AdirondackJoe,

First forget the .17 HMR, PERIOD. Even using the new 20 gr. load the bullets are still too fragile to be used on game the size and toughness of a coyote. Seen it tried and they wound more than they kill cleanly. While the .22 WMR is a somewhat better choice it too is very light, wounding more than they kill(remember we�re talking body shots). Seeing you are considering a Ruger 77/22 why not just get one in a .22 Hornet and be done with it. Deadly on coyotes out to 175(+/-) yards. I use one all the time on called in coyotes. Lawdog

HF, I liked that reply! I'll bet that little AH will turn some lights on a coyote at close range! I hunted the "Annual Coyote Hunt" in PA a couple years ago and can understand the "closeness" of what y'all have to deal with!!! GHD

if it were me id forget the 22 mag and buy a good 17hmr .but if your heart is set on a 22 mag id definatley go with the ruger or possibly the cz. marlin is definatley my last choice.

I may soon be in the market for a 22 mag with which I plan on dispatching some eastern coyotes with. I've looked around and have settled on buying a bolt action. I've narrowed my choices down to a Marlin 982L, CZ-452, or Ruger K77/22-VMBZ. Before making my choice, I would appreciate any feedback on these models from people who have used them. If you have used one of these models, how was the accuracy? How reliable was the magazine? Any problems with feeding/ejecting? Any pet peeves or annoyances with the design or functioning of the rifle? How well does it carry (would I hate it at the end of a day of hustling through 3 feet of snow and wrangling through acres of briars?) How's the trigger?

Any other feedback that you feel would be applicable would be very much appreciated.

The Marlin is crude, but accurate and affordable (trigger will be pretty harsh, however.) If economy is especially important to you, get this one.

The Ruger is well-designed and looks good, but they almost NEVER shoot as well as they should. People sink hundreds into making them shoot (and sometimes hundreds into NOT making them shoot). I happen to have one in K-Hornet that the previous owner was very successful in fixing, but to the tune of likely more money than he sold it to me for.

The CZ has some Tuetonic-type features that I don't particularly care for, but is likely your best buy among the three.

I'm lucky to have one of the old Kimbers, and it's a ringer. If you're willing to spend the scratch, I think that the current models are likely superior to any of the three above.

Mike, That's a beautiful pic!! I agree! Especially if you can call pretty good!! Just think, that old guy that told me he just had to have a 3.5 inch Magnum for turkeys(because they didn't make a 4"!!!!) could kill an elk at 400 yards with a 17HRM!!!!! Now I don't think a 3.5 inch magnum is necesarry for a friggin turkey!!! HOWEEVER!!! might would opt for it if it was available for a songdog!!! ( a 20 guage 2 3/4 inch full of#4s will do in a turkey!!! But I'm not eating this "groundhog killing bastard" and I want him dead!!! So give me a big stiff load of whatever and we'll send him to the big "gettogether" in the sky!!! Later, Charlie (GHD

I own a stock Marlin 917V 17 HMR heavy barrel. Shoots 3/8" groups @ 100 yards with HDY ammo. I bought the 925 for my father and he loves it, although not sure what kind of groups it shoots. I paid $179 for my Marlin. The trigger isn't too bad, but I opted for the Rifle Basix trigger and it is being installed this week. Marlin is the best bang for the buck.

Kory

I have a Ruger 10/22 Mag that is plenty acurate for even head shots. I'm the problem with this gun! I don't shoot it much. I took a cat with mine called in at 30 yards. Coyotes have been out the window on a ranch at short (less than 100 yards) but effective enough.

That said, I usually take either a mini-14 or, in the past, a .22-250 as most of my calling areas are pretty open. Nate

Well here in NC on State land, majority here in the western part, unless big game season is open you can only have a 22 rimfire or shotgun with #4 shot or less.

And most of my Yote hunting is around farms and houses close to town as they are starting to become more of a problem around here and people are calling me to avenge the death of their cat or dog.

Both are times when the 22mag does great. I killed a yote at my house couple weeks ago with mine, shot her at 80 yards and that is one dead yote, shot just behind the shoulder, ran 50+ yards and died. I also use my 12 ga with 3 inch #4 buck, out to 40 yards it is a no miss load. My 7mm-08, and have killed 2 with my 10mm Glock. The ones killed with the 22 mag were just as dead as all the others, have not lost one with it yet.

I use winchester hollow points 40 grain, plain box, I think all the small fast bullets are to small and frag to fast. The Win HP will penitrate a large yotes chest and come out the other side leaving a mess inside.

I shoot a savage mod 93 heavy barrel. It will shoot cloverleafs at 100 yards with the Rem. Premeum ammo and 1-1.5 inch groups with the Winchester HP. They will not blow up a yote but they kill them dead. Kinda like deer hunting with a 30-30.

http://groups.msn.com/ThePoseyClan/shoebox.msnw

Here are a couple of 22 mag yotes