Jane and I had been working the horses early this morning, so when the day started to heat up we went back to the house for more coffee and some brunch. I got the bacon done and had just cracked eggs into the skillet when Jane reported movement to the South, close to yesterday's hog carcass (see the Hog Hunting Forum, "Before Breakfast Boar"). Grabbing some handy binos, she hollered, "Two coyotes!".

Leaving her to finish the eggs (hey, I already had the bacon finished, remember?), I grabbed the Sako AI Varmint again and headed outside and stepped down to the pool house. My BBQ firewood stacked atop the wall made a dandy sniper's hide, and about 30 seconds of patience on my part was rewarded by one of the 'yotes reappearing.

I'm sighted 2" high at 100; he's about 150. Hold a tad low as he's facing me; not enough wind to bother with. Crack. Whump. Back inside to eat, then a short drive around for verification.

His fawn-eating days are over, and his last meal was some pretty "high" pork tartar. The little 50 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip centered his throat, doing unspeakable things to his spine and CNS. Goodnight, Irene.

Mark

Nice rifle and good looking coyote hide.

Al

Can't beat that!

Nice gun and coyote. Those 50 grain ballistic tips puts em down.

Is this pretty little Sako a .222 or another flavor? It's not another Fireball is it?

Would you say the 50NBT is "fur friendly?" I've read elsewhere that the NBT's got less explosive expansion than other 50s like the Vmax. I've wondered how much additional penetration that solid copper base permits.

Thanks for sharing.

JPL,

Sorry, I just now saw this...apologies for the tardy response.

This one is a .223.

So far, that rifle and NBT load has only accounted for one hog and two coyotes. The hog dropped to the shot with a center shoulder hit; no exit. Both coyotes also dropped in their tracks and while I didn't examine them very closely for pelt damage, I didn't see any significant damage to their hides. I don't recall an exit on either (and wouldn't have expected one on this one since he was facing me...can't say about the other one).

Hope that helps?

Mark

Nice coyote and rifle. A great story too!

I have a mod 46 clip model Sako in 222..shot lots of coyotes and some deer with it as have my kids, like you mostly targets of opertunity while doing my daily ranching activities, carry it in my picket most of the timek but got a 220 swift last week its my new truck gun, Its a ruger plastic stocked gun so don't have to worry about stock damage like I do with my sako..

The Sako A-1 Varminter is one heck of a gorgeous rifle. At age 80 I'm selling mine in 6mm PPC with some other guns to thin the herd. I have plenty of brass for the 6 and shoot H-322 powder and a 70 gr Nosler You all know how accurate the 6 PPC is. With a 36X scope, it's "lights out coyote"~!

quote:

Originally posted by 218 Bee:
JPL,

Sorry, I just now saw this...apologies for the tardy response.
This one is a .223.
So far, that rifle and NBT load has only accounted for one hog and two coyotes. The hog dropped to the shot with a center shoulder hit; no exit. Both coyotes also dropped in their tracks and while I didn't examine them very closely for pelt damage, I didn't see any significant damage to their hides. I don't recall an exit on either (and wouldn't have expected one on this one since he was facing me...can't say about the other one).
Hope that helps?
Mark

Thanks Mark. I've been wondering how well the A-1 Sako in .2223 shoots. I'm thinking about selling my Ruger M77 in .223 ard replacing it with a Sako. I haven't been able to get my Ruger to deliver the accuracy I'm looking for and wondering if the Sako in .223 will come anywhere near the accuracy my 6PPC delivers.

Looks like a live oak tree near your firewood and mesquites and oaks in the pasture?

Sorry for the delay in responding. Been dealing with new calves this past week...

Good eye. Yep, those are live oaks just below the pool house. Out by the house pasture fenceline is another live oak motte. Mesquites and post oaks one the other side of the fence...

Mark

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Good shooting at breakfast time! Nice looking varmint rifle and great picture! Thanks for taking the time to post and share.

Charlie

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