Predator hunting rifles

Predator hunting rifles come in all shapes and sizes.  We will cover shotgunning for the furbearing predators in another post.

Generally speaking if you own a "deer" rifle you also own a predator calling rifle.  Now we need to interject a small dose of common sense here and go out on a limb and say a .300 Win. Ultra Mag probably isn't your best option for predator sized game.  Anything in the .25 caliber class on down to the .17 cals are fine for getting started in the sport of predator hunting.  There is especially little worry when you are not hunting for fur. 

Fur hunters or the discriminating predator hunter/caller will at one point or another decide they want a dedicated calling rifle.  There are as many choices here as cars on the road.  The long time favorite .223 is a fine choice as are the other go to varmint rifles.  The .220 swift, .222 and .222 mag, .17 rem, .17 rem fireball and the newer .204.  There are a myriad others but these are some of the more popular.  There are also a number of popular wildcat cartridges in the .17-.22 caliber class that work well on varmints and predators. 

The .17 rem could be called the ultimate fur hunters gun up to coyote sized game.  Keep ranges within 300 yards and be mindful of the wind.  Little fur damage and dead predators is what you will find when using this ideal cartridge.

What about rimfires?  The .22 mag and .22 lr are fine predator hunting rifles up to fox sized game.  The .22 mag is not ideal for coyote sized game.  Distances less than 75 yards are probably ok but much more than that and kills will be marginal and losses more common.  Now for you Eastern hunters where coyotes are much less common and distances shorter anyway.  The .22 mag is a fine choice in rifle.  Fur damage is non existent and killing power is ideal for the size of predators you target;  foxes, raccoons, opossums and skunks.  I personally use a Marlin 25mn in .22 mag and have good success with a light, cheap to shoot rifle. 

In summary, don't let the caliber you shoot prevent you from getting out and doing some calling.  A .30-.30 or .243 win will do fine for predator hunting.  Once you get some time experience under your belt then you should think about getting a varmint specific caliber.  Keep practicing and get out there in the predator woods.