Need help choosing gun.

[Valv]

Ok, as I posted elsewhere I am looking to purchase an coyote hunting package. Budget is limited (my CFO is very tough on this).

Caliber chosen is .234 and right now I have 3 guns in mind

Weatherby Vanguard SS

Remington SPS

Ruger M77 SS All Weather

all approx same price.

I don't know much about the first 2, I used to have a 22-250 Ruger that I loved....20 years ago.

I know this might get into a battle for the brand, but I rather have some hints instead of arguments.

What would be better of the 3 ?

[icehousebob]

You can't go too wrong with any of them, but if I had to choose one, it would be the Ruger. Their design is a bit more advanced than the others and I,ve never heard of anyone complaining of getting a bad one.

[Old Guide]

val, wow,nice problem! All are excellent choices. The Vangard comes with a group shot at the factory. The Remington has a good reputation for shooting good groups. The Ruger is a good choice if you're use to shooting one in the past. You might add one more to your list. The T3 tikka the price is about the same and "supposedly" they are to shoot a 1 inch group before the gun leaves the factory. There are some good prices on now at Gander and scheels. What ever you get good luck on the "yotes". (Get someone to load up some 75 gr. hollow pts. for that 243.)

[harvey lee]

I have a Ruger in 300 mag and a Tica in 7mm,both very nice guns and shoot very well.I also have three remingtons and they also work and shoot well,my favorites are the ruger and the Tica.Maybe I shoot them more often,but they both shoot real tight groups.

[Valv]

I looked at Tikka, but out of price range. The 3 above are in the $ 450 to $ 490, Tikka was $ 650.00

I just saw a nice combo package with a Howa Lightning 1500

Anybody knows about them ?

[mechanictim]

The Howa 1500 and the Weatherby vangaurd are the same gun. If you can, look at all three rifles and compare the triggers, safeties and the way the stock fits. For me the way the trigger breaks would be the biggest factor followed by the stock fit and then the convienance of the safety.

One thing I have noticed about package deals is that they come with really low end scopes and rings, if you can, ask the store if they will give you credit towards a better scope and rings. Some of the lower cost bushnell and tasco scopes will change point of impact just by changing the magnification.

[Gissert]

Valv -

While Savage is not in your group, it might be worth a look. The adjustable accu-trigger is excellett, and Savage rifles are known for being very accurate. Best of all, they won't kill your pocketbook.

Given the three brands you picked, I would be inclined to go with the Ruger.

[Valv]

Going out of focus here...I was browsing about guns and came up with the famous Barrett .50 cal...that shoots 2000 meters. which means almost 2400 yards....yikes !!! What's gonna be left of the coyote with a .50 hit ??

And I thought I had troubles hitting at 400yards.....how can you hit at 2500 ?? You've got to be good

[catman71]

i have got some great advice for you. Yes, do look at the Savage, my model 12 has a bounty on it from a certain P-dog town that it has ravaged many, many times. Second piece of advice, buy the gun you like best, get a good scope and then go shoot the bejezzes out of those coyotes so we can all see more ducks and pheasants next year! Just think back to when the fur prices were really high, it seems those are the "good ol days" of bird hunting people talk about.

as far as your 50 cal question, the cartridge is actually listed on the DNR HSOforum as "legal for big game" the cost is prohibitive but I always wanted to get one.

[catman71]

back on topic a little; i have a Remington Sendero 7mmMAG and LOVE it! I have a Ruger M77 all weather 7mmMAG and LOVE it! I have a Savage 111 (no accutrigger)in 7mmMAG and LOVE it! I can't speak for the Vanguard but you can't go wrong here. The Savage is the lightest, the Ruger (stainless) gets carried the most, the Remington Sendero is the heaviest and I can shoot it most accuratly. I like the Remington safety the best as well. If you spend your winter shooting coyotes and shoot a few P-dogs with it in the spring you will be very suprised at how easily you can shoot a deer in the fall.

Let us know what you get and how it works for you.

[Gissert]

Those .50 cal guns are amazing. Colorado has them as not legal for big game. I can just imagine some dude sitting on a road, shooting at elk across a canyon....

[Valv]

Ok, it's done, I bought a Savage 11FXp3 synthetic with blue barrel.

SS was an option but $ 100.00 more.

It will be in tuesday, I bought it through a Lonsdale local small dealer, I like to give business to my neighbors if I can, and this guy helped me a lot.

[Gissert]

Nice going! Did you get the accutrigger?

[Valv]

Yes Sir, they all have it with Savage since 2004

I can't wait to try it, I also ordered 3 boxes of 55 Ballistic Silvetip....and next weekend is full moon.......

I went with the package from Savage, it has a 3.9x40 scope, I will choose better optics later, I want something with range calculator and possibly adjustable.

What I am doing... I go to Gunbroker.com and study models, prices, and types, then talk to local dealer and purchase this way. Thank godness for the internet.....it's amazing what you can do now compared to many years ago....