Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Need a Lighter coyote rifle

After lugging my 12lb .220 AI all day in deep to really deep snow and through hills I need to see some pics and specs of walking varminters. I love the .220 AI but it needs a lighter friend in the safe for walking days like this. Iam wiped

Iam just looking for ideas as I have some rifles to finish up before I start more but I would sure like to see what you guys have built.

What would you guys consider as the largest contour to finish at 25" and still maintain a walkabout rifle.

So if you don't mind I would love to see pics and specs of your walking varmint rifles. I don't own one but will be uploading a pic of the 12lb hog and one of todays unlucky coyotes in a bit here. (I figure if Iam asking for pics I should post one)

Can't imagine why you'd need to run 25" of barrel.

Top is a 243 with a 22" tube and bottom is a 6mm/223 with 20" tube. Regardless you can do a like build an come in at the same weight, more or less. The 6mm223 with 3-9x is 6 3/4 pounds.

On a mini mauser, 22-250 w/scope, all up at 5 3/4 lbs.
I agree, why 25 in?

22-250AI with 23" #3 Douglas. Vanguard action has some weight so it's not super light but well balanced. Prolly a 8 pound rig but I don't have scales so cant know for sure. Very handy huntable rifle for these parts.

model 7, .223 factory barrel...because it shoots too well to replace, action worked over by Mickey, tan cerracote, tan and black stock, stock painting and cerracote by Mickey.

thanks so far guys. I was thinking 25" because I was planning a .22-250 AI and most of what I had read was if your going to go shorter than 25" you might aswell just go regular .22-250. Havent put too much thought into it yet.

Heres a photo of today.

A 22" 22/250AI beats a 22" 22/250, not to mention the trim factor.

I've never been in a situation where I thought 'Damn, I would have made that shot if I had an extra 2" of barrel'.....

Avoid what the Field & Stream readers post.

Best feelin rifle I've put together is this 250AI. #1 Rock cut at 22" 1" shank droped in a MR stock. Don't have weight on this either but it handles like a dream. Will be copying this blueprint in 243AI.

A 'yote with a 21" tubed rifle that weighs 6 pounds 10 ounces. It was July and I was hunting with swim trunks on.......

The trim factor is why my .220 is a AI. I shoot alot and I hate trimming. I agree on the barrel length but it's hard for me to wrap my head around a varmint rifle that isn't heavy and long.

22" 22-250AI wouldn't spook me much. Mine just wouldn't balance with the long shank barrel.....I don't think. Some smiths tell you that a 1 1/2" is needed but that aint so. Done two that way and last three have gone under a inch.

My coyote rig.

.243 AI with a factory bbl cut to 23"

Right now its got a Leupold 3.5x10 and DD's (the scope will soon have turrets installed)




I need to weigh it..

We are talking coyote rifles. If I was running something strictly for plunking gophers all day, something with a little weight wouldn't be a bad thing.

Can't imagine running a hog for a yotes. Build to balance and it all flows together.

Didn't have much problems with this wolf and a 20" tube rifle that weighs 7 pounds. Course it was from a kneeling position at 150 yards...

Cool paint job. I could try that but it wouldn't turn out like that. Well done.

I've been a bit assertive about controlling the yote population from time to time. Way back when I built a 6/06 for most of my work and have never regretted it. Mines about 9 lbs or so and if I wanted a lighter yote rifle heres about what I'd do.

700 short action
Ti take off handle
23" barrel that mics .62" at the mzl
8 twist
243 AI

Most likely I'd shoot two bullets, the 55 NBT for my short pelt season (about 6 or 7 weeks here) and I'd use the 95 NBT or the 105 AMax for the rest of the time.

Most likely scope it with a 3-9 or 3-10 Leo with either dotz and or a M1 on top stuck in Talley's.

Dober

This is my dedicated Coyote calling rifle, it's a Sako A7 243. They can be had fairly cheap, mine came out the box at 5-pounds 14-ounces, and it shoots insanely accurate tiny groups. I cannot think of a better lightweight coyote rig for the money.

Best

I have a stock 700 in .220 Swift with 24" heavy barrel and Leupold 6x20. It weighs 10lbs without sling and ammo.

I'm thinking going the AI route. What are the advantages/disadvantages?

GaryVA -

Nice rig, I've got a T3 243 coyote rig, but haven't painted it yet.

Cool.

Spot

SH Wow you have quite a few nice rifles. How many do you have? What cartridges?

Only 3 now, gave the rest away to friends.