5 Top Coyote Calibers; New Turkey Guns, Optics

On Target

By Dave Workman

ere we are in midwinter and for the predator hunter, opportunity abounds. Here are what I consider the five good caliber choices for sending songdogs to the Great Hereafter:

.223 Remington: Probably the most popular cartridge in this arena, it’s a flatshooting coyote-stopper with a proven track record and ballistics that make it a winner. For the handloader, the .223 Remington can be loaded to warp-speed velocities, depending upon the bullet and propellant.

.224 Valkyrie: Here’s a nasty little long-range varmint load that can push a 60-grain bullet more than 1,000 yards, and the ’yote never hears it coming. Just out

Hof curiosity, I broke out a Hodgdon Annual Manual for a glance at what handloaders can do with this cartridge, and I’d hate to be a coyote on the receiving end. Out in the Columbia Basin or over in Eastern Oregon, a devoted coyote hunter could decimate the ’dogs with enough time, patience and ammunition.

22 Nosler: Here’s a rebated-rim cartridge with impressive ballistics and enough developed loading data to keep a coyote hunter busy at the bench on weeknights, prepping for weekend coyote treks. Developed by the Nosler folks in Bend, it doesn’t have a parent cartridge. Depending upon the propellant, the 22 Nosler is a hellon-wheels predator-punishing round using the same projectiles as the previous two suggested calibers.

.22-250 Remington: This legendary cartridge has been around for decades, accounting for more dead coyotes than I’d ever care to count, although its main claim to fame is probably as a prairie dog round. Over the years, I’ve heard of some remarkable long shots made with the .22-250, and having some small experience with paper targets, I’ve never doubted a single story. Anybody who can hit prairie dogs at, say, 400 to 500 yards with one of these rifles can put any coyote down for the count!

.220 Swift: I hesitate to mention this one, although it is a devastating varmint and predator cartridge. This is definitely a handloader’s cartridge for a variety of reasons, mainly all with dollar signs. Factory ammunition could be pricey. Ballistically, it is a sizzler from a bygone era (introduced in 1935) that may have been surpassed by more recent introductions but can still hold its own.

Something to keep in perspective is that shooting coyotes can help reduce predation on deer fawns, elk calves, newborn livestock, small game and domestic pets. I live in an area where someone is almost always searching for a small pet dog or cat, and I know there are coyotes in the neighborhood.

New Gobbler Guns

No sooner had the holidays passed than was I treated to some news from Mossberg about new turkey shotguns in 20- and 28-gauge. Naturally, that set me to thinking, “It’s really not too early to be thinking about spring gobbler hunting.”

Mossberg revealed it is importing a trio of new turkey models, expanding the SA Series of semiautos. They included the fully camouflaged SA-20 and SA-28 Turkey Pistol Grip versions and a SA-20 Turkey with Mossy Oak Greenleaf camo, and classic stock and forend, the company detailed. The shotguns were on display at January’s Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade, or SHOT, Show in Las Vegas.

The company explained its move to the 20- and 28-gauge models thusly: “Smallgauge shotguns combined with today’s denser, more effective shotshells have extended ranges for these sub-gauges and grown in popularity. And thanks to their lightweight, soft-shooting and quickhandling qualities, these autoloaders are surprisingly effective on longbeards and a pleasure to carry in the field.”

SA Series autoloaders feature a gas operating system that vents excess gases, reducing recoil for the shooter and lessening stress on components for reliable operation. All models feature a five-round total capacity and 22-inch vent rib barrels with an interchangeable choke tube system (extended turkey choke tube included). Barrels are topped with fiber optic ghost ring sights and receivers feature a Picatinny rail for ease of adding optics. Other standard features include a cross-bolt safety, extended charging handle and easy-load elevator, according to Mossberg’s announcement.

Mossy Oak’s Greenleaf pattern offers silhouette concealment with its blend of dirt, bark, moss and oak sapling elements.

Here are some specifics:

SA-20 Turkey Pistol Grip (75799): This one is equipped with a compact pistol-grip stock (12.75-inch length-of-pull) and full camo coverage with Mossy Oak Greenleaf on stock, forend, receiver and 22-inch barrel. Target acquisition is enhanced with the combination of a fiber optic front sight and adjustable ghost ring rear sight. Completing this package is top-mounted rail, extended turkey choke tube and front and rear sling swivel studs. MSRP: $902.

SA-20 Turkey (75801): This model features a camouflaged forend and classically styled stock with 14.25-inch length-of-pull, 22-inch barrel with extended turkey choke tube, fiber optic front sight and adjustable ghost ring rear sight and sling swivel studs. A topmounted rail provides for ease of adding an optic. MSRP: $816.

SA-28 Turkey Pistol Grip (75802): This one also features a pistol grip-style stock with 12.75-inch length-of-pull with Mossy Oak Greenleaf camo coverage on the stock, forend, receiver and barrel. Fiber optic front sight and adjustable ghost ring rear sight top the 22-inch barrel. Rounding out this offering is an extended turkey choke tube, top-mounted rail and sling swivel studs. MSRP: $902.

For more on the complete line of SA20, SA-28 and SA-410 Turkey shotguns, see mossberg.com.

General spring turkey season opens April 15 in the three Northwest states, which also have early opportunities for youth hunters. See each state’s pamphlets for more details. Also note that in Washington, the combined spring/youth spring season limit is three birds. Only two turkeys may be killed in Eastern Washington, except three may be killed in Spokane County and only one may be killed in Kittitas or Yakima Counties. One turkey may be killed per year in Western Washington outside of Klickitat County, where two turkeys may be killed. Only male turkeys and turkeys with visible beards may be taken.

In Washington, turkey hunters can thank a guy named Dan Blatt, a retired state Department of Fish and Wildlife game biologist, for ramrodding this program decades ago. The Evergreen State has Merriam, Rio Grande and eastern turkeys, and I’ve managed to find them all over Kittitas and northern Yakima Counties, and up in Stevens and northern Spokane Counties without fail over the years.

New Optics

German Precision Optics recently unveiled a selection of new optics for 2023, and there are some dandy models in the bunch.

For openers, there’s the new 15-45x60 Tactical Spotting Scope, featuring the same reticle found in GPO’s popular new first focal plane GPOTAC 4.5-27x50i FFP Tactical riflescope. According to GPO, grid markings on the spotting scope reticle and the riflescope reticle are identical in appearance and size to ensure familiarity and sight picture synergy of the user. It features a variable 15-45x eyepiece, a 60mm objective lens, a 60-foot field of view at maximum power, and it measures just 10.95x5.4x3.3 inches and weighs only 2.75 pounds.

GPO’s new Passion 4-12x50i riflescope is a versatile micro-fiber illumination scope equipped with upgraded ultra-premium optical lenses. It features large field of view, quick adjust turrets, fast focus ocular and generous eye relief. The scope is powered by a proprietary iControl illumination system featuring a fiber optic illuminated micro-dot which can be adjusted between barely visible for low-light conditions or extremely bright for daylight use. The system automatically powers down the illumination when the electronic module has been stationary for more than three hours and it alerts the user when the battery has 15 percent power remaining. It has a huge 50mm objective lens for maximum light transmission. This scope has counterclockwise rotating metal turrets with ¼ MOA click adjustments.

Next comes an addition to its high-magnification, first focal plane GPOTAC 4.5-27x50i riflescope line. This new model features a reticle that has been custom designedfor Precision Rifle Series competition, and the turret was enhanced to show multiple rotations.This one has a 34mm main tube made from a one-piece aluminum block. It is designed to work in tandem with the new spotting scope mentioned earlier.

Also from GPO is the Spectra 6X 4.5-

27x50i SFP “designed as the ultimate long-range, high-performance riflescope,” according to the company. It features “Double HD Objective Lens technology, iControl illumination, GPObright lens coatings and PassionTrac zero-stop-lock turrets.”

Rounding things out, GPO has introduced the Spectra Reflex Dot sight. Featuring what GPO calls the “next generation red dot technology,” this new sight has a built-in photo sensor to adjust the brightness of the 3mm red dot automatically. It also has a built-in motion sensor to switch it off or on automatically, extending battery life to a reported 25,000 hours. It will mate with virtually any three-position power change lever that is convertible to left- or right-hand use, removable sunshade and forward internal threads for mounting accessories.

2-16x42, 3-24x50 and 4-32x56. (STEINER) modern semiauto handgun and it may also be mounted via the included Picatinny rail on a rifle.

Bushnell has introduced the Match Pro ED 5-30x56 FFP riflescope with a 34mm main tube. The 56mm objective features EXO Barrier coating to protect it from the elements, and a 30 Mil (103 MOA) elevation range. It has 11 brightness settings with alternating off intervals and a six-hour auto-off timer to extend battery life. It comes with a removable

New from Steiner is the Predator 8 riflescope series featuring 8x zoom capabilities. This scope series is built on 30mm main tubes, and there are three models: 2-16x42, 3-24x50 and 4-32x56. All three feature ¼ MOA ballistic turrets, illuminated reticles with 11 different brightness settings and Steiner’s E3 second focal plane reticle. The scope comes with different numbered turret rings, allowing shooters to customize the turret to their needs.

And finally, there is a new sight adjustment tool from XS Sights. Called the Inline Rear Sight Tools, they are added to the DIY and Gunsmith series of tools.

The DIY Sight Pusher Install Kit allows a Glock handgunner to complete a wide range of sight installations. This tool comes with an Allen key. The Gunsmith tool also comes with an Allen key and a T-handle for additional leverage. NS

NRA CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR CHRISTOPHER CUNIO

Classes Offered

GUN SAFETY SEMINAR NRA seminar introduces new gun owners to gun safety fundamentals

RUN YOUR GUN One on one rearms coaching with Christopher

RANGE SAFETY OFFICER NRA Range Safety O cer (RSO) Certi cation

NRA EDDIE EAGLE GUNSAFE® PROGRAM

NEW GUN OWNER The NRA BaSics of Pistol Shooting course

PREPARE TO CONCEAL NRA Concealed Carry Weapon (CCW) Certi cation

FIREARMS IN THE HOME NRA Personal Protection In the Home Certi cation

FIREARMS OUTSIDE THE HOME NRA Personal Protection Outside the Home Certi cation

LONG GUN NRA Basic Ri e for basic and skill based learning with a long gun

BASIC SHOTGUN Basic shotgun for basic and skill-based learning with a shotgun

Over 50 Years Of Service To The Trap &

Cumberland’s Northwest Trappers Supply is your one-stop trapping supply headquarters, featuring one of the largest inventories in the U.S. We are factory direct distributors on all brands of traps and equipment which allows us to offer competitive prices. Give us a try. Our fast, friendly service will keep you coming back. Request