. I do hand load everything and shoot it alot, I have been shooting Poweraid bottles (Quart size) @ 300-450
with consistancy. At first it wasn't "one shot willie" every time, but now its alot easier to "one time it."

I used to shoot skeet with some guys in WI and they all had guns in the $3000-$8000 range, and I was always second high man on the league. Using an old Rem 11-87 with parts missing. It cycled most of the time, and if it didn't I would hand feed it, just as good. Those guys shot well in league but out bird hunting were as slow as dirt and couldn't read the dog to save there arsse. Just cause you can shoot the fly off a praire dogs arsse @300yrd don't mean you can call a coyote closer than 1/2 mile. But then again I struggle with both

[Coyotehunter]

coyotelatrans,

Your post is true and I've seen people make some incredible shots with cheap rifles and optics, but when it comes down to it, better equipment will leave fewer variable, fewer variables will increase your odds on a first round hit. The more variables that you have the more effects you'll have to compensate for. It's kind of an opened ended discussion. I can take a rifle and do Kentucky windage and hit a target at 500+ yards, but If I have a scope that I can use come-ups on, dial it right to the nuts, aim dead on, pull the trigger, and know what ever it is that I'm aiming at is dead nuts, I've just stepped up in the game. You have to be proficient at everything to win the game, if you can't hit the ball, then you're stuck on the bench.

As far as optics are concerned you can't hit what you can't see.

You couldn't be more right about practice though. This is the largest influencing factors in shooting long range.

xdeano

Great stuff. I have had some good shooting factory guns but they are few and far between. If you got one great but if not take your favorite action and get a good match grade barrel screwed on. I would say the same for the optics. A good scope will last you forever, spend the money, you will be glad you did.

[RandyRoede]

I think this may have been a better long range shooting post vs, a long range shooting at coyotes that have been called in and now i'm going to shoot at them post.

TA the day just you and I went, I think I used your caller all day and called, in the general area you had hunted but we hunted country you had never been in, that Willow Creek country.

When you me and jeff went we took turns callin all day, again in the general area you had hunted but in places on those ranches you had never been in, way off the trails and main roads. I don't think we ever used a former stand location you had used in those two days.

This country Tim is talking about is a gravel road from Hwy 212 to Hwy 63 and beyond west more than 40 miles, with 30-40 large chunks of land owned by the res and rented out to ranchers, most in the 5000 acre size at least and the others much bigger. Lots and lots of land. A lot of brothers, fathers etc. running ajoining stuff, lots of relation. Everyone i know who calls around here spends time up on there either from the road or from the water in boats. gets hit pretty hard.

[Tim Anderson]

Randy the ranch that we hunted to the north of road where we bumped the coyotes going in is the spot i have never been in. There is a ranch just to the west and that where i go into that area and go north to his bounderies.. The big ranch to the south that you, Jeff and me hunted i have been in there before and as far back as the river, the same owner also has a pasture farther east that goes to the river, this is where i took Shaw and Geordie but we did'nt make it far due to the greasey ground.
I have 20 some ranches i get permission to hunt every year but may only hunt half of them but i always like to have extras, there are some ranches that i can get way back in away from the road, i just never got the chance to take you there to show you some of my good spots.. Good thing to or you would have them shot out by now..LOL

[RandyRoede]

I give up Tim, your the man!!

[Tim Anderson]

I give up Tim, your the man!!

No ! Actualy Jason is, I see you are working for him...


Youre too easey.. LOL Takecare Randy...

[Prairie Ghost]

Tim, take your medicine and be glad that someone like randy is telling you ANYTHING. I don't care who had the permission on the land the more educated and expierenced person TAKES the OTHER hunting plain and simple and there is no question in that postition who "took" who.

Lots of good stuff on shooting guys. All i can say is Practice Practice and then after that a little more Practice!

[Coyotehunter]

I give up Tim, your the man!!

No ! Actualy Jason is, I see you are working for him...


Youre too easey.. LOL Takecare Randy...

Tim, man show some respect. Randy I would be one happy camper if I got to spend some time with you hunting coyotes. I am positive I could pick up a trick or two from you.

[Tim Anderson]

I've shown him nothing but respect and i learned some from him also and i also thanked him for it..
I was also taught by another ADC man that you respect another hunters terr. that you take him to. But hey its a free country!!